It was interesting reading, the interview given to the daily News by
one time Deputy Leader of the LTTE, Karuna. (DN Nov. 27) Straight from
the 'horses mouth' or somewhat.
Some hard, straight questions have been asked and Karuna has given
his replies. Out of all, the most interesting are the revelations with
regard to Norway's and more so, Mr. Solheims's 'heroics'. To reproduce
these startling thunderbolts, 'Erik Solheim gifted a 6 ft. TV screen to
Prabhakaran'.
'They (Norway) helped us (emphasise us- shows his binding to the LTTE
at that time) immediately after the CFA was signed', 'Solheim gave money
to Balasingham, I saw it happening,' 'We bought arms with this money,
unloaded ammunition 40 days after the signing of the CFA', 'LTTE has
given money to Solheim, LTTE looks after him, there is a talk that the
LTTE helped Solheim to buy his house in Oslo, Solheim always told
Prabhakaran that they were with the LTTE, Solheim advised Prabhakaran
how to govern in the future, they showed us military bases, gave us
transmitters, this support came mainly from Solheim, Norway is fully
aware of Prabhakakan's motives, they don't want to show to the world
that they are failing as peacemakers, they only think of their future'.
Now this is all what Karuna is telling. What he is telling may be 100
per cent facts, may be 100 per cent lies or certain percentage of facts
and lies. But we as readers, have every right to read such an interview.
It is all the more important in the current perspective.
As the saying goes, there will be no smoke without fire. Even if
there is an iota of truth in what Karuna says of the Erik Solheim and
Norwegian hand in the betrayal of the Government in favour of the LTTE,
is a very very serious infringement on the Sovereignty of our
Motherland.
The 'international community' who are now, sadly, directly involved
in our conflict, keeps on pronouncing Norway as genuine 'peace makers'.
But as things point to, they are more Piece Makers. Let me say, I may be
wrong. If it is so, good. But chances are remote.
I as an ordinary citizen of Sri Lanka am happy and deeply indebted to
your newspaper for publishing the said interview. In an era when so many
good for nothing interviews are published in so called national, but,
rag, gossipy newspapers, it is perfectly in order to publish more
nationally important interviews.
I must congratulate once again the 'Daily News' for making reading
most interesting, especially latterly. Please continue the good work.
NIHAL AMARASEKERA, Maharagama
The Daily News of June 3 carried a news item under the heading
'Sweeping changes to private bus service' Now it is nearly six months
since the news item appeared but I have not seen any changes for
improved service in private buses.
In fact as per my letter to the editor (DN June 20) I foretold this
position and said similar news items have appeared in the papers from
time immemorial without any changes for better service. The only change
that has taken place in the past was the increasing of bus fares at the
slightest increase in the price of diesel.
Releasing such news items to the press are a ruse adopted by the
heads of state institutions in order to show the public and Minister
concerned that they are very active in their position. If the Transport
Commission cannot fulfil the aspirations of the public for a better
transport service, the Commission should be abolished.
These Commissions are a wastage of public funds and further they
bring discredit to the authorities.
T. J. Victor Silva
Today, we live in a society where professional ethics are no longer
existent among doctors. At the drop of a hat they are ready to strike
and hold their patients to ransom. The current trend by most doctors is
to see as many patients possible for a day, in most instances over 75
numbers are given.
This is done at three to four or even more different hospitals for a
day. They tend to cut it fine by hopping from one hospital to another.
In most instances patients are left waiting for hours till the doctor
arrives. They never arrive at the given time.
Little children get very restless and parents have to bear the brunt.
The greed for money and lack of principles has brought about this. It is
understandable if the doctor is delayed due to a delivery or something
beyond their control.
When they do finally arrive they are in an almighty hurry and have no
time for the patient as their main concern is to get to the next
hospital where more patients are waiting. Empathy is a quality lacking
in most doctors today.
A particular Neurosurgeon treats his patient like 'dirt', and has no
humane qualities. The poorest of the poor sometimes from the most remote
parts of the country come to him after a laborious process of queuing up
in the early hours of the morning to get a number. Is this the price we
have to pay for privatization?
ROSHANTHA FERNANDO, Nawala
Whether one is the Chief Minister, President, Former President, Party
Leader or Senior Advisor of the UNESCO, inherent traits do not wither or
get reformed when those individuals are not humble enough to look within
themselves, correct their shortcomings, or if they do not have the
welfare of the country or society at large in their hearts.
This is very unfortunate in the case of Chandrika Kumaratunga whose
driving force is vengeance, viciousness, vindictiveness and arrogance.
Those qualities are unfortunately, not leadership qualities - it only
exposes a person's weakness that she cannot go beyond 'petty politics'.
After eleven years at the helm, it has yet not seeped into her
arrogant head, that she is no longer 'The President' or that she is now
yet another citizen of this country like any of us.
Now what she needs to do, is to live upto the dignity expected of
having acquired a Senior Advisor post with the UNESCO and conduct her
duties to that organisation with absolute commitment and with a sense of
responsibility that position holds for the Asian Region. Facilitating
her to dabble with Sri Lankan local politics is not the reason why she
probably was given the UNESCO post!
Has she forgotten that or typical of her nature, does she take the
UNESCO for 'a door-mat' to be trampled and pushed around according to
her whims and fancies?
The recent interview she gave to the Sunday Leader shows what
principles she has and also that she is not ashamed to make use of the
very people who were trailing her and criticising her - if she could use
them to hit out at some of her adversaries!
Now her greatest rival is our incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa
and officials of this Government - why? Because she has forgotten that
she no longer is wanted in this country or that the country has no use
of such personalities.
Her one ambition right now, is to make every possible effort, to
insult the present Government under which her brother Anura Bandaranaike
is lucky enough to be given a ministerial post!
The Sunday newspapers of November 26 both in Sinhala and English have
been full of her sob stories and her anxiety on a threat to her life,
her charges against the current IGP, ministers, SLFP and her former
lackeys!
What threat to her life when she was instrumental in helping
Prabhakaran, to smuggle his wife and children overseas 'to heavenly
life' as against the hell that he has created for the Tamil community in
the North and East?
After having granted 'a Presidential favour' to a terrorist leader,
do you think that he will try to destroy her life unless she destroys it
herself? In the recent history of this country, we have not seen anyone
as ungrateful as she is - even a terrorist leader will be thankful that
he was able to manipulate such a leader of Sri Lanka!
What is she trying to achieve? Disruption of programmes that the
current President is trying to achieve while making every effort to
maintain the sovereignty of Sri Lanka.
The 'green eyed monster' called jealousy in Chandrika Kumaratunga,
will never cease until either she destroys someone else or destroys
herself spiritually as well as her dignity. The more she manipulates,
the more she exposes her true nature, the more people will understand
her real mission in this country to destroy it!
It is a great wonder that UNESCO is not following the current events
in the newspapers to see for themselves what people have been trying to
advise them about her personality. They must judge whether or not she is
capable of maintaining the trust that they have put on her - not only in
words but in deeds!
UN organisations have been losing their credibility as being an
impartial body, working for the welfare of nations and if they do not do
anything to control the disciplines expected of their staff; they will
lost what ever respect is left for their organisations, not only in Sri
Lanka but also in other Asian countries!
We would hate to see her taking the UNESCO to the dirty levels that
she took Sri Lanka!
DARMITHA, Kotte
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