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Towards the North

Now that the dust has settled on the Eastern Provincial poll no time should be lost by the Government in setting its sights in restoring democracy in the North too as it has vowed to do.

The overwhelming response of the Eastern population at the hustings demonstrated how much it had been yearning for democracy which no doubt would be the case with the people of the North as well.

It also showed the political maturity of the Easterners and their eagerness to be governed by their own local representatives wherein they could have a direct say in their affairs.

Similar sentiments would no doubt be harboured by the people of the North as well who would like to break out of their cloistered oppressive existence at the mercy of a ruthless band of terrorists and enjoy a normal life like the rest of their brethren in the country.

The people of the North no doubt will be keenly observing the unfolding scenario in the neighbouring East in the aftermath of the polls where its populace will be savouring the fruits of democracy after being oppressed for over two decades.

It is important that the Government does not lose valuable time in the afterglow of its convincing victory and instead up the momentum of the gigantic development tasks it had undertaken for the Province so that the East may indeed turn out to be a model in development for the rest of the country.

It is incumbent therefore that the interim council to oversee development of the North gets cracking without delay so that the Eastern development will have its spillover into the adjacent areas of the North. The high-powered Committee (headed by Minister Douglas Devananda) appointed in this regard has already begun work.

But the full benefits of any development programme for the North presupposes the total defeat of the LTTE and this mission the Government has undertaken with unprecedented zeal with many Tiger strongholds falling into the hands of the forces.

It is hoped that the Government’s ongoing military campaign would eliminate the LTTE threat as it did in the East before long and the North too integrated into the scheme of things.

In this context it is vital the Government proceed towards making Eastern development an attractive venture in all respects so that it would gain the attention of the people of the North who would yearn for the same opportunities that had been denied to them which would in turn increase their resentment towards the LTTE. This may indirectly help the Government in its military thrust.

True, the North may present a different kettle of fish in respect of development needs for unlike the East it is the North which had borne the brunt of the three decades long conflict which has reduced the Northern landscape to a wasteland.

Its dynamics too are different to the East and much thought should go into its eventual rebuilding taking into account the various configurations. Developing the infrastructure in the battle-scarred North itself would be a mindboggling prospect which the Government may not be able to handle on its own.

It is therefore doubly important that the Eastern project be given pride of place so that its success could be marketed as a catalyst for aid flow to develop the North. All parties should shed their differences and join in this gigantic exercise.

The rancour that marked the just concluded polls should be put aside for the greater good of the Eastern population. The opposition had already declared it would cooperate with all pro-people projects that will be undertaken by the newly formed Eastern Provincial Council.

This certainly is the right approach and in the right spirit. Political wrangling is the last thing one needs given the magnitude of the task ahead. The Government too should strive to work in a spirit of magnanimity. We are not yet aware who the Chief Minister of the Eastern Province would be.

This is also the first time a breakaway group of the LTTE is sampling democratic rule. It is therefore incumbent on all actors to ensure the experiment would be a success and more, prove a catalyst for the induction of more armed elements to the democratic mainstream.

Whatever happened to allopathy?

HERBALISM in Britain has not got totally wiped out even today. In its day it was set up by an act of Parliament in the time of Henry V111. But two new concepts, astrology and magic, were drawn in to reinforce the strength of herbal lore.

Full Story

Bullies move from R2P TO GSP Plus

The European Union appears to have taken a page out of Shakespeare and is, like Shylock, demanding its pound of flesh unless we conform to their demands. Their demand, in this instance comes all dressed up in very moral attire, namely the conforming with treaties and obligations pertaining to Human Rights.

Full Story

Disciplining three wheeler drivers

There is no doubt that the three-wheeler is a common man’s vehicle that serves the length and the breadth of the country. It goes into the most difficult areas of the country where public transport is simply not available, catering to the needs of the common people whose only hope is the three-wheeler in the times of need.

Full Story

 

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