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| Thursday, 20 September 2001 |
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Letters | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Sports Obituaries
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The UNP by its machinations prevented the passage of Emergency Regulations when they were about to be presented. Out of the many anti-national acts committed by them this was one. The police today are functioning half-heartedly because the Emergency Regulations are not supporting them. The airport bomb blast could have been prevented if the Regulations were in force. Now that the coast is clear the government must at once pass the Emergency. To what lengths could a disgruntled political party go, that it does not care what
happens to the people or the country. All what they want is political power to gad about.
Remind ourselves of Ronnie de Mel, who said, 'If without power if they are behaving in
such a manner, what of they get power'. It is very often announced by Gampola railway station that today "Podimenike" train is about one hour late; Kandy-Nawalapitiya baby train is about half an hour late and so forth, no train is on schedule. Even during Coal-Engine days 1949-1957, trains kept to time. Today with high-powered locomotives no train is on time - Why? In addition to train delays, derailments are a frequent occurrence - causing immense hardship to commuters. Adding insult to injury, the General Manager Railways assures "uninterrupted train
service" - vide "Daily News" of 11-9-2001. Distortion of an important event The news readers on SLBC on the 13th and 14 of September 2001 referred to an important news item in which was highlighted the administration of the Local Government system by the late Prime Minister Mr. S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike. I very clearly heard that his assassination took place in 1958 which announcement over Radio Ceylon is a distortion of an important historical event. The late Mr. Bandaranaike was shot at his Rosmead Place residence on September 25, 1959 and later died at the General Hospital, Colombo. On September 26 the late Mr. W. Dahanayake was sworn in as the New Prime Minister. The above information could be checked from the Ceylon Fergusons Directory. All commentators just describe what the players do. People know when it is a "fine stroke, a magnificent catch, an on drive, a late cut, a boundary, a marvellous six" and so and so forth. Even an urchin in a rural area would be able to tell a thing or two about cricket. Some commentators even coach the players from their "box". Sorry, spectators, viewers do not accept your views. People are now well qualified in every aspect of their great game. GAMINI DEVAPURA-Negombo. We do not endorse the declaration of war on nations by President Bush and Collin Powell. Under provocation and anger President Bush and his colleagues should not make statements which will antagonise other nations who are also under terrorist threats. Terrorism is a global one and many a nation has suffered. Because of the few terrorists who brought about the senseless, dastardly and cowardly attack on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon, American hierarchy should not arouse the people to unleash attack on innocent people. For the last two decades Sri Lanka has suffered the most under the LTTE terrorists. There had been attacks on Airport, Central Bank, Galadari Hotel etc. etc. No nation came to our rescue and our President Kumaratunga did not declare war on the Tamils. It must be noted that the LTTE terrorists took refuge in Western countries and some countries were the training ground for these Tigers. Not only training in sophisticated arms but also funds were collected to procure arms. We are a small nation but stood the attacks which were unprecedented in the history of Sri Lanka. America is reaping the harvest for all their atrocities perpetuated on other nations like Hiroshima in Japan, Iraq, Vietnam and helping countries like Israel against Palestinians who have been driven away from their homeland. Therefore, the Big Power like the United States of America has to bring to book and before justice the culprits who brought about this mass destructions. It must be also remembered that nationals from other nations have lost their lives. Let
President Bush and Collin Powell to explore the possibilities of tracking down the
terrorists who are preparing for further onslaught. Declaration of war against nations is
a futile effort. Coming to United States in 1993, I thought I have come to a new world; a world with human rights, without bombs and brutal force, but what I have seen today has changed almost my whole life, my view of the United States and overall the world itself. Where will I be safe if not in the States? -or is it really true that there shall be no real peace until we die? I felt like writing this because I know what it feels like. Now I think all of my friends also know what countries with the problem of terrorism have to go through everyday. Imagine having your country located just miles away from "problematic countries;" then you will easily realize numbers like 50,000 is a lot. Now what shall we do? Forgive!? Judith Mammay states in her poem that; "Forgiveness is letting go of the pain and accepting what has happened, because it will not change," "Forgiveness is looking at the pain, learning the lessons it has produced, and understanding what we have learned." But how far can we go with forgiveness? Whom are we to decide if we should forgive or what action we shall take? Some of you must be thinking definitely not! Not forgive! Not after all this. Well, I really do not know. I just hope that "people above us" our trusted "leaders" are sure of what they are doing, because we need to realize that the easiest way to react to such a horrific catastrophe would be out of anger, to ask for revenge, to want to see someone else hurt as much as you are hurting right now. Then I must warn you my friends; these are the same exact feelings what cause the terrorist attacks in the first place no matter where you are, who you are. I, "once more," deeply in heart pray that this is the last of all and never
to be repeated once more. I would like to conclude my letter to you all by asking triple
gem to bless and protect the families and relatives for all those people who has lost
their lives and fast healing for the wounded and also ask healing for "the broken
hearts" and the feelings. People residing at Maligawatte are living at the point of danger due to rival gang
leaders struggling for leadership and freely making use of all kinds of weapons. Recently
six or seven have died and many injured. I request the Minsiter of Defence to place the
Army to prevent any more trouble and to give these people a chance to live in peace. |
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