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| Tuesday, 27 January 2004 |
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A President's nominee would have prevented crisis Had there been a presidential nominee at the peace talks with the Tamil Tigers, the government would not have reached the dead end they found themselves in today. There would not have arisen a situation for PM to offer the entire peace process lock stock and barrel to the President to continue after effecting necessary amendments had there been a representative from the President from the day one. In fact, it is the PM who brought the peace process up to this stage with all the difficulties and despite all kinds of violations by the Tamil Tigers. Hence the PM should be able to continue with it to see it bear fruit or otherwise. But circumstances had warranted him to almost abdicate the process and invite President to take over from where he applied breaks. The PM is of the opinion that it is because of the change of portfolios that he cannot continue with it, as he now does not wield the power to "halt" any military acts. Whether the PM really did wield the power to halt military acts is what matters. According to him, yes he did. He goes by the mandate he received. The mandate PM received from the people was the weapon with which he tried to protect his own baby the peace process. That seems to be why PM never wanted to invite or associate with a representative from President at peace talks. Such participation would have belittled the mandate PM received, one can argue. On the other hand President has been clearly announcing nationally and internationally that it was she who had initiated the peace with Tigers. One can argue that such pronouncements are highly selfish in nature. Whoever brings, peace is peace. What matters is peace not who brought it. But in Sri Lankan context what matters is who, not what. Under such circumstances the wisest decision would have been not to antagonize anybody. Yes, PM did try his best from day one not to antagonize anybody. One can argue whether the mandate he received created an ego, which prevented him from inviting a nominee from President. Initially even a presidential request to have a nominee was turned down. Unfortunately PM seems to be a little too late to get Presidential participation now. Is damage already done? At this stage will the President accept a half-baked cake of which she does not know the recipe? Even if she accepts, is the President powerful enough to carry forward the peace process without the legislative authority? This is the deadlock or the dead end one meets when one tries to handle a task that needs the backing of the executive, legislature and the entire nation. Whoever attempts to tackle a national issue that effects the entire nation, needs the backing of the entire nation. Political affiliations apart. Beside the political party affiliations, according to the constitution such acts need the participation of the executive the legislature and peoples participation at a referendum. With such safeguards in built in the Constitution it is unbelievable that one party or the government alone can solve a national issue all by itself. When the Ceasefire Agreement was arranged and before placing signatures on it, both parties should have realized that such a document would be complete only if authorized by the commander in chief of the armed forces. Mainly because, according to the Constitution, war or peace can be declared only by the President who happened to be the Commander in Chief. How can ground forces ceasefire without the knowledge of the commander in chief? The relevant minister carries out the orders of the commander in chief who is happened to be the President. Luckily the President did not initiate an offensive through her commanders when violations occur while talks were on. Technically speaking it was a massive risk. Had there been a representative from the President nobody could have commented that PM is not empowered to carry on the peace process after the change of portfolios. Even without the defence portfolio handled by a government minister, PM would not have encountered any so-called disability had there been a nominee from the President. Such a nominee would have been the "authoritative go-between". Such an arrangement would have given the peace talks the necessary all party assurance and a clear passage at a future voting in the Parliament and at a referendum. But unfortunately that had not happened. Today the government is highly worried that without the defence portfolio in their hand the Tigers might not agree for the composition of the government. But truly speaking even during the time talks were going on, the power to declare war or peace was in the hand of the President as the commander in chief. Tigers were fully aware of it. They did not make it a big issue because what they wanted was to get whatever is offered by the government. The Tigers were and are having their "set up" in perfect order in north and east. What they want is to legalize what they have. Their ISGA (Interim Self-Government Authority) is very clear on that aspect. The Tigers were aware that status quo has not changed as a result of change of portfolios. That is why the change did not bother the Tigers much. They only recalled their cadre back to Kilinochchi when the change occurred. Now they are back in their areas living happily in peace. The change of portfolios seems to be an issue in the south only. When the change of portfolios was turned out to be an issue in the south, the Tigers announced that they are ready to talk with any strong government in the south. It seems their agenda would not get disturbed as a result of a mere change of portfolios. In other words they are ready for any eventuality. What is required is a strong alliance in the south to meet the demands from the north. Some time back Anton Balasingham made it clear that this government is not strong enough to grant their demands. The Tigers want an all-powerful government to grant them the legality for their set up. When a weak government granted them a ceasefire they got strengthened militarily and otherwise. They never wanted to question the ability of the government and abandon the talks. They utilized the governmental weakness to get what they wanted. Minister Marapone's acceptance of the fact that Tigers have doubled their strength during the peace talks is a very bold declaration of truth. The country know what the Tigers are up to. The government with very clear intentions started the peace process. But can a government arrive at a conclusion on a national issue that will effect present and the future generations, all by itself? The government should get the backing of the entire nation, not only the parties in the Parliament, to carry forward the peace talks. The nation will back the government to the hilt when they know that it is an honourable peace, no body violates it and all the representatives of the people who wield the legislative and executive authority are aware of what is being discussed. Until such time it will be an elusive peace. SUBASH WICKRAMASINGHE, Mount Lavinia Radio and television advertisement Having read Dr. Jayawardene's letter on the captioned issue, I write in agreement with all what she had to write. Essentially capitalism and advertising moves in tandem in a systemic structure. Today in Sri Lanka, unfortunately what we see is not capitalism as seen in countries that practice real capitalism. What we see in Sri Lanka today is a 'mayhem or even could be better defined as the exploitation of limited resources by a handful of individual that control the system for the personal gains and corporate profits. In the process, if increasing corporate profits, they lose sight of other human values. Advertising is a survival strategy in a 'dog eat dog' competition situation. While advertising adds to the cost of the product that is being advertised, the somewhat ignorant end consumer falls a prey to the colourful advertisement that is seen all the time and end up patronizing the advertisers. Sri Lankan economy is yet driven by agriculture. Advertising is so effective that at times a dairy farmer who makes a living by selling fresh milk will be driven to buy dried milk powder due to the excessive advertising. The consumer is forced to buy something that is for the most part is not an essential item. Unfortunately this is the harsh reality of effective advertising. Advertising creates false sense of importance and misleads the end users. Unfortunately, as a result of years of uncontrolled and uncensored colourful advertisement that the consumers are bombarded with, they are driven to feel guilty if they don't subscribe to the advertisements. Indiscipline, unprecedented drop of moral values of once a conservative society are the visible results of such indiscriminate advertising. India recently brought about regulations against discriminatory advertising. Unfortunately, millions of money is channelled to promote imported consumer goods and in the process the local products are discarded. End result is some foreign organisation becomes the beneficiary of aggressive advertising in Sri Lanka. This is a national tragedy. If this uncontrolled advertising continues, we are heading for another disaster. UPUL ARUNAJITH, Canada Repeatedly I am asked whether I can do the cataract surgery by laser. No cataract surgery by laser is available, not only in Sri Lanka but so far nowhere in the world is cataract surgery done by laser - there is no such technique invented yet. Laser is used for treatment of various other eye diseases - commonest is diabetic retinopathy, some types of glaucoma and for a diminished vision following cataract surgery in some eyes - due to a condition called posterior subcapsulas thickening. What patients may be confusing with, is the cataract surgery done by phaco emulsification. This is merely an equipment by which surgery is done - which enables the incision to be smaller. It has nothing to do with laser. DR. MAREENA THAHA REFFAI, Dehiwela |
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