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The toll of terror

The hostage crisis in Southern Russia where dissident gunmen held some 1,500 persons - mostly schoolchildren - captive brought home to the world the inhumanity of political terrorism. The Russian authorities were compelled to enforce the law, which is understandable.

On the firing line of the gunmen were scores of precious lives, law and order and morality - all prized possessions of civilisation and social advancement.

The unfolding drama reminds us that the spiral of violence sweeping most parts of the globe today considers nothing sacred and is absolutely immune to ethical compunctions.

In other words, political violence both destroys and brutalizes; disfiguring beyond recognition man's identity as a thinking, caring being. The fact that a multitude of young lives are figuring in this senseless episode, greatly compounds its poignancy.

The question which forces itself on the conscience of the world is - how have these children earned this cruel fate? Why make them suffer helplessly for a dispute which pertains to the adult world, and which is not of their making?

The answer to this conundrum is perhaps that man's inhumanity would know no bounds amid conditions which are viewed by some as desperate.

In fact, children's precious blood has been spilt in vain from time immemorial on the altar of political expediency.

From the infanticidal blood baths of Biblical times to the genocidal violence of Hitlerite Germany, the refugee camp massacres of the Middle-East, Rwanda-Burundi and the child-soldier syndrome of Lanka's North-East, the holiest injunctions against the abuse of children have been brazenly and mindlessly violated.

These are moments in history when man's darkest passions and hatreds have been unleashed and infanticidal violence seems to be now gripping Southern Russia.

Our hope is that the voice of reason would be heeded by those holding those scores of persons hostage in Southern Russia. There is simply no hope or future for those who "live by the sword".

Worse still, if these blight the lives of the young and helpless. Such murderous violence leaves a long trail of blood which is usually avenged and gives rise in turn to a spiral of violence which devastates persons and states.

So we call on all those holding helpless lives hostage anywhere in the world to consider the costs of their actions. Violence only begets violence and hatred never ceases by hatred.

It is up to the world community to lose no time in bringing pressure on the dissident gunmen to renounce their murderous stand and to see the error of their ways. All legitimate forms of pressure should be brought on the terrorists to compel them to realise the consequences of their actions. This is an opportunity for the UN to prove its worth.

Dear, deer

The Wildlife Department Office in Lunugamvehera is reportedly on a work to rule campaign. The reason - a police officer had arrested a gamekeeper along with some venison.

According to the game keeper, he seized the venison from a poacher who however escaped. Being a dutiful public servant, he lost no time in performing the next step. He sped off to the Wildlife Office with the contraband to register charges against the poacher.

His journey was interrupted by two men in khaki at Bogahawewa and alas, he was arrested for transporting venison. None of his protestations that the venison was seized from a poacher and that he was taking it as a court production made an impression with them.

On the contrary, it was our pal with a sense of duty who ended up before a judge. He had to part with Rs. 10,000 to obtain bail. He would have had a lot to feel aggrieved about.

In a tit for tat measure, a police sergeant's house was promptly searched by Wildlife officials for hidden venison. The Wildlife Dept. appear determined to get their own over their brethren in the police force. They want their pound of flesh, so to speak.

They may be gamekeepers but they too are enforcers of the law. Here was their colleague huffing and puffing his way with the parcel of bleeding venison, performing his duty. Then the poor man gets booked - a case of the hunter becoming the hunted. Something he must have least bargained for when he wheeled his bicycle with the precious evidence.

The fallout of this episode could have interesting possibilities. The Police would claim they were only doing their duty. They would quote the Flora and Fauna act or some such law to justify the arrest of the gamekeeper.

The gamekeeper also has every reason to be bitter. Here was he with the opportunity to trade the venison for a few bucks but ending poorer by Rs. 10,000. The case is still pending before the Courts. But one can only feel sorry for the poor soul.

We cannot foresee what form this business will take. One only hopes it would not further tarnish the image of our law enforcement establishments. As it is, the battle between these two brother units could only but evoke mirth among the public.

What does the work to rule by the Wild Life Department imply? Will poachers have a free run until the dispute is settled? The Wild Life Department has already called for ministerial intervention in the matter. We hope this tussle over meat will not meet an unfortunate end.

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