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| Monday, 13 December 2004 |
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Editorial | |
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| Please forward your comments to the Editor, Daily News. Email : editor@dailynews.lk Snail mail : Daily News, 35, D.R. Wijewardene Mawatha, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Telephone : 94 11 2429429 / 94 11 2421181 Fax : 94 11 2429210 Mob violence and murder The bloody attack on a musical extravaganza held at the Colombo Race Course Grounds on Saturday night featuring a galaxy of Indian show-biz personalities, popularly known as the Shah Rukh Khan show, evokes the spectre, once again of intolerance in Sri Lanka. This attack which was launched despite apologies being made for its conduct on a day considered sacred by some, by its organisers and even some of the Indian artistes involved, meets with our strongest condemnation. We consider this act of destruction and mayhem, which caused the deaths of two persons, as a maniacal attempt at suppressing the rights of the citizenry. It also violates the values held sacred by the religions of this country. Right away it needs to be pointed out that acts such as these which bespeak intolerance and hatred, of those who do not share one's views and convictions, are not backed by the majority of the people. These brazen acts of intolerance are the handiwork of only a microscopic minority who are hellbent on imposing their agendas on others. Such groups and personalities need to remember that in this democratic country of ours everyone enjoys the same rights and freedoms. There is no question of an intolerant few imposing their views on others in complete violation of the democratic norms we all hold sacred. As on Saturday night this inadvisable short-sightedness ended in mob violence and the tragic death of two persons in the audience, two innocent victims viewing the show, who had caused no harm to anyone. The right to life without let or hindrance and the rule of law is sacred and inalienable and every citizen of this multi-religious, multi-racial country has a right to live without fear of having their lives destroyed like brutal conscienceless criminals who today take delight in naked violence. The possibility cannot also be ruled out of disgruntled extremists having instigated these attackers, whose hands are now bloodied - in fact they are red with the blood of innocents. If so, it is most unfortunate because such demented intervention only intensifies the bloody circle of political strife. Saturday night's disgrace is also further proof of how far Sri Lanka is from completely realising its democratic ideals. December 10 was World Human Rights Day and President Kumaratunga spoke to our hearts of the need to ensure the flourishing of human rights in our land. She also spoke of the need to find a democratic solution to our conflict which is high on the national agenda. There is no denying the fact that tolerance and mutual respect need to reign in inter-communal as well as personal relations, if we are to evolve a democratic solution to our conflict. We need to bear in mind that violence and intolerance would only lead to continuous strife and hatred. They would in no way pave the way for an atmosphere of amity at any level of society. Accordingly, Saturday night's bloody assault should only spur the Government and all those desirous of peace and reconciliation to keep on forging ahead with the task of completely democratising our polity and once more returning Sri Lanka to the show case democracy it was. We stress here with all our fervour that every citizen of this country of whatever religion, political hue or race should give their maximum, unstinted support to President Kumaratunga in her unrelenting efforts to restore this country to unity, peace and prosperity. |
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