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Defence cooperation agreements with Pakistan and ChinaTHE Defence Minister of India Pranab Mukergee has ruled out any form of a Defence Agreement with this country even though what was envisaged was not a mutual defence treaty but a formal statement incorporating the assistance already being given to this country. The Indian Government is being held hostage by the political parties which support the LTTE and that is no secret. We are a sovereign nation and at a time like this when we face an unprecedented threat to the security of our country, if India is unable to help for whatever reason then we need to look elsewhere; let us ask the Governments of Pakistan and China which have come to our Aid in the past to offer us limited assistance to secure our skies and our territorial waters; such a limited engagement would pose no threat to India and India has no right or reason to object unless of course she wishes to be like the dog in the manger; then let us say do the worst you can, nothing can be worse than this situation for killings by the LTTE will continue with impunity and we are helpless to stop this; we need to put paid to their capacity to engage our Navy and our Air Force. Our security is a matter for us so long as the measures we take pose no threat to any third country. We demand of the Government that it immediately take up this matter with the Governments of Pakistan and China, if they wish the assistance to be formalized then let us by all means do so. The Agreements could be for a limited period and should relate only to the safety of our air space and our territorial sea and until the threat is dealt with and a just peace acceptable to all parties is realized. C. SILVA Hajj - The festival of sacrificeAS Muslims from around the world gather to perform the annual pilgrimage of Hajj (the fifth pillar of Islam) in answer to Allah's call, the unity of Muslims is very evident. The rich and poor, the ruler and ruled, the king and slave, stand side by side, shoulder to shoulder, in submission to the Lord or creator and sustainer. Here the largest number from all over, gather at one place in the world, to remember their Lord in submission to him. Pilgrimage to the House is a duty to Allah, by all who can find the way, and means to perform it. Allah says in The Holy Quran; 'Perform Hajj and Umrah for Allah.' - (Ch-2-196). The most important fact, those who go for Hajj should keep in mind, is to hold on to patience. It is here that patience and sacrifice have to be cultivated. The intention that Prophet Ibrahim made, to sacrifice his son, in accordance with Allah's decree. Prophet Ibrahim's faith was so strong that he wanted to comply with Allah's command. Circumambulating the Kaabah seven times' is the first act the pilgrim performs, after which he prays 2 rakats behind Makam Ibrahim, and then drink water of Zam Zam. They then proceed to perform Saee. This is running to and fro between Safa and Marwa. This is in keeping with how Hajara ran between the two hills in search of water when her child was left with her, by Prophet Ibrahim. When she ran thus seven times between the two hills, she found the water, bubbling at the feet of little Ishmael. That was the fountain of Zam Zam that Hajara discovered. She said 'Zam Zam' meaning stop, as it was spouting water, more than they needed. But even today that stream still spouts water that pilgrims satisfy themselves with. All the rituals have to be performed in keeping with Quran and Sunnah. On the eight day the pilgrims proceed to Mina where they stay till sunrise next day, the ninth of Dhul Hajj. Here they spend the day in prayer (Dua) and repentance. They can shorten the prayers whilst there. On the ninth day they proceed to Arafat. When proceeding from Mina to Arafat, they have to recite Talbiya. 'Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik - Labbaik la Sharika laka Labbaik' Innalhamd wanni Mata Laka wal mulk' Lasharika lak. At Arafat they remain in prayer and repentance' and glorifies Allah. They will listen to the Khuthba at Masjid Namira' and then pray Dhuhr and Asr, repent and ask forgiveness. After sunset they leave for Musdalifah. Combine Magrib and Isha prayers with 2 rakats each and stay the night there. Leave Muzdalifah for Mina after Magribh. Combine Magribh and Isha prayers with 2 rakats each and stay the night there. Leave Musdalifah. At Mina, the pilgrim throws seven pebbles. The pilgrim will proceed to slaughter a sheep, or cow (one seventh share) as sacrifice. On the tenth day he will once again circumambulate the Kaabah and pray at Makaam Ibrahim. After the tenth day, and completion of all the rituals, the pilgrim will proceed to perform the Farewell Tawaaf. After the Farewell Tawaaf the pilgrim leaves Mecca. He may then visit Madinah. This is neither obligatory, nor part of Hajj, but a Sunnah. At Madinah they may visit Masjid Quba, the Prophets mosque, and pray there, though this is optional. AYSHA YUSUF - Planning approvals by C.M.C.BUILDING approvals to all premises in Colombo are vested with the Colombo Municipal Council being delegated the authority to grant such approvals by the UDA. This arrangement has been in force since the inception of the UDA Act, in 1978, except in the year 2001, when Mangala Samaraweera as Minister of Urban Development Authority withdrew the delegation that was being held by the C.M.C. Building plans submitted for approval to the CMC in respect of houses and commercial properties are being inadvertently delayed as the Mayor Prasanna Gunawardene has taken over the responsibility of signing building approvals, certificate of conformity, sub-division plans etc, since middle 2002. House builders and prospective developers have to wait a minimum of 4 to 5 months in order to receive letters of approval as all documents for signature are held up at the Mayor's office. While house builders are perturbed and angry over this long delay and ask why the Mayor cannot allow the approval to be granted by the respective engineers, who have been handling this responsibility for many decades. Certain Municipal Councillors from the Opposition and Government group are being contracted to expedite such approvals for large fees. The house builders question as to why no action is being taken in this regard. M.T.M. ZAREEN - No respite for poultry farmersTHE poultry owners in the Eastern province have not yet received any compensation since the Tsunami had devastated the industry in the region. The divisional secretaries and reluctant to pay compensation to the poultry owners, who had faced severe set back in their industry. A successful poultry farmer from new Dutch Bar Road, Kallady Batticaloa has lost around 3000 birds in his poultry. Two out of his ten poultry farm labourers had lost their lives in the disaster. Several of his farm vehicles were washed away in the Tsunami. The divisional secretary says that he has not received any funds from the Government. Even the several non Governmental organisations operate in the Tsunami hit areas are also ignorant on the plight of the poultry farmers in the East. Therefore the poultry farmers who now find it difficult to make a living, earnestly appeal to the Government, Banks and the NGO's to help them rebuild their poultry industry. K. KUNARASA - Random ThoughtsWE had gathered by the fence as good neighbours would and the day's topic was, as usual, of cabbages and kings and ceiling wax. Mrs. Ekan was waxing eloquent as is her wont. She spoke of her visit to the fish monger and how she had haggled over the weights and measures to tilt the scales in her favour and the harassed vender had thrust an extra fish in her bag to placate a necessary nuisance. Supercillious? We wondered and then I fetched Ernest Dichter, the Motivational Researcher from the attic of my mind. "When a woman returns from the marketplace, she does not bring back merely a pound of flesh; she brings home the spoils of war," Voila! SHARM DE ALWIS - |
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