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In the months leading to the Iraq invasion, there was a flurry of
demonising rhetoric against Saddam Hussein from the leaders of the
Western coalition, with generous servings of mind-boggling deception and
misinformation.
The practical purpose behind the chronicling of Saddam's alleged
atrocities was that it provided a pretext for the long term strategy of
occupation. Colonial invasions always either purported to 'liberate'
victims from barbarity or wrest control from the 'perpetrators' with the
stated altruistic aim of 'civilising' by subjugation.
Iraq is now bleeding to death by the insidious divisions created and
highlighted by the occupiers. In Saddam's Iraq, both Sunni and Shia
lived happily together, intermarried, and had strong bonds. Suicide
bombings were unheard of. Being tribal, Iraqis do have a propensity for
violent aggression. That is why the Americans have been bogged in this
quagmire for so long. So, the 'enemy' had to be divided, lest they join
forces to drive the reviled Americans out.
Somalia is the latest front on the 'War on terror'. Exactly the same
thing will happen there, if Americans intervene using Ethiopia. In
Sudan, civil war is being fomented between Arab and Negro. Palestinians
have been divided by favouring Fatah against Hamas (thankfully not an
ethnic division) Lebanon is simmering beneath the surface.
After successfully widening the divide between Tamil and Sinhala in
Sri Lanka, Norway (a small time player) has now entered Palestine. The
Western 'mediators' favour parties averse to taking risks for peace,
while acceding to their demands.
The language of the big western players is 'humanitarian'
intervention. History clearly and unequivocally proves that every major
invasion or occupation has been justified as a humanitarian or 'civilising'
mission.
The 'barbarity' among the colonised, not to mention the 'brutality'
of 'terror' as it is now portrayed, serves as a licence to terrorise and
brutalise entire societies, killing millions of innocent civilians.
Sadly for Iraq, Iran and other selected 'hot-spots', they also just
'happen' to be rich in scarce resources, which makes intervention
'worthwhile'.
To pretend that the carefully guarded civilisation of refined,
unified and multi-cultural values of the West are unassailable while
promoting the opposite elsewhere is cruel, callous, vicious and
despicable.
LASANTHA PETHIYAGODA,
Australia, via email
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We, the residents at Dahanwela compound undergo immense hardships
over the disposal of garbage in the area. Although, we have appealed to
the Chairman,
Kotikawatte/Mulleriyawa Pradeshiya Sabha on several occasions to
furnish the area with garbage bins, as made available earlier, we notice
our appeals fallen into deaf ears.
The scavenging lorry from the Kotikawatte/Mulleriyawa Pradeshiya
Sabha visits the area only on two days a week i.e. on Mondays and
Wednesdays to collect the garbage from the households. This visit too is
limited to one or zero on certain weeks. This leaves the residents in a
very desperate situation being unable to dispose the garbage.
A visit in and around the Kotikawatte/Kohilawatte Road would enable
any individual to witness the bad sight and unbearable stench of garbage
left all over the roadside creating more hardships to the pedestrians
and the residents in that particular area.
The Kotikawatte/Mulleriyawa Pradeshiya Sabha made available garbage
bins earlier, which convenienced the residents in the area to dispose
the litter to the bins on the days the scavenging lorry does not visit.
But, for reasons only known to the Pradeshiya Sabha authorities, these
litter bins have been now removed.
Although, the Ministry of Health is taking a great effort to fight
the breeding of mosquitoes and also to prevent the spread of other
diseases all over the country, due to accumulation of garbage, we find
the Pradeshiya Sabha authorities are not keen in assisting the Health
Authorities in the above attempt.
Therefore, we once again appeal to the Kotikawatte/Mulleriyawa
Pradeshiya Sabha authorities to take immediate steps to introduce the
garbage bins in the Kotikawatte areas to enable us to dispose the
garbage to the litter bins in the absence of the scavenging lorry.
The Chairman, Kotikawatte/Mulleriyawa Pradeshiya Sabha please take
necessary action.
A. S. Munasinghe,
Angoda
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The international media always mentions that the LTTE is fighting for
Tamils in Sri Lanka. Then who is Ananda Sangaree. (Reference DN March
23). Remember that the LTTE only standing for the murderous LTTE members
and its suppoters.
Anyone who opposes or condemns their murderous activities will be
eliminated. I (as a born Sinhalese of Sri lanka) appreciate Ananda
Sangaree's view on this issue and his efforts in finding a peaceful
solution for the current problem in the country. Of course the same
applies to all extremist Sinhalese too.
They should understand that this problem should come to an early
settlement. If they indulge it at this historic moment there will not be
a Sri Lanka for neither Sinhalese nor Tamils in another 20 years - if
the current situation continues.
All these Sinhala and Tamil leaders will go into the history book as
the saviours of our beloved Motherland. I wish the Government and the
Tamil leaders will implement whatever the solution accepted and isolate
the LTTE if they refuse to accept it. Hats off to all those involve on
bringing this issue to a peaceful settlement.
NIMAL, Australia,
via email
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There have been two or three letters about the hassle of getting a
visa to India. I write to highlight the shortcomings of the visa
handlers (VFS office) to Britain, located on a 'No parking area' on
Duplication Road. The UFS does not provide for any parking inside the
premises being only a 3-storeyed building.
So we are forced to park down the lanes, close to the VFS, much to
the irritation of the residents, who berate us for messing up their
residential area.
Although VFS provides seating accommodation inside, it is totally
insufficient, and like beggars, most of us have to queue up in the sun.
The VFS office should re-locate to a place with enough parking for at
least 15 vehicles (perhaps outside Colombo) and a spacious building.
Britain earns a huge amount of money selling visas. I am sure VFS
therefore, is paid handsomely by the British High Commission. Surely VFS
can rent out a large premises (building and garden) somewhere in greater
Colombo, without annoying us, the visa seekers, and their present
neighbourhood, which is residential.
B. SIVANATHAN,
Nawala
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The Office of the Registration of Persons has shifted its entrance
from Keppitipola Mawatha to Jawatte Road. Obviously, this has been done
for the sake of security as many officers of the Armed Forces and
Police, Ministers and other Government officers reside on Kepptipola
Mawatha.
However, now hundreds of people congregate on either side of Jawatte
Road, opposite the new entrance, causing severe inconvenience to road
users, both pedestrian and vehicular traffic. People have to walk in the
midle of the road to navigate past the crowds, exposing themselves to
being knocked down by vehicles.
I have seen a Traffic Policeman around this area, but he apparently
does not see anything and stands in the shade.
On most days, VVIPs use this road and their security vehicles break
all speed records in trying to get their VVIPs out of harm's way.
Imagine one of these security vehicles mowing down people who are
crowding around the entrance to the ROPs office.
If the security establishment is concerned about the security of
VVIPs, the solution is to shift this office to another location, which
is less prone to security risk and less congested. At least let the
people who visit this office have a place to sit rather than roast in
the sun in the open road.
Many are writing to the newspapers about the callous treatment of our
citizens at Diplomatic Missions when they seek visas.
First, let our own officials treat our people with dignity in our own
offices rather than keep attacking Foreign Missions. Of course, I agree
that these Missions should treat our citizens with dignity and respect,
just as much they would expect our Missions abroad to do likewise to
their citizens.
QUINTUS DE SILVA,
Colombo 5
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This is a good one. now we need to ask Mr. Bush what does he think
about this as he is fighting against terrorists and he has named Al-Qaeda
as a terrorist organisation.
Now as the LTTE have done a deal, is he going to track down all the
members link to the LTTE? (Reference DN March 20)
SHANE ALMEIDA,
via email |
