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As far as the general public in Sri Lanka is aware, there had been no
serious violations of human rights by the Government of Sri Lanka to
deserve the shabby treatment it is receiving from the Amnesty
International (AI).
The LTTE, while virtually governing the North and the East, has been
committing serious human rights violations for a long period of time and
this selfsame AI has been turning a blind eye.
Why this double-standard? Recently, the US Secretary of State Dr.
Condolezza Rice, also touched on human rights violations in Sri Lanka.
It is not clear whether she was instigated by the AI, or whether she was
reminded of her ancestors who suffered the most inhuman human rights
violations commencing from Elmina, that was the first sub-Saharan
permanent Slave Trading Post in dark Africa.
Ironically, the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade
is being celebrated this year in Ghana. Otherwise, is AI attempting to
overshadow this landmark celebrations being held in Ghana?
The slave trade, all-time tragic symbol of heinous human rights
violations was the colossus that propelled the United States to the
position of the largest economy and unchallenged super power of the
world and it continues to hold that supremacy even today.
The World War II arch enemy Japan became the greatest post-war ally
of the US. The on-going thrust of the US economy overflowed into Japan
making it the second largest economy.
For the mass murder of the Jews by the Nazis in 1939-45, the West
labelled it 'the holocaust'. It is not known whether mass blatant human
rights violations has been similarly dubbed. The West would not have
done that because it happened in the West.
If AI seriously believes that the Government is responsible for human
rights violations, why did AI fail to follow the normal course of action
to correct the position by going into discussion with the Government.
AI has not given any publicity in Sri Lanka for the benefit of the
general public that the Government is adamantly committing human rights
violations regardless of AI intervention. Therefore, the unilateral
action of the AI in the Caribbean cricket fields has serious misgivings.
The international erudite and the intelligentsia have had enough
evidence to believe that AI operations bear the hallmark of ultra
motives and double standard. At the same time, AI was held in high
dignity by the unsuspecting international community.
Overnight, AI lost that dignity too, when AI became low-minded
publicly to invade the World Cup cricket fields in the Caribbean with a
smear campaign just like the ordinary man in the street.
While being immersed in that ugly muddle, AI has committed a serious
violation of human rights by polluting the good atmosphere of the World
Cup cricket fields with a well-organised smear campaign against the Sri
Lanka team, the most balanced team in the fray and echoed all over the
world as the most prospective team to win the World Cup 2007 with the
clear intention of depriving the Sri Lanka team of the psychological
freedom to play with confidence, without any hindrance, and thus
demoralising them.
If I should have the backing of the international community, I shall
place this issue before the International Bench and the Bar, no matter
whether the Sri Lanka team win or lose. All the same, I do not intend to
usurp this opportunity from the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri
Lanka.
R. DODAMPEGAMA,
via email
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I make this request on behalf of the bus commuters residing at Cyril
C. Perera Mawatha. Bloemendhal Road, Paramanandha Vihara Mawatha, Walls
Lane and other by-roads, who are undergoing great difficulties without a
proper bus service on this route.
In the fast developing Bloemendhal area that includes commercial
establishments baggage warehouses, private apartments and other
constructions coming up, commuters including schoolchildren, shop and
office goers find great inconvenience for their daily travelling.
Therefore, I request the Minister of Transport Alahapperuma to look
into this matter and give some consolation to the people of these areas
for which I shall be ever grateful to you. All the buses coming towards
Kotahena terminates at the Kotahena bus halt.
We, the commuters of the above area coming from Pettah/Fort have to
get down at the Kotahena bus halt and walk along a distance covering
nearly 1 1/2 K.M. to reach our residence.
As such, I wish to make the following suggestion for your kind
consideration, which could serve the purpose of improving the service. I
believe that there is a possibility for the State buses to be diverted
rather than the private buses in this regard.
There are private and State buses of route no. 107 Fort-Elakanda. To
divert the State buses route no. 107 (turning into 107/1 or 107B to
indicate Bloemendhal Road) along George R. De Silva Mawatha, Bloemendhal
Road, Madampitiya Road and to enter the Thotalanga bridge and proceed to
Elakanda.
M. NAGALINGAM,
Colombo 13
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I would like to add my comments to Mr. Gunalal's letter on the above.
I am a frequent visitor to Colombo and I know how frustrating it is to
drive with increasing number of vehicles on the road. I did have the
opportunity to chat with the Traffic Police Officers and their problems
in controlling traffic on the roads.
They all said the same thing that people with influence break the
rules and get away without fines. To them the biggest culprits are the
buses and trucks, 4-Wheel Drive vehicles and three- wheelers.
The biggest problem that I see is that every driver is in an indecent
hurry to get to their destination first. I wish they would do the same
at their work place. This is a very selfish attitude and stupid as they
can only gain a few minutes and the extra stress is not worth in the
interest of their health.
If they only form a queue and be patient everyone will be able to get
to their destinations without causing chaos on the road. Every driver
must act as a policeman and use their foresight to avoid traffic jams
and allow a free flow of traffic at roundabouts and road intersections.
It is in the best interest of everyone that buses and trucks use the
near lane at all times with a maximum speed limit not exceeding 40 kmph.
I suggest that anyone who appears to be rushing and blocking oncoming
traffic must be held back for at least an hour on the roadside and
released by the traffic police. This authority must be given to the
police or else the driver face a heavy fine in thousands.
A video cassette with good road manners must be available at all
police stations and offenders must be compelled to view them before they
get their licence back from the police. Media, could also assist in
educating the public and for sure the children will pick up fast and
become good drivers eventually. They will be the best teachers for the
elders on how to drive better.
As we all know, next to owning your house, the motor vehicle is next
biggest asset. Only people with money can afford this luxury and
therefore they can pay heavy fines without batting an eyelid.
When the purse is hit hard you remember and that will be a good
deterrent for life. Proceeds from these heavy fines can be directed to
improving road signs, speed limit signs, visible road markings and
incentive bonus to Traffic Police officers.
PERCY WIJENAYAKE,
Australia, via email
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With reference to high cost telecom rates, I totally agree with
Stanley Jayasekera of Nugegoda (Reference DN April 03).
During the previous regime SLT increased the rent on phones and also
the rates. The reason for increase was loss. If they make losses how
come such losses become billions in profit as time goes on? It is by
fleecing the customers.
Therefore, it is high time SLT thought of decreasing the rent on
phones and also the rates, thereby passing on the benefit not only to
its shareholders, but also to the customers, who are the backbone of the
institution.
It is not only the SLT who are guilty of making billions in profit
while the poor men on the street suffer.
The gas companies, milk food and the manufacturers, importers and
distributors of all essential items also make billions at the expense of
the poor people. No one will grudge for making profits if it is by
increase in the volume of the product and not by increasing the price on
a flimsy excuse.
If you only look at the Annual Repot of all these organisations, you
would realise the amount of profit they make every year. It is time the
corporate sector thought of the poor man who is struggling to exist and
reduced the profit at least by 25 per cent.
ABDUL SAMEEYU,
Maharagama |
