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Amnesty International labours hard to delve into alleged human rights
violations in far away criketing fields in the Caribbean but it
conveniently ignores the happenings in close proximity in Guantanamo
U.S. detention centre where more than 160 detainees are held under very
sub-human conditions against which a dozen or so Muslim detainees are
carrying on a hunger-strike.
Violating a basic human right to starve (fast), these hunger-strikers
are strapped to chairs and force-fed through plastic tubes inserted
through their nostrills.
Has the AI ever thought of the implicit meetings of impartiality and
unbias which they profess to follow in their code of conduct.
W. SAMARANAYAKA – Maharagama
I refer to Mr. Sathanandan’s comment on SLT internet service (DN
April 16). My experience in this regard was entirely different and hence
I cannot agree with him when he says that they are callous in treating
customers.
My ADSL connection went wrong due to my own messing up with it.
So I had to call the help desk on 1243, which is giving a 24 hr
service. I called them many times, and that happened to be a Sunday as
well and also odd times. Every time, they responded well without any
delay.
I am wondering why Mr. Sathanandan did not call the help desk.
In fact, in one instance they referred me to a higher officer who
advised me that the fault is on my side, and what to do. There is no
reason for me to believe that I am a lucky one.
D. P. Y. ABEYWARDHANA – Nawala
The article published on April 10 on vegetarianism states that the
New Testament depicts Jesus ‘as a fish and meat eater’. This is
incorrect.
There is no mention in the Bible of Jesus’ ever eating animal flesh
in his lifetime, even at the Last Supper, probably a Passover dinner,
where the lamb dish is traditional.
On two occasions, after his death and the resurrection, Jesus is said
to have consumed fish, but never ‘animals’.
Kindness to animals is an integral part of the teachings of Jesus and
the Bible.
And he stressed that even the lowliest of creatures is cared for by
the Almighty, saying of even the ‘lowliest’ of creatures, the sparrows,
“not one of them is forgotten before God,” and “one of them shall not
fall on the ground without your Father [caring]”
(Luke 12:6, Matthew 10:29).
So it would seem that, given the massive cruelty and suffering
inflicted on the animals we raise for food, it would be hard for a
religious person NOT to be a vegetarian.
LEWIS REGENSTEIN - via email
I am 84 years old. I am on the verge of death. I am old, feeble and
destitute. The authorities are procrastinating the payment of my pension
for the past 24 years. Please instruct them to give me a ‘cut and dry’
reply, whether I will get it or not before my death.
The final letter I got from the authorities is annexed.
According to same the Director General of Pensions has informed me to
forward a revised pension application. This means he himself is agreeing
that I am entitling to a pension and that the authorities have done some
injustice to me.
I am destitute and being in the Jaffna peninsula and am unable to get
these things done as I am at on the verge of death. I am afraid it might
take years of time again to get the pension.
Therefore, please help me. It seems nobody is daring to impose the
order for the payment of my pension and also it seems there are some
complications in my subject because this matter cropped up due to the
‘Official Language Act’ issue which had affected not only me but also
the whole country.
So as a last resort, I am humbly appealing to your good selves rather
than going to the international community. Let me explain as to how they
have made me the most destitute man.
1. The Department of Cottage Industries appointed me as a ‘Temporary
Demonstrator’ on 15.9.1959.
2. My annual increments were not paid due to non-proficiency of
Sinhala. (Actually this was not needed at that time because I was in the
field of textiles and was working in Jaffna peninsula. I dare to say
this because later this rule was relaxed and compromised and most public
servants were able to get pension but not me).
3. At this juncture, as the way the man who got butted by the bull
when he fell from the tree, I too got victimised due to an interdiction
on 01.11.1975 as I was suspected for some other person’s sins.
4. Though my case was discharged on 21.01.1981, I was not reinstated
or given a chance to approach my work place and get withheld emoluments
or other human rights to stabilise myself but was kicked out in a
tantalising manner which mislead me to think that they have retired me
from service as I was incompetent in Sinhala language. They retired me
from service w.e.f. 01.10.1982.
5. So I was in the Government service from 15.09.1959 to 01.10.1982
which means I have wasted a period of over 23 years of my human life in
the Government Service.
6. Before retiring me from service (I was made to retire) the
authorities should have:
(a) Clearly explained to me the terms and conditions under which they
are retiring as they did not issue any document to me other than my
letter of appointment as ‘Temporary Demonstrator’.
(b) As this was not done, it was presumed that they had confirmed me
in my appointment, restored my seniority, had recovered my W. & OP and
has forwarded my pension papers to the Department of Pensions.
I struggled for over 24 years and now only I realise that my bosses
had made me a scapegoat for no fault of mine and had made me to retire
by tantalising me.
As they did not execute their part of duty correctly, my payment of
pension is getting procrastinated as nobody is willing to shoulder the
responsibility and daring to impose orders.
So far, for the past 24 years, the authorities had not informed me
that I am not entitled to a pension but procrastinating payment of same.
If they had informed so, I would have not made this appeal to you.
This also gives me the hope of getting my pension. Under the
circumstances I shall be ever grateful if the authorities of the
Department of Textile Industry, Colombo are informed of my eligibility
to draw a pension and action be taken to pay same at earliest
convenience please.
I am on the verge of death. Please reply immediately. ( A copy of
this letter has been sent to the Ombudsman of parliament)
S. K. NADARAJALINGAM
Sri Lanka’s tactic not to play frontline bowlers - Vaas, Murali and
Malinga was indeed a masterstroke which irked the Aussies no end. Having
booked a place in the semi finals there was no need to expose these
bowlers to the Aussie batsmen.
However Ian Chappel’s comments on ‘Come Play’ that Sri Lanka’s
tactics was tantamount to ‘match fixing’ was out of place. With a 15-man
squad, we are at liberty to field the team of our choice and not to be
dictated by outsiders.
One would have expected Arjuna Ranatunga to defend Sri Lankan policy.
unfortunately Arjuna appeared to endorse Ian Chappel’s comments and it
became evident it was a case of ‘sour grapes’ - he has a problem with
the Sri Lankan Cricket Board. May he be out of Sri Lanka’s cricket
administration!
CLIFFORD LAZARUS - via email
The points made by Renton de Alwis on selling the ‘Paradise Isle
Dream’ is absolutely spot on (Reference DN April 11).
He obviously knows what he is talking about and I will not presume to
know better.
I couldn’t agree more when he says that the tourist arriving in Sri
Lanka wants to see local tradition, food and experience, Sri Lanka as it
really is and not a poor version of European or any other culture.
I know from my own experience that I would be very disappointed when
visiting another country not to see and experience the culture of the
country I am visiting.
It would be nice if the local male population in sea side resorts can
be educated to realise that oogling at females is quite offensive and
not welcome.
I have no suggestions as to how this can be done, but even though I
am Sri Lankan (but living in a foreign country) we came across this
unwelcome attention on our last visit to Sri Lanka. It does tend to
spoil it.
We tolerated it but a tourist will find it quite unsettling to be
watched in this manner as it can also be quite threatening and is not
something they would expect. People do like to be left alone!
I wish Mr. de Alwis the best of luck in realising his dream - Sri
Lanka has come a long way in realising that dream; I hope it continues
and that tourism will flourish in the hands of the Chairman who I think
has vision and a genuine and sincere desire to make this happen.
SURANGANIE FERNANDO - via email
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