If one watches the news on Tamil Nadu TV channels, one would be able
to see the faces of the criminals, confidence tricksters and bribe
taking Government officials when caught red handed.
By this, the Indian Police believe that more information on these
criminals would be received as millions watch TV. Such information is of
great use to Police not only to legally punish them but also to arrest
their accomplices and absconders.
In showing the faces of bribe takers and swindlers of finance lending
institutions, the offenders are worried not of the damnation they would
be undergoing but of the disgrace in the eyes of the public that would
harm their families as well.
This will be a lesson to others and sometimes those who intend
involving in such activities will think twice before committing the
offence. The newspapers too publish the pictures of such criminals.
Our TV channels do not show such things and the Police also are not
so much interested in them. If the Police raid a Kasippu brewing centre,
catch a haul of explosive or illegal weapons, they will pose before the
electronic or print media with their ‘catch’ placed before them without
showing whom they have arrested red handed.
There are some cases where the suspects have been still not
apprehended wanted in connection for serious criminal activities. The
reason is publicity is not enough.
What a large country is India, yet they were able to catch those
involved in Rajiv Gandhi’s murder without any delay by displaying their
picture in all newspapers and magazines, whether they are popular
publication or not in public places and also in all buses and trains
including on television channels continuously for a few days.
That brought the result not the Police going in search of them which
would have been an ‘useless exercise’.
During the festive season, the Police will inform the public once to
be careful of pickpockets and that they will deploy cops on mufti? But
we have seen, as daily travellers, how many people, specially those
villagers coming to Colombo, have fallen victims. The pictures of
pickpockets should be pasted inside buses whereever possible.
The newspapers could warn of it by a notice on the front page, the so
many radio stations in between their advertisements could remind the
travelling public of it and the TV channels before their news and during
their other programmes could remind of it.
This will make those going out for shopping to be extra careful. But
our media, though they say they serve the public will not publish this
requirement as it will not bring in revenue to them. I have heard
announcements from the Fort Railway Station calling on passengers to be
vigilant of pickpockets and thieves.
It is accepted that one should be careful of one’s belongings but the
pickpockets are very smart in doing their operation.
NAZLY CASSIM
Colombo 13
It is now very common that tinted shutters used by private and
Government vehicle users as a fashion.
Tinted shutters in vehicles are essential to the VIP class and that
is not a fashion and a requirement. Also, tinted glasses/shutters in
special vehicles are used by the funeral undertakers and there are many
reasons behind that and that is also not a fashion.
Actually tinted costs are unnecessary costs to Government
institutions because said costs are not directly or indirectly involve
the increasing of the revenue or services of the institutions.
If the Government issues instructions to remove tinted
glasses/shutters of the vehicles, that would be a great help to Security
Personnel since they are the officers who inspect vehicles.
There were some news items recently regarding abductions. Using
tinted shutters in vehicles abductions also could be done and
transporting illicit liquor and do many wrongful things. If the Japan
vehicle manufacturers know our people’s requirements they can earn more
money by providing us original tinted vehicles.
Government should instruct to the police to impose an on the spot
fine to all unauthorized tinted shutters vehicles.
YASAPALA PONNAMPERUMA
Panadura
To minimize the loss incurred by the Petroleum Corporation, it would
be desirable to ban cars only on the roads on a week day of each week.
Commercial vehicles could run as usual without hindering the
functioning of transportation of goods, schoolchildren etc. After all,
if a section of the public could use public transport why can’t the
others sacrifice?
C. R. JAYASEKERA
Maharagama
The prime purpose of all religions is aid human beings to better
themselves morally and spiritually, with the aid of superior ethics
and/or with the aid of divine powers (Reference DN May 31).
All religions of the world deal with the reality of this life and
beyond. The world finds confidence and comfort in knowing that there are
superior persons and/or other-worldly beings which one can place trust
in, or look to as a symbol, in dealing with that which is unattainable
and unclear to oneself.
In dealing with the right to die, I am filled with a terrible
trepidation that most religions of the world, in dealing with this
issue, have gone back to the Dark and the Middle Ages and are focusing
primarily on the ‘what-ifs’ of the beyond this life.
When faced with the ultimate decision of whether to terminate the
life which is usually on the artificial aids of modern medical science,
where is the inspiration of the great leaders of this world, both past
and present, guiding us towards?
Should religions centre their dogmas around one in a million chance
of the miracle of recovery, when the true reality of the situation is of
a million to one suffering the untold misery of a prolonged artificial
life?
Should religion look at the one person who has lived a life of sin,
to prove its point that sinfulness necessitates suffering, while another
999,999 living in the same dilemma would have probably been almost
sinless, both in this life, and in any other lives before?
The doctrines of some major religions are very rigid in their views
towards euthanasia and some do not advocate the use of painkiller. They
believe that it is important to preserve life as far as medical science
is capable of.
They also believe it is in the best interests of the soul to accept
as much bodily pain as possible before death, without the use of
painkillers. The paradox to this is that medicine is for healing to
well-being, and for the elimination of pain.
Is such kind of religious thinking for the good of mankind, or is it
medieval superstition in a modern form? Religion gone awry! It spells
the reasoning of surrealism, based on some ancient form of magic. Is
this what the major doctrines and dogmas want the world to use - dogmas
which often shape human law?
These religions sometimes, mercifully, do have the side option if the
decision to terminate life is pleaded for. Recitation of special prayers
and services, and some kind of assurances are at times given.
However, the main body of these dogmas signifies that which is
unsure; that which is outside the realms of human perception; that which
places people into the agony of disquieting doubt on top of all their
other sufferings.
Shouldn’t the main body of these dogmas be for the true reality of
the human condition, while the loophole be for the un-assured - those
languishing in the deep phobia of the after-life?
The famous religious leaders of the world did not address the issue
of euthanasia, as they addressed issues pertaining to their times i.e.
when ceassession of life was from natural causes.
The 20th century has made an enormous leap in almost all domains as
compared to the rest of history, and the world is faced with newer
issues which need to be contemplated and discussed, until medical,
ethical, moral and religious balances are formed.
We will hope and pray for the major religions to listen to the human
viewpoints of the equation before the establishing of its supreme
doctrines.
RAMONA T. FERNANDO
USA via email
There was a time in those ‘good old days’, when Police officers were
issued with that special kind of chromium plated long-range, long blast
imported, later locally made whistles not only to halt errant persons
and speeding drivers when they try to by-pass Police officers on duty at
junctions, check-points, pedestrian crossings, scenes of accident etc.,
but also tolerate or summon the attention or to seek assistance of their
nearby fellow Police officers in an emergency.
Any veteran Police officer will vouch for the fact that there is a
vast difference between the earlier type of Police whistle and the
present plastic ones commonly used by present day Railway Guards,
Referees, Physical Training Instructors and even children.
The former type had also the added advantage of giving long alarming
blasts in one breath, with a sense of awe and dignity befitting the
status of a law enforcing officer.
It is earnestly hoped this matter too would receive the early and
active attention of the departmental authorities concerned to
reintroduce the locally made long blast Police whistles.
AL HAJ M. S. A. RAHIM
Mulleriyawa New Town |
