Missing persons: Sharp difference in numbers quoted by govt and Presidential Commission-Govt claim even higher than NGO’s

 

Paranagama

by Shamindra Ferdinando-June 10, 2016, 10:26 pm 

Retired High Court Judge Maxwell Paranagama, Chairman, Presidential Commission to Investigate Complaints Regarding Missing Persons yesterday told The Island that the Commission had received approximately 19,000 complaints in respect of disappeared civilians during sittings held in various parts of the country.

The Commission dealt with missing persons cases since 1983.

Paranagama declined to comment on the sharp discrepancy in data available with his Commission and recent government declaration that various presidential commissions had received over 65,000 complaints regarding missing persons. According to the Foreign Ministry, over 65,000 missing persons cases had been received since 1994. The government acknowledged: "Sri Lanka has one of the largest case-loads of missing persons in the world." The cabinet has been recently told of 65,000 cases of disappearances during 23 years commencing 1994.

Paranagama said that he couldn't comment on complaints received by other presidential commissions under any circumstances. However, as the Chairman of the last Commission appointed by the previous government over two years after the conclusion of the war in May, 2009. In addition to the missing civilian, the Paranagama Commission has received approximately 5,000 complaints regarding missing military and police personnel.

Commenting on allegations that over 40,000 Tamils civilians had perished during the last phase of Eelam War IV (Aug 2006-May 2009), Paranagama emphasized that there was absolutely no basis for such accusations.

The cabinet on June 7 approved draft legislation to pave the way for the issuance of Certificates of Absence to the families of all those categorized as missing. Authoritative sources told The Island that the Registration of Deaths (Temporary Provisions) Act No 19 of 2010 would have to be amended to enable the implementation of the project.

Paranagama said that he was in the process of finalizing an interim report to be handed over to President Maithripala Sirisena next month. The Commission will cease to function on July 15, 2016.

According to ICRC mission in Colombo, its offices, since 1990 had received over 16,000 tracing requests, including approximately 5,200 from families of missing military and police personnel. In addition to presidential commissions and the ICRC report, Norway led Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), too, recorded many cases of abductions/disappearances during the implementation of the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA).

The Office of Missing Persons (OMP) will spearhead investigations into cases of disappearances.

Government sources told The Island that the proposed OMP needed international cooperation to meet challenging task.

Close on the heels of the government announcing plans to establish, the National Peace Council (NPC) stressed the need for a credible transitional justice mechanism to inquire into as many as 20,000 cases of disappearances.

Paranagama said that his Commission's efforts to locate those who had been categorized as missing was seriously hampered due to foreign governments denying cooperation. Asked whether Canada would share information with OMP set up in accordance with a Geneva Resolution adopted in Oct. 2015 to establish the whereabouts of the missing, a spokesperson for the Canadian High Commission told The Island: "Canada welcomes the approval by Cabinet of the establishment of the OMP which is a key component of reconciliation and a commitment made by the Government of Sri Lanka We look forward to its full and effective implementation. All personal information created, held or collected by the Government of Canada, including requests for asylum and applications for immigration or citizenship, is protected under the federal Privacy Act. Any  information or official requests for assistance and cooperation between governments should be transmitted officially via appropriate channels"

A Japanese embassy official told The Island that the government of Japan welcomed the establishment of an OMP. If the new Office would need cooperation from the Government of Japan in carrying out its mandate, we would sincerely consider it upon receiving such request."

Authoritative sources said that those who had perished in international waters over the past several years while trying to reach Australia, too, could be among those listed as missing. The missing included those who been categorized as disappeared during the LTTE's war against the Indian military (Oct 1987-March 1990) as well as those disappeared during the time Sri Lankan Tamils received military training in India in 80s.

The Island last week reported the readiness on the part of the US, Australia, UK and ICRC to assist the latest Sri Lankan initiative subject to their rules and regulations.

Indian High Commission didn't respond to The Island query.

Behind The 1977 Violence

By Rajan Hoole –June 10, 2016

Dr. Rajan Hoole

Antecedents Of July 1983 & The Foundations Of Impunity – Part VII

A clearer picture of what was behind the events would emerge if we look at the testimony given about the actions of the various actors, what Sansoniaccepted and what he rejected.

13th August 1977:

HQI Gunasekera maintained that the policemen who invaded and misbehaved at the St. Patrick’s crnival had gone in search of two robbers. On the evidence, Sansoni accepted the contrary.

13th or 14th August:

PC Sattanathapillai testified that DIG Ana Seneviratne said at an Instruction Class that ‘all Tamil PCs have contributed to the ULF’. This allegation was rejected by Sansoni.

15th August:

The testimony of L.A. Saverimutu that SP A.S. Seneviratne had told him that the Tamils will pay dearly for th gun-shot injury cause to PC Bandara, was rejected by Sansoni.

PC Sattanathapillai testified that on the 15th night a eting of police officers including SPSeneviratne, inspectors, sergeants and constables was held at the SP’s house. He added that after the meeting a group of them made an entry about going to Pungudutivu, but went instead to the market and set fire to it, at 1.30 AM. This was rejectedy Sansoni as ‘prejudicial hearsay evidence’.

16th August

Mr. Yogesweran MP was told about the burning of the market at 5.00 AM, but was unable to contat SP Jaffna by telephone. He then contacted Mr. Wijepala, GA Jaffna, and Mr. Amirthalingam. This was about 5 AM according to Amirthalingam’s statement in Parliament.

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Time ‘Amma’ gave a positive tweak to her Sri Lanka discourse

Col R Hariharan-June 09, 2016,

Recently, even as Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena was in New Delhi on a two-day visit to India to talk to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in Chennai the Tamil Nadu chief minister Ms Jayalalitha was celebrating her party’s unprecedented victory in the assembly elections belying pollsters who predicted a close call. There is a seamless connection between the two events because the woes of Sri Lanka Tamils is the grist of Tamil Nadu political discourse

from the time of Sri Lanka’s infamous anti-Tamil pogrom in 1983. Regardless of what was happening in Sri Lanka’s never ending conflict, for Tamil Nadu politicians Prabhakaran’s armed struggle for Tamil Eelam was the focus.

The latest assembly election was no exception though the Sri Lanka Tamil issue was on a lower priority in campaign presumably because the Tamil Tigers have been defeated and Mahinda Rajapaksa, the man who defeated them was no more in power.  But it did not make a difference to some parties like the Naam Tamizhar party, known for its strong devotion to Prabhakaran, campaigned with his posters on display. Ms  Jayalalitha was more specific; speaking at an election rally in Tiruchi said she would continue to work for ushering in a separate Tamil Eelam and enable Tamils live with full freedom and self respect.

The Tamil Nadu chief minister’s statement created a flutter among Sinhala political and nationalist lobbies across the Palk Straits. However, answering a media query President Sirisena brushed aside its importance, pointing out the context of the election campaign in which it was made. He said one need not get exercised over it as generally politicians were known for making a number of statements during elections. That is true. But the Tamil Nadu chief minister, affectionately named ‘Amma’ by her devoted followers who fall at her feet, is known for making good of her election promises. Her campaign was spun around this USP. This time also she did just that: immediately after swearing in, she signed a slew of orders to deliver the goodies she promised the people. But the question is can she deliver on her promised to continue to work for creating an independent Tamil Eelam?

In a way President Sirisena’s contention was correct; Sri Lanka formed only a small part of the Tamil Nadu chief minister in her virulent focus on the DMK and her bête noir Karunanidhi, its leader. Her statement on Tamil Eelam was in the context of her accusation of the DMK leader betraying the interests of Tamils not only in the state but also in Sri Lanka. Apart from speaking in support of Tamil Eelam, Ms Jayalalitha also said her party would press the Centre to provide dual citizenship to Sri Lankan Tamils in Tamil Nadu so that they could get employment opportunities easily. She added that Sri Lanka Tamils living here should be repatriated with their full consent, only after complete normalcy and full protection was ensured for them back home.  

At the political level, Sri Lankan Tamil polity is not looking for support for Tamil Eelam from Amma. Typical was the reaction of Sri Lanka’s Tamil National Alliance (TNA) spokesman and MP Sumanthiran to Amma’s statement. He appreciated her for the emotional support for Tamils and hoped she would turn it to promote the Tamil cause in a constructive way. He added that the Lankan Tamils no longer demand a separate Tamil Eelam but want a political solution in line with their expressed aspirations in a united Sri Lanka. 

Not all Sri Lanka Tamil parties vocalized their stand on Tamil Eelam because they have been thriving on the issue. But in TNA, it is Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) with the largest following that calls the shot. Despite pulls and pressures within, TNA is a little more pragmatic and seems to have accepted the political reality after the defeat of LTTE.  However, Northern Province chief minister CV Wigneswaran who is in power with TNA support does not share the TNA’s view. He feels the sincerity of the Sirisena government to do justice to Tamils is suspect. He was apparently elated with the Tamil Nadu chief minister’s statement.

Ms Jayalalitha’s reply to the Northern Province chief minister's letter of congratulations on her victory indicated how she was likely take up the Sri Lanka Tamil issue further. Thanking him for the good wishes, she said she would continue to make efforts to ensure justice is done to “Sri Lankan Tamils of the Northern Province, through the government of India.”

So the iron lady, known for her shrewd political understanding, knows the way the cookie is crumbling in India-Sri Lanka relations ever since both President Sirisena and Prime Minister Modi came to power almost at the same time. The writing on the wall is clear: Tamil Nadu’s power play that had shackled India’s Sri Lanka policy in the past is gone. Prime Minister Modi’s BJP won a majority in parliament in 2014 elections just as Sirisena did with a promise of yahapalanaya (good governance) and equitable treatment for Tamils who voted him to power.  Both the leaders are rewriting their narratives and synergising their strengths to build better relations, for the mutual benefit of their people.

Amma is in a unique position to give a positive tweak to Tamil Nadu’s negative discourse on Sri Lanka that has lost its relevance. The immediate problems of Tamils are survival: food, a place to live and making a living. And that includes thousands of widows and 12000 Tamil youth, who had followed their leader into the war and freed now.

As the Tamil Nadu chief minister has promised, she can bring back dignity to their lives by a few things that are within her realm. A few ideas that come to mind are opening up the engineering colleges which have few takers to Sri Lanka Tamils on the same fee structure as our students; evolve a holistic plan with industrialists to invest in Tamil areas to start businesses that provide gainful employment to thousands of educated students and women. These actions would add to her popular image of doing what she promised. And that would bring back the smile on the faces of Sri Lanka Tamils and people of Tamil Nadu would feel they were contributing meaningfully to their brethren in distress.

 [Col R Hariharan, a retired MI officer, served as the head of intelligence of the Indian Peace Keeping Force from 1987 to 90. E-mail: haridirect@gmail.com  Blog: http://col.hariharan.info ] 

Courtesy: Deccan Chronicle June 8, 2016 http://www.deccanchronicle.com/ which published an edited version of this article.

http://col.hariharan.info/2016/06/time-amma-gave-positive-tweak-to-her.html

Keeping the Pressure on Sri Lanka

 By TAYLOR DIBBERT-June 9, 2016

The United Nations Human Rights Council begins its 32nd session on Monday, and Sri Lanka is on its agenda. It’s another chance to shine a spotlight on this war-torn island nation as it struggles to recover from a brutal civil war.

Sri Lanka has experienced big political changes since January 2015. Presidential and parliamentary elections signaled the peoples’ desire for improved governance and democratic reform. Two-term strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa was voted out of office, and Maithripala Sirisena was tapped to turn things around.

But a closer look reveals an expansive reform agenda in serious trouble, particularly on the most difficult reforms. Government forces defeated the separatist Tamil Tigers in 2009. Seven years later, difficult war-related issues—including the devolution of power and accountability for alleged wartime abuses—have persisted.

ENLARGE

During a protest outside U.N. offices in Colombo on March 13, 2013, Tamil minority demonstrators hold portraits of relatives who disappeared during the civil war. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE/GETTY IMAGES

Last year’s HRC resolution called for a bold transitional-justice plan. This included a truth commission and an accountability mechanism. Ascertaining the truth about the trauma endured by victims and punishing the perpetrators are key to this process. But most of the prescriptions in this plan have yet to be implemented. Colombo doesn’t seem serious about pursuing truth or justice and, thus far, isn’t even properly consulting the victims of war, a major part of a credible transitional-justice process.

Sri Lanka’s continued rejection of international participation in this process is also problematic. Given the country’s past experiences with ineffective accountability mechanisms to deal with human-rights violations, significant international participation would be helpful. A purely Sri Lankan process under a government dominated by the Sinhala ethnic majority would be neither credible nor impartial.

If Sri Lanka continues to waver on the HRC resolution, the international community isn’t guaranteed to act. But as I argued in these pages in October, the international community, and the U.S. in particular, should keep pressuring Colombo. It should be more cautious about embracing the new government, including when it comes to strengthening ties with a military that is in dire need of reform.

Unfortunately, the Obama administration remains too enthusiastic about resetting the U.S.-Sri Lanka relationship. In April, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Samantha Power,even referred to Sri Lanka as “a global champion of human rights and democratic accountability.”

Admittedly, the new government is less authoritarian than its predecessor. A constitutional amendment last year trimmed presidential powers and strengthened the prime minister’s powers. The government seems keen on economic reform, too. And Colombo’s approach to foreign policy has been more balanced and less confrontational than when Mr. Rajapaksa was in power.

But the benchmarks for progress were meant to be far more ambitious. Corruption and nepotism, key reasons why Mr. Rajapaksa was thrown out of office, are still big problems in Sri Lanka. Just over 17 months since Mr. Sirisena came to power, no one has been convicted of high-level corruption.

The government also plans to draft a new constitution. That’s a difficult task under the best of circumstances. Even if a new constitution does come together, the Tamil community is unlikely to be satisfied with the power-sharing arrangement that comes out of that process.

Meanwhile, the future for the people of the Tamil-majority north and east remains bleak. Extensive militarization, sexual violence, systematic surveillance of civilians and the military’s continued occupation of civilian land suggest that the country’s wounds of war will continue to fester long after Mr. Sirisena has left office.

The international community has already squandered much of the leverage it had to pressure Sri Lanka. In the months ahead, a more consistent message should be sent to Colombo about the importance of implementing the HRC resolution in its entirety and the concerns about the lack of progress so far. Even though the U.S. is not a member of the council this year, Washington and its allies could try to initiate a process to ensure that Sri Lanka stays on the HRC’s formal agenda beyond March 2017. The Obama administration in particular should hold off on strengthening military and strategic ties until Colombo proves itself sincere about meaningful reform.

With Mr. Obama entering his final months in office, opportunities to reconsider the bilateral relationship seem increasingly unpromising. But forward-looking, morally clear thinking from Washington is urgently needed. Ultimately that is what legacies are built upon.

Mr. Dibbert is a New Leader at the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs. The views expressed here are his own.

Correction: Maithripala Sirisena became president of Sri Lanka just over 17 months ago. An earlier version of this story misstated the number.

Let’s rise against harassment of children by forced labour


2016-06-11
According to the United Nations’ Charter, every child has the right to a healthy start in life. Fathers, mothers, families and communities should be made aware of the importance of maternal and child health and early childhood care, prevention and development. Children have a right to education. They should have access to a safe, healthy and child-friendly learning environment where they are taught by competent teachers. Parents and caregivers should make optimal use of these learning environments to support the development of their children. The State should assume responsibility for the provision of quality education to all children and should hold to account accordingly. 


Children have a right to economic security and the right to protection from all forms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence. They have the right to protection and assistance in emergencies and improved resilience to natural and man-made hazards. They are entitled to these rights without distinction of any kind such as ethnicity, colour, gender, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Further, in terms of the U.N. Charter, mankind owes the child the best it deserves. 


Children deprived of their legitimate rights
 However, whether these opportunities are guaranteed to every child; irrespective of distinction of any kind is a matter to be questioned. The fact in reality is that a large number of children of poor parents are not only deprived of these opportunities but are also subject to serious harassment by being engaged in forced labour.  

   What is child labour? 
Child labour is in fact the deprivation of a child of his/her legitimate right to a healthy start to life by being forcibly engaged in the work of elders when he/she is expected to prepare for the future.  It refers to the employment of children in any work that deprives them of their childhood, interferes with the ability to attend regular school and that which is mentally, physically, socially, or morally dangerous  and harmful. Forceful employment of children in work amounts to exploitation.   Victims of child Labour Generally the children from poor and unprivileged families are the victims of forced child labour. The gap between the rich and the poor is broadening rapidly and consequently the number of children engaged in labour is increasing. 215 million children between 5 to 17 years of age are currently working under conditions considered illegally hazardous or extremely exploitative. Under-aged children work in all sorts of jobs around the world usually because they and their families are extremely poor. Some children work in illegal activities like drug peddling and prostitution or other traumatic activities such as those which cause shock and upset the worker very much. Out of the estimated 215 million child labourers around the globe, 114 million (53%) are in Asia and the Pacific, 14 million (07%) in Latin America and 65 million (30%) in Sub Saharan Africa. It would appear that the main cause for child labour is poverty.

  Lack of meaningful alternatives
 Lack of meaningful alternatives, such as the in availability of affordable schools with quality education is also a factor driving children to harmful labour. When the parents find that they cannot afford to give quality education to the children, they opt to find jobs for them often in a bid to provide on job training and also earning an income to the family. Young children often find jobs in hotels, restaurants and in retail trade to serve at their will and wish. 

  Cultural beliefs 
In some countries, child labour has been rationalized under certain cultural beliefs presuming that work was good for character-building and skills development. It is argued that children should follow their parents’ footsteps from the early days of life. 

  Need for additional hands on peak days
 Families engaged in agriculture need additional hands to attend to extra work on days of harvesting, transplanting and ploughing. They cannot afford to hire labour on such days due to economic hardships. On such days, they keep their children at home without sending them to school either for help in the field or to look after their young siblings while their parents attend to the affairs in the field. Some children prefer to do some work than to learn lessons in the schools. Some of them opt to work for outsiders and earn some money. 

  Belief that girls need no education 
There was a time when the villagers believed that their female children need not be educated. Some of them learnt only to read and write while some others never went to school.  Some of those, who had no school education, prospered in life while those who had school education amidst the reluctance of their parents and elders in later life could work even in foreign countries as domestic aides.  

 Areas in which children are employed
 Children provide cheap labour or are forced to work at lower rates or without any wages. Hence, child labour is profitable for the employers. Poor parents sometimes compel their children to work and earn an income when they find it difficult to make ends meet with strenuous work they do. An estimated 60% of child labour is involved in agriculture, fishing, hunting (in some countries) and forestry. Children are employed in harvesting banana in Ecuador, cotton in Egypt, cut flowers in Colombia, oranges in Brazil, cocoa in Ivory Coast, tea in Argentina and Bangladesh and fruits and vegetables in the United States. Children in commercial agriculture are often made to work long hours in extreme temperatures and they face health risks due to the use of pesticides and very often they are forced to work for little or no wages without adequate food and sanitation. 

About 14 million children are estimated to be directly involved in manufacturing goods, weaving carpets, in the footwear industry, glass and brick factories in India, apparel industry in Bangladesh, fireworks factories in China and surgical instrument factories in Pakistan. 

Children working in underground mines and quarries suffer serious health hazards and injuries. Children are also employed in mixing operations, including gold in Colombia, charcoal in Brazil, chrome in Zimbabwe, emeralds in Colombia and coal in Mongolia. 

  Domestic Service 
Many children, especially girls work in domestic service. Some of the domestic aides start to work at a very young age of five or six without going to school at all. Domestic child labourers are likely to be the victims of physical, emotional, and even sexual abuse and it is linked to child trafficking as well.   Young children employed in hotels, restaurants, and in retail trade Young children often seek jobs in hotels, restaurants and in retail trade to serve at their will and wish. However, there are indications of considerable abuse such as low or no wages. In some tourist areas, the children find work in hotels and restaurants and are subject to engage in prostitution.  

 Characteristics and consequences of child labour
 Child labour involves various characteristics and consequences. It violates a nation’s minimum age laws because it is in contravention to the rule that children in the school-going age are employed. It threatens children’s physical or emotional well-being. On certain occasions, it involves slavery, child trafficking and debt bondage, forced labour or illicit activities. It also prevents children going to school and children are often used to undermine labour standards.

    Laws aimed at preventing Child Labour Minimum age convention

 In almost all the countries in the world, there are laws preventing child labour. According to the International Labour Organization’s minimum age convention which has been ratified by 135 countries, work performed including light work by children under 12 years of age, and hazardous work done by children between 15 to 17 years is regarded as child labour. Light work means any work which does not harm the health and development and which does not interfere with his/her schooling. 

  Convention on the rights of the child 1990 
Convention on the rights of the child 1990 was adopted by the United Nations and was ratified by 193 countries. According to article 32 of this convention, the child should be protected from economic exploitation and from performing any work that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child’s health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development. Under article 28 of the Worst forms convention.

 Under the worst forms convention of the International Labour Organization No.182 of 1999, which was ratified by 151 countries. International Law prohibits worst forms of child labour defined as all forms of slavery and slavery-like practices, such as child trafficking, debt bondage, and forced labour, including proscription during armed conflicts. The law also prohibits the use of a child for prostitution or production of pornography, child labour in illicit activities such as drug production and trafficking and in hazardous work. Both the worst forms convention (C 182) and minimum age convention (C 138) are examples of international labour standards implemented through the International Labour Organization that deals with child labour. 

It is the responsibility of the general public to ensure that these conventions are implemented in a bid to eradicate child labour for the preservation of the rights of the children. 

Ranil’s answer to Anura Dissanayake : government’s deplorable policy towards BureaucRATS !

(Lanka-e-News -09.June.2016, 11.30PM)  Even a Kindergarten class child in Sri Lanka   knows the group of rogues  and goons of Medamulana engaged in murder,  robberies and perfidies during the ‘nefarious  decade’ more with the support of government officers who were  their bootlicking stooges and scoundrels , and less with the relatives of Medamulana , Prime Minister (P.M.) Ranil Wickremesnghe revealed in parliament yesterday, while he was announcing the good governance government’s policies. During the session of questioning the P.M. before the parliament began , the P.M. gave this reply when responding to the question posed by Anura Kumara Dissanayake the chief opposition whip. 

Anura Dissanayake:
In the letter signed by Solicitor General Mudalige , it is mentioned after the investigation into the Tourist Board activities was concluded , and the report was forwarded to the Attorney General’s (AG) department, the AG has instructed to furnish him with a report after immediately arresting  6 officers including an officer in your office, and producing them in  court . This action has still not been carried out. Therefore I wish to know from you why was this stalled?

P.M. Ranil:
The  relevant State officers have explained to the president and the respective ministers that they have acted as officers of the State, and punishing those officers is wrong.. Hence it was decided that this issue be referred to the AG again.

Anura Dissanayake:
Does this mean after the arrest and a statement has been recorded ,and despite an order given to produce them in court , just because a letter has been sent to the president, subsequently  the arrest of those suspects can be averted?

P.M. Ranil:
Since a major issue can spark  within the government service ,the AG too told the directive  shall be made after looking  into that. May be , instructions will be given  to arrest them.

Based on  the foregoing , the pro good governance masses that actively worked towards the successful Rainbow revolution on 8 th January  can draw  one inference . That is, the government they installed in power is not going  to arrest the corrupt and the culprits because they are State officers; and will also not arrest criminals and the corrupt on the grounds they are monks.

In the circumstances  the pro good governance masses must be   can saying  to  these sinning ‘Sirs’ who are breaking necklaces , robbing plantains on trees and pick -pocketing  ; and the ‘madams’ who peddle their bodies , all of you ,  the group of 139  , not more ,please get together and hand over a letter to the president with your signatures requesting not to arrest all of you. In which  event it will be decided all of you who committed all the cardinal sins on earth including breaking necklaces , pick pocketing  and body peddling did not intentionally indulge in these crimes and were not done of your own volition .Thereafter , that decision will  be discussed with P.M. and AG.

Finally all of you will be produced before Gangodawila magistrate Kanishka Wijeratne while offering you  the opportunity to give your excuses. He will then hold all what you have robbed aren’t those belonging to others , and will give a verdict entrusting all the robbed goods back to you, and release all of you on bail while saying all the articles belong to you.  He will also give you a date  to pay the cash bail amount at your convenience.

It is a unfortunate  the government is following a deplorable policy of playing into the hands of the corrupt bureaucRATS.

---------------------------
by     (2016-06-09 21:18:37)

Financial Profligacy Of An Omnibus Cabinet: Can Sri Lanka Afford This Scandal?

By Ameer Ali –June 9, 2016 

Dr. Ameer Ali

In September last year in a piece I titled “An Omnibus Cabinet & Outvoted Parliamentarians: Can the Economy Afford to Maintain This Colony of Prodigals?” (Colombo Telegraph, September 7, 2015) I posed a question, “Can anyone tell the people the estimated total cost of this colony of artificially elevated political gentry?”. Ten months have passed since then, and the public auditors should have some rough idea to answer my question.

I raise that question once again in the light of the recent request for 1.1 billion rupees (equivalent to roughly US$ 2.5 million) allocation to import 42 “luxury cars” for some ministers and their deputies. While the government policy of economic liberalism is pushing down the throats of ordinary people the so called programs of austerity what moral right have the rulers to indulge in financial extravagance?

Sri Lanka is sinking in national debt and foreign lenders are having a strangle hold in the economy’s assets. Isn’t there a national need to economise expenditure without hurting the ordinary families? With the decline in oil prices and economic downturn in the Arab countries foreign remittances from Sri Lankan expatriates which tranquilised the economic pain of many families is also disappearing fast. It is time the country look for an alternative economic model to make ends meet and protect its independence. The reform should start at the top with the President, the Prime Minister and their coteries of political functionaries.

It is in this context that I also want to raise the issue of the economic viability of decentralised political administration in Sri Lanka. What is the actual cost of maintaining all those provincial councils, their chief ministers and their officialdom? What useful service are these political parvenus performing to deserve their status? The recent incident about the public behaviour of a provincial chief minister has exposed the danger of having too many petty chiefs consuming too much resources and power with too little knowledge about public decorum and behaviour. The periodical elections conducted to choose these chiefs and their lackeys on top of the cost of conducting national elections to the parliament obviously impose unbearable strain on the public purse with incommensurable return.

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Can Mother Nature, actually identify and destroy targets on her own?

Saturday, 11 June 2016

Approximately 12 years after the devastating tsunami, another tragedy struck the resplendent island of Sri Lanka. An attack from something as innocuous as water and the toll was quite calamitous. The nation is reeling, wanting whatever help to address the multitude of needs that have arisen as a result.

Erratic floods and landslides had resulted in sizable damage. Receding waters unveiled the sheer magnitude of the disaster. The international press had confirmed the destruction as being considerable with over 4,000 homes fully or partly damaged and just over 100 lives lost.

A flood occurs when water overflows or inundates land that’s normally dry. Most common is when rivers or streams overflow their banks. Excessive rain, a ruptured dam are contributory factors. Coastal flooding occurs when a large storm or tsunami causes the sea to surge inland.

The tsunami Sri Lanka experienced is still fresh in the minds of most Sri Lankans. My first reaction even in 2004 was how come water which is life and indispensable for our survival had such lethal potential to unleash a catastrophe.

The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was of unprecedented deadliness in human history. Over 230,000 people were reported killed in 14 countries bordering the Indian Ocean.

Mother Nature’s independence

Mother Nature is a common personification of nature that focuses on the supposedly life-giving and nurturing aspects of nature by embodying it in the form of the mother. We over time may be unconsciously perhaps capitulated to the myth that Mother Nature is independent and possesses unbridled autonomy and power to manifest her voracity and fury wherever and whenever.

She supposedly shows this ear-splitting, cacophonous roar to devour a mouthful quite indiscriminately and release a thunderous eructation soon after. Sounds a trifle hilarious yet the belief is mainstream. Does such a school of thinking warrant any merit or legitimacy?

We have intelligent and wise people in the community whose understanding of life’s trials is so puzzling. I read an article recently by a supposedly wise and intelligent person. I am reproducing it for the benefit of the reader:

“We prayed for rain and asked the rain gods to save us from the sun god’s cruelty. Rain gods did answer our prayers, but they wreaked havoc and chaos. They destroyed our lives, our loved and dear ones, our crops and our cattle. Rain gods mercilessly destroyed entire villages and separated families.”

I like to ask something so obviously pertinent here? Who is this rain god? And who is this sun god? Can someone describe them to me please? Educate me their attributes and anything more if you have any such information? Describe to me an authentic book concerning the subject so that I can lay my hands on it.

Can we all get together and teach a lesson or two to this rascal or rascals? How dare do they wreak havoc on our lands? Which semi or demi god in-charge of these affairs had the gall and audacity to unleash such horrendous destruction? I for one want to do something to these gods. I am running for my rapier. I want to challenge this god, one of the many who had taken the law into her hands. This is not funny. I want to ensure that neither rain god nor sun god   never, ever come anywhere close to Sri Lanka again.

Who is behind this destruction?

We have heard of predator drone teams working in well-fortified security zones inside the United States of America, unleashing diabolical weapons to places in Iraq, Yemen, Pakistan, and Afghanistan with deadly consequences. Supposed surgical strikes that blow out the brains of un-weaned toddlers and their parents. Laser-guided hellfire missiles that can hit moving vehicles, piloted remotely from bases in the USA. Operator directs cameras and radar to collect intelligence. Analysts select targets, commanders order the strike.

We intrinsically believe that manmade destructions like the one stated above has a distinct process and a fully identified destroyer. There is a clear operator behind the machine who targets at the zone of destruction. Using the same principle, who then targets destruction with water and other sources from above and beneath the earth? Who causes earthquakes and other forms of disasters that regularly take huge tolls?

Earth is a watery place.  About 71% of the Earth’s surface is water-covered, and the oceans hold about 96.5% of all Earth›s water. Surely these cyclones and tornedoes can direct and self-navigate themselves to watery areas obviously not inhabited by humans and other life. In this way lots of life and property could be saved. But can they actually do that?

In pursuit of knowledge man would go to any extreme. He would go to a faraway country of his or her choice or purchase a book at whatever price just to fulfill the need. Why wouldn’t man find out as to who is capable of actually causing such mindboggling  destruction without arrogating omnipotence to forces that in essence are lamentably powerless and woefully non-lethal without its Absolute Controller? Let’s ponder briefly how previous nations were destroyed with water and who else can convey this to us.

We sent Nuh (Noah) to his people and he remained among them for fifty short of a thousand years; the flood engulfed them while they were wrongdoers. (Al Qur›an, 29:14) The Prophet Nuh (Noah) (peace be upon him) was sent to his people by Allah. They had distanced themselves from the commandments of the Lord and ascribed partners to Him. The Prophet Nuh (Noah) (peace be upon him) warned them that they should serve Allah alone and abandon the false worship which they had established in their community. But they denied him so We rescued him and those with him in the Ark. And We drowned the people who denied Our Signs. They were a blind people. (Al Qur›an 7:64) When the time of punishment came, the water in the ground combined with violent rains to cause a giant flood.

Among the trials with which Allah tests His slaves in order to distinguish the believers from the disbelievers is that which He mentions in the verse “And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Saabiroon (the patient). Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: ‘Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.’ They are those on whom are the Salawaat (i.e. who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided ones” (Al Qur’an 2:155-157).

Warning to mankind

I conclude this short piece with a warning from the Qur’an: “O mankind, worship your Lord, who created you and those before you, that you may become righteous” (Al Qu’ran2:21). In this short verse who is the Lord of the World’s addressing? Does it say O Christians or O Jews or O Muslims or O Buddhists or O Hindus, etc.? This is an all-inclusive statement. It simply states “O mankind” – whoever  considers that   he or she is a member of this thing called mankind then this message is for you. Take heed people I am just a warner.

The people of Lut rejected (his) warning. We sent against them a violent Tornado with showers of stones, (which destroyed them), except Lut›s household: them We delivered by early Dawn, As a Grace from Us: thus do We reward those who give thanks. And (Lut) did warn them of Our Punishment, but they disputed about the Warning (Surat al-Qamar, 33-36).

Government should immediately mediate to help people who saved themselves from the disasters

FRIDAY, 10 JUNE 2016

The government failed to mediate in providing relief or giving protection to the people affected by floods, earth slips and explosion at the ‘Salawa’ armoury. However, the government should immediately mediate to help people who saved themselves from the disasters says the Information secretary of the JVP Vijitha Herath speaking at a press conference held at the head office of the JVP at Pelawatta today (10th).

The JVP Member of the Western Provincial Council Lakshman Nipunarachchi also participated.

Mr. Vijitha Herath said, “The armoury at Salawa Army camp exploded on the 6th. As a result people living in the area were shaken. The Army camps as well as houses, hospitals, shops and other building around the camp were extensively damaged. The people, due to the danger to their lives fled to various places. The people escaped danger not due to announcements by the government but due to shock and terror of the explosion. People made a tremendous effort to save their lives. One life was lost. Many lives were saved as the explosion occurred in the evening.

The reason for the incident has not been revealed yet. However, as a result of the incident the people in the area have been subjected to extreme suffering as the armoury was planted in a congested area. With the incident the soldier s in eh camp as well as the residents in the area are confronted with several issues. As a result of sunning away due to fear many have been injured and several had to be hospitalized. Also, there are many who have been injured due to flying debris. Water, food and lodging necessary for people who have saved their lives to live have not been properly provided yet. Whatever authorities say the government has failed to provide essential commodities necessary for the people.

About 300 houses have been completely destroyed due to the explosion. There are also many houses that are partly damaged. The government has not been able to make a correct assessment of the destruction yet. The government instructs residents to go back to their houses. However, people don’t have their houses to go to. The people are also confronted with several issues due to the rainy weather prevailing in the area. Their daily income has broken down. Their vehicles have been damaged. Their shops and boutiques have been destroyed. They have no water to drink or other uses.

As such, an instant mediation is necessary to resolve these issues. When the floods disrupted normal lives of the people we emphasized to the government that it should have a quick mediation to confront special disaster situation. However, the government has failed again to get involved in the disaster situation immediately. An immediate involvement is necessary now regarding housing and food. At a time when the government should fulfill the needs of the people it partitioned eh Army camp by building a wall of zinc sheets around it. The residents were angered as the government neglected the needs of the people to partition the camp.

Also, there are students who were preparing for their scholarship and A/L examinations in the area. Their educational affairs have been completely halted. The government should look into such matter s and immediately mediate. The foremost matter is to establish a center to coordinate all institutions that have to mediate in the matter. At present it is carried out by the Divisional Secretariat. However, the distance from the site of the incident to the Divisional Secretariat is about 6 kilometers. The people cannot be expected to travel 6 kilometers to present their issues. Hence a coordinating office should be immediately established in the area to gather information, provide food and other necessities, protection and for the people to present their issues. The government has not yet explained to the people regarding the current situation. As a result the people are unable to mediate in any matter that is necessary to get their houses newly built or damaged ones repaired.

Despite the government has announced that all those who were affected due to the explosion would be given Rs.50, 000 each, no information has been given to the people when and how it would be given. As such, the people are clueless and distressed. This is why people ask why the government does not intervene in their disaster but allocate billions to bring down vehicles for ministers. The government that allocates Rs.1180 billion to buy vehicles for ministers when a no confidence motions is brought against the Minister of Finance has not fulfilled the needs of the those who were affected by recent floods. People in Aranayaka area where people suffered due to a landslide and people in Colombo and Gampaha districts that suffered from floods are still in camps for the displaced. The government, due to the explosion at Salawa Army camp, has forgotten the people who were affected due to floods. In both these incidents the government failed to provide immediate e relief to the affected.

The government should mediate and an immediate exercise should be launched to provide everything necessary for the people who saved their lives incredibly. The people invite President Maithripala Sirisena to come and have a look at their destroyed houses before he opens the President’s House for the public. All officials of the Ministry of Disaster Management who are spread throughout the island could be called. The personnel of the three forces could be deployed. People cannot build or repair their houses only by giving money. Hence, a special mediation of eh government is necessary to bring relief to these people.

The JVP Member for Western Provincial Council Lakshman Nipunarachchi speaking at the press conference said, “The residents of Kosgama spent a normal life. They had no preparation for any danger. However, they were confronted with a sudden disaster. The government should be thankful for the people for saving their lives without any aid from the government. The government would have to face a bigger crisis if the people did not act the way they protected themselves. Now there are several issues that prevent them from leading their normal lives. There is no combines programme to resolve issues. The Grama Sevaka does one thing and Samurthi Officers do another.  There is no assessment regarding the loss of property, damages to the houses and loss of valuables. People cannot find a house for rent with Rs.50,000 promised by the government. They will have to leave the area. They will have to go to Homagama or Avissawella to rent out a house.

When we visited the area we met the Commander of the Army. He too did not have a proper coordination. It was evident from his statements. The government displays its usual inefficiency. An area that extends more than two square kilometers has been affected due to the incident. The Minister of Disaster Management has said the water issue of 75% of the people was solved. Without knowing the number that has been affected how could the minister say that the water issue of 75% has been resolved?

Also, the mentality of the people in the area has been shattered. The divisional politician attempt to advice peopled without any knowledge of the disaster. Certain politicians are rejected, booed and chased away when they try to get involved in the issue without understanding the issues of the people.

The politicians should understand the mental state of these people who have faced a disaster situation. The people have been angered due to the neglect of the government.

We would like to make a special request. A special programme should be carried out on behalf of the children who were to sit the scholarship examination which is a competitive examination. The children have been subjected to an immense pressure due to the disaster that occurred just a few months before their examination. Also, a special programme should be carried out on behalf of the students who were preparing for the A/L examination.

The water issue in the area is very serious. Water is not available not only for drinking but also for other necessary purposes. Voluntary organizations have been restricted from getting involved in bringing relief. The people should be helped to build their houses. Raw material should be supplied and specially a programme should be carried out to provide security for the people and their property.