|
|
|
  |
| Sunday, 17 April 2005 |
 |
|
 |
Editorial |  |
| News Business Features Security
|
Please forward your comments to the
Editor, Sunday Observer. E-mail: [email protected] Snail mail : Sunday Observer, 35, D.R.Wijewardana Mawatha, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Telephone : 94 11 2429239 / 2331181 Fax : 94 11 2429230 New Year reconstruction and peace The Sinhala and Hindu New Year was celebrated on a modest scale this time. No doubt the tsunami disaster had a restraining impact on the national psyche. Though the fun and frolic was not so visible the traditional customs and rituals associated with the event were not lacking. This proves that the masses of the people have been able to keep their cultural roots intact in spite of the tempest of cultural globalization that did not spare our land. New Year has always been a moment for introspection and resolve. That is why statesmen, stateswomen, politicians, religious dignitaries all make known their New Year resolutions to inspire the masses to follow suit. What was uppermost in the minds of everybody when making resolutions this time is the plight of the tsunami victims and the need to uplift them from their present sad state. In our opinion two issues should take precedence over all others in the year ahead. They are reconstruction and peace. The tragedy that struck us on December 26 last is so colossal that nothing less than a united effort with maximum synergy could lift us from the abyss we fell into on that fateful day. Just as the tsunami did not differentiate on grounds of race, ethnicity, religion or social status the task of reconstruction too cannot be carried out on sectarian, fragmented and disjointed ways. We would like to see a concerted effort by all political forces to speed up rehabilitation and reconstruction work. We see no justification for political acrimony to supersede the need for unity. It is sad that certain politicians are making use of the plight of tsunami victims to push forward their own personal and partisan political agendas. Lacking also in the rebuilding efforts is a coordinated strategy in which both central and provincial authorities cooperate to gain maximum benefit for the affected. While these deficiencies are found throughout it is glaring in the Northeast in the context of the existence of two administrations and two political powers in the area. While there could be diversity in the assessment of these administrations and political powers and questions about their legitimacy could be raised none could ignore their de facto existence. It is in recognition of that de facto existence that a joint mechanism for tsunami rehabilitation and reconstruction has become an imperative of the time. Nearly four months have elapsed since the tsunami and still we have not been able to place a mechanism for tsunami relief in the Northeast. Without such a mechanism the promised overseas aid may not flow in and Sri Lanka will be placed in a very difficult financial and economic plight. On the other hand, the sooner we institutionalise such a mechanism the sooner could we proceed on the task of reconstruction. Furthermore, it would generate conditions better suited to revive the stalled peace process. Thus the two issues that need priority attention - reconstruction and peace- are not isolated but inter-related, one feeding the other. The danger to the unity and integrity of Sri Lanka emanates more from the continuation of the indeterminate status quo and eventual breaking up of the ceasefire agreement leading us to an unexpected and unwanted resumption of the Eelam War. Cuba Si,Yankee No The United States of America pursuing its policy of isolating Cuba in the international arena and identifying it as a rogue state is once more going before the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva with a resolution castigating Cuba. It has been doing so since 1990. Any censure of Cuba by the Commission could be used by Washington as a pretext for open invasion of the Caribbean island to force a regime change through unilateral military action as it did in Iraq and is threatening to do in some other countries. The United States with its dismal human rights record in so many areas of the world and even internally has no moral or political right to castigate Cuba. We call upon the Government of Sri Lanka to vote with Cuba and against the US sponsored resolution at the forthcoming meeting of the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva. Unfortunately the record of Sri Lanka at the vote on this annual resolution has been quite discouraging. It does not reflect at all the sentiments of friendship and solidarity that our people have for Cuba. In spite of the loud anti-imperialist rhetoric even 'progressive' regimes have abstained at this vote. It had abstained 11 times including last year when the resolution was carried with a single majority when even countries like Indonesia and Pakistan voted with Cuba. Sri Lanka has voted with Cuba only in 1990 and in 1999. Say 'Yes' to Cuba and 'No' to the US. Cuba Si, Yankee No. |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security | Produced by Lake House |
