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by Chamitha Kuruppu

For Tree months, I have been a regular visitor to an important and principal government institution in Colombo. Being pregnant, the purpose of my visit was to collect my lunch from a relative working there, I have never had an issue gaining access to the 'so called' important establishment.

The existence of the security personnel was the last thing that I have noticed in the past three months. Although the place is heavily guarded with security officers, from the main gate to the reception area, very few visitors have been inquired into or inspected, regarding their access to the building.

The date was April 26, the day after the unfortunate bomb blast that took place at Army Head Quarters, Colombo. Reportedly the Army Commander was targetted by a suicide bomber who alleged to be a pregnant woman. As usual, I try to enter the premises to collect lunch from my relative.

Strangely, no warm greetings are offered. I was stopped near the main gate. Two security officers block the entrance and call another senior officer. I see three pairs of eyes staring at my stomach.

For the first time I was questioned about my purpose of entering the building. Even after a very clear explanation, the three officers were not willing to let me in, but, called another lady security officer for more inspections. Embarrassed and angry, I keep mum as the lady security officer runs her metal detector throughout my body, while the three officers continue to gape at me.

The metal detector has not made a single beep. "Hah, I told you so" I wanted to tell them. BUT, instead of letting me enter the building, they decide to do a body check. By then it was clear that their main concern was my bulging stomach. Reluctantly, but harshly she starts to squeeze my stomach. Not once or twice, but a number of times.

It looked as if the woman knew nothing of the life inside my stomach. I finally protest against the intolerable behaviour. Hesitantly they let me in after another round of questions.

On the following day, Thursday, still angry and embarrassed, I decide to stay in the vehicle and send my husband in to collect the lunch. A security officer near the car park entrance, who accidently noticed that I was pregnant, stopped our vehicle immediately. Another four to five security officers surround our vehicle and forbid entering the car park.

The same day I visit a reputed bank to conduct some transactions. I smile with the security officer as usual, before entering the bank. Soon his eyes target my stomach. I was stopped, inquired into and body checked, again, with a lot of squeezing on the stomach (may be until they made sure it was real).

Soon after I return to office, I decide to check with other pregnant staffers about the latest intolerable harassments. Unfortunately, most of them had experienced the same ordeal. So it was clear, that innocent pregnant women were the latest threat to the security situation of the country.

From the mere traffic cop to every single security officer, including bus conductors, along with thousands of strangers, will make every pregnant woman uncomfortable by their gapes and unbearable body checks.

Living in a country where mothers are treated with utmost respect and love, it is pathetic to note what pregnant women have to go through following last week's suicide attack. The LTTE woman might have been pregnant, but does that mean that every single pregnant woman in this country is a threat to the country's security ?

For the last twenty odd years I have weathered a number of bomb blasts. Following the Central Bank bomb attack, which was fixed in a lorry, no lorries were permitted to enter Colombo. Following the famous king-coconut cart attack all 'thambili karaththa's' became the prime target of security personnel.

Just a matter of time and today nobody inquires about the unlimited access of lorries into the city of Colombo or king coconut carts. But, they have discovered and are busy with the latest threat, 'pregnant women'.

We, pregnant women, have sacrificed the best sleeping positions, are forced to dress in the most distasteful outfits, to make sure that the amazing life growing in our bodies is safe and comfortable. We will not let our gynaecologist to squeeze our stomachs so hard, because we do not want anybody to hurt the innocent life inside. So, are we to tolerate the latest harassment carried out on us and our unborn babies, just because it is important to maintain security in the country?

Being loyal Sri Lankans, we all long for peace and are willing to abide by any necessity that is required to maintain proper security in the country. We, pregnant women, cry more for peace in this country, so that our unborn children will have peace and harmony and never have to experience the violence that we have been through.

Despite the physical and psychological difficulties we experience throughout these nine months, all pregnant women are willing to be supportive with the security personnel whenever the necessity arises, but with no harassment.

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