• Bishop of Mannar, the peace process

• WOP Allowance

• Mail to heaven
  
  Bishop of Mannar, the peace process

Mr. S. L. Gunasekera has taken the Bishop of Mannar to task for his letter to the Vatican in regard to the reported attack on the Pesalai Church, killing a number of people and also his statement on the policy of the LTTE.

If his Lordship had limited his statement in regard to the damage to the Church and the killing of some of his faithful irrespective of even questioning the truth of his statement, one could have understood and appreciated the stand of the Bishop.

But when in the course of this, he strays away and ventures to make a policy statement on behalf of the LTTE, attempting of course to cast a kind of whitewash on the LTTE, the Bishop was no doubt treading on dangerous ground.

He had certainly a case for the condemnation of what had happened at the Pesalai Church, and it is a pity that he took the opportunity to go beyond the Church incident to seek to make a kind of Policy Statement on the activities of the LTTE, virtually attempting to exonerate the Tigers from all the terror and violence they had plunged the country into for nearly 20 years, and virtually in the process saying that the LTTE have done no wrong for the last 20 years.

Today a substantial part of the world has openly condemned the LTTE for the terror they had unleashed on Sri Lanka for over 20 years and has had no hesitation to brand them as terrorists for what they have done.

Without any doubt, the LTTE has been branded as terrorists not for nothing but for the unabated terrorism and violence the LTTE had committed on Sri Lanka and even today almost continues on a daily basis, leaving more and more countries in the world with no alternative but to continue to brand the LTTE as terrorists for what they are in open defiance of the world continuing to do today.

A charge was even made before the United Nations Assembly against the LTTE for the abduction of nearly 5000 children for the LTTE Baby Brigade. 5000 children snatched - forcibly taken away - from their parental homes causing untold grief to their parents, who had no choice but bow to the demands of the LTTE.

As pointed out by Mr. Anandasangaree human rights are openly violated by the LTTE. They have, as a result of no opposition from virtually any source today set up a real dictatorship of the LTTE in the North-East of the country and are now reporting to be in pursuit of this dictatorship - strengthening it and making its goal achieveable.

In the face of this heavy charge against the LTTE it is therefore unfortunate that the Bishop of Mannar in the course of his complaint against what happened at the Pesalai Church, should have allowed himself to use the occasion to try to make a political statement on behalf of the LTTE and in the process to virtually exonerate the LTTE from all the terrorism they have unleashed on Sri Lanka for nearly 20 years. This in the face of almost the world's condemnation of the terror of the Tigers, in the face of what Sri Lanka's is facing today - the unleashing of Tiger terror on the people and the country on virtually a daily basis.

The Catholic Church with over a billion followers is highly respected in the world today. It has not hesitated to stand up and defend the rights of all people - not only Catholics. The famed Evangelist Billy Graham said of the late Pope John Paul II - that he was the keeper of the moral conscience of the world, because of what he did in his lifetime to uphold human rights.

In the face of the stand maintained by the Church in the world, what the Bishop of Mannar has attempted to do by making a virtual policy statement on behalf of the LTTE is unacceptable. The Church in Sri Lanka has to be a little more careful, particularly, the statements of the Bishops in the North East of the country.

Extra precautions should be taken to ensure that the Bishops do not give way to making statements of the type the Bishop of Mannar has made. It could easily be harmful to the Church, particularly at a time when it is now taking a strong stand to defend human rights. The Church has to be very careful in regard to the Peace Process in the North East of the country. It must be fair to all sides. It must uphold what is right and fair for all peoples concerned. We must safeguard the rights of all our people - this must be our sole concern.

The Bishop's Conference in Sri Lanka - the official body of the Church should see to it that even the Bishops - particularly in the North East of the country should tread the path of peace very carefully and cautiously. It must even examine the stand the Church has taken over the last 20 years. It has to be exhaustively aware of all that has to be done in order to get a lasting peace.

All avenues must be explored. Are there grey areas the Church has to look in to? It is a tricky area. The Church must be open to look into all areas fearlessly. It must be able to stand up and call a spade a spade.

The Church plays a big role in Peace Making in the North/East of the Country. It carries a lot of influence. It must become increasingly aware of it and pursue it in the greater interests of all the people and the greater interests of the country. Instead of peace we have allowed a war to grow. It cannot be over-supportive of any one side but rather equally supportive of all sides in the conflict.

by Maurice Lord

WOP Allowance

Widows and Orphans pension has been a great relief to those unfortunate widows to overcome their financial difficulties, especially at the time it was introduced long years ago, when the working women percentage was very low.

This scheme however, has a drawback. When the widow re marries, she loses her right to the pension. We are aware of the problems faced by a widow in our society and a widow may consider re marriage for one or more of the following reasons: social; security and status, better prospects for her children, avoid loneliness, and / or happier life with a companion to share her burdens, especially at old age.

Regrettably, the fear of losing the WOP Allowance, is preventing many widows from re marrying and improving the quality of their lives.

I was happy to note that the Budget proposals for 2005 made on 18.11.2004 included an item which stated that "if widows who receive the WOP Allowance from the Government re marry, they be given 50% of the allowance they are drawing as widows". This was a commendable and revolutionary step by the Government. However, regrettably this proposal has not been implemented to date (even after 20 months!). I am aware of widows who have re-married and are unhappy that they have been deprived of this additional financial support.

I appeal to His Excellency - The President, Ministers and other parliamentarians to give effect to this enactment early to ease the burden of our unfortunate sisters. I also understand there is another proposal to continue the WNOP Allowance to unmarried daughters after the death of the mother. I recommend this proposal also be implemented without any delay.

by Balachandran, Council Member, The National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka.

Mail to heaven

As you walk in the Garden of Eden,
Mom do you hold Dad's hand?
He left behind his walking-stick
So he cannot properly stand
Does he wear his hearing - aid?
For you know that his hearing is impaired
See that he wears the right shoe on the right
For he never got them right!
It all started with eve giving an apple
to Adam they say?
Please don't forget to give Dad an apple a day
For he firmly believed it kept the doctor away!
We miss his greetings on our good days
As he wished everyone happiness always.

Articles and matter of each one's interest
He distributed so painstakenly helped us, best.
I guess, wandering among hues of white lilies
Dad, definitely enjoy; and will do lot of good
Though the Angels carried you away much early than they should
Dad missed you, loved you more than he could.

May God take care of you
We pray for you each day
Showers of blessings we ask of you
Till we all meet each-other some day!

by Nelum de Mel, Hendala.