[cat’S eye]
Much has happened!
This feline was kept fully occupied reading newspapers and watching
TV these past few days and getting controversial too. Her innate
curiosity too was aroused over certain incidents. But, first things
first, even in the world of cats.
Name change
This cat, (sure there are many humans in agreement), favours the
change of name of the day we commemorate the end of the civil war that
cost this tiny country so much. The government wisely decided to change
the title of May 19 from Victory Day to Remembrance Day.
Reconciliation Day was also suggested. The main reason to this feline
is that the very word ‘victory’ resounds with warfare, booming of guns,
clash of arms, triumph and defeat with attendant death, injury and
destruction.
The term ‘remembrance’ is so much gentler; connoting never forgetting
the good and bad, forgiveness, reconciliation and a coming together
again.
Menika expressed this view to a die-hard nationalist and didn’t her
ears get a blast from which she is still to recover. To her Victory Day
suits the ex-President who won the war for us and named the day thus. It
gives her a mental word picture of him moving forwards in his
characteristic manner of chest forward and arms waving energetically as
a ruling king would move.
The softer word ‘remembrance’ conjures up the image of our present
President: calm, simple, almost self-effacing but with steel within. It
is the right word for commemorating the winning of the war and
remembering all those who contributed, from the leaders of the land
to the soldiers in the sands of the Vanni, both Sinhalese and Tamil, the
Air Force and the Navy.
We had two commemorative parades; one at the Viharamaha Devi Park in
Colombo and the official parade by the sea in Matara – the heartland
from where most young men enlisted in the armed forces with patriotism
prompting them to risk their lives.
Mahinda Rajapakse came to the Colombo event with a prideful gait of a
victor and what he said was that the country was at risk of another
Tamil terrorist uprising. (We are tired of this refrain, ever sung by
his chief acolyte, Wimal Weerawanse. They seem to see Tigers in every
bush and building in the island).
Maithripala Sirisena was chief guest at the government organized
Matara commemoration, descended from his escorted vehicle with a mixture
of humility and determination. He spoke forcefully yet feelingly of
remembrance with gratitude and reconciliation.
And thus the sharp contrast of personalities and the stance of the
two commemorations. To Menika the
fact of the parade organised by an association that styles itself as
the protectors of the land, brought in a rent in the fabric of the
people of the land. The Colombo parade and ideas promulgated would
divide the people into a militant group and a peaceful group.
Rape
The attack on the police station and courts in Jaffna surprised this
cat who thought she had seen it all. The men accused of raping and
killing 18-year-old schoolgirl S. Vithiya were taken in, one even from
Wellawatte, so why the rioting. Reading more about it, Menika finds
that the 500 strong protesting mob wanted to get their hands on the
criminals. The truly heinous crime called for the strictest measures of
punishment but what caused the mob to rise and outsmart the police and
army reinforcements. They had to leave punishment to the police and the
Courts.
And thus the frightening surmise that violence among the Jaffna
people, as it is elsewhere, is ever on the boil, ready to erupt at the
slightest provocation. Schoolchildren marching in protest was in order
since the crime committed was against them and to be vetoed outright.
Attention had to be brought to the crime so repetitions are
prevented. But the mob rising up and injuring police officers and of
course themselves was unpardonable. Is it frustration of the Jaffna man
getting the better of his more placid demeanour and taking him away from
his occupation as farmer or shopkeeper that keeps him usually fully
occupied? The cause must be probed.
Delhi and consequently India was in upheaval over the rape of a
medical student in a bus. Poet Sakuntala Sachithanandan wrote vividly
about this in her recently published book: ‘Sedahamy, Selvakumari and
Others’
“Speak up against the bestiality of some men/ whose cruelty is well
beyond/
The nature of the beasts:/ Five dogs may line up near a bitch, each/
Snarling for his pleasure./ But they’d never think of clubbing her/
Nor ramming metal rods in her/ Nor try to run her over in a bus…/
That’s the human demons’ forte.”
She pins down the depths man can descend to.
Rape was a southern crime with many Pradeshiya Sabha personnel
involved. It is surprising to find it happening in Jaffna – men raping a
schoolgirl of their area.
Supreme Court ruling
This cautious feline is reluctant to get into deep water by
commenting on the Supreme Court ruling by two judges on the FR petition
forwarded by Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. Her only comment or question is: will
the favourable ruling to the applicant become a precedent. Tiran Alles
is already testing the water and we wait to see the result.
A writer of a letter to a newspaper said that the Prime Minster was
wrong in saying he was perturbed by the judgment and would seek advice
from a body within the Commonwealth. He wrote: “If the independence of
the Judiciary is to be respected and honoured, the Executive should have
the sense not to intervene and recommend sources where the judiciary
could seek legal inspiration, …
“Under the circumstances, it is beyond comprehension what the Prime
Minister expected to achieve when he made the recommendations to the
President, other than perhaps to undermine the faith and confidence of
the people in the ability of Sri Lanka’s Judiciary to exercise justice
without external intervention.” High thoughts, noble ideals. Maybe the
writer forgot how the executive in the previous regime literally chased
away the first woman Chief Justice after she gave a ruling on Divineguma
issues. She was subject to obnoxious behaviour by a Parliamentary panel
who reported and recommended on her. Also have judgments been fair and
square always in the recent past?
The DN’s case
A sharp controversy has arisen due to the Diyawadana Nilame of the
Temple of the Tooth being questioned by the CID. The Chief Prelates did
not like it; people do not like the DN being questioned. The worst is
that religion is being dragged into the matter.
The DN seems to be equated with Buddhism, hence having doubts about
his integrity is an insult to Buddhism. This is nonsense. If there is
doubt about his actions, he has to be questioned. Worse, some bring in
the Christian Minister into the picture which surely is a wedge being
driven between the two religions. This cat says: question him thoroughly
and if he proves himself to be trustworthy drop all further
investigation. If there are doubts continue the probing and bring him to
justice.
Menika’s conclusion is that nothing is easy in this land. Too many
opinions, too many Know Alls. That brought her up short! Is she another
Sri Lankan Know All?
Menika
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