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