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| Sunday, 9 November 2003 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Today is Remembrance Day : From Elephant Pass to Dombagoda Don't forget to remember by Vimukthi Fernando There were times when they were paid tribute, after tribute by many a prominent person. And times when, regardless of party affiliations, politicians fought over the 'right' to own and serve their community.
Their needs are many. Foremost among them is the need for acceptance by society of their right to live with self-respect. "We do not want pity, neither do we ask to be put on a pedestal and worshipped," says a soldier who had tested his mettle representing the Army's wheelchair tennis and badminton teams in other countries. V.G. Nishantha has no feeling in his lower limbs, a consequence of being shot in the spine at Elephant pass in 1993. He echoes the unanimous cry of the war veterans of Dombagoda, who had sacrificed their youth to protect the nation. "All we ask for is a bit of concern for the situation we are in." Impossible task Care and concern do not seem to reach this community of 101 households, mostly headed by disabled soldiers from the Sri Lanka Army. On a rainy day such as the day Sunday Observer's team visited, it is a near impossible task, a driver's nightmare, with flooding of the roads and many a drain created by gushing waters. Not only the road, even the houses seem to get flooded with the slightest shower - as that of the house of M.K. Dayaratne, the President of the Householders' Association. The Sunday Observer team who sought his assistance to meet other householders was in the midst of its visits when halted by the cries of Dayaratne's distressed wife, who wanted whatever helping hands she could muster at the time, to prevent their house from flooding. Major problems Dayaratne who lost his leg in 1992 at Elephant pass, lives with his wife and two children at Dombagoda, since 1995. "Lack of proper roadways and communication facilities are the major problems we face carrying out day-to-day tasks," says Dayaratne. "Some of us cannot walk at all. Some have lost the whole or part of our legs, and it is impossible to walk the distance from the main road," he explains. "A three wheeler charges Rs.40 to reach the village from the main road, and 250 to Horana, the nearest town. Some of us still need treatment and have to travel to unit headquarters and to the hospital. We cannot afford it. Transport cost is what compelled me to resign from the army and stay home," says Dayaratne. While transport and roadways are priority, equally important is the issue of the lack of legal ownership of the land they live in. "We have no documents whatsoever to prove our right to this land. Though it has been 8 years since we have come here, no action is taken to provide us with deeds. Without a deed, we cannot even obtain a loan from a bank. This is a great obstacle in our way, for the government or the army can evict us at any time. And what will happen to our children then?," questions W.D.A. Weeratunga, RSV a soldier who was shot at Chettikulam and lost his leg in 1992. Many others including Chandana Mallawarachchi, a champion swimmer in the Army disabled soldiers team agree. However, insecurity and fear on the lack of legal ownership seems nothing compared to the problems they face in securing schools for their children. What they have to face is, "a great injustice" lament those with children of school-going age. Applications for children are directed to schools through the Army headquarters. However, "There is a marking system, and those of us who are out from service get the least marks. Also, there are discrepancies within the army itself. And the children of some, who have never set foot in operation areas get higher marks than those of us who have sacrificed life and limb for the country. Isn't that injustice?" questions a father who does not want his name to be mentioned. He had laboured for three months of the school year to enter his child into year one. "When I calculated the expenses, it had cost me about Rs. 15,000 for travelling! There was no question on the 'distance' when I had to travel from Embilipitiya, to the front defence line in Jaffna. But, the distance from Dombagoda to the nearest town Horana, is considered too far," says another, with similar experience. And, the solution? Seek support from the local politicians of course! The school doors, which were closed to them on the grounds of distance or not having adequate qualifications opened magically with a letter from the local politician plus a substantial donation. Educational authorities make public speeches on facilities provided for 'Ranaviru' children. But, it is only a myth," say these disappointed heroes. Rehabilitation On disabled soldiers myths abound, the Sunday Observer learns. One is the provision of artificial limbs and wheelchairs, their "lifeline." It is a laborious task for a soldier to secure an artificial limb once he completes residential rehabilitation, and moves on to society. "I was promised a house equipped suitably for a wheelchair user. The bathroom was adjusted, but in there, there is no room to move a wheelchair! I use a modified chair," trails the voice of K.G. Pushpakumara. He explains how he had to report to Ambepussa, to his unit headquarters for treatment, duty and his monthly salary. "They denied responsibility of keeping me, saying they have no facilities. And yet, I had to report, for if not my pay was cut. And when I made inquiries from Ragama, (Ranaviru Sevana - rehabilitation unit), they refused treatment saying that I should seek it from Ambepussa" Unable to cope with travelling and stress, he had resigned from service. "Now it is even more difficult to get treatment or a wheelchair," he laments. The difficulties they face in securing artificial limbs are similar or sometimes even more arduous, say these soldiers. They are not only sent from pillar to post and their requests constantly postponed, but needed to submit in writing the reasons for wearing off of artificial limbs!. "No one comes here to see how our houses and roads are flooded, but most of them advise us not to use them in the water!," says one hero, with a smile. Problems this community face are linked to one another. The road to Dombagoda is in dilapidated condition and within the village there are only remnants of the washed-off paths. There is no public transport facility to this village which is about 1 1/2 kilometres off the main road. There are no communication facilities either. Repeated requests for a public phone booth, had fallen on deaf ears of the authorities say residents. Except a handful, the rest have resigned from armed service due to the many hardships posed by their disabilities. Neither the houses, nor the roads are designed to suit the needs of the wheelchair users or those who use crutches. Requests The community has been presenting their requests to those in authority from the time they settled in, but in vain. "I met the Minister of Lands, an elected representative from our district (Kalutara), to seek his help to address our problems, last week." says Weeratunga. "I was quite surprised to hear that the minister was not aware of the existence of our village in his district, when I was the one who welcomed him to the village before the election. At the time he promised the villagers that he would take action to repair the roads. He said that he would utilise his own money for the task, in the event he was not elected! But, now with peace on the horizon we have become a cast-off lot," he adds. "We are not against peace. If there is any group in Sri Lanka that wants peace and unity, it would be those who have faced the reality and the consequences of the war" says Mallawarachchi, the champion swimmer who had trotted the globe and broadened his views. "It is an attitudinal change we need. We do not want to be a burden to the country. We want to live with dignity. But, in our country we neither get acceptance, nor have access to necessary different facilities. If we had such we would not have to burden others, for we have learned to live independently, and we have shown that we are able," he points out. True peace is to rise above the differences such as political, religious and communal and to live in harmony with each other. And true honour and remembrance of our war heroes would be to give them access to normal living, to lead their lives with dignity. ############## Why white poppies turned red... by LAKMAL WELABADA The red poppy, the symbol which carpets the graves of soldiers is remembered today. A legend says that during the great wars of ancient civilisations, white Poppy flowers which sprang up on earth turned blood red whereever the blood of a soldier was shed. And since then, Mother Earth has been giving birth to red poppies, since this is the only way she could scream in protest against war, terror and killings among her own children - the humans.
Following this idea, Lt.Col.John McCrae, an American doctor, soldier, author, poet and artist who served in the military during the first world war, composed the moving poem 'Flanders Fields' for the 'sacrificers' of the war. He wrote the verses of this poem in pencil on his dispatch book while seeing the flood of blood streaming in front of him at the place where he was in charge of a small first aid post, in France, in 1915. He named his poem 'We shall not sleep'. It was later changed to 'Flanders Field' as the burial ground of thousands of soldiers who died at the battlefront in France was named 'Flanders Fields'. Even during the last moments of his life, Lt.Col.John McCrae who died from acute pneumonia in January 1918, is said to have sat on the balcony of his room at the Canadian General Hospital in France overlooking the Cliffs of Dover and recited the last words of his poem to his doctor... "Tell them this, if ye break faith with us who die, we shall not sleep." A few months following his death, his poem which was published in a women's periodical had inspired Moina Michael, an American who was working in New York City YMCA. His words, 'To you from failing hands we throw the Torch; be yours to hold it high' had kindled sympathy in her heart for those who sacrificed their lives for the country. Lighting a candle for the millions who died on the battlefield, she then started wearing a red-poppy. Following her, Madame Guerin, a French woman launched a project using hand-made Poppies to raise funds for the destitute children in war-torn areas of her country in November 1921. Since then the red poppy is considered the symbol of remembrance for those who sacrificed their lives in war. And Sri Lanka, also adapting this concept uses the red poppy flower for fund raising projects launched for the welfare of our own soldiers and their families who became destitute due to the N-E war. The annual requirement of poppies for the 'Remembrance Sunday' is donated to the Sri Lanka Ex-services Association (SLESA) through the British Commonwealth Ex-services League by the Royal British Legion. Annually 15,000 car wreaths which are sold at Rs. 100, are made by the disabled soldiers at Ranaviru Sevana out of the poppies sent by the British. Each flower is made of two red paper petals with a black plastic button in the centre with the words 'poppy Appeal' on it. In addition, poppies are distributed everywhere with tills for the well-wishers to fill with coins. Apart from this a special sticker with an emblem that indicates the importance of the 'remembrance of war heroes' is sold at Rs.10. The SLESA says that it is the main income for the many welfare projects launched for the members of the Association and their families. They include the provision of free medical facilities and assistance in major surgeries, giving scholarships to their university level children, conducting training for self-employment projects and running an elders' home for ex-service personnel in Bolagala. With its strength of 13,000 membership affiliated through 28 associations (from each regiment of all three forces) the SLESA celebrated the 50th Anniversary in April this year. Since there is so much more to be done for the soldiers, wear a red poppy in remembrance and in their honour. Flanders Fields by Lt.Col.(Dr.) John McCrae - 1915. |
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However, Dombagoda, the abode of the families of the war heroes, those
who had laid down life and limb for the nation, lies forlorn and forgotten
in the recesses of dark and gloomy rubber estates of the southern part of
the Western Province away from 'civilisation.'
Drawing attention to this strange symbolism, for the first time in
history, Lord McCauley suggested that the poppy should be known as the
'flower of sacrifice and remembrance'.
