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| Sunday, 5 September 2004 |
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Letters |  |
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Please forward your letters to [email protected] in plain text format within the e-mail message, since as a policy we do not open any attachments.
We note with dismay and despair that Palk Straight is to be excavated and deepened by Indian authorities. It is said that India is trying to blast the rock in the sea bed along Palk Straight by dynamiting using 'Baby Bombs' with a view to deepening the sea along PS to enable large vessel and carriers to traverse through avoiding a longer route of sailing through South Sri Lanka. This is a grave situation that will definitely have an adverse impact on the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka. Apart from above, it will give rise to three major issues that will seriously affect, impede and undermine the Independence of our country:- 1. Once ships start plying through Palk Straight, Colombo harbour will lose its strategic identity as a gate-way port and will lose heavily on business and revenue since most ships bound East and West will bypass Colombo port. 2. Due to heavy flow of water from the eastern side, the western coastal belt will be rendered a sand desert and all Sri Lanka's beautiful beaches, 'specially in the East will be badly affected. 3. It will be of no use trying to develop and upgrade Galle harbour and also to construct a new harbour at Hambantota spending billions of dollars. There can also be other serious consequences where environment and geological aspects are concerned. It is most surprising why our famed environmentalists and geologists are dumbfolded on this very vital national issue. We urge and plead with the President, Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, Minister of Ports Development, the JVP leadership, the JHU and other relevant authorities such as the Geology Dept and the Environmental Authority to immediately look into this matter as a 'top national priority', talk amicably with the Indian authorities and if necessary represent matters strongly to the UN and world leaders. We are of opinion that this attempt by India is a grave violation of International Maritime Regulations and accepted global ethics. Ranjit C. Dissanayake, While the JVP holds rallies and demonstrations against talks based on the LTTE's ISGA, the Jathika Sangha Sabha and the JHU too support this move. The vast majority of peace loving people are wondering what would happen to the peace process, in other words, will there be another war? Holding talks based on the ISGA with the LTTE does not necessarily mean that the Government has to agree on all points in the ISGA. During the course of deliberations, the Government and the LTTE would know how far they could go to reach a consensus. By and by the contentious issues could be resolved through discussions. If peace talks are held based on the ISGA, the UNF is prepared to extend its support, although they too do not totally agree on all points in the ISGA. The JVP, JHU and the Jathika Sangha Sabha may be worried about the final solution. Presuming that it would be a 'Federal set up', how would we know, if we do not initiate peace talks. Should we not make use of this period of peace, to talk to the LTTE with the ISGA as a base and settle things. If a referendum is held now to find out whether public opinion is in favour of talks to be held with the LTTE with the ISGA as a base, millions will vote in favour, not that they totally agree with all what is in the ISGA, but because the prospects for a durable peace settlement are better. So at this omenteous period in our history the President should gather together all the progressive forces who are for peace and start peace talks with the LTTE. This could be the first step on the arduous road to peace and harmony. J. T. Mirando, I refer to the above titled letter to the Editor in the Sunday Observer August 29. The undergraduates of the Colombo University Rowing team along with their coach regret the unseemly comments made by some of their supporters on that day. However, as coach of the Colombo University Rowing team, I need to set the record straight. My responsibility is solely towards the University students who row; in this instance eleven boys and six girls. These students are all well trained, disciplined in all aspects of the sport as well as the social requirements of the hallowed Colombo Rowing Club, and therefore maintain a very high standard of behaviour at all times. They were not involved in this issue. While I agree with the general comments of the writer from Brisbane, two present day factors in our country have a bearing on the subject. Rowing, which was a fairly elitist sport in the past, is gaining in popularity among schools, universities and other institutions and has become a spectator sport. This event was open to the public. Spectator hooliganism has permeated nearly all sports (and not just in this country). Also, standards of behaviour amongst schools and universities sometimes drop to deplorable levels. To hold a team coach responsible for spectator behaviour therefore seems unfair and unrealistic. Coach, University of Colombo, Non-Muslim politicians at Dewatagaha Mosque -Another view I would like to comment and correct the misconception in M. Mousoof's letter (Sunday Observer,August 22, 2004). The ritual of grave worshipping is portrayed as an Islamic practice. In fact, it is not so. Throughout much of human history honouring the dead through elaborate burial rites, ornate tombs and decorated graves, along with festivals of commemoration and adoration have led to great confusion and misunderstanding in religion. The graves of holy men among Hindus, Muslims, Christians, etc., have become shrines where rites of worship like prayer, sacrifice and pilgrimage are performed on a large-scale. Muslim masses have strayed away from the fundamental principle of the Islamic creed and began to imitate the cultural practices of the indigenous population. The reasons are many but the main motivations to pursue grave worshipping are easily recognizable. The worshippers believe that the dead person can play the role of an intercessor between man and God because of his piety during his living years. And they also believe that a dead person can answer all their earthly wishes by providing them with wealth, health, marriage, jobs, birth of a child, etc. Grave worship is fundamentally against the Islamic creed. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) during his lifetime said: "I have no power to bring good or avert harm even from myself, it is only as Allah wills" (Holy Qur'an 7:188). Therefore, it makes less sense to believe that a dead person can do better. Muslims are constantly reminded in the opening chapter of the Holy Qur'an to seek help from Allah and Allah alone. To seek help among the dead has no validity and is anti-Islam. In Islam, to the best of my knowledge, Allah has not bestowed a title of "Sainthood" on any individual. These fancy titles were created by over zealous followers. The word frequently used in the Holy Qur'an is a friend or an ally (Walee in Arabic or Awaliya if many). This friend can be anyone who is God-conscious and pious. In light of the above, Muslims are visiting the graves of Sheik Usman (Dewatagaha) and others for the wrong reasons. It is time we heed the ominous warning in the Holy Qur'an (12:106): "And most of them believe not in Allah without associating (other as partners) with Him!" In Islam, this is the worst of sins. Tuan Riza Rassool, After more than a decade, a convicted rapist and murderer was executed in an Indian jail. The decision by the Indian Government to recommence execution may be due to rapidly increasing crime rate in the country. Even though the execution was carried out silently at night within the prison, the human rights activities staged a noisy demonstration outside the prison against the execution. Their act can reasonably be justified as far as the human rights are concerned, had the activists themselves taken the lead to condemn the raping and killing of that innocent child. Most unlikely. So for them, the brutal crime is forgotten but the punishment is disappointing. If the penal laws specifies the punishment for murder by death, so be it. Every morning, newspapers carry reports of killings in various parts of our country. There is no way that these crimes can be controlled until the people through the teachings of their various religions are able to control their feelings and cultivate kindness and forgiveness within their hearts. We may be far behind the path. Therefore, at present, there is no option left other than Sri Lanka too to follow the Indian example to check the increasing rate of crimes in our country. M. R. A. L. Gunasinghe, Fundamental Rights and freedom of man It has been indicated that in Chapter Three 15 (1) of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka that every person is entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion including the freedom to hold opinions and to have or to adopt a religion or belief of the person's choice. And 15 (2) states that any restriction shall not be placed on the rights declared and recognized by paragraph (1). Further 15 (3) points out that every person is entitled to the freedom, either alone or in association with others, either in public or in private to manifest the person's religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching. As such no single organ of the State or the three organs collectively here have the power to change, amend or interpret the written law except by undemocratic methods or by a special procedure laid down in the Constitution. Any infringement, obstruction or encroachment of people's right could definitely be remedied in Court. It should be understood by those concerned, do not beat drums for another holocaust. We swallowed and we are still swallowing bitter pills for our past blunders. Let us shovel singular hegemony. There are more major and important matters to off the hook. H. L. D. E. Perera, |
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