Education should be changed to suit business environment

Education should be changed to suit business environment

Chandra Embuldeniya

Daily News Debate

EDUCATION: The editorial under the caption ‘Blighted seats of learning’ on Daily News (July 11) enunciates a perfect way to move forward eradicating higher education malaise. The editorial is based on the assessment made by Prof. Wiswa Warnapala, Minister of Higher Education on the perpetual troubles facing our university education system.

It presents an accurate assessment of the situation and the only solution to many of our problems in brief. The solution I believe is most crucial for future development of our nation. The solution to higher education malaise would encapsulate the whole gamut of economic development of the nation and revitalize it.

In my brief outline below, I intend bringing out a few illustrations of experiences gained from my association with the higher education sector in Sri Lanka to justify the editor’s conclusions. Most of our university students are coerced to become anti social by a handful of politically driven persons who are aiming for power in future.

The aim of these persons is to create joblessness and keep the country underdeveloped until they come to power. They want to create a large base of government employees obliging to their whims while someday perhaps they would hold the entire country to ransom by crippling government services.

Their strategic aim is to disable the majority students so as not to fit into the engine of growth, the private sector, with skills and knowledge needed. They deprive the country of the spirit and skills needed for innovations to add value to our resources.

Under the guise of free education, 17 per cent of the cohort of qualified students enters the university system each year while 83 per cent are deprived of a convenient opportunity to earn a degree with the blessings of the State.

The small number that gets into the university are so coerced into being docile anti social and herded into dancing to a rhythm that suits the aspirations of even a smaller group of anti social elements at the expense of taxpayer.

The parents are unaware and even if they are aware, they cannot respond due to fears and helplessness. It is time we realise the nation’s development imperatives to rectify the malaise affecting higher education.

A nation has to depend on a group of pioneering people who are knowledgeable in technology, science, engineering, medicine, humanities and fine arts to take us to a higher level of value addition to the economic resources of our country. It demands a spirit of technological and business innovation and enterprise, just as many other nations have seen during their development process.

This means the pioneers have to emerge from society including academia, business persons, politicians, artists and media persons. All these people begin as students some day until they take up pioneering roles in innovation and development activity.

This process would become possible only if students are ready to learn and allow others to learn in an environment conducive for such activity. Our universities could not provide such an environment due to the violent student agitations and harassment of the spirited innocents.

The violence is brought about by a few well-trained individuals who are perhaps led by paid activists to create instability. Mostly, these are activists driven by political groups motivated to take power in the country as happened in the past.

It is so sad that the persons leading this movement in the country are using their craft to subvert the young minds and push their wily theories and approaches aiming to destabilize universities. Strategies adopted by the universities to produce a learned citizenry are neutralized effectively by these anti social elements.
Unaware

As the editorial implies the parents are unaware of what is going on in the universities. Even if they knew, they are unable to stop the rot because the innocent want to stay aloof to the problem fearing reprisals.

It is important for every parent to know the strategies adopted by these enemies of society. They first identify the students who have parental problems or other debilitating problems from their school days.

Then these young men and women are drawn in tactfully through various means where they are trained on how to lead and take over. The training begins at the school. As expected, a few of these trained students find their way into the universities.

Once they are in the university, the process is very swift with each hand picked one being given a role to play equipped with mobile phones and allowances for participation and activism. Their main task is to identify issues that present opportunities for agitation.

They also play roles in organising students for various occasions with cultural, religious and social importance. Ragging is one of the principal means of pacifying and silencing students and establishing dominance over any alternate movements. With these activities, they identify themselves as leaders and wait for their turn.

Typically, these issues are dealt by administrations in universities in a manner keeping with policy and in keeping with available resources. Principal issues are hostels, accommodation, food, and a host of welfare issues. Sometimes issues related to academic, religious and social issues arise.

These students expect everything to be done according to their dictates to the authorities. No matter how logical is the action proposed by the university they would not stop short of agitation.

Even when they know that, the authorities are working on solutions they take it upon themselves to agitate to give the impression as if the solutions are being brought about due to their agitation. They would use these issues to silence those other students wishing to develop a future with positive action.
Anti - social

It is a prime objective of these anti social student elements to create an environment for depriving students passing out getting any lucrative jobs particularly in the private sector.

As a result, our students passing from universities prefer government jobs promising pensions and permanency even if salaries are half the private sectors offering. They prefer to work less typical for the public sector as opposed to hard work one has to produce in the private sector.

They want to draw students onto a platform to participate in ‘Satyagraha’ or ‘Fasting’ to get attention to issues including joblessness and persuade governments to give them any job however unproductive it may be.

The pattern of agitations will prolong after securing jobs to enhance salaries, then creating high salary scales, promotions etc. This process carves out a niche in an unproductive jobless society for the perpetrators of this anti social movement representing themselves as the sole liberators of the educated masses.

Private sector is the acclaimed engine of growth in a country. These students have no perception of an engine of growth. They think government is the engine of production. Government produces various statutory services and it is seemingly trying hard to improve quality, efficiency, productivity and finally, effectiveness of their services.

However, do they produce goods? I am afraid not. Whenever and wherever governments get into the kind of production for most common markets the governments have failed and been a cost to society than a catalyst for development.
Free education

This trend eventually fills up jobs in a country where high production and productivity are needed with docile pen pushers producing no outcomes of a high value. These are passengers in an economy already burdened with a load of enemies of various colours and shapes. We have not sufficiently understood or taken counter action against these enemies.

We should find ways of getting them to put their shoulder to the wheel rather than allowing them to sit comfortably with pension bearing jobs at taxpayers’ expense. Behind all this is our education system producing such inert people offensive to society. Unless we stop this now we are going to add greater inefficiency at the government level.

Let free education continue but let the opportunity be given to those parents who want children educated to their satisfaction to have a choice. The parents have a choice when children are schooling.

They choose to give private tuition and nowadays many parents try to send children to private schools and do not worry about the local university, as they seem to have lost confidence in this failing system. These parents prefer their children doing some technical education or professional education.

As such, freedom of education is practised but free education is a myth. Because we believe in this myth, we have made our country one of the poorest, while most other nations in the region have moved far ahead and continuing to progress economically.

The entire nation is being held to ransom by a handful of these wily people holding sway in higher education sector. These anti social elements are getting free education at government expense to hold the country to ransom.

It is clear from statistics that around 130,000 qualify to gain admissions to our universities although we receive only around 35,000 applications expecting to gain admissions. It is an equivalent of 27 per cent. Finally, less than 20,000 are selected. Thus, only 16 per cent of the qualified are getting a place in the university system under free education.

The survival number is less due universities carrying many unfilled vacancies due to dropouts. This number is much smaller when compared with the actual number sitting A/Levels. What happens to the balance 84 per cent who are also qualified to have a university education?

They blame this free education. At least if those passing out from the universities through this process become so good then our country should flourish with knowledgeable and skillful people.

This is not happening as long as the system is held to ransom by the anti social elements. The business enterprises representing the engine of growth have found majority of these graduates not so attractive to their purpose of running a factory or a commercial venture.

They can only find places in a government institution because the governments are always under political pressure to provide jobs even if there are no jobs.

This has to stop and education must be changed to suit the business environment and allow investments to attract into the country to employ our graduates. How can this happen unless we produce them meaningfully and deliberately. No matter what the universities try to do, they will not allow this to happen.

Their wily strategy is to keep the country poor, the graduates unemployed, so that they can appeal to a small group of people to take them to parliament in the belief that a utopia will arise from such politics.

(The writer is the Past President of the National Chamber of Commerce and Vice Chancellor, Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka)
http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/07/18/fea01.asp

One Religion or Two?

One Religion or Two?

The Case of Anne Holmes Redding

By Idris Tawfiq

Image
There is no doubt that interfaith dialogue, whereby the people of different religions get to know each other more through open and frank discussion, as well as friendly interchange, is one of the most pressing needs in the world today.

In a world that is becoming increasingly more secular, it is important that people of faith should talk to one another and uphold common values in a world that often has no place for God. Having two religions at the same time, though, seems to be stretching interfaith dialogue a bit too far.



And yet, that is what one lady in the United States claims to possess: two religions. Reverend Ann Holmes Redding, a minister of the Episcopal Church, claims to have declared Shahadah and become Muslim, while at the same time remaining Christian and fulfilling all of her duties as a minister.

When I first heard the story, my immediate action was to go and look through some of my own papers.
She is said to put on a veil, face the direction of Makkah, and pray five times a day. Yet for the rest of the day, she performs the function of a minister of the Episcopal Church, which might any day include baptisms, weddings, and funerals. On a Sunday, she leads the congregation in its religious service and preaches from the pulpit.



Hearsay is very dangerous, so I must state right from the start that I am going only on reports (well-sourced reports) about the matter. The purpose here is not really to address one particular person's journey of faith, but to see what this story has to teach us. If these few words can be of any help or interest to Reverend Redding, that is an added bonus.



The question is, "Can you be Christian and Muslim at the same time?" I believe the answer to be a very resounding "No," but it needs a bit of unpacking so we can understand exactly what is going on.



When I first heard the story, my immediate action was to go and look through some of my own papers. Some of you may know that I declared Shahadah and embraced Islam nearly seven years ago in Regent's Park Mosque in London. Before being Muslim, I was a Roman Catholic priest. Not too long after embracing Islam, I came to live in Egypt.



In becoming Muslim, we renounce all other religions.
If I had stayed in London, the authorities at London Central Mosque (Regent's Park) would have eventually issued me with a certificate of embracing the Islamic Faith, once they had seen that my decision to become Muslim was a lasting one. Such a certificate is an important proof, for example, if you intend to visit Saudi Arabia and perform Hajj or `Umrah.



Since I lived in Egypt at the time, I obtained the certificate from Al-Azhar, the most famous seat of Islamic scholarship and the oldest university in the world.



So I went straight back to the certificate. I remember very clearly the words I had declared at Al-Azhar. The certificate, signed by the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar himself, contained the words I had uttered.

It says quite clearly that I reiterated [my] acknowledgement of the Islamic Faith, saying [first in Arabic and then in English]: I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.



The next paragraph is most interesting, because it contains the other words that I said: I also acknowledge that Moses, Jesus and all other Prophets are servants and Messengers of Allah. I renounce all religions other than Islam. Furthermore, I hereby and henceforth adhere to Islam as my Faith and Shari`ah.



So there we have it, quite clearly. I remembered saying the words, and I know that the words make sense. In becoming Muslim, we renounce all other religions.



It may be possible in her church to have a variety of beliefs.
The problem doesn't lie in Islam accepting what had gone before. Because Muslims accept all former Prophets, as Prophets of Islam, they could not call themselves Christian or Jewish, but they would have no problem in saying that they are followers of Jesus or followers of Moses, since both of these men were Prophets of Islam.



Muslims believe that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the final Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets. The problem, in this situation, lies in what Christianity teaches. Christians believe that the final revelation of Almighty to God to humankind is in the person of Jesus Christ.

According to this belief, there are no more prophets after Jesus. A Christian would be unable to accept Muhammad as a prophet of God, because his Message denies some of what Christians have come to believe.



Anyone who claims to be Christian, then, can't believe in Muhammad as a prophet. One of the central tenets of Christianity, regardless of the belief in Jesus as divine, is that Jesus died on the cross. The Message revealed to Muhammad in the Qur'an is quite clear: Jesus did not die on the Cross (An-Nisaa' 4:157). So, anyone who claims to be Christian cannot be Muslim. And as we have said, anyone who claims to be Muslim cannot be the follower of another religion.



The situation of Reverend Redding is only fully known to Allah alone, who knows our intentions and the secrets of our hearts, but as the facts appear, she is neither Christian nor Muslim. Anyone in such a dilemma, having been a Christian minister and wanting to embrace Islam, has a very difficult choice to make.

As Muslims, we should never underestimate what it takes to renounce one's former religion and embrace Islam. Just as we spend a great deal of time and money on calling others to Islam, we need also to spend similar, if not more, on helping those who have embraced Islam to grow in their new faith.



As an outsider to this particular case, it seems to me that her dilemma much reflects the doctrinal dilemmas being experienced by the Episcopal Church in the US, as much as her personal conversion story. It may be possible in her church to have a variety of beliefs, catering for a wide range of different points of view.



In Islam, we simply submit to the will of Almighty Allah and follow the example of His Prophet — Muhammad. The opinion of this one or that one is not important when compared to the facts revealed to humankind in the Qur'an. As Muslims, we believe that the Qur'an is the revealed word of Allah. It is the exact word of Allah and has not been altered in any way.



This episode can help us all to present Islam in a very clear way to those who would embrace it. As brothers and sisters to one another, we cannot let down new Muslims by not presenting everything about Islam to them in a simple way. Our prayers are with all of those who have made great sacrifices to submit their will and their heart to Allah. There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger.Idris Tawfiq is a British writer who became Muslim a few years ago. Previously, he was head of religious education in different schools in the United Kingdom. Before embracing Islam, he was a Roman Catholic priest. He now lives in Egypt. For more information about him, visit www.idristawfiq.com.

The Mass Expulsion of the Northern Muslims: A Tragedy Forgotten, a Community Derelict

Wednesday,09 May 2007( Posted : 11:05:07GMT)

By Ayesha Zuhair

http://www.muslimguardian.com/portal/page?_pageid=35,54475&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

"What future?" queried Abu Bakr Niyas, the weary-looking 'camp leader' of the Saltern Camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Puttalam, responding to my question on their expectations for the future. "Our main concern is to be able to give our families at least two square meals a day. Personally, I don't think about the future; only about the present. I gave up thinking about the future a very long time ago," was the laconic answer.

Niyas hails from New Moor Street in Jaffna where he worked as a transport manager. His job afforded him a respectable standard of living despite its demanding work schedules and life in the peninsula had been largely peaceful. That was, of course, until the latent hostilities started to give way into ethnic warfare in the late 1980s.

While the LTTE had given a 48-hour ultimatum for the Muslims in the other Northern townships, those in Jaffna - like Niyas - were given just two hours to leave or face extermination. They were permitted to take only Rs. 300 for transportation purposes and along with a few items of clothing.

With hardly any time on their hands, most of the Muslims from Jaffna left as they were, taking no belongings with them. Others tried to conceal their valuables but under the watchful eye of the LTTE, just a handful of them were able to 'smuggle' their valuables out of the North. Niyas was among the vast majority who were not fortunate enough to be able to escape the LTTE's careful scrutiny and with just Rs. 300 in his hands, he left behind his much-loved city and joined over 100,000 Northern Muslims in their southward quest. As displaced persons, they were temporarily absorbed into towns such as Anuradhapura and Kurunegela, but the majority wound up in Puttalam.

What were then considered to be temporary settlements have now become permanent abodes for these unfortunate victims of the LTTE's horrific programme of ethnic cleansing.

Almost 17 years later after the mass eviction, Puttalam still houses approximately 63,000 displaced persons across 141 welfare centres, from the five districts of the Northern Province which were controlled by the LTTE in 1990. Over the years, Puttalam has also played host to some Tamil and Sinhala IDPs who have been driven away from their homes in Batticaloa and Trincomalee due to open warfare.

As some studies have pointed out, hosting a large IDP population has placed a great deal of pressure on the local services as they were not proportionally developed to meet the needs of the populace. Moreover, it has had a negative impact on the relations between the IDPs and the host community who originally welcomed the displaced people.

Puttalam can never be considered 'home' to the Northern Muslims as 34-year-old Faseela Mohamed, a mother of two, vouched. "I was born in Jaffna and that will always be my home. Even though the people of Puttalam have been helpful to us, I don't think they'll be happy to have us here forever," Faseela noted.

This fact was also affirmed by M. S. M. Suhar, Principal of Abdeen Muslim Maha Vidyalaya, a rudimentary school recently set up exclusively for displaced children. "It is like having a guest at home. You will welcome them for a short while, but you will not be happy to have them forever. After all, there has been huge constrain on resources ever since the mass influx of refugees," the principal reasoned.

Abdeen Muslim Maha Vidyalaya, which opened its doors on January 02 this year for children living in the Thambapani Camp, was set up under the Ministry of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services. It conducts classes from Grade One to Five and has a student population of 120. The teachers work at the school on a voluntary basis as there is no provision for them to obtain permanent teaching appointments, due to the fact that the school does not come under the purview of the Ministry of Education.

The volunteer teachers receive a monthly remuneration of Rs. 2000 which is inadequate to meet the cost of transportation alone. On average, these teachers commute a distance of 15 km to reach the interior locality of the school and the trishaws which bring them there charge competitive high rates.

Abdeen Maha Vidyalaya is among five new schools that were established recently, the others being Hasban Vidyalaya, Rizvan Vidyalaya, Ayub Vidyala and Ansari Vidyalaya. These schools have very basic facilities and there is no proper authority to monitor the standard of education and extend the infrastructural, technical, financial and methodological support that they require.

Mr. Suhar, the Principal of Abdeen Maha Vidyalaya, himself a victim of the LTTE's ethnic cleansing campaign, also pointed out that the Puttalam district was at a severe disadvantage where university entrance is concerned. This is due to the fact that despite the demographic changes that have taken place, the district quota allotment of the University Grants Commission has remained unchanged.

As a result, the Muslims in particular are seriously disadvantaged because of a higher number of students competing for the same amount of university slots, Mr. Suhar emphasised. "Earlier, a large number of Muslim students entered the universities but now that trend has completely changed thanks to the outdated UGC circular that continues to be used. We have made a number of representations in this regard, but all our efforts have proven futile," a clearly agitated Suhar explained.

For the IDPs in Puttalam, every day is an enormous struggle to make ends meet. Unemployment is a massive problem for the majority of them who rely largely on seasonal demand for labour such as work in the salterns and various other odd jobs. They live in Cadjan huts, very often with two to three families crouched into one little hut.

Indeed the conditions in which these IDPs live are nothing short of appalling. As A. C. Miskath, a B.A. undergraduate at the Peradeniya University said, "Very little has changed for the vast number of refugees since they came here in 1990." Miskath came to Puttalam from Mannar as a young boy. He is among the handful who have been able to lift themselves out of dire straits - thanks in no small proportion to the education he has received.

"Having lived under the same conditions most of my growing years, I know the psychological trials that one has to endure in these camps. There is so much of hardship and little relief in sight. Sadly, the next generation has grown up in these camps," Miskath explained.

Proper sanitation facilities are another critical shortcoming. In the Saltern camp, 20 public toilets were set up by an NGO but when land was claimed by an individual IDP family, common ownership was lost. The lack of a sanitation system is particularly problematic for women for whom privacy is a major concern.

Moreover, although dry rations are being provided by the government, there are a number of problems being encountered in relation to these items. Safeera Latheef (35) at the Thambapani Camp explained that they are frequently given poor quality food at exorbitant rates. A family is entitled to rations such as milk food, rice grain, dhal, sugar and soap worth Rs. 1,260 a month but the cooperatives jack up rates unfairly to profit from their plight, Safeera alleged.

Safeera's husband left to Saudi Arabia in search of greener pastures, leaving her with their three children. She would like to see her children well-educated, but she does not dare to dream for fear of being disappointed - all over again.

At the moment, my main concern is to provide good meals for them but someday I wish they would be well-educated and employed. But I don't want to have too many expectations because expectations have only brought me disappointment, the reflective Safeera said. She added, "I would love to go back to Mannar but I know that it will never happen. It is like hoping for the impossible."

Naseeha, a 22-year-old IDP who also lives in the Thambapani Camp came to Puttalam from Kekirawa in 1993. She can't recall the eviction, but according to her, that doesn't lessen the anger she harbours in any way. "It feels like we have been robbed. If not for the LTTE, we wouldn't be facing the suffering the way we are today," she insisted. Her 20-year-old sister Nisreena chipped in, "If it is safe, we'd definitely like to go back to Mannar."

After the Ceasefire Agreement was signed in February 2002, a number of these displaced families returned to their homes in the North but with the intensification of the armed conflict, they have all returned to Puttalam.

According to Y. L. M. Navavi, Commissioner of the Secretariat for Northern Displaced Muslims, around 180 families from Jaffna and 115 families from Mannar have returned. He stated that since the situation in the North does not permit their return, the only option is to settle the IDPs permanently in Puttalam and look into their welfare.

While acknowledging that there are a number of shortcomings, Mr. Navavi asserted that the Ministry of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services is committed to uplifting IDP living standards. The initiatives taken include the provision of electricity, water and dry rations as well as education for displaced children. He denied any knowledge of the cooperatives charging inflated rates from the IDPs.

Mr. Navavi also said that Cabinet approval has been given for a housing project funded by the World Bank. Even though the approval was granted on July 26 2005, work is yet to get underway.

The overall slow pace of development is indeed cause for concern. It is clear that housing, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, compensation for property lost and proper land titles are areas which require immediate attention. Such measures are urgently needed if the long lost flame of hope is to be reignited in the Puttalam IDPs, who feel that they have been twice betrayed.

Courtasy : Dailymirror

Comments - Mine

I believe the LTTE has apologized for this atrocity now. But it is too little too late after the deed has been done. Words of apology is not acceptable & will not solve this problem. The only words of apology that will be acceptable is for the LTTE to allow these Muslims to return back to their original dwelling. But I don't think that this will happen until a solution is found to the conflict.

After LTTE carrying out this dastardly act of ethnic cleansing what right have the Tamil community to CRY about whatever discriminations that they are facing from the majority Sinhalese community. They have LOST that right. It has to be mentioned that the Muslims of Sri Lanka have nothing to do with whatever discriminations that the Tamils were facing from the Sinhalese community from independence.

Until a solution is found the Muslims from the rest of the country can do their bit to make the life of these unfortunate Muslims comfortable as possible in their new dwelling. And we need to keep highlighting this tragedy lest the Muslims in the country forget about it and also to ensure that this particular issue is taken into consideration by the govt in finding any solution for the ethnic conflict.

The JVP is not making unfair demands:Vijitha Herath

The JVP is not making unfair demands:Vijitha Herath

Electoral reforms

By Ayesha Zuhair

There has been long-standing agitation for electoral reforms in the country due to the overarching disenchantment with the prevailing electoral processes. In the JVP’s view, what are the major drawbacks of the current electoral system?

We believe that there is a necessity to amend the present electoral system because of the acute forms of corruption and malpractice that have been fostered by the preferential system of voting. Under this existing system, candidates have to be extremely rich in order to contest, and if not, they have to obtain money by resorting to other devious methods. This is one of the main causes of the high level of corruption that we see in our society today. Furthermore, there is inadequate representation of the different communities in the various elected bodies and the JVP firmly believes that any attempt to reform the current system cater to minority needs as well.

Q:The JVP is insisting that the abolishment of the executive presidency must be part of the reforms package and is opposing the reforms primarily on those grounds. However, the PSC has made it clear that it has no mandate to make such recommendations. Why then does the JVP continue to make such demands?

Yes, we have been insisting that any change to the system must include the abolishment of the executive presidency but the Select Committee is refusing to recognise this very critical factor. They are not even considering it as an issue! We made numerous representations to the Chairman but he has refused to accommodate our demand. It may be his point of view that there is no such mandate, but our view is entirely different. We’re only insisting that there should be a comprehensive change to the system and that is not an unfair demand.

Moreover, the proposed reforms are not favourable to individual political parties. For example, if one party gets around 8% of the total votes, the party can only secure around 5% representation in parliament. That, in our view, is not justifiable. Those are the two main reasons behind our decision to oppose the recommendations made in the interim report.

Q:But would you agree that reforms need to be ultimately favourable to the people of this country, and not necessarily to political parties per se? In other words, shouldn’t political parties be willing to compromise if democracy stands to gain?

We too want better democratic representation for the people of this country. In fact, the present system is favourable to our party but in considering the difficulties it entails and the need for greater democracy, we have stressed on the need for reform. We could have opposed reforms altogether, but we didn’t stand in the way taking into account the larger interest of democracy in this country.

Q:Do you disagree with Minister Dinesh Gunawardena’s assertion that the choice of the voter will be better reflected in parliament?

Yes, we disagree with that completely. One of our main concerns is that the party which has the most number of seats in parliament can obtain executive powers as well. That is not healthy for a democratic set-up. In fact, it seems that the government’s aim is to create a system whereby they will get a very strong majority whilst retaining executive powers.

Q:Are you alleging that the whole exercise is politically motivated?

We think there is a hidden political agenda behind the move to introduce reforms so hurriedly. The SLFP wants to get majority representation in parliament while making full use of the executive presidential powers. Their actual aim seems to be to revert to the kind of administration that we saw under President J. R. Jayewardene.

Q:Even if that’s the case, given that there is a dire need for reform is there no possibility of further engaging the various parties to reach a some sort of a compromise?

We think this issue should be further discussed. These are not the kind of reforms that can be pushed through over night; it requires serious deliberation. The fact that all the opposition parties as well as those who are part of the present administration, are against the proposals show that the majority of people in this country are against the system. Of course there is a need for reform but we can’t give a wrong remedy for that. Without obtaining the consent of all political parties, the government should not table the report in parliament because they will not be able to make any constitutional changes without the required majority.

Q:Even though you say that reforms are being rushed, the PSC has already spent over 1 ½ years of public time discussing this issue to little avail. Don’t you think it’s high time for the Committee to put forward its final report?

No, it is not a waste of time because this is a very important subject which has to be studied in great detail. Those of us in this country waste so much of time on useless pursuits, and such wastage goes unquestioned. But given the importance of this matter, one cannot consider it a waste of time. We should have more meetings in the future, get ideas from experts in the country and formulate a fresh set of proposals. If we submit a new system for the country, it must be better than the past one.

Q:What kind of system does the JVP consider to be the most suitable arrangement for this country?

The JVP has not put forward any system as the ideal one. We feel that all parties in the country have to discuss this issue and arrive at a decision together. As a party, we haven’t recommended any system as the ‘ideal’ one.

In terms of promoting gender equity in elected bodies, does the JVP view the recommendations made in relation to female representation as adequate? For instance, there has been no push to introduce a quota system for females even though many of our Asian neighbours boast of this feature.

We cannot limit the participation of women through the introduction of percentages. That should be left in the hands of the party’s executive committee for decision-making. While I agree that female representation is insufficient, a quota system is not the answer to that. In this context, it must be recognised that women in Sri Lanka are subject to certain social pressures which prevent them from participating in politics and those pressures need to be addressed first. That being said, I must add that recommendations have been made by the Select Committee to include a certain percentage of female nominees, even though there is no specified figure.

In addition, we have seen a trend where most of the women who come forward are the widows or daughters of famous political figures in the country. In my view, that trend should be changed as it is not good for the country. If there is a female who is intelligent and capable, she must be given the necessary backing to contest. It must be noted that our founder leader Rohana Wijeweera’s wife did take to politics. Our emphasis should therefore shift from dynasty to individuality.

Q:The TNA has taken up the principle position that ‘piecemeal approaches’ should not be the way out. Do you agree with their position that electoral reforms have to come as part of a package aimed at resolving the ethnic conflict or do you see it as an urgent necessity?

There is no linkage between the ethnic problem and electoral reforms. I think there must be a hidden agenda behind this. No doubt we have to take into consideration the ethnic distribution of our people, but I don’t think it’s fair to tie it down to a political solution to the ethnic conflict at all. I suppose their plan is to have their own system of elections in the so-called state of Eelam, which is their actual goal.

Q:If there is a reversion to FPP do you think that you would lose your strength in Parliament?

Our party will be strong under any system, so long as elections are held in a free and fair manner. There is nothing for us to be fearful of. In 2004, we joined with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party to form the United People’s Freedom Alliance and canvassed for preferential votes from the people for the first time. It was the JVP which obtained the highest number of preferential votes from all districts.

Q:Leaving aside the JVP, do you think that the present proposals help smaller serving minority interests?

I think minority parties will lose out and that can lead to unwarranted tensions. Minority parties should have the right to express themselves. There are also other some ideologically-oriented parties who don’t have mass appeal but they propound new, very important ideas. If this country is to develop, there must be a chance for new ideas to come in. What we would recommend is the abolishment of the executive presidency and the introduction of reforms that will reflect the actual strength of minority parties and ideologically-driven groups. That is what true democracy is all about.

This is the third in a series of interviews giving voice to diverse viewpoints on the proposed electoral reforms.
From http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/06/27/opinion/01.asp

Only CFA can save Sri Lanka - Thamilchelvan

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 June 2007, 16:14 GMT]
S.P Thamilchelvan, head of the Political Division of the LTTE, in an interview with TamilNet on Monday said that to bring peace and pave the way for talks, the international community should come forward to "support the struggle for rights of the Tamil people and force the Sri Lankan Government to implement the ceasefire agreement in full.” Characterizing the "efforts” to bring a united position among the southern parties as the "same old drama," that has gone on throughout the Tamil people’s struggle for their rights, he said only the CFA can save the island from the disaster.

Welcoming the timely meeting by the Co-chairs in Oslo, Mr. Thamilchelvan said Tamil people have become suspcious as to why there is no firm united stance even among the members of the Co-chairs. Some members are indirectly encouraging Colombo by giving military and economic aid while some others are attempting to implement practical steps to put pressure on the Sri Lankan Government, LTTE's political head said.

"International community must gain a profound understanding of this long history [of prolonging and time buying tactics by Colombo] and act to end the ethnically biased efforts by the Sinhala leadership. I believe the constructive step by the international community is to accept and support the struggle for rights of the Tamil people and force the Sri Lankan Government to implement the ceasefire agreement 100% to pave the way for peace talks."

On the military situation in the east, Thamilchelvan said, LTTE chooses military strategies to suit the “place, environment and time,” and that Sri Lanka Army (SLA) will soon find out the “trap they have set for themselves.”

TamilNet: What are your views on the Co-chairs meeting in Oslo to discuss the current situation in Sri Lanka?

Thamilchelvan: We welcome the Co-chairs meeting to discuss issues relating to permanent peace and resolution to the ethnic conflict. The International community has reiterated the futility of the military option and the need for the two sides to return to the negotiating table. While welcoming this, we point out that the Tamil people are deeply saddened that the international community has not taken any constructive and concrete measures to end the State-sponsored violence against the Tamil people. In particular, nothing has been done to bring an end to the ethnic cleansing, horrendous human rights violations, and the grave human misery that the Tamil people have been subjected to. Indeed suspicions have arisen among the Tamil people as to why there is no firm united stance even among the Co-chairs. The Tamil people are puzzled as to why some countries are indirectly encouraging the Government by giving military and economic aid while some other countries are pressuring the Government to seek a political solution.

TamilNet: What shifts in policy, perception, and approach do you think the international community should adopt to create a climate conducive to permanent peace ?

Thamilchelvan: The ceasefire agreement brought at least a temporary reprieve to the high intensity war that went on for more than twenty years. This is important because it was the first agreement that came about after a long time with the assistance of the international community. The world supported this agreement unanimously. This brought hope to the communities affected by the conflict. Yet, due to the competition for power among the Sinhala ruling class, the conducive environment that was created for peace was destroyed. By their actions the ruling class has created confusion about the position of the majority Sinhala people and has brought about a dire situation in this island. They rejected the very first proposal put forward by the Tamil people for an interim government, and they also destroyed the agreement, after it was signed by the two sides, on a joint structure put forward by the international community, following the tsunami devastation for humanitarian work. Through these the Sinhala chauvinistic leadership has destroyed any remaining hope among the Tamil people.

International community must seriously view the long history of the Tamil struggle and act to end the ethnically biased efforts by the Sinhala leadership. I believe the constructive step by the international community is to accept and support the struggle for rights of the Tamil people and force the Sri Lankan Government to implement the ceasefire agreement 100% to pave the way for peace talks.

TamilNet: The International community, in particular the USA, thinks that a common agreement must be reached among the Southern political parties and through this form the basis for negotiations with the LTTE. Is this possible? Is this the right strategy?

Thamilchelvan: As far as the southern political parties are concerned there has never been the practice of following party policies. They jump from party to party to seek power and for financial benefits. The current “efforts” to bring a united position among the southern parties is the same drama that has gone on throughout the Tamil people’s struggle for their rights. Finding a solution has never been the motive of these “efforts”. The latest “efforts” too will not produce the desired outcome of a common agreement. When decisions have to be made later, these parties will not cooperate towards it. Agreements or solutions will be reached only when those in power act with honesty to find that solution not otherwise.

In addition, whoever newly takes control of the Sri Lankan Government is always interested in a military solution and they are more bent on exploiting the international community for that end. This has always been the pattern. A point must be emphasized. Sri Lankan Government will never agree to peace talks after strengthening it militarily. On the contrary it will reject peace efforts and ceasefire agreements and will jump into a war saying it is going to bring a resolution through military means. Then after facing heavy losses from which it is unable to pull back it will agree for a peace talks. I do believe that the international community would have understood this pattern of deceptive behaviour of the successive Sinhala Governments. The latest ceasefire agreement, which the international community believed will deliver a solution, was the result of military and economic difficulties faced by the Sinhala Government. Therefore, hopes to find a solution by militarily strengthening the Sri Lankan Government and thus destroy the Tamil collective and thus their struggle for freedom will always remain a daydream.

Firstly, there has never been a history where a Sri Lankan Government has come down and agreed for talks or peace efforts in such a situation. Secondly, a solution found through such a means will not be a just solution to an affected and oppressed people.

TamilNet: Sections of Southern leadership and clergy are advancing the idea that peace can be brought about by militarily weakening the LTTE. What is your position on this?

Thamilchelvan: Tamil people have been fighting for their rights for the last 60 years. Initially, Tamil people did not choose military means for their freedom struggle. They took forward their struggle through non-violence for thirty years. Sinhala leadership could have put forward a solution to the ethnic problem during these thirty years. There was never an open minded humanitarian approach to this problem by the Sinhala leadership. On the contrary, ethnic cleansing and ethnic genocide were visited on the people. Many thousands of Tamil people were killed and hundreds of thousands of Tamil were chased from their land, in effect a huge human misery was created. It was in this environment that our freedom movement was born. Only when their struggle by peaceful and democratic means was broken and military violence was let loose to wipe out the people, the people took up armed struggle as self defense. People of Tamil Elam did not wish to create this situation. This was forced by the Sinhala violence. If the issue of the rights of the Tamil people has captured the world attention, it is only because of the dedicated military strength of the Tamil people. Therefore, Tamil people will never allow the military strength that was built up step by step as self defense to be weakened. The Sinhala leadership knowing this well repeats this proposition again and again solely to buy time and opportunity from the international community to intensify their ethnic genocide and destroy the rights of Tamils.

It is only when the Sinhala leadership understands, the true aspirations of the Tamil people, that the military strength of the Tamil people is not against the Sinhala nation or the Sinhala people, that it was built as self defense to protect their homeland, and that only when Tamil people create the environment where they too can live with security, freedom and self respect, this island will become a violence free peaceful place.

TamilNet: Certain countries that are rejecting a military solution and emphasizing a political solution, are also taking actions against representatives of Tamils and the LTTE. As the conflict now plays out on a domestic and international platform, how does this impact the issue of Tamil representation?

Thamilchelvan: Hundreds of thousands of our people chased out from their home are living in several countries. They help their kith and kin in this island who have suffered immense misery. It is a real tragedgy that humanitarian concern and the natural affinity between kith and kin are smeared with labels of assisting ‘terrorism.’ Neither the Tamil people nor their representatives have broken the laws of the countries where they reside when carrying out their political or humanitarian work. They do their work to achieve their aspirations by respecting the people and their governments of these countries. After the tsunami devastation, during the peace efforts, and when an ethnic violence is let loose on their people, expatriate Tamils worked tirelessly for their brethren in the Tamil homeland. Smearing this work they do to help their kith and kin with terrorism is not only distressing the Tamil people, it will also encourage the Sinhala chauvinists to intensify their violence.

TamilNet: How accurate is the claim by the Sri Lankan Army, that the LTTE has been evicted from the East, and this eviction translates into SLA military superiority?

Thamilchelvan: As far as the LTTE is concerned we were never defeated. We adopt military strategies to suit the place, the environment and the time. In particular, in the east it is common for the Sinhala forces to advance and then withdraw when faced with heavy losses following our strong defense. This is the past history. No people will accept the occupation of their land by a foreign force or a force that they detest. They will always seek their own security. Very soon the Sinhala forces will understand the trap they have set for themselves.

Mangala invites CBK to join hands

Mangala invites CBK to join hands

Vows to revive SWRD policies of democratic socialism

Ousted minister Mangala Samaraweera leaving Parliament after making a special statement, was warmly welcomed by a large crowd of supporters and well-wishers at the Parliament drive roundabout yesterday. Here, a supporter garlands a beaming Mr. Samaraweera. The other ousted minister Sripathi Sooriyaarachchi is also in the picture. Pic. by Manoj Ratnayake

By Kelum Bandara and Yohan Perera

Ousted Minister Mangala Samaraweera vowed in Parliament yesterday to embark on a fresh and dignified political journey in conformity with the socialist democratic principles of the SLFP as outlined by the party’s founder leader, the late Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike at the party’s inaugural convention in September 1951.

“I would like to extend an invitation to former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaranatunge, a woman who despite tremendous obstacles gave direction to the party and the country, to join us in our struggle to guide the party in the right direction” said the former minister.

“ Though she has emphatically stated that she is out of active politics, I respectfully request that she join us in order to solely protect the party” he said.

Mr. Samaraweera who crossed over to the Opposition benches on Tuesday, told a House listening to him in pin-drop silence: “It is a sad moment when we have to sit with the Opposition when a Government that we helped elect is in power. It is an ironic twist of fate. However, the little consolation I have is that I am not alone in my profound disappointment with the Government and the President we worked tirelessly to elect.”

Making his special statement, Mr. Samaraweera recalled the late Mr. Bandaranaike’s celebrated statement at the party’s inaugural sessions: “We are democratic because our party does not tolerate one man’s or a group’s dictatorship. We are a genuine party of the people.”

The former minister continued: However, 56 years after the SLFP was formed, we are seeing a complete reversal of these noble principles.

Today the party is being run by a quartet of brothers. According to the June 13 issue of the Economist magazine, the quartet of brothers control more than 70% of the country’s budget. I would like to read to you the relevant segment of this article.

“Although Mr. Bandaranaike made his statement then, today, after 18 months of the present regime, we have a Government that is controlled by a few family members and their political cronies.

This select group enrich themselves everyday while the rest of the people of this country, from a labourer in the village to a middle class Government servant and a small business owner to a business tycoon, suffer one form or another of injustice and harassment. Corruption is rampant and many people live in a climate of fear. The white van has now become the symbol of alleged state sponsored terrorism which has now reached alarming levels. Wealthy Tamil and Muslim businessmen are being abducted for ransom. Due to the political instability of the country, most other businessmen in the country, who have contributed immensely to the economic development of Sri Lanka, are taking their investments elsewhere.

“The cost of living is going up as never seen before in the history of this country. Rural development has come to a complete standstill. Social development programs have been completely cut down. Although our founder Mr. Bandaranaike stated that his goal was to offer the highest standard of living that can be afforded by the country to its people, today’s rulers have destroyed the standard of living of the poor. An example of the insidious cynicism of the Government is the frivolous squandering of the Employee’s Provident Fund and Samurdhi funds from Lankaputra Bank to finance a budget airline to boost certain individuals’ egos while in Kalutara recently, a mother unable to cope with the cost of living, attempted to kill herself and her two children.

“Today, more than 100,000 innocent Tamil people are in refugee camps. These citizens of our country who for years had suffered under the LTTE are now suffering under the Government. Instead of winning their hearts and minds by earnestly seeking a political settlement to the ethnic question which will bring forth an honourable and durable peace and enshrine the rights of all citizens, we are pushing them into the lap of the LTTE.

“Today there is no room within the party for internal debate or dissent. At a recent All Island Committee meeting convened at extremely short notice by an executive order, party members were ordered to approve a document that was said to offer the SLFP’s solution to the ethnic conflict. No member was allowed to study this document nor were they given copies of it. This is in stark contrast to President Kumaratunga’s period when party officials were hosted to a three

-day workshop to discuss the pros and cons of the ‘Council of regions proposals’ of the SLFP in 1997. “Even I was ousted as a minister on February 9 because I expressed dissenting views, both orally and in writing on some policies of the Government,” Mr. Samaraweera said.

“Today our country has become a quasi-police state. The man who claimed that ‘a leader is not the owner of your children’s heritage but its caretaker’ and obtained executive powers is fully exploiting his executive powers without any qualms. Furthermore, he has empowered his brothers with executive powers as well. At a time when the LTTE is becoming stronger because of the misguided actions of the defence establishment, kidnappings for ransom, criminal acts and killings by Government-sponsored goon squads are escalating rapidly, The Defence Secretary, the IGP, the DIG of the CID, head of the Terrorist Investigation Division and others who have been hand-picked by the Defence Secretary spend most of their time harassing and intimidating political opponents. In the guise of fighting terrorism, the Defense Secretary and his cronies have initiated a witch hunt against all democratic opposition to the Rajapaksa brotherhood.

“The day I was ousted from the Cabinet, my friend and colleague Sripathi Sooriyarachchi was also dismissed. However, the executive leader was not satisfied with that. He also ensured that Sripathi was arrested on a trumped up charge. Maubima and Standard newspapers were forcibly shut down as they were suspected of being loyal to me. The former publisher of these two newspapers, Dushyantha Basnayake was arrested on a trumped up charge and imprisoned for 71 days. Maubima journalist Ms. Parameshwari was arrested and detained by the Terrorism Investigation Division for 119 days before being released without any charges being filed. The Chairman of Maubima newspapers Tiran Alles, who is a close personal friend of mine, had all his bank accounts frozen. The business operations of his companies were forcibly halted. The day I declined to accept a new ministerial portfolio, Mr. Alles was taken in for questioning and arrested. Who knows what else will happen in the future?,” he said.

He said today, the politicized police force has a new job. Members of Parliament who exercise their civil rights and speak against the Government are now being harassed by the police. The main opposition United National Party parliamentarians such as Johnston Fernando, Lakshman Kiriella and Lakshman Seneviratne have been threatened and harassed by the police. All members of the Tamil National Alliance are under similar threats. Furthermore, I like to state that even several leaders of the JVP, who tirelessly worked to ensure the victory of this President, have been threatened and intimidated. A great portion of the media worked hard to ensure that our party candidate would come into power. Today, the media is under severe pressure and is being suppressed.

“As a matter of fact, the only thing that is preventing this country from becoming a fully fledged police state is the impartiality of the Supreme Court and the justice system.

“Internationally, Sri Lanka is now almost completely isolated,” he said.

However, today we are fast becoming an internationally isolated and cornered pariah nation. World opinion of Sri Lanka is that we are on the verge of becoming a failed state that abuses human rights and suppresses the media, he said.

Mr. Samaraweera while inviting former President Chandrika Kumaratunga to join ‘in our struggle and guide the party in the right direction’, called upon the loyal SLFP members disillusioned with the Government to throw in their lot with the new party.”

“While guiding the SLFP in the proper direction there should be a nationwide movement to fight against the extremist, fascist polices of the Government,” he said.

Govt. Muslim Ministers deny alleged abductions

Govt. Muslim Ministers deny alleged abductions

• Will definitely resign if govt. is
  involved
  
• Rumours spread by interested
  parties
  
• Coordinating Committee to search
  for credible information

By Kelum Bandara
Muslim leaders in the government yesterday downplayed the issue of Muslim businessmen being abducted and said that it had been blown out of proportion by parties with vested interests.

These members representing various parties in the ruling coalition addressed a press conference yesterday after the UNP Muslim MPs urged on Thursday that Muslim members in the government should resign from their portfolios.

The Muslim leaders noted that they would quit the government if the government was involved in the abduction of Muslims for ransom as alleged.

Petroleum Resource Development Minister A.H.M. Fowzie said the government had already initiated investigations although only two incidents had been reported, one in Kandy and the other in Colombo.

Minister Fowzie said they took up the matter with President Mahinda Rajapaksa who subsequently directed the CID to investigate into it.

“The government is not involved in abductions as alleged by the UNP. If there is any involvement by the government in an act against our community, we will definitely resign from office,” he said.

The Minister noted that no one had found sound evidence to prove that ‘certain leading Muslim businessmen’ had been abducted for ransom.

“There are only rumours to that effect. There is speculation that Muslim businessmen running leading enterprises such as No Limit, Hameedia and Expo-Lanka were abducted for huge ransoms running into millions of rupees. But, they confirmed to us that they did not pay even five cents. What more should be there to reject these allegations?” he asked.

Minister.Fowzie, however, said the Muslim members are confident that the President would ensure the safety of Muslims and other communities.

“After a meeting with the President, he appointed a special unit to look into complaints on the matter. We arranged facilities so that victims could lodge complaints while concealing their identity. But, no one came forward,” he said.

Western Province Governor Alavi Moulana said they vehemently condemn the UNP making “baseless” allegations.Disaster Relief Minister Amir Ali said over 75, 000 Muslims were evicted from the Northern Province during the UNP regime eighteen years ago.

Minister Ali said these persons still live in welfare centres in Puttalam and other areas, but the Opposition MPs did not utter a single word about it.

He said the UNP is envious of the President winning over the Muslim community, and therefore is engaged in rumour mongering for petty political purposes.

SLMC Deputy General Secretary Nizam Kariappar said their politburo discussed the issue on Thursday, and appointed a coordinating committee for a fact finding mission regarding abductions from those victimized.

He said they established this mission because people are reluctant to go to the CID or the committee appointed by the President, due to fear of their identity being exposed. “We have this committee to search for credible information regarding various allegations. Once, we posses confirmed information, we will take it up with the President,” he said.

He said speculation is also rife that some underworld groups are involved in the abductions.