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| Sunday, 4 April 2004 |
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Letters |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Please forward your letters to editor@sundayobserver.lk in plain text format within the e-mail message, since as a policy we do not open any attachments.
Aussies play cricket on and off the field On the final day of the second Test match the Australians were seen measuring the distance from the boundary line to the wicket. There is nothing the Australians would do to win every match. Just as much there are things which they will not do to win a match. During the second Test our captain obstructed an Australian fielder from taking a catch. However the Ausies were good enough not to lodge an official complaint. Right ? Wrong. Had they complained what would have happened ? Our captain would not have been allowed to play in the third test match. Then the selectors would have been compelled to strengthen our team with another batsman. That would have made an Ausie victory difficult or even resulted in a Sri Lankan victory. Australians don't take chances. They were determined to make it three nil. A complete white wash. These cricketers know what they are doing both on and off the field. Dinesh, Colombo 8 Breakdown of health services, a serious human rights violation against the underprivileged Breakdown of Health Services is an unkind threat to life and serious human rights violation against the underprivileged. Any intelligent villager will understand that when the Parliament is dissolved, the caretaker Government cannot decide on any salary increase to state employees and if any salary increase is acceded to during the caretaker period such action would be construed as a contravention of free and fair election culture. GMOA's intransigence in continuing with the strike astonishes the world and put to shame the concept of cultured trade unionism. The strike has already caused havoc amongst the poorer section of the people. It has resulted Colombo South Teaching Hospital and Ragama Hospital stopping admission and attending to patients. The Colombo National Hospital is also apparently under threat to suspend its functions very soon. This is a serious human rights violation. According to the news sources one pregnant woman who tried to enter Kalubowila Hospital was refused admission and she delivered the baby at the gate to the hospital premises. Is the present misfortune of poor, the outcome of ruthless trade unionism or cause of confrontational politics? Whatever it could be there are human values to save, ethics to follow, human rights to protect and above all to conform to Hippocratic oath. Should not physicians "refrain from causing harm or hurt; and to live an exemplary personal and professional life"? To quote from ancient Greek physician Hippocrates or later versions. "You do solemnly swear, each by whatever he or she holds most sacred That you will be loyal to the Profession of Medicine and just and generous to its members That you will lead your lives and practice your art in uprightness and honour. That into whatsoever house you shall enter, it shall be for the good of the sick to the utmost of your power, your holding yourselves far aloof from wrong, from corruption, from the tempting of others to vice". The said oath, which is a guide to conduct medical profession throughout the ages, is solemnly pledged in entering the healing profession and still used in passing out ceremonies. The honour endowed on the physician and accepted by him has to be kept and maintained above all conditions and under all circumstances. We have requested the President and the Prime Minister to please intervene in this brazen injustice and serious rights violation causing to the people and take necessary action to ensure that hospitals resume their normal work soon. If a political solution is difficult, their good offices could please be used to secure immediate relief of health facilities from WHO sending the world Institution an SOS immediately. Lionel Gulawita, Diriya Foundation (Human Rights Committee), Kalutara North. Slaves of the Constitution Are we the slaves of our own Constitution? This is the question we all ask ourselves over the years. Our Constitution was created by us, the humans. However we act as if the Constitution has created us. We are unable to change, alter or modify this monster without this tormenter's endorsement. Several members of the existing government and the opposition, who were present at the drafting of this, are responsible for the creation of this monster. Others like Lalith Athulathmudali, Gamini Dissanayake, R. Premadasa and many more gave their lives directly or indirectly attributed to the circumstances created in account of this beast. Millions of rupees were wasted in the process of sustaining this. Our country had faced crisis after crisis by continuing to maintain this brute. Several Governments came to power promising to control this offender. But nothing came out of it. Are we going to go on like this forever? Are the politicians are genuinely prepared to make amendments? For critical amendments to the Constitution, two third majority of the Parliament is required. At the present process of electoral system, it is doubtful if any Government could be formed, ever, with this majority. Hence, are we going to go on forever like this? There is a very simple solution to this catastrophe. A resolution should be passed in the Parliament, that for the amendment of the constitution abolishing the requirement of 2/3 majority. If necessary, to safeguard and broaden the protection of the general public, this could be enhanced by insisting that a majority plus a certain percentage (5% to 10%) of the Members of Parliament, who were present at the time of voting, should be obtained. I believe that this is the best way to get over this Constitutional tragedy. Q. Pemsiri Ranaweera, Negombo. Photographs prohibited ! On the 6th and the 7th of March leading cake makers held his annual cake exhibition at the BMICH Colombo. And just as we have done every year this year too we went for this exhibition with my brother as he has been in the hotel industry for 17 years. However this time things were different as we were not permitted to take any photographs of the exhibits on display. Every year my brother has taken us for almost all of this types of exhibitions including the Chefs' Guild Salon Culinare, all which have been held at the BMICH. Many of those who come for these things come with the idea of getting ideas, advice on how to do something or may be to just to enjoy themselves and have a souvenir of their visit to this special occasion. Any one person would have never taken photographs of all the cakes on display if they were given the chance to do so as there were well over 1000 cakes and wedding structures on display. Anyone who came with the idea of taking photographs would not have brought more than 5x36 shots film rolls which would total to only about 180 shots if all were taken. The other disappointment was the almost 90% of the exhibits did not have the participant's name or what the cake was or the idea that was being given. This too could be corrected by the sponsors who had advertised by having the competitors write their names and what the cake was on their brand product tags which were just lying around. A disappointed spectator, Kandana Leave our water alone There has been much publicity regarding the management of our water resources. There also appears to be a mighty hurry to privatise this precious resource. Before pontificating about the so-called efficiency of the private sector, the 'powers that be' should take a hard look at the plight of people in developing countries who have made this move. A recent documentary by an established international television company revealed the hard facts of the post-privatised water supply situation in South Africa. The managers of the water resources of that country were interviewed in France! In short, the French managers of South Africa's water had no clue of the plight of the South Africans!! It also revealed the callousness which people show towards problems of humanity - of course all the right phrases and words that make up glossy annual reports are used in abundance to justify their position. It won't be long before there is an explosion of emotions and the poorer people of South Africa take matters into their own hands and who can blame them, afterall, its their water! I would suggest that the National Water Supply and Drainage Board perishes the thought of privatisation of our vital resource and manage them efficiently. If not, they should resign and let those who can do the job. R. de Silva, Dehiwala. Sri Lanka's age old traditions and the Law Now that we're once again faced with yet another election all the parties have started their usual accusations of murder and violence by the other party. All this is because Sri Lankans still follows their age old traditions and customs. It's not in just their homes and religious activities but when even a murder takes place in the political field. Many a politician are killed by most probably some one very close to them. So when a political assassination takes place if the law just forgets about last requests and religious rights that are traditionally followed and bury the victim just like in many a Western country instead of cremating the body the real culprits could be brought to justice. Especially in this day and age when DNA tests and other scientifically proven methods are available those guilty of these crimes could be brought to justice and apprehension will not be very difficult and those innocent whose names have been tarnished during election campaigns could be free. Cremating a body is now not really a traditional custom but a way of covering ones tracks of foul play as most of the time not much of evidence is collected which only results in some one else having to take the blame and are so perfectly framed for a crime they did not commit. If DNA tests are carried out then, this will automatically result in lesser crimes in the country as those intending to violate the law will think twice before acting in this manner. It will also encourage the law enforcing officer's to carry out their investigations more thoroughly and not withhold any of the evidence collected from the crime scene which will bring the real murders to where they right-fully belong and not to the parliament to lie and cheat the general public during their election campaigns. In the past about 20-30 years back there were excellent officers who carried out their duties to the T, four of them whom I personally knew from the three forces and the police, being Ex-Inspector of the Bribery Commission Noel Ingram died of cancer, Ex-Army Core Captain Gordon Ingram died of a heart attack, Ex-Petty Officer of the Navy Percy Baptist died of a heart attack and last but not least Ex-Wing Commander of the Air Force Mahesh Gunasekera who retired from his post after a severe heart attack but was lucky to survive. I personally salute these four gentlemen for the service rendered to the nation honestly and I also salute all those not mentioned for the honest service they too have rendered to our country most of which have lost their lives trying to be honest, trust-worthy and loyal to their Motherland. Anthony de Souza, Kandana. |
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