Ceylon Today Editorial

Geneva, India & fisher poaching

16 March 2017

The 'Hindu', on the seeming controversial death of an Indian fisherman by shooting on 6 March, in an article published on its issue of Friday under the heading 'TN fishermen hit SL Navy water scooter, claim officials,' said, 'Officers investigating the gunning down of a Tamil Nadu fisherman allegedly by Sri Lankan Navy have claimed that the incident could have been triggered by the Rameswaram fishermen allegedly ramming against the Island Nation Navy's water scooter or inflatable boat...The circumstances under which the boat dashed the water scooter are unclear. It could have possibly been an accident while trying to sail back. But officials said that since the Sir Lankan Navy or the fishermen concerned were not forthcoming on the exact developments, it has become difficult to come to any conclusion at this stage.

While the Indian fishermen claimed that they were fishing near the 'Sethukalvai' and fortified their claim with 'GPS reading of 11/28', investigating officials have countered it and claimed that the fishermen should have been at least six to seven nautical miles inside the Sri Lankan waters, towards Talaimannar when the Navy confronted them.

The Indian fishermen did not immediately hand over the GPS set to the Marine police of the Coastal Security Group (CSG). They handed over the set only after the police exerted pressure through the Fisheries Department, the sources said....It could not be ascertained whether the GPS was the one carried by the victims on Monday night, (Superintendent of Police (CSG)) R. Sakthivel said.

The set has been sent to Forensic Science Department in Chennai for analysis. ...experts were exploring whether the erased data could be retrieved, he said...'

The officials referred to in 'The Hindu' are Indian officials.

Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) has denied any shooting, (Monday's Ceylon Today).

Quoting SLN Commander Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, Ceylon Today reported, '...We asked the Indian Coast Guard to give us information tracked by the GSP devices that night. However, they are yet to send us the information. Once we receive it, we can conduct the investigations in a more accurate manner...

No Naval personnel are authorized to shoot poaching fishermen without a clearance from the Navy Commander. That night no one contacted me for such clearance...Wijegunaratne assured that investigations into the shooting will continue with the collaboration of Indian authorities...'

'The Hindu' article in respect of this controversy highlights six points in favour of Sri Lanka. Those are: 1.The Indian fishermen pussyfooting to give evidence.

2. Alleged attack on an SLN water scooter by these fishermen, 3. Indian fishermen were allegedly six to seven miles inside Sri Lankan territorial waters,

4. Indian fishermen handed over their GPS involuntarily, 5. Data on the GPS had allegedly been erased and

6. Doubts as to whether the GPS was carried by the victims (apart from a death, 'The Hindu' had also reported that there were five others in that boat).

To take those six points individually, if the Indian fishermen are innocent, why are they reluctant to come forward to give evidence? If the Indian fisher boat in question had actually 'rammed' the SLN boat, the SLN should be given credit for showing admirable restraint by not shooting at it. One may but conjecture, what could have had happened to a Sri Lankan fisher vessel, trespassing on Indian waters, if such a boat, in response to a challenge by an Indian Coastguard vessel, without surrendering, had allegedly tried to ram it?

The third point is that the Indian vessel was allegedly poaching deep inside Sri Lanka's territorial waters. That, in itself is an offence and deserves punishment. Fourthly, the Indian fishermen had handed over their GPS to the Indian authorities, non-voluntarily. If, a person/persons is/are innocent of not contravening the law, why should such a person/persons be reluctant to hand over evidence that would exonerate them of any guilt? Fifthly, GPS data had allegedly been erased. That is also a pointer to the fact that those Indian fishermen were not squeaky clean and sixthly, doubts as to the GPS equipment in question was the one that had actually been in the possession of that ill-fated Indian fisher vessel in question?

This incident comes at a crucial point in the island's history. It has taken place in the context that currently the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva is debating on Colombo's 'fate', vis-à-vis alleged war crimes in its war against Tamil/LTTE terrorism.

A politically inflammatory point in the local context in Geneva is allowing for foreign jurists to decide on the island's fate to which Colombo has agreed to, either voluntarily or by compulsion, at Geneva, 18 months ago.

Eighteen months was also the timeframe given by the UNHRC for Colombo to conform to this arrangement. Sri Lanka has asked for a further two years. Her former colonial master the UK which had its own cod wars with tiny Iceland, at least up to three decades ago, but which has since recanted, giving Iceland large areas of the North Sea as its exclusive fishing zone, has pleaded that Colombo be given more time. India and UK are voting members at the UNHRC this time. What will India's stance be at Geneva in the context of this shooting is the question?

Daily News Editorial

Parliament

16 March 2017

The revelation made by a former University don, that only 94 MPs, out of our 225 member legislature, have not passed their GCE O/L examinations will come as no surprise to many. Also the claim by Peradeniya University Ex-Chancellor Prof. M.O. A. De Zoysa that only 25 percent of our parliamentarians are graduates. Addressing the media on Tuesday the professor said; “Taxpayers’ money is being spent for the welfare of all MPs and a Rs. 2,500 Attendance Allowance is being paid to each member, along with luxury meals, for a single sitting.” The good professor, has, perhaps, been charitable and not mentioned the other perks, such as duty free vehicles, which our people's representatives dispose of no sooner they are delivered, raking in millions, nor the recent Rs. 100,000 allowance per month paid to each MP to refurbish their electoral offices, whatever that may mean.

What Prof. De Zoysa meant by making reference to the privileges enjoyed by our MPs is to make the point if all these are justified and whether the taxpayer in fact is getting value for his money. He went onto refer to the almost daily disruption of parliament sittings by at least two hours by the shenanigans of the Joint Opposition. He said; “The conduct of some of the senior members are disgusting. They may be senior, but they have not matured. They have been given front row seats to set an example to the juniors, but they themselves are the chief offenders”. The main thrust of the professor's argument is, the members who are lawmakers should conduct themselves exemplarily and be able to understand the contents of Bills, be familiar with Standing Orders and other parliamentary traditions. When 94 MPs have not passed their O/L’s, which is the basic requirement for the recruitment of a peon, in the state sector, can the people expect them(MPs) to be conversant with the contents of the volumes and tomes placed on their desks or that of the important Bills placed for the perusal of our lawmakers?

The Professor's contention assumes more serious proportions, given the Constitution making process now placed for the scrutiny of our MPs, all of whom have formed themselves into various Committees to decide on the best form of Constitution for the country. Will they be up to the task, given the deficiency in the grey matter of over one third of our lawmakers? As the professor queried, what is the quality of their contributions in parliament? Is it that the strong point in our supreme legislature is brawn, so much so that little time is left to discussed matters that require the faculties of brain, going by the frequent disruptions and fisticuffs in the House? What would be the position down the line? Given that the Provincial Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas are mostly filled by the progeny, or siblings, of the present O/L failures, and these local bodies being the nursery of the next generation of parliamentarians, isn’t the situation going to get worse?

An academic’s concern

The concern expressed by Chairman of the University Grants Commission Prof. Mohan de Silva on the current boycott of academic activities in the state medical faculties and its impact on the creation of good doctors in the country no doubt will be shared by most, who wish for a sound health care system in the country. The Prof. also shared his concerns of the parents of the striking students, on the direction their education was heading and risk of young minds being manipulated by forces beyond the control of parents and the university authorities. With the Anti SAITM strike stretching to the unforeseeable future, what with the protagonists standing their ground, the ultimate result would be a stagnation in the creation doctors in this country and a blow to the ordinary public who are funding the education of these students.

Like the professor observed, unseen hands are manipulating these students and the parents and the university authorities are helpless by-standers. The powerful, well funded Anti-SAITM lobby, working to a political agenda, is not going to stop at this, but take forward their campaign into other realms. This will gradually snowball into an anti-government campaign reminiscent of the late 1980’s when students were manipulated by anarchic forces to rise against the government. It is regrettable that even some government ministers have taken cudgels on behalf of the agitators, at a time the matter is to be adjudicated by the Supreme Court, which will only serve to exacerbate the problem. The parents of these misled students should try to persuade their sons and daughters, who are spending their time on the streets, being subject to tear gas and baton charged, to change their minds and get back to lectures. After all, a majority of these students come from poor or middle class families and the parents have rested their hopes on the success of their children being doctors one day and change the fortunes of their families.

The Island Editorial

Key shows the way

16 March 2017

 

Nothing is, perhaps, more indicative of a country’s backwardness than its political leaders’ desire to cling on to power like limpets even when they are superannuated. Mature democracies throw up enough and more capable leaders and they don’t wait till they are long in the tooth to be put out to grass; they retire prematurely.

In New Zealand, Prime Minister John Key, who retired in December last year, is planning to leave Parliament next week. Key has not made known the exact reason for his sudden exit from politics and the media speculates that he wants to leave on his own terms while he is at the zenith of his achievement and still popular. A wise leader! Several other MPs are also retiring this year, we are told. This is something unthinkable in this country, where politicians don’t retire; they have to be retired. Even in retirement, they want to savour power as much as possible in different capacities.

Sri Lankan politicians seem to think power has anti-ageing properties and the way to be rejuvenated is to cling on to it by hook or by crook. It is said that the late President J. R. Jayewardene, who ascended to the peak of his political career too late in the day, was toying with the idea of amending the Constitution to seek a third term; an ambitious Prime Minister Ranasinghe Premadasa scuttled his plan. It is a pity that not even legendary Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike knew when to retire!

President Mahinda Rajapaksa could have done a Key, but, instead, he abused his parliamentary majority to remove the constitutionally prescribed presidential term limit and had a grand pratfall. When he opened the Southern Expressway in 2011, likening his ceremonial drive to his political journey we argued, in these columns, that unless he took the right exit he would find himself in a mess.

President Maithripala Sirisena declared, upon being inducted in 2015, that he would not seek a second term, but his acolytes are urging him to contest again. He has chosen to remain silent on the issue and is seen to be having his acolytes send trial balloons. He is being overoptimistic if he thinks Lady Luck will be smiling on him indefinitely.

In advanced democracies, politicians cannot get away with unfulfilled promises including trivial ones. About 12 years ago, we commented in this space on the predicament of a New Zealand Green Party candidate, named Keith Locke, who had made an absurd promise in 2005. He commissioned a pre-polls survey, whose results indicated a landslide victory for him. So, a cocky Locke told his electorate that he would run naked in public if his rival won. He lost and came under pressure to honour his promise. Finally, he did a dash on a public road, wearing a G-string. Here, political promises are made to be easily broken like piecrust. We have been promised ‘rice from the moon, ‘eight pounds of grains free of charge’, ‘a righteous society’, ‘a bright future’, ‘good governance’ etc during the last several decades and these unfulfilled pledges have all been taken for granted.

Politicians are said to be like tortoises on fence posts. They cannot reach such heights without people’s help. But, Sri Lankans, instead of bringing them down, worship these political tortoises. A prerequisite for strengthening democracy is for the public to assert themselves in dealing with their representatives and call the latter to account.

So long as politicians are treated like demigods, they will sponge off the public, remain above the law, ride rough shod over electors and never retire. Sri Lankans have only themselves to blame for this sorry state of affairs. Unless they get their act together, instead of having politicians of the calibre of Key they will have to contend with many a donkey indefinitely.