Monthly Archive for November, 2006

Rajapaksa anniversary: The grim realities

• Heavy arms procurements as both sides prepare for escalation of conflict
• Defence Ministry forms company for import of arms but serious questions arise
• After the Budget, focus now on Prabha’s heroes’ day speech

By Iqbal Athas

President Percy Mahinda Rajapaksa today marks an important milestone in his political career – the completion of a year in office as President, Head of Government, Head of Cabinet, Minister of Defence and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.

Nothing has been more exacting in the first of his six year tenure than the spheres of defence, security and peace. Just weeks after assuming office, the Security Forces and Tiger guerrillas were engaged in skirmishes. One blamed the other for the actions. It escalated gradually. The guerrillas launched a major military campaign to lay siege on the Jaffna peninsula. Though undeclared, that saw the birth of Eelam War IV.

Despite the early confrontations, he succeeded in reviving peace talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). That was in Geneva in April, this year. It came after the talks remained suspended since February 2003 during the tenure of the former United National Front (UNF) Government. The next round, however, in Geneva failed. Yet, it was revived again. Government and LTTE delegations met in Geneva on October 28 and 29 but the talks collapsed on an unexpected issue – the re-opening of the Muhamalai end of A-9 highway. The issue has quite clearly distanced the two sides from the negotiation table and forced them to focus on the battlefield.

Thus, a climate for resumed peace negotiations has virtually disappeared. On both the Security Forces and the Tiger guerrilla sides, there have been hectic military preparations to cope with imminent threats from each other. The Security Forces have gone on a high state of alert countrywide. For the first time, unprecedented security preparations have gone into effect in the South. President Rajapaksa and his government leaders are taking part in ceremonies today to mark his first year in office. They do not want the guerrillas to mar them.

In guerrilla dominated areas in the North and East, fears of strikes by the Security Forces have led to enhanced measures by them. Ahead of LTTE leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran’s “Maveerar (Great Heroes) Day” address the guerrillas fear Security Forces may strike at their positions. This, they worry, is to mar ceremonies that begin tomorrow (Monday) during the “great” heroes week. They engage in religious observances to remember their dead cadres.

The week culminates with Mr. Prabhakaran’s 52nd birthday when he delivers his address.

It is in this grim backdrop that President Rajapaksa looks to his second year in office. The deadlock over the re-opening of the A-9 highway has diminished the prospects of an early resumption of peace talks. It has consequently increased the spectre of a heightened Eelam War IV. That has left President Rajapaksa with little choice but to ensure a much greater military preparedness by the Security Forces.

On Thursday President Rajapaksa, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance and Planning, introduced in Parliament his Government’s second budget. It made no reference to a significant rise in defence expenditure. Yet, the much revised Rs 108.67 billion in the current year will rise to Rs 1.29 billion in 2007 – a reflected increase of 28 per cent. That constitutes a 45 per cent increase in defence spending. Further revisions cannot be ruled out.

Defence Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella told Simon Gardner of Reuters “when sovereignty of the state is threatened, it has to be safeguarded.” He was also quoted as saying “Defence professionals will have to look into (what to buy) – basically what you need to defend the country.”

In fact, some hectic military procurement is under way. For obvious reasons one cannot detail all of them except to say some of the capital assets are enormously expensive. A company has been formed under the Ministry of Defence to exclude middle men in deals involving military hardware. It has sought commissions on the deals entered with foreign suppliers. The money is to be spent on troop’s welfare. Yet, the MoD has also renewed its call for the registration of suppliers for the year 2007. Almost all the deals are being touted as Government to Government. However, there were also ones that raised very serious questions where some of the transactions involving millions of rupees, to say the least, amounted to “highway robbery”. Those clearly raised doubts on whether the practice of churning out millionaires and billionaires in Sri Lankaa??s separatist war still continues.

In this war, the Army, Navy, Air Force and even the Police have had to periodically replace or update military hardware. It has happened whenever fighting has escalated leading to loss, damage or wear and tear of some equipment.

In an unusual development, personnel of the Sri Lanka Air Force have spoken openly about the Government acquiring four aircraft. Four of them are undergoing training at the Indian Air Force facility in Chandigarh which is the premier training base for Mig-27 and Mig-29 aircraft. Their remarks were reported by the Press Trust of India (PTI) on Wednesday.

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Three of Army’s Main Battle Tanks (MBTs), damaged during the ill planned Muhamalai offensive that ended in a debacle, lay in Tiger guerrilla controlled side. The Army lost six tanks valued at Rs 60 million.

The Government has contracted for the purchase of four Mig-27 aircraft from Ukraine, one of the major defence deals under President Rajapaksa’s administration. The Army lost six Czech built T-55 Main Battle Tanks during the ill planned offensive in Muhamalai on October 11. This turned out to be a devastating debacle with over 146 officers and men killed. See picture on this page of three such tanks lying damaged in guerrilla dominated part of Muhamalai. It is no secret that such tanks would have to be replaced. So would be the Dvora Fast Attack Craft (FACs) lost during battles with Sea Tigers, the most recent one on November 9 (The Sunday Times – Situation Report November 12).

In fact, the Navy has been handicapped for a considerable period of time. A scandalous deal to procure guns manufactured in 1985 as the main armament for FACs was called off. After exposures in The Sunday Times a Commission of Inquiry was appointed to probe the matter. The inquiries are continuing. But the Navy is yet to receive a replacement weapon. There are fears that new snags may delay the process further.

Yet, the Navy has now begun to face the brunt of the guerrillas. Yesterday, they foiled an attempt by Sea Tigers to mount an attack on the Navy base and the adjoining police station in Talaimannar. Some ten Sea Tiger boats had first attacked two Navy Inshore Patrol Craft (IPCs) and later headed towards the base. The Navy men resisted guerrilla gunfire from sea. They disabled four Sea Tiger boats. Air support came moments later. They hit two more guerrilla craft. Thereafter the Sea Tigers withdrew. Navy officials in Talaimannar said on the telephone that ten bodies of guerrillas were seen floating in the sea. One sailor was killed and five others were injured.

This was the first major incident in a week and came amidst fears of major guerrilla attacks ahead of November 27. Intelligence sources said yesterday that further guerrilla attacks could not be ruled out before this date.

The measures by the Government to further bolster the strength of the Security Forces (and even the Police), a marked contrast from the two previous Governments, are not altogether one sided. According to intelligence sources, the LTTE had succeeded in smuggling in a variety of military hardware in the past months. These sources say they are continuing to do so. Such items had included vast quantities of artillery ammunition, mortar shells, explosives and surface-to-air missiles. Some of the ship-to-trawler transfers heading to the shores were disrupted by the Navy.

All this means that both the Government and the LTTE are preparing themselves to be stronger at war. Logically that would mean the introduction of more hardware and the intensification of the war. This, no doubt, would further distance them from the peace process. More importantly, the accent from both sides, as a New Year approaches would be on a stepped up Eelam War IV.
Those challenges come for President Rajapaksa at a critical moment. The Government is facing accusations of human rights violations. Last Monday President Rajapaksa promulgated an Extraordinary Gazette notification appointing a Commission of Inquiry to probe 15 cases involving such violations.

On Tuesday, envoys of Donor Co-chairs of the Peace Process, the United States, the European Union, Japan and Norway, are meeting in Washington D.C. to examine the situation in Sri Lanka. The Government has already launched diplomatic initiatives to explain its own position vis-A?-vis the issues to be discussed. With that over, Mr. Prabhakaran’s message will follow.

President Rajapaksa leaves on November 25 on a three-day private visit to India. He is expected to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other Indian leaders to explain the Government’s position with regard to several key issues.

Also due to leave for the United States is the Commander of the Army, Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka, who has been at the forefront of the military campaign against the LTTE. He and his family are Green Card holders in the US having won a lottery earlier. Such a card is a forerunner for US citizenship.

Lt. Gen. Fonseka is due to arrive in Washington D.C. on November 26. He has sought meetings with senior military officials at the Pentagon and State Department officials for November 27 and 28. He will thereafter travel to Oklahoma before returning to Sri Lanka.

Lt. Gen. Fonseka’s one-year term as Army Commander comes to an end on December 6, this year. Government sources said yesterday a decision on an extended period would be made upon his return.

As he steps into his second year in office, President Rajapaksa, faces a formidable challenge. He will have to take tough decisions on tougher issues to save a nation that is in the throes of a serious crisis.

see the original article:
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/061119/Columns/sitreport.html

There is no reason why Colombo, Galle and Jaffna cannot revert to Kolamba, Gaalla and Yahapane, except that the political will to bring about such change is still missing

How important the proper pronunciation and spelling can be to a nationA?a??a??s identity was demonstrated by the French Government when it prohibited the use of the British word jet or A?a??E?jetlinerA?a??a?? by the French. The punishment for transgression was imprisonment. After the law came into effect a jetliner had to be called A?a??E?le grande porteurA?a??a??. The rest of the world may pronounce the name of their capital city as A?a??E?Paris,A?a??a?? but to the French it will always be A?a??E?PareeA?a??a??.

To what extent a successful modern state like France will go, in order to protect its national identity, is seen by this example. The assertion of oneA?a??a??s national identity is not chauvinism. It proceeds from the necessity to reassure oneself of oneA?a??a??s sense of self respect and self esteem.

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Sri Lanka still wants to continue the servile mentality of the colonial era as seen by its toleration of the ridiculous pronunciation of local place names by inept radio and TV announcers.

Pataha or Patana?

The latest casualty in this list is Digampataha (also spelt as Diganpataha). This name became an unfortunate casualty along with the 97 unarmed sailors who became victims of the suicide bomb blast on October 16. All concerned, including armed forces spokesmen and the audiovisual media, pronounced this name incorrectly, as Digam-patana. The print media followed suit by spelling it as such. However, this last casualty seems to be recovering somewhat in the mass media, after the local population staged a mass protest against the whole incident. Ordinary folk like this writer, know that a A?a??E?patahaA?a??a?? is a natural pond or small lake. A A?a??E?patanaA?a??a?? is a stretch of open land, covered with grasses like mana and illuk. A?a??E?DiganaA?a??a?? is the name given to a long strip of flat uncultivated land bordering a stretch of paddy fields.

MMC/KMC

The Tamil name A?a??E?KandiA?a??a?? is still being used almost exclusively for the Hill Capital in the heart of the country. A concerned Mayor, Tilak Ratnayake once changed the acronym KMC to MMC (Mahanuwara Municipal Council). Its use as such continued to be in force even after his death, but it has again been changed back to KMC. However, even now, letters addressed (in English) to Mahanuwara are recognised as valid by the Postal Department, which dutifully delivers all such letters.

The need for self-esteem

Is this servile mentality an outcome of a faulty education policy? Good educationists see the learning process as a form of need fulfilment. (A?a??A?One man can lead a horse to the water but fifty cannot make it drink.A?a??A?) Unless that need to learn is created in the child, all that it is taught will at best, be useful only for the purpose of passing examinations. It fails to be A?a??E?internalisedA?a??a??. The American psychologist Maslow, saw that a childA?a??a??s needs are arranged in a hierarchy. The need to learn comes only after the more basic needs have been satisfied. For instance a child suffering from hunger does not have the need to absorb what it is taught.

Therefore, some governments try to see that the child receives a midday meal in school and also provide the material for school uniforms. But that is not enough. A child who is not hungry also needs recognition in the form of A?a??E?love and affectionA?a??a??. A good teacher knows how to do it, by appreciating the childA?a??a??s work and praising its good efforts. That creates some A?a??E?self-esteemA?a??a?? in the child. That in turn leads to A?a??A?self-actualisationA?a??A? or creative stage, of a childA?a??a??s learning process where what is learnt becomes internalised.

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Developing every childA?a??a??s self esteem may become a problem in crowded classes of today. But the state-centred French system seems to have achieved that and produced a nation justly proud of its own language. The lack of self esteem amongst the products of our education system becomes all too clear in the damage being wilfully caused to seating facilities provided in buses and the railway.

Some far-sighted visionaries have rightly seen the need to create self-esteem among our armed forces. They fight better and will even sacrifice their most precious lives, when they possess self-esteem. It is self-esteem that can prevent them from taking the law into their own hands even under conditions of extreme stress.

Coming back to place names, we were dismayed to see the way that even top brass of the armed forces pronounced some place names in the areas where fighting had taken place recently. For instance Mavil Ara was referred to as Mavil Aru. It is the stream issuing from Mavila or A?a??E?Great SwampA?a??a??. The excuse may be that it has been marked in the map as Mavil Aru by Tamil surveyors. In Europe too we have A?a??E?the AarA?a??a?? and in India A?a??E?the GangaA?a??a?? both of which simply mean A?a??E?the RiverA?a??a??. Now that the name Sampur has been shown to be corrupt Tamil for Somapura, should we continue to call it Sampur?

How Sinhala place names have been continuously modified to look like Tamil names (with the blessings of an unconcerned Survey Department) can be illustrated by just one example. EverybodyA?a??a??s attention was recently focussed on a place referred to as A?a??E?Kanjikudichchi AruA?a??a??. In fact there has been no such name (unless it has been so altered to in the recent metric scale maps). It was marked on the one inch-to-a mile (Pottuvil) map published in 1968, as A?a??E?Kangikadichi AarA?a??a??. The spelling especially that of Aru as A?a??E?AarA?a??a?? and not Tamil A?a??E?AruA?a??a??, shows that it is a Sinhala name. Kangikadichi Aar as such, has even found a place in the Gazetteer on Ceylon published by the United States Board on Geographic Names.

What had happened here was that Sinhala people who lived in this sparsely populated area had provided the name of this stream to the Tamil surveyor.

The Tamil for Sinhala A?a??E?kandiyaA?a??a?? is A?a??E?kangu.A?a??a?? Hence the name was recorded as beginning with A?a??E?KangiA?a??a??A?a??a?? half Tamil and half Sinhala. That the actual Sinhala name was Kandi-kaedichcha Ara becomes very clear when one looks at the survey map which shows that this is a stream once had two bunds or A?a??E?kandiA?a??a?? built across its course, to form the two tanks (now abandoned) also shown in the map. Today we find that these bunds have been breached by the force of the current when the stream was in spate, after a heavy rainy season thus giving rise to its correct proper name. Looking for the etymology of that name, going only by the present pronunciation of it as Kanjikudichchiaru, will lead one only to some semantic trash! The same applies to Mutur when it is incorrectly spelt as Muttur by the print media.

At least two other place names in the Madakalapuwa District points to the fact that it was held by Sinhala residents as a royal fief or A?a??E?Biso(bandara)-gamaA?a??a?? during the Kandyan Period. The present name A?a??E?Vandara-moolaiA?a??a?? is the same as A?a??E?Bandara-gedaraA?a??a?? in Sinhala. A?a??E?GedaraA?a??a?? and A?a??E?gamaA?a??a?? are sometimes interchangeable (e.g. in A?a??E?malagamaA?a??a?? for A?a??E?malagedaraA?a??a??). Hence Vandaramoolai is the same as Bandaragama found in other parts of the island.

Another such name pronounced as A?a??E?Kaaththaan-kudiA?a??a?? is simply A?a??E?Kaaval-kutiyaA?a??a?? in Sinhala, or A?a??E?Watch HutA?a??a?? in English.

Only A?a??E?CeylonA?a??a?? to A?a??E?Sri LankaA?a??a??

Other countries in this region like India and Bangladesh have quite rightly asserted their individuality by gaining international recognition of pre-colonial names like Chennai and Mumbai for Madras and Bombay, as well as Kolkata for Calcutta. We have only managed to change A?a??E?CeylonA?a??a?? back to Sri Lanka. There is no reason why Colombo, Galle and Jaffna cannot revert to Kolamba, Gaalla and Yahapane, except that the political will to bring about such change is still missing. So much for building up a Sri Lanka national identity.A map of Sri Lanka where place names are marked in Tamil will depict them as Kolompu, Kali and Yalppanam.

In fact, not many current place names could be recognised in such a map printed in Tamil. However, most place names in the Northern and Eastern Provinces have already been changed so as to look like Tamil names. However, a country can have only one set of officially recognised place names in order to avoid legal issues. Whatever their other faults were, the British left behind lists of place names for each Province with standardised spellings for the most part. English spelling is conventional and does not reflect the sound of the spoken word phonetically. As such these lists (not easily found today,) do not depict the correct pronunciation of Sinhala place names.

What the Census and Statistics Dept. has been able to achieve since independence is to transliterate the names in these lists back to Sinhala script, resulting in some glaring pronunciation mistakes. Even for that list of less than 30,000 place names, we are obliged to the United States Board on Geographic Names. This does not speak much for a country where King Pandukabhaya demarcated all village boundaries, and recorded them, as far back as the year 427 BC.

Officially recognised list

It is high time that the State in Sri Lanka study the place names that have undergone unwarranted changes in how they came to be pronounced after the periods of Portuguese, Dutch and English Rule. Sinhala language and its nomenclature was precise and meaningful. That was why even the English and Burgher lawyers are known to have preferred to have their land deeds drawn up in the Sinhala language.

Therefore, giving attention to the preparation of an officially recognised list of all place names in the island, is of paramount importance.

The Tamils can continue to pronounce the place names in their own way if they choose to do so, but the official spelling remains unchanged. Under British rule, the original Sinhala names of tea, rubber (and even coconut) estates were replaced by English ones, for the most part. But the Tamil estate workers who came from India coined their own names for each of these estates.
The FergusonA?a??a??s Directory listed all these estate names in English and Tamil, while most of the original Sinhala names were allowed to be forgotten.

~ By D. G. A. Perera.

seeA?A? the original article:
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/061112/Plus/pls13.html