President Chandrika Kumaratunga, in her very exhaustive dialogue with Frontline's N. Ram, has, among other matters, made the following statements:

"We have started all the processes but we have not been able to conclude them satisfactorily simply because of this bizarre Constitution of the UNP which they themselves amended sixteen times in nine years. It is a fraudulent Constitution which stipulates that even to change a dot or a comma in the Constitution, you need a two-thirds majority!...." (The Island 31st December 1998)

Let Her Excellency be reminded that the framers of the present Constitution had great foresight and the wisdom to build into the Constitution a constitutional safeguard in the form of a two-thirds majority for any important amendment (not dots and commas) precisely to prevent Machiavellian politicians and Mephistophelian iconoclasts from destroying the Constitution, and with it the state and the nation. And further, it is precisely because of that sagacious safeguard that Her Excellency who promised to abolish the Executive Presidency within twenty-four hours, is still able to hold on to power, despite the country having absolutely descended to a state of anarchy, chaos, widespread lawlessness and economic impoverishment. So Her Excellency must thank her lucky stars for the two-thirds majority constitutional safeguard of this "fraudulent Constitution" that helps Her Excellency to continue to be in power, because if it was possible to abolish the Executive Presidency with a simple majority, Her Excellency would have gone home long ago, with some of her own SLFP/PA politicians voting against the Presidency in Parliament. Her Excellency is well aware of this bitter truth, but attempts to mislead the masses by repeating the two-thirds majority ploy to cover up the inefficiency and maladministration of the PA Government.

And let Her Excellency be further reminded that when one of her first acts, the Bribery and Corruption Act, was presented in Parliament, it was passed with ALL the UNP Members present freely and enthusiastically voting for the Act which was passed not merely with two-thirds majority but with one hundred percent support from the entire UNP and of the House.

The United National Party acts with a sense of responsibility and its support will always be ensured in important issues which will be for the welfare of the country and the nation and not to their detriment. And there is nothing wrong in amending a Constitution any number of times legally and Constitutionally as and when amendments are required and desired.

No constitution would be deemed perfect, although the Constitution which has been prepared by Her Excellency (otherwise known as the package) has been so perfect that it has stirred up a hornet's nest and almost country-wide protests and is now relegated to the doldrums even before it was presented in Parliament.

President Kumaratunga in the same interview says,

" So it is the UNP's responsibility. They started this war. They made it worse. They brought in a Constitution which will not allow a political constitutional solution of the problem É"

Her Excellency may be kindly reminded that in fact it was the very original S.L.F.P. that laid the seeds of disunity leading to war with the enactment of the Sinhala Only Act in 1956. And to add salt to the wounds, the letter Sri (Y%S& was substituted for the English letters on number plates of vehicles. The entire country which up to then was relatively peaceful became an inferno of ethnic riots and the unity that existed between the Sinhala and Tamil community was completely destroyed by that single Act of imprudence. That is the beginning of this war. These are facts of recent history. President Kumaratunga's puerile and infantile attempt to foist everything that has gone wrong on the UNP, now puts the blame of the Northern war also on the UNP. She can fool some of the people all the time. But not all the people all the time.

Judging from past behavioural patterns of the People's Alliance, especially with regard to its non-implementation of its own 1994 Manifesto, it is my view that this Package is another hoax to lull the Tamil community for the time being and keep them in suspense. But it will never be implemented. And this is clear from her own statement quoted by Frontline that it is the present Constitution that prevents the package being implemented. So President Kumaratunga implies that it is this "fraudulent Constitution" of the UNP that prevents the ushering of peace and the ending of the war. So don't blame the PA, blame the UNP. And the bitter truth is the PA Government does not intend to end the war either, judging from its implementation of undertakings.

If the PA Government was serious about implementation of the Package, it would have chosen a better strategy to sell it than the hilarious Thavalama, a Sinhala term meaning a caravan of donkeys and asses. Whether the selection of such a hilarious title was unintentional or deliberate, it would appear that PA Government's panjamdrums are incapable of naming even an otherwise laudable peace effort without raising ripples of laughter and undermining its seriousness from the very start.

S. R. Abeywardena

Why is Reggie Ranatunga still in office?

Avadhi Lanka is lost for words to express its indignation at Mr. Reggie Ranatunga continuing to hold public office as a Deputy Minister inspite of being found guilty of violating the fundamental rights of a journalist employed by ITN, a government institution, and is, therefore, a public officer as well.

The Deputy Minister has taken a solemn pledge to uphold the constitution, which he has now flagrantly violated. Should he, therefore, continue to hold public office when he has violated his oath of office, is the question. If the Deputy Minister has a sense of honour, he would undoubtedly resign. If he has a sense of shame he would resign. It is clear that he has neither a sense of shame, nor a sense of honour.

In the circumstances, Avadhi Lanka considers it is the duty of the President to call for his resignation, and, if he fails to do so, remove him from office, since she too has taken a solemn pledge to uphold the constitution. In any democracy, such conduct would be the norm.

Obviously, it is clear that despite the pratings of the President and government politicians, we have only a facade of democracy in this country.

The Deputy Minister should resign from parliament as well. Persons who are convicted of criminal offences lose their seats in other democracies. The supreme court judgement spells out how the deputy minister has taken the law into his own hands even sitting in the chair of the officer-in-charge of the local police station. He has not only violated the fundamental rights of a fellow citizen. He has even interfered with the law.

Avadhi Lanka calls upon the President to remove Mr. Reggie Ranatunga from office, and the party to sack him from membership. If the President allows her party big-wigs to trangress the law as her Deputy Minister of Transport has done, her government would be unwittingly driving the people to a point where they will see no alternative but to take the law into their own hands to enforce public morality.

R. M. B. Senanayake
Hony. Secretary
Avadhi Lanka

The abuse of the cow and her calf in milk and veal production

The increasing public opposition to the slaughter of animals in inhumane ways and the consumption of flesh foods in Sri Lanka, which is now given wide coverage in the media, is most commendable. Logically such opposition should also be extended to cover the abuse of the cow and her calf in milk and veal production. The international dairy industry is responsible for the suffering and death of millions of unwanted calves and dairy cows each year. The Sri Lankan consumer of cow's milk is entitled to be told the truth regarding the operation of the dairy industry.

Though in neighbouring India the cow is treated as Ôsacred', in many parts of the world including Sri Lanka, the cow continues to be made to toil for humans as a beast of burden, tiller of the soil, provider of mill, and finally of meat and leather.

The cow is a very gentle, co-operative and slow moving animal whose behaviour has often been misinterpreted as lacking in intelligence. But scientific studies have shown that cows possess exceptional qualities such as long term memory for learned shapes, people, other catte and events. More importantly, the cows are caring beings and show great devotion and love for their young.

The international dairy industry based in westem countries including Australia and New Zealand, from where we obtain most of our imported milk, would have us believe that dairy cows lead contented lives grazing in vast acres of green fields. This is a big myth. In fact, in intensive dairy Ôfactories' in these countries, cows are bred, medicated and artificially inseminated for maximum milk output at minimum cost. In the quest for maximum profit, the cow's metabolism is pushed to the limit by the continual demands for greater production.

A dairy cow under natural conditions usually produces about three litres of milk per day to feed her calf. ÔFactory farm' cows now provide 25 - 30 litres per day. To ensure a constant milk supply dairy cows are kept simultaneously pregnant and lactating for nine months of the year. Within three months of the birth of her first calf, while still milking heavily, the dairy cow is again artificially inseminated. For every 7,000 litres of milk produced one calf is born.

When the newborn calf is separated from the mother after only two days, the mother cow bellows for days for their calves. Sometimes mothers go berserk and try frantically to break down the fences to get back their young. Complete bonding between the mother and calf is prevented by this early separation. Separation is equally distressing for the calf, and the loss of colostrum in the mother's milk, decreases immunity and enhances the calf's vulnerability to infection.

Though dairy cows have a natural life span of 20 - 30 years, dairy cows are slaughtered at 7 - 8 years of age. Some healthy cows are also slaughtered when they are not sufficiently productive.

The veal industry is an adjunct of the dairy industry. Female calves are slaughtered or raised to live the lives of their mothers. All male calves are ultimately killed. Before slaughter, calves are often sent to a veal confinement unit. While being kept chained by the neck, inside body hugging stalls lacking room to turn around, the calves are fed iron deficient gruel for about four months to induce anaemia. Iron deficiency plus weak and soft muscles flowing from lack of movement, results in tender pale flesh. White veal is the flesh of baby calves that have been fed only milk.

To prevent the calves craving for iron no metal fillings are used in the confinement unit. They are unable even to glean the small content of iron from their urine because of their chains. Even straw or bedding is not provided because this too contains small quantities of iron. By the age of four months the calf is in a severe state of anaenia. These inhumane conditions continue to be part of the dairy and veal industries because the quest for profits and the need to provide milk and veal at a low price, override moral consideration for the welfare of the animals.

In this age of women's liberation, it is unfortunate that women's groups have not yet come forward to the defence of female animals whose reproductive processes have been tragically abused for generations. Those who believe in compassionate living as advocated by the Buddha, should not hesitate to speak out against the inhumane practices of the dairy and veal industries.

Mrs. M. Weeraratna

The Cocos Island Mutiny

At present I am putting the finishing touches to my manuscript for my book on The Cocos Island Mutiny. I researched this topic for more than three decades, and part of the findings was used for my Master's thesis at the Department of History in the University of New South Wales.

More research was done recently at the Public Records Office in London, where this World War Two Mutiny by Ceylonese troops has interested British historians. I am privileged to be the only person who obtained personal interviews with some of the key participants who mutinied on Cocos Island on May 8th 1942. I have also been in touch with many of those who were at Cocos during the war, and this includes Col. Lyn Wickramsuriya, Lt. Henry Stephens, Lt . I.D.M. Van Twest, Lt Henry de Sylva, to mention a few.

My purpose in seeking the courtesy of your columns is to contact the family of Gratien H. Fernando, who led the unsuccessful mutiny. Early in 1970, through the auspices of Gamini Fonseka I met Gratien Femando's sister, who readily gave me valuable documents, information and assistance. A British military historian has made sweeping statements about Gratien, which I am contesting in my book.

I have also lost contact with the Jayasekera family in Galle. When my wife Marie Tirzah ran The Cocos Mutiny story in the Independent Newspaper's publication Star, I was lent Samuel Jayasekara's photograph in uniform before he left for Cocos. Samuel was killed during the mutiny and is now buried in a wartime grave in Singapore. I am keen on contacting any member of the Jayasekera family too.

Noel Crusz
17/1, Old Quarry Road,
Mount Lavinia or
13, Creewood Street,
Concord, NSW 2137,
Australia

A bouquet for a doctor

Approaching old age brings with it many fears, and probably none as great as the fear of loss of sight. I was confronted by this fear when I went for what I thought would be just a routine check up some weeks ago and was told that I have a cataract which required immediate surgery.

I have often been told that with all this advanced technology eye operations are very simple matters now. But when I was told that I have to go through eye surgery, all of a sudden I began to feel nervous and perhaps even a little scared. But I was fortunate. The person in front of me who gave me this news was not just a doctor who I was meeting for the first time in my life; he also turned out to be one of the most remarkable human beings I have ever encountered - Dr Saliya Pathirana, Consultant, Eye Hospital.

Dr Pathirana must have seen and understood my feelings, even though I was trying to hide my growing fear. Perhaps he is used to seeing similar emotions in many of his patients. He began to talk to me, explaining my condition and the desired remedy to me simply and quietly. And as I listened to this doctor who is young enough to be my son, I felt my fears ebbing away. Slowly but surely confidence returned. I knew I could trust this man who combined intelligence and expertise with a kindness and consideration that we encounter rarely in this world of ours. He answered all my questions (and many unasked ones) with patience until I felt my nervousness leaving me completely.

I think some of it came back as I was waiting to be taken in for my operation - thus my high pressure level. But Dr Pathirana once again helped me to cope with it with a smile and a kind word.

Now that I'm well on the way to recovery, I am glad that I got my Eye problem attended to promptly, not only because my sight has improved but also because it brought me in contact with an unforgettable human being - Dr Saliya Pathirana. May the Noble Triple Gem Bless You Dr Pathirana.

Ms Indra Wimalaratne
Maharagama

The American Way of Death

by Piyal Gamage
A curious feature in the history of the US presidency is that, since 1840, every president elected in a year ending in zero died in office, many of them violently from gunshot injuries. This is called the zero factor. JFK, elected in 1960, was expecting to become a victim of the zero factor, and had even discussed it with friends. In November 1963, in Dallas, he got what was coming to him.

So when Ronald Reagan, elected in 1980, was shot nobody was greatly surprised. The bullet lodged within an inch of his heart but Reagan survived, thus breaking the hoodoo. What is remarkable is that the first thing he said after the shooting (what may well have been his dying words!) was that he hoped the shooting would not lead to gun control. The gun is reverenced in America. It is the household god. Every American is brainwashed from infancy to believe a simple syllogism:

l. The world is divided into good guys and bad guys.

2. The bad guys, mostly non-white, are poor shots.

3. The good guys, mostly white and mostly American, are excellent shots and win out in the end by shooting the bad guys dead.

This idiotic formula is dinned into him in every comic-book, film and video tape that the American child is exposed to. It is therefore no wonder that Americans grow up to believe that killing the baddies is how human problems are solved and that the gun is what one does it with.

There are two main lobbies in America which all presidents hold in awe, the Jewish lobby and the gun lobby. The chief spokesman for the latter is none other than that egregious ham actor of Hollywood, Charlton Heston. The gun lobby vehemently denies that America's homicide-by-shooting, which occurs by the hundreds daily, is due to the easy availability of guns. Its facile explanation is: "Guns don't kill people, people kill people". Inevitably, this gun culture has seeped down to the schoolroom level. In many parts of America it is normal for a schoolchild to carry a handgun with him to school along with his books and his lunch. Who knows when it may become necessary to shoot the teacher or a member of a rival gang!

1998 was the year when school children shooting their teachers, their fellow students and their parents reached a new high. Gunshots now cause one in four deaths among American teenagers, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Bullets killed 4,200 teenagers in 1990 (the most recent year for which statistics are available). An estimated l00,000 schoolchildren carry guns to school, says the National Education Association. The gun lobby would no doubt say: "Guns don't kill people, little children kill people".

The other lobby that scares American presidents witless is the Jewish lobby. Recently, following a difference of opinion between Clinton and Netanyahu, the latter threatened to burn down Chicago! The soi-disant "most powerful man in the world", the US president, said nothing, did nothing. He was not about to take on the Jewish lobby. When Gerald Ford was pinch-hitter president, the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force General Scratchley Brown was invited to address a student forum at Duke University Law School. In his speech he made a passing reference to the Jewish lobby. He said: "It is so strong you will not believe, now. We have Israelis coming to us for equipment. We say we can't possibly get Congress to support that. They say: ÔDon't worry about Congress, we will take care of that. Now this is somebody from another country, but they can do it." (The syntax may be wonky, but the meaning is clear.)

Brown was bitterly attacked in the media as anti-semitic. He was summoned to the Oval Office by Ford and given a ten minute dressing down.

When India carried out nuclear tests followed shortly by Pakistan, America was livid and called for sanctions. America itself, however, flatly refuses to reduce its own arsenal of 8000 nuclear weapons.

Former US president, Jimmy Carter, has publicly said US policy on nuclear weapons and landmines smacks of hypocrisy.

America claims it is for a comprehensive ban on the testing of nuclear weapons, but it has not yet ratified the test ban treaty which was signed 8 years ago.

America is also the foremost opponent of outlawing landmines. The manufacture and sale of landmines is a highly profitable business to America. The banning of landmines was something Britain's Princess Diana worked hard to achieve. Diana is dead now while America's landmines continue to cripple thousands of Asians and Africans.

Their extravagant lifestyle makes Americans the greatest polluters of the planet. They know it and they don't care.

Former Irish President and presently UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson has said sanctions against Iraq have been responsible for worse human rights abuses" than are alleged against China and Algeria. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have lost their lives and a whole generation of children wiped out for lack of milkfoods and medical drugs.

American arrogance is beyond belief. Madeline Albright the US Secretary of State has said: "If we have to use force, it is because we are America. We are the indispensable nation. We stand tall. We see further into the future." This is surely the authentic voice of paranoia.

Actually, the frightening truth is that Americans cannot see into the future at all. They cannot see beyond their noses. They are sowing the wind and they cannot see: that it will not be long before they will have to reap the whirlwind.

As for Great (sic) Britain's pitiable willingness to play running dog to America, the less said about it the better!