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Most militarised nation in South Asia!
Saturday, 23 September 2006 - 3:45 AM SL Time
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First it was the appellation of a failed nation, next; among the lowest productive countries, then, a country where religious freedom is violated and now the most militarised nation in South Asia. These are the discouraging epithets Sri Lanka is receiving after studies supposed to have been carried out by various international groups. Although doubts have been cast on the competence and genuineness of these study groups by parties and organisations here, the world tends to believe the correctness of these assessments and thus the country`s reputation is lowered in the eyes of the outsiders.
The present report, said to have been prepared after a study conducted by the Mumbai-based Strategic Foresight Group (SFG), says the 25-year long military conflict between Tamil insurgents and successive Sri Lanka governments, has made Sri Lanka the most militarised country in South Asia. In this respect, the report says, Sri Lanka has dwarfed the much larger India and military- ruled Pakistan.
What is necessary, therefore, is to make an objective assessment ourselves of the conditions as they exist here and to make an effort to adopt remedial measures if these descriptions are substantiated and to set the record straight if they are unfounded. No useful purpose would be served if we react angrily to these reports and castigate their authors as some persons and groups are accustomed to doing in this country.
As for the latest report about our country being militarized there cannot, of course, be much dispute. With the recent escalation of the government-LTTE armed conflict after a four-year long respite, we see the weapons of destruction being activated on all sides. In addition to the clash of arms on the battlefront in the North-East region, the effect of militarisation could be observed and felt in other parts of the country as well. Not a day passes in this country today without killings, abductions, disappearances and other violent acts being reported in the media. Fear psychosis has gripped the nation today. The people`s movements are curtailed and are subjected to harassment and exposed to danger lurking everywhere.
This is the price that the people are called upon to pay as the government attempts to bring the LTTE to the conference table by exerting military pressure on it. So, until such time as the LTTE relents and chooses the path of peace, the country cannot hope to move away from the present state of militarisation. Most other ills and evils plaguing the country today earning us unpleasant appellations internationally could be identified as those directly or indirectly resulting from this unending ethnic conflict.
The effort of those concerned, therefore, is to find a quick end to the present conflict. This, of course, is easier prescribed than accomplished. The government has every justification for laying down the condition of a written statement from Tiger Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran about resumption of talks in view of the slippery nature of the organisation`s undertakings. But the prospects for a positive response from the Tiger leader are bleak. The LTTE spokesman Daya Master has already conveyed to the government that his leader will not write because he has authorized Tiger political wing leader S.P. Thamilselvan to deal with all matters relating to the peace process.
So the government is now left with the choice of either going ahead with its offensive until the LTTE is completely vanquished or settling down to rely on Thamilselvan`s statements made on behalf of the LTTE. It is understandable that the Tiger leader has difficulty in exposing himself to public glare since he has earned the wrath of many for his criminal acts. But there cannot be any reason why he cannot put his signature to a document agreeing to the resumption of talks. He can do it in the same way he signed the Ceasefire Agreement in February 2002 with the then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The international community that takes a keen interest in bringing peace to this land can intervene in this matter and exert pressure on the LTTE to accede to the government request.
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ThinKing
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23 Sep 2006 09:06:23 GMT Report for Abuse
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| Http://www.strategicforesight.com/ccinsrilanka/contents.htm |
SenaM
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23 Sep 2006 11:14:22 GMT Report for Abuse
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It comes of necessity ..
Here is the Vedic prescription for a stable society -
Precedence to be given to persons and professions should be as follows (provides for lasting stability) - 1) Brahmana (Law givers - those who commit themselves to Religion & Law) - 2) Khsatriya (Up-holders of Law & Order - Guardians: Rulers, Generals, Captains .. Soldiery) - 3) Vaishya (other Professions, including Merchants, Traders, Service Sector) - 4) Sudra (all those others who Serve & Support)
We have as Head of SL currently, a person with a legal background, but more importantly a courageous man fit to wear the laurel-leaf decorated Cap of a General. Earlier we had an apologist & trader .. and a half-baked philosophy student (from Sorbonne), in this same post. That is the essential difference between then, and now.
We must emerge triumphant from this encounter with the LTTE .. this will ensure that we become the next 'tiger economy' in South Asia - on track to follow the brilliant example of South Korea.
And where does budhism fit in to the picture ?
What the Budha taught will stand for all time ..
He denied a Creator God, or a God who grants absolution to those who commit crimes against fellow beings (this is perceived through our 'conscience', a unique faculty) - through the simple expedient of 'placing 'implicit trust and allegiance' in a GOD.
What he taught was, we continue to be re- born in 'Samsara' - and this will be percieved by those who can practise even a little detachment .. as contained within a bed-rock of pain and suffering. To escape from the 'samsaric travail', it is necessary to cultivate Charity, Good-will towards others - and to end this travail soonest, there is the choice of donning the robes of a monk - one who wishes to give-up on the 'passing glitter ' of a temporary life - and proceed on his way to become an 'arahat' .. and to extinction (Nirvana).
If we are to follow this budhic prescription - a genuinely committed budhist monk has no place in politics, or in the professions (earning salaries and other perks). A true budhist monk should be detached .. seeking his salvation with the highest possible commitment. Wisdom will dawn on such persons, and lay-folk, including rulers of the land will go to them - for guidance.
This is how it was in the past, and this is how it should be in the present. Some regulation is obviously needed .. if the Sangha-nayaka's will not address this situation, then their supporters must prevail on them to do so. Numbers must be reduced, and those who remain as budhist monks, encouraged to pursue their emancipation with dedication.
It is good to have clear distinction between the soldiery, and monks. Militant monks should dis-robe and join the soldiery, like-wise soldiers who do not have a calling for military-life, should also give-up the uniform, and return to lay-life - or if they have such calling, don the robes, and ardently pursue their higher emancipation.
Edited By - SenaM - 24 Sep 2006 11:14:13 GMT |
vinod
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23 Sep 2006 16:56:11 GMT Report for Abuse
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It would be interesting to know exactly who funds this organisation.
The SFG has taken part in the World Economic Forum at Davos, an annual gathering the world's corporate creme de la creme.
The SFG President, Sundeep Waslekar, is currently on the board of the International Centre for Democratic Transitions, a right-wing organisation based in Budapest. In June this year, President Bush praised the organisation in the same breath as he talked of Hungary's contribution to the illegal US occupation of Iraq.
The SFG Vice President and Executive Director, Ilmas Futehally received a visiting fellowship from the Henry L stimson Centre. This organisation is another undercover body for carrying out strategic thinking for the US Military Industrial Complex. It's Board includes representative of Lockheed-Martin and Boeing, two of the largest weapons suppliers to the US armed forces; a former chairman of TRW, another major arms supplier; two former assistant secretaries of state (the Boeing rep also happens to be a former undersecratary of state); a general and two retired diplomats.
It is in this light that these figures must be looked at. By the way, if we adopt the same methods of counting as SFG have done in respect of Sri lanka, the USA is far more militarised than we are. |
ajan
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25 Sep 2006 09:22:42 GMT Report for Abuse
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I thought about it and the study confirm this,
in my visit to SRilanka few months ago this is what i thought, and the study confirm this.
here is something for JVP supporters,
nicely tied brother is a racisit Chavinist,sister is a brother house runner.
[ Twist of fate for JVP leader Somawansa: Police raid sister's brothel
After accusing at a public meeting that the SLFP is engaged in the worlds oldest profession- the prostitution, by JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe, the Koswatta police raided a brothel alleged to have operated by his sister and presented before the Kaduwela court seven suspects including six women and the manager. The women were charged with engaging in prostitution and charges were also filed against the person who ran the brothel at Sinhapura, Battaramulla. The suspects were released on bail by acting Kaduwela magistrate Kaduruwana Gnanasiri and the Koswatta police said that the owner of the house, Somawansa Amarasinghe's sister had fled the scene and are looking for her.
Edited By - ajan - 25 Sep 2006 09:23:42 GMT |
Gaja
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25 Sep 2006 09:42:50 GMT Report for Abuse
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The international community that takes a keen interest in bringing peace to this land can intervene in this matter and exert pressure on the LTTE to accede to the government request.
Does the Editor consider him/herself as being part of that International Community? If yes, then the editor must start working towards peace instead of 'waiting' for handouts.
One avenue is to export military skills - especially those of the LTTE. If the government doesn't - LTTE is likely to do it on their own.
Gaja Lakshmi Paramasivam from Australia
Edited By - Gaja - 25 Sep 2006 09:44:15 GMT |
Respect
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25 Sep 2006 10:16:33 GMT Report for Abuse
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yeah you should sell the technology of suicide bombing to america , im pretty sure they will pay millions for that !
Go and export your AR**
Edited By - Respect - 25 Sep 2006 10:18:28 GMT |
Gaja
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25 Sep 2006 21:50:04 GMT Report for Abuse
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Respect,
yeah you should sell the technology of suicide bombing to america , im pretty sure they will pay millions for that !
Yes, they would if it is to kill their enemy.
gaja |
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