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| Friday, 19 October 2001 |
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Read this poem, one out of a dozen poems given to five-year-old upper montessori children in a leading private school to learn. Ironically it is the only poem which the little ones have been asked to learn whatever it means. My Gun I have a little gun Imagine the mentality or the cultural background of the teacher who teaches these poems. No wonder that terrorism today is not an act of the underprivileged or the uneducated but, one financed, fostered and blessed by the very wealthy, very influential and the very educated. It spurs one to question whether the Government should have some control over the syllabus of schools outside the main stream of national education system. This happens in our country at a time when national history and literature is frowned at in the name of multi-culturalism. Tolerance and benevolence in child mind begins to spring first with child's love for the company of innocent animals. They begin to learn and love men and women only later in childhood. This poem for little lovely children shocks out one's wits. E. M. G. EDIRISINGHE The basis of terrorism is money laundering. The IMF estimates that global money laundering represents as much as 5 per cent of the world GDP. It is very easy for the terrorists to exploit the world's financial systems. Terrorist organisations usually raise money by setting up legal publications, collecting donations through charitable funds, trafficking in heroin, smuggling of human beings, organising cultural shows in European countries, gold smuggling, and extortion of money from expatriates. America has realized this only after the attack on the World Trade Center. Bush has said that money is the lifeblood of terrorist operations. USA, Britain, Switzerland and Germany are now freezing the accounts of suspected terrorists. Third World countries urge the West not to limit the fight against terrorism to enemies of the United States. Terrorism is an international problem and can be tackled by collectively. A large percentage of funds raised by the LTTE originates in Europe. It is true that a small percentage of their funds are raised from the uncleared areas in the North. But their funds are mainly from ransom, extortion from expatriates, organizing cultural shows in European countries, trafficking of heroin, legal publications, collection of donations, and smuggling of human beings. All this money is deposited in banks in Canada, Europe, USA and used periodically to purchase sophisticated weaponry for terrorist activities. Britain, America, Canada, Switzerland and Germany should now act to freeze the funds and block raising of funds as done by the LTTE and other terrorist organizations operating in Third World countries. United States has decided to use every legal means at their disposal to prevent further activities. Last week it gave the power to detain immigrants suspected of crimes, and to hold them indefinitely during an "emergency or other extraordinary circumstances". Authority to tap telephones, obtain voice-mail messages, monitor computers, and obtain credit-card information. To conduct deportation proceedings against suspect terrorists. The accused have no right to be informed of the evidence against him. Power to detain and possibly deport terrorist suspects with no evidentiary requirements. Power to detain immigrants on the vague charge of being a risk to national security. Many of the Third world countries may not have the necessary expertise to frame appropriate legislation to incorporate international conventions into domestic laws. United States should help Third World countries to drafting of such domestic laws. K. P. P. JAYATILAKA The front page picture of a school in Tissamaharama under four poles and ragged straw thatch (D.N. Sept. 28) indicates that there are many a village school in dire straits unable to put up brick building. In contrast the affluent schools in Colombo eternally raise 'building funds' by holding raffles, sponsored walks etc. but rarely spend the funds on extending the buildings and providing better accommodation to the students. In one of the leading girls schools in Colombo while building funds are being raised, some classes are held in open corridors. The students are exposed to the stench emanating from the nearby toilet. Besides, a swam of cats foraging for food through the class rooms in the corridor makes things worse. The school authorities should realise the need to keep the class rooms in hygienic atmosphere. Otherwise the lessons on environmental pollution etc will be lost on the students. C.R. A Reuter report from London, carried in the 'Daily News' of was revealing of the double standards, used by some of the Western countries. Mr. Blair stated that the Taliban regime and the Al Qaeda network it is accused of sheltering, as being too extreme to negotiate with. "Well what do you do with these people? You can't talk to them about it - you got to go and beat them, I am afraid." I wish Mr. Blair and some other western leaders would apply the same standards to the LTTE - as being too extreme to negotiate with. Instead, they preach to us that we should negotiate with them. D. COHOMBAN WICKREMA This refers to the news item with above caption (DN Oct. 11). I fully agree with the views expressed by your correspondent and would like to further enlighten the authorities on the illegal and unauthorised construction in this area. There are 2 or 3 restaurants that have been constructed virtually on the river bank. The authorities are well aware that construction are not allowed on river banks. It would be interesting to know how the local authorities gave the OK for these. At the rate the buildings are constructed in the Pinnawela river bank in a few more months these would not be any place even for the elephants to go and get into the water. C. ATUKORALA |
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