A national issue

Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka yesterday told the media the issue that has arisen due to the United Nations Special Rapporteur calling for an explanation from the Government on an allegation raised by former Army Comannder and Chief of Defence Staff General Sarath Fonseka has to be treated as one concerning the nation as a whole. It is not a personal issue, he said.

As the issue is national he requested the media to take it as one that goes beyond partisan politics. In fact, he requested every one including the media to unite to defend the nation from the threats that emanate from possible UN action.

He also said the Government is studying the UN communication seriously and would send its response thereafter.

The media has a great responsibility to give the public a factual report of the developments as they take place. What the country needs is to send a considered reply sans emotive outbursts. It should be both factual and restrained.

Sri Lanka is a responsible member of the United Nations. Its relations with it are multi-faceted. They range from cooperation in development to IDP rehabilitation and resettlement, food aid and many more. Sri Lanka also paticipates in many international projects of the UN including its peacekeeping operations.

What is urgent is not to be a party to soiling the existing cooperative relation. The objective is to prevent the world body from pursuing a vindictive probe on the conduct of the war that would damage the good name of the country and adversely affect its citizens and the Armed Forces.

It is na‹ve to believe that the issue would die down with the retired commander retracting what he told the newspaper or taking all responsibility upon himself. Even if he were to do so the issue would not end there.

As the Prime Minister very rightly pointed out the United Nations does not deal with individuals. It deals with states. It is the State that is answerable.

Public acrimony between contestants during the current election campaign could easily foul the atmosphere for principled handling of the issue. That is why extra caution should be taken in handling the issue, especially by the media.

Meanwhile, the Government will have to not only respond to the UN communication but also alert our friends in the international community and solicit their suport to meet any threats that may follow if the world body decides to take the issue further ahead.

The citizens must also know the source of the danger. They must know which states and organizations are lobbying the world body asking it to put Sri Lanka on the dock. They should also find out why they are behaving in that manner.

In this case, it would be beneficial for anyone to look into their past and see how they have behaved towards developing countries like Sri Lanka, especially towards those that follow policies that are not palatable to the Western powers.

Market economics

Markets are considered the ultima Thule of bourgeois economics. The market is a great leveller, everything would depend on supply and demand, they say.

They charge the Government with interference in the holy market, if it imposes price ceilings or limits market activity in any manner.

Right now many essential commodities including rice are in short supply in the market. It is not a case of a reduced supply but a result of hoarding. Unfortunately those that find fault with Government interference in the market are silent when the same market is being manipulated for profit or for political motives.

It is no secret that there exist trade mafias in the distribution of several commodities such as rice and sugar.

It is time these mafia are controlled in the public interest.

Purity of markets are not so important as satisfying the basic needs of the public.