GUARDIAN sr a gece ae P.A.’s TWO-FRONT WAR — MERVYN DE SILVA THE JAFFNA SCENE — AMAL JAYASINGHE RAJIV TRIAL: A SUDDEN SETBACK — NIRUPAMA SUBRAMANIAN RAO’s GURU AND CONGRESS CULTURE — MARK NICHOLSON F : MANIPULATING THE POOR WORLD — FARISH NOOR PEACE: THE IMPORTANCE OF ACTIVE LISTENING — ANANDA WELIHENA WAR AGAINST WOMEN — MALINI KARKAL : WILL DAYTON ACCORD WORK? — DILIP SAMARASINGHE SRI LANKA: TRAVELLERS’ TALES — JEANNE THWAITESNow Available Second Enlarged Edition “SRI LANKA: THE DEVOLUTION DEBATE" ICES, 1996, 255p. Articles: Introduction by Regi Siriwardena Towards Effective Devolution, by G. L. Peiris Some Thoughts on the Devolution Package, by Lakshman Marasinghe * Devolution and Power Sharing, The Means to Peace and Development, by Bertram Bastiampillai * Devolution of Power, The Problems and Challenges by Neelan Tiruchelvam * Towards A Compromise Solution, by Sumanasiri Liyanage * Breakthrough in Sri Lanka, by 8. Guhan Control of State Land — The Devolution Debate, by Sunil Bastian * The Structure and Content of Education: Policy Choices and Problems of Implementation in the Context of Devolution Proposals, by Sasanka Perera Appendices: © President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s Address to the Nation, August 3, 1995 Text of Government's Devolution Proposals of August 3, 1995 Text of Government's Devolution Proposals of January 16, 1996 ¢ A Commentary on the Devolution Proposals of the Government January 16, 1996. by G. L. Peiris The Bandaranatke-Chelvanayakam Pact The Senanayake-Chelvanayakam Pact Annexure C Text of the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement of July 29, 1987 The Interim Report of the Mangala Moonesinghe Parliamentary Select Committee, 1992 Excerpts from Gamini Dissanayake's “Vision for the 21st Century" * Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution (1987) Price: Rs. 250 U.S. § 15.00 for SAARC countries (Airshipment) U.S. $20.00 for other countries (Airshipment) All orders to: ICES, 2 Kynsey Terrace, Colombo 8, Sri Lanka. Telephone 685085 /698048; Fax 696618NEWS BACKGROUND THE MULLAITIVU DEBACLE Mervyn de Silva Tee ne2atene, Miicry wars another 10 bilion rupees. Of course. Iie not just to roplaco the weapons thal the “Tigers” cared away as a just reward for ther cleverly plamed and boldly conducted raid on the heavily forttied Mulativu garrison. This years defence vote is 38 billion rupees, neatly 200 milion US dolars, But defence spending wil tise by another ten bition ‘rupees whon Pariamont passes a cup- plementary estimate, So the ‘war’ or tt Yyou prefer tha thirteen year ethnic conflict will cost the country at least 880 rrilion dollars on the defence esiablsrmert and the war effon, One imponant aim of P. A, strategy. and correctly so, was a steady reduction of the defence vote once a negotiated Settlement of the separatist conflict wes resolved. In tho jargon of the day, “the peace divicend’, a steady diop in defence spending. And now, farewell to the peace dividend. We shell have a New General to font General Inflation ‘The first casualty wil be the middle class. and most certainly the il-equipped lower Mudie class family. The trace unions will be mobilised. Most of the union leaders are P. A. sympathizers, if not active. supporters, The LS. S. P. and C. P. are membars of the eight-party ‘grand aflance’, and party stalwarts hold office, picked by President Chandrika. Kumaratunga_as ministars and. depuly ‘ministers. The defiant speeches of Mr. Vasudeva Nana- yakkara is the most glaring example of how ‘his can disrupt an’ ideologically {i-detined coalition. More serous is trad union unrest, tho C. E, B. “etiko" the first flare in the sky. WORSE, NOT BETTER President Jayawarcene's briliant Fin- ance Minister, Mr. Ronnio do Mel eid in a Sunday island kueriew that “he economy is. in a completa free fall. It will vituaty hit rock bottom soon, Vadmit that there has been a drought which i an act of God...but this drought was foreseen by the World. Melereoiogical ‘Organisation and other world organisa fons forecasting weather as long ago 5 Sept-Oct. last year. The C, EE. engineers clco wamed the goverrmant, ‘The President who holds the Finance portidio had made “wo Econaric Poicy Statements". Those statamants prepa- ted us for a budget deficit betwoon 5-6% of G, D. P. But tis year tha defict will be double that — 10% or more, Growth wil be 4% or less. The P. A. spoke of 6% inflaion. But aven the Colombo Consumer Price Index, not always realistic, shows 13%, once more double the P. A. calculation. 15% is a possibilty. Hotel groups are re-ocaling Maldives is a favourite choice, Gherkin Cultivation has moved to India, “Far from. FORTUNE 509 firms coming here, w2 Wil_be blessed by “the Misfortune’ comparies. On the southem tourist bet, all contiact and casual employees have boon retrenched. We will ba importing ‘500,000 tonnes of rice. The only "redee- ming feature” is the demand for tea and rubber from Russia, the C. |. S. countries, Turkey and some Arab counties. PROFIT DROP The first quarter drop_in. company profs: ‘Tho Merchant "Bank (172%) Beylan Bank (185%) Vank (64%) Aton Spence (70%) John’ Keele’ (22%) Heyloye (19%). But the worst nit seems to be the tourist hotel business, with Asian hotols Corporation, the. largest, a_masslve 232%, ‘Fiverna Holels by 68%. (The Intercontinental, Ramada and Oberoi belong to the Asan Hotels Comoraton), ‘Tha second quarter figuras. would bo more depressing, said the UNP's chief ‘spokesman on economic affair WAR AND PEACE In cther circumstances, it would be difficult to know what precisely Is going ‘onin the north-east, the main front, since the press must have all the copy “passed” by the Censor, And the censor could be quite tough... understandably, gon the circurrstances postMulaitivu Where Velupilal Praphakaran, the LT. TE. commandante, offeredto hand over '500 bodies, a clever psy-war gesiure, Iqbal Athas and Taraki of the Sunclay Times had CENSORED, CENSORED, CENSORED on their copy 30 test Ranifs.etique on. Multi had well ‘ever a 1,000 troops, Foreign racio stations, news agencies. INTERNET and CNN. make censorship: meaningless, “have not come here to tak of fosing ‘camp oF of losing a batte. | am asking this House to focus on the reality, the ‘colapse of our strategy in ne norm.and the eas”. By speaking of it as ‘cur strategy’ the Oppositon Leace: chose NOT to make it another UNP-PA battle In an extraordinarily well proparod speech, plainly a combined operation that included some miliary experts. the ‘Opposition loader asked that censorship bbelified, thatthe lessons of the Mulativy be. careilly stucied, the present "com. ‘mand. structure”. re-examined, re-hir king on the question of @ Joint Ons Command DONT POLITIGIZE THE WAR. We have put t diferently. The P. A, cannot fight two enemies on two frorts — the LT. T. & in the nortn, the U NP. in the south, GUARDIAN Val. 19 No.7 August 1, 1998 Price Rs. 10.00 Published fortnightly: by Lanka Guardian Publishing Co, u No. 246, Union Place Colombo - 2. Editor, Mervyn de’Siva Telephone: 447504 Printed by Ananda Press 82/5, Sir Ratnsjotti Saravanerrutis Mawatha, Colombo 13. Telephone: 435975 CONTENTS rats Long Feo Roth apy oat assasnaton 3 ‘Advan Lif of acs "od Ma “ Fore: The Norn in Nort Sat (0s Electors Realy Mean aeerany? ‘ LEmueaton fr Peace and Unity 8 pulaion Cento 1 (Drcanratsaon of Power 6 Corsi: Resation e The Garden of E08n 18Jaffna’s Long Road to Rebirth ‘Amal Jayasingho he_only thriving business Jafina is run ky elderly men filing ‘out compensation claims for war cama ge. Three men sit outside the bombed hospital in the town hobing the less iterate write petitons to quality. for governmant rohabiitation aid, Wih nea- fly. 80 per cent of homes damaged by years of war, there ie no shortage of Customers. Government. forces. drove out the ‘sepavalist: Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eslam (LTTE) after-a senes of military ‘oporations begun in October last year ‘and brought the entire Jaffna peninsula Undar-thair control in: May. The international Red Gross estimates ‘about 400,000 Tamil men, women and children forming about half the perinsu- las population have crossed rebel lines {and retumed home, exceeding the expe- ‘talons of the authoriles. Mr Somapala Gunacheera, Jaffna’s top rehabiltation oficial, said the priority was: to: restore: feod “supplies to the refugees who returned to afin and ensure their homes are repaired, “Food and shelter are the most impo- ‘ant things atthe moment” Mr Guna- dheera'told reporters here, “This is not @ nomal situation but we are. trying to get things back 10 normaly at the earioat” ‘Supplies are show to reach Jaina because the main land routes aro sill under Tiger control and the authorities have only a handful of ships to ferry food and other essentials from ihe capital, Colombo, 400km to the south Mr Gunacheera: sald. urgent recon- struction work inthe Jatfne peninsula, Was excepted to cost Astebn (£208m) and the government expected most of the money to comé from foreign doners, The Bitish government had offered 10 refurbish a diesel-nowered electricity gonoratng slation in. Jafina end had alveady sent two engineers to make a prolirinary study, Mr Gunachoora eid. President Chandrika Kumaratunae hes aid cho plans to. rebuild Jafina, former capital of Tami separalism in ine country, as a “peace cy” and called for intemational aid for the project. “The goverment has committed itself to the Poly of accelerated reconstruction of the seriously damaged infrastructure in tho aroa,” she said, Mr Mangala Samaraweora, telecom. munication minister, says rebuilding the Jatina telecommunicatons _natwors alone was octimatod to cost at loast ‘$200m and he hoped to get foreign ald for the work. The govemment 's clearly banking on the Jatina rehabiitation to it the flagging ‘econarry. The region has not contributed tothe country’s economy inthe five years undor rabol control Mr G. L. Peiris, justice minister, who is also deputy finance minister, told the Foreign Correspondents’ Association in Colombo that the budget deficit, which was 8.4 per cent of GDP last year, will be much highar this year because of Stepped up miltary action against the Tamil Tigers. ‘'The.main reason for the escalating expenditure is, of course, the war. For the year 1996 we had budgeted for a ‘sum of Rs3Sbri for miilary expendi- ture," he said. (ow the indication are that will be nowhere near sufficiant and we wil have to substantaly ineroaso the amount to be spent on the war..Never in our Country has so much been allocatod ‘or rmiltary purposes.” He said no amount of fiscal incentives ‘was enough to attract foreign investors while the Tamil Tigers were able to cary out terrorist attacks that destabilised the country. ‘Tho minister said it was” oxtromoly difficult 10 prepare next year's budget ‘and expacted econorric growth this year to be substantially lower than the 6.5 ‘per cent of last year. Almost ell private companies have reported disappointing rasuils i the fist ‘quater, compounding the probloms_of the tiny Colombo stock exctiange, which hhas been on a steady bear run for nearly two years RAJIV GANDHI ASSASSINATION. Embarrassing Acquittal Nirupama Subramanian Sessions Judge P. Lathshmena Reddy of the de: ‘Qnated TADA court in Visakhapatnam ‘ruled last fortnight that the indian Navy ‘andthe Coast guard had unlawfuly ‘intercepted and boarded MV Ahat — a suspected LTTE ship — three years ‘ago, t came as slap in the face of the Special investigation Team (SIT} probing Rajiv Ganchi's essassination. The order, Dy implication, also rebuked the Incian ° Government for iniarfering in the i affairs of another couniry. ternal The Government is likely to’ move the ‘Supreme Court against the ruling, ac- cording to a senior SIT official, “Though Weare yel to study it’. In its charge sheet, the SIT had accused tho porsons ‘onboard the Anatol ciminal conspiracy, carrying arms and explosives, causing ‘arror, preventing indian Navy personnel from boarding the vessels, dumping ‘explosives inlo the sea and setting the Ship on fire to destray avidence. ‘The thrust of detence counsel K.V. Ramamurthy was that the coast guard ‘and nav had:been Instnicted to Inter- ‘copt Ahat by Indian inteligence agencies which suspected Sadasivam Krishnaku- ‘mar aliae Kitty, atop leader of the LTTE, was on board. According to him.the Indian Government, fearing its excu- sion from Sri Lankan affairs, wanted to caich Kitty before he deliveres peace proposal made by seme European caun- ties to end the elhni stife in the island, But, he argued, Kittu was nat on board the ship (non of the three bodies recovered ‘rom the sea was identfiad ‘conclusively as tis) and the vessels and its crew had no links with the LTTE, "We wanted fo delink Kitu from the ship becuse we apprehended that the Government would justify is ections on ‘the protex that, as Kittu was a part of the top hierarchy of the LTTE, he had {to be examinad in connection wih some case in Ingia,” said Ramemurtiy. The ther important LTTE member aboard the Ahat was Kultisr, the dighi-hend man of LTTE arms procurar Kumaran Padma ravha, ales KP. Surprisingly, & was never the prosecution's case that any of the persons on the Ahat wes wanted by authortias in India ‘What actually happened to the Ahat (or Yahata, its real name) is not clear. On January 19, 1993, the vessel, spor ting the name Anat, was intercepted by CGS Vivek 440 nautical mies off the Indian coast, it was Joined by INS Kiran the next day, and the Indian’ ships ‘escorted io a point eight nautical miles ‘off Ennore, north of Madkas. There, on sanvary 16, the Indian Navy sent in reinforcements: INS Savithr, INS Mithun, two helicopters and a spacial assaut boat, SDBT 6. But belore the comma: ‘dos in the SDBT 56 could board the ‘hal, it exploded and went down. Ten persons on boa'd died and, according to the SIT, Kittu end Kuti were among them. The navy rescued nine survivors, inciuding the ship's master, V. Jaye: chardran. Reddy's order, which acquits all nine, pivots on the argument that CGS Vivek intereoptod the Ahat 220 rautcal miles ‘outside ts survetlance zone. There was tno evidence to chow that the chip had ‘any intention of entenng indan waters. Nor wae itongaged in hostile acts againet the country, the order sad. Conse- ‘quorily, the coast guard end the navy ad no right 10 forcibly escort It into Indian wate's, Tho judge also concluded Mt was Ne navel ships that had fired at Ahat first when it was anchored off ‘Madras, and that it was doubtful whether the occupants had cot off the oxplosion that sank Il Further, he said, the prosecution failed to establish concusi vely whether the ship was carrying arms, ut even assuming it was, this was not an offence in itself. The consignment was being taken to norhem Sri Lanka for a “pollical movement” and, at best, was an offence only under St Lankan law, he seid. However, Reddy's judgement has left several questions unaddressed, among them, whether the Govemment had prior knowledge of the ship's movements or ‘the composition of its crew and passen- ‘gers, a5 alleged by the defence cou- sel. The LTTE too had accused RAW ‘of mastarminding the operation in. order to kill Kit, As for Jayachandran end the eight members of the Aha! crow ‘currently in Viseknapainam Cantal Jail ‘awaiting deportation to Honduras, whore the ship is regjstered, the ruing coulont have been more welcome, Says Jays- ‘chandran: “The Indian legal system and the judges are not biased’ You ask me whether it's Spring Twish t was. Seventeen below freezing Waiting — 26 Letter From USK But February here is still harsh Winter And that blanket I brought from home Plus five College blankets aver it ‘Keeps this coid from seeping tnto sleep Its dismal dark, in the momings When at home I'm sure The dawns are gold flecked and warn, Snow, may be, ts fun No respite for us girls When snow balls come T took some real hard shots But gave it back as good All in a day's wore Outdoors inthe wintry sun. it gets dark quite carly and we are still at work Last evening we trudged a mountain side across wastes of snow Rescubry sheep from Snowdrifs ‘An ewe had given birth We tended her in tantern light And brought her back safe with child Only these mothers can keep their milk from freezing When we milk in this cold It freezes tn the can And we have to break it up. No Winter back at home But our own country cousins Are the lasses iho trudge our mountain sides Through mud and peiting rain Barefoot, without these coats and capes to brave the weather To bring the cows back home And the milk they coax with anxious fingers We see only at cosy tea time In.en elegant China bowl. U, KarunatilakeAdventurous Life of Rao’s ‘God Man’ Mark Nicholson he rag ahh robes and STi ee ee eats sell-slyled Indian guru to movie stars, tycoons, kings and sultans and, as of this week, co-accused in a Delhi ‘swindling trial with Mr P. V. Narasl- mha Rao, former prime minister, has for two decades read as fantastically as fiction, But today, as Chandraswami trai- pses dojoctedly botween Delhi's Tihar jail and a court where he faces ‘charges of defrauding a London-ba- sed businessman of $100,000, his tale is one of deciine and fall — a decline Indian commentators. see ‘as inextricably bound wih that of the Congress party Mr Rac led into ‘an historically poor electoral defeat in May. “His fall is emblematic of the decline of Congress, because men like him have always thrived in what you could call ‘Congress culture ‘says Mr Sunil Sethi, a newspaper ‘columnist and journalist who has 'ong charted the murky career of India's most flamboyant “god man’. His career began 47 years ago in an obscure north Indian village, from where the young and ambitious Mr Nemi Chand Jain plotted himself a course in his early teans which {ook him into Congress party poities In Andhra Pradesh, where Mr Rao was a siate polltical leader. His path reputedly took him wan- dering through the lowland Himala- yan forests in seatch of spiritual enlightenment before Mr Jain reeme- fged saffron-robed in the 1970s as Chandraswami,. soothsaying mystic and increasingly well plugge¢-in poll tical power broker. ‘The 1970s found Chandraswami cerisscrossing the globe, claiming to be the “spiritual brother® of Indira Gandhi, then prime minister, and associating with the fkes of Ms Elzabeth Taylor, the film star Mr ‘Adnan Kashoggi, the Saudi arms dealer, or the Sultan of Brunei Since the 1980s the Indian media began linking the bearded swarri, whoco baso is a throo-ctorey, pink martle ashram in Delhi, with a series of poltical and financial “scams”. But few mecia allegations stuck to Chandraswami. He was intially arrested in’ 1988 on charges. of defrauding Mr Lakhubhal Pathak, the London-based foods executive, who then alleged tho "god man" duped hhim into paying $100,000 to secure newsprint and paper contvacis, How- ever, Chandraswami wes released @ week later and investigations ‘dragged on until this May, when the swami and an assistant were finally arrested on the charges in Madias. It was during the hearing of the ease this week that Mr Pathal’s allegation of Mr Rao's involvement prompted Mr Prem Kumar, the presi- ing judge, to summon the former prime minister. If found guity, both men face jail terms of seven years, though lawyers say the case against Mr Rao many prove thin. But their joint appearance in ¢ Delhi court would embarrass Mr Rao and Congress, and give ammunition {to opposition pariles which ellege his jolvement in other: corruption ca- se, and strangthen those within tho party pressing to depose the 75- year-old leader. The flurry of cases stems in part from the increasing activism of the Supreme Court, which in January was the driving force behind bringing to prosecution a poltical bribes affair which had tain in the files of the Central Bureau of Investigation tor five years. Twenty-five senior polti- cians, including seven ex-Congress Ministers, have been charged in the affair. Three more politicians were charged very recently. In April, the Supreme Court dema- nded the CBI tarry no further investigations against Chandraswa- mi, and in March a 60-page public interest petition was field at the court alleging his complicity In a series ‘of scandals and currency violations. Citing evidence from tha "god man's” testimony to another commission examining the background 10 Rajiv Ganch’s assassination in 1990, the petition also stated Chandraswami hhad privileged and frequent access to Mr Rao — a “special relationship” Mr Rao denies. Mr Reo, meanwhile, is also under investigation by the CBI in a case alleging that four MPs from a minority arty recelved bribes in 1993 to vote for Congress ina tight confidence motion, Whether the CBI's greater free- dom and the Supreme Court's added zeal amount to a lasting cleansing of Indian poltics — which resumed recently in combative style with the opening of parliament — or merely a licence to proceed against those ow out of power, remains to be seen. ‘What is most unlikely to be seen, though, are Ghandraswamis greying locks and flowing robes on Mr Kashoggi’s yecht any time soonForce: The Norm in North-South Relations Farish A. Noor tis almost Impossible these ‘days to waich the news on television (oF read the newspapers and not be banaged ty tho incossant stream of Crivel that passes Itself as serious Poltical commentary on the state of world affaits. This is particulary true of the media in the Westem part of the word, which has of late been totally hijacked by that breed of intellectual mandarins whom Edward Said relers to as the ‘Cult of the Experts’ ‘Thoco ‘experis’ (and the term wit henceforth be used advsecly) have warned all of us that the world has, Is, and forever wil be, rendered vuinera- Ble to a host of magined torrors and lacsms that ae forever lurking around the comer, just boyond cur horizons of Imagination. We nave been wamed that tho Weston world wil be swalloed up DY an influx of non-We- stor rofugees whose hordes are mass- {ng together on the borders of Europe, ‘and of course, we are now familiar with that classic myth of isiamic fundamenia- lism’ which has spawned countess movies, novels and campaigns of popu: lar hysteria whenever the Westlets down, its guard To counter the dezeption and inaccu- racies of these pundits of doom and goom there were those who continues to seck the truth and idontily tho real, by going beyond stereotypes and ambl- uities. Today the wark of tho Information Project for Africa based in the United States of America stands as one of the few credible examples of honest and orsevering scholarship against a ns ‘overwhelming ide of propaganda ‘against the South and non-Westom world, Excessive Force: Power, Pallfcs and Population Controlis an example of such serious academic research that ought to be the norm in an ideal world, The work is subilled “An Essay on the Benevolent Superpower, Sustainable Development and Other Contemporary Myhs’, ard it delivers exactly what it promises. Fash Noor ie Dapuy Convener, JUST Chopter inet, “The work itself is the resi of @ joint etfer by a number of authors and researchers. Is alm is 10 provide quick land accessible information not oniy into the labyrinth of the Wastem technocrat's Uundemord, but also to give an insight Into the meniality that produces. such policies as the Structural Adjustment Programs promoted by the INF and the World Bankas wellas policies regarting Population Conta, Environmental Prote- clon, Refugee and Migrant policies, eto, = al of which affect the Thied Word in particular. “Tho beck is divided into twelve chap- ters and has at iis conclusion Wo ‘appendices which covers the OPTIONS ‘country by country report as well as an index of Policy Development Projects Caarfied out all over the Third World under the direction cf powerlul international bodies such as the UN, UNESCO, UNDP fic. under the drection of Westem ‘experts’ and technocrats dubbed 2s ‘bosses with visas’ Vihat the book effectively does on the Whole i ave us a general and compre- hensive overview of the politics and Praticas of intervention as they are Sartied out today. From Educational Exchange and Aid Programs to Policies regarding bith control and sustainable development, the researchers have luneaithed a number of hidden agendas ‘and presuppositions that have directed ‘hase programs which have bean worked out in research centros and social laboratories in the Wes! and then cartled ‘out on living specimens in the non- Western word. Proceeding on a step-by-step basis, the researchers have uncovered: tha many sublle and far reaching links that maka up the ‘seamless web of influence’ and has allowed the eliles of ine developed world to continue to mai their grig on the post-colonial world. One. by one some of the biggast myths thet have guided the thinking of Westem elites in their quast to retain a dominant held of four-ifths of the word's popuia- tion are lald bare, Foreign aid, for instance, is shown fo bo what it tly is: ‘a system enpicily Intended to create an ideological almo- sphere, to draw recipiont nations toward 4 particular set of belefs or alianments, ‘and to maintain lines of acces’ (Chapter 4). Rather than actually ty 10 help the recipient counties themselves, “develo- ment schemes were never inlended to produce set suficienty in recjpiont eco: norries at all, Dut rather t0 serve as instruments of bureaucratic survellance and econoinic contiof. This the authors have demonstrated by providing tho necessary figures and statsics which Point to tho number of students and technocrats being exctianged between Universes end reasarch centres in the developed world and the developng world. Tho pattern of intellectual deper- dency and intelectual staightjacketng is furor developed in other pars of ‘he book which considers the mechanics of creaing client slates, proxy leaders and encouraging intellectual handicaps ‘amengst the elles in the South thanks to the lopsided relation of power and knowledge between the richer and poor section of the globe Population control and the myth of ‘population explosion’ that threatens to engulf the world are also exoosed as the tools of intervention and control that they really are. In the chapter on ne poles of Population Contel Programe (Chapier 4), forinsiance, the researchers have argued that the roal reacons behind the fears of the ‘population expiosion’ ligs net in the foar of deploted resources ‘or camage 10 the global environment {all of which could be better managed iit were not for the unequal distroution ‘of powor and roscurces. between the richer and poorer halves of the world), but rather the fear on the partof Westem alias that the global domination of the ‘West over the rest wil come to an end it and when the powarful elites of th North can no longer disguise or sustal such an-unaqual balance of power between an increasingly small select minority of alites and an ever-growing global community which: are becoming Increasingly aware of the unjust. and comupt nature of this skewered New ‘World Order. Even more enlightening are the por- trails and. vignetios. of the Wester technoorais and polticians that litter ihe bool; from Maurice Stang, the budget : 6director of US President Essenhower's ‘abinet who thought that ‘many Aicens Stil belonged ‘in the trees’ (Chapter 3) to Allan Dules, head of US Central Inteligence who argued that Islam is a backward religion which ‘has a nalural ‘appeal to black Aficans’ (Chapter 3) by virus of ther own ‘backward’ and ‘supersitious' character and cuiture. Tho facist preconceptions and biases that contaminate the understanding which Underlies the polices inal tesa techno- rats from the metropolitan conties of the West comes to the surface s the researchers caretuly docurent and Fecord thei testinonies and interviews in racorcs thal have long been kept away from publi scrutry. Alin all, the'evidence drawn togathor by the Project's group of researchers have revealed that undatlying the poll. ies and programs of the dominant anc oWerful states and international bodies such as the UN, World Bank, IMF, UNESCO and others is a sot of assu- mpiicns and bele'S that fal far short Of their uriversal crecontials. By laying bare nol only the polics of international ‘Superpower interventin thal makes itself Under the guise of ‘benevolent aid’ but ‘aso the intemal poltics within those Insitutions thamseives that have ensu- fed that the new mandarins of the post-Cold War ordor are drawn exchisi- vely fram a stapie siock of like-minded technoorats and ellios who share an unswerving belet in outdated theories of racial diference and cultural superioii- ty of the North over the South, they have shown thet the misguided and ‘ikconceived proarans propasad by such oviedul interest groups from the North will remain forever worse than misguided altruism’ (Chapter 12). ‘The authors have conclided their iniroduction with the fellowing word This bock was prepared becauso its invesiga‘ors betieve that the peoples of ‘he Southern hemisphere have a right {0 information that has up until now been hela. mostly in secret by governments, and that they also have a right to. know What is being contemplated for them. And, above all, its intended to provide toa persons the background information they urgently need to play their rightful foie in the debate about the future of humanity: While “one Would -be ‘hard pressed indead to disagree with the sentiments being expressed, a word of caution needs to be introduced nonetheless, The cliche that ‘knowledge is power’ has been proven to bo petently untue by ‘now. Those IWving in the developing world have aways boon cbie to get to the ‘tut and to develop ther knowledge for themselves somohow, but without a corresponding increase in their powers to govern thomeolves and direct their wn lives. Sadly, knowledge is not power, nor ‘does knowiedge make one powerful for lis own sake. Theroin lies the cux of the problem, for knowledge without poltical will and struggle does not lead to emancipaton and development. The Fesearch work by the Information for ‘Attica Project has done much to inform ‘and educate those who have reed this ‘book, but the task ot poltical struggle remains an urgent ono. Perhaps in this egard, the most poignant lesson to be learrt from tho book is that there is stil ‘$0 much work 10 be done in the political arena to counter the Excessive Force Of the eltes of the West, Do Elections Really Mean Democracy? Pushkar In many parts of the world, says the writer, elections have lary regimes seeking democracies. And in many. for dictators and mi Eaters sr censored inoopa fable from democracy, ‘There is ply no other way we can have a demooratic government. The relevance of elections to democratic regimes Is thus taken for grantod, However, it may be Worthwhile to ask: how. much or how litle do elections reveel about the ‘nature and contant of a democratic regime? In this essay, we look at elections ‘across continents, going beyond india where elactions have: heen a regular feature of natonal politics in the five The witer Assistant Pofesser; Conte) for Lain Amertcan Stuses, Goa Univorshy, Inca. é gitimise ‘limited’, proved a handy weapon ‘controlled’ or.“protected’ formal democracies, checks and balances on elected leaders are so ineffectual that national politics appears more authoritarian than democratic. decades of independence, io argue that elections are also, as a cartoonist ul it, the ‘noise of democracy. The specific examples we take are from the Latin American region where for € period of at least two decades, from the 1960s to tho. 19805, military regi Mes put to an unceremonious end the Practice of elections, at least those that ‘eould be described as fres and fair ‘The ne point we must concede at the outset is that there is no substitute for elections — whether they represent ‘voice! or ‘noise! — and they must ‘necessarily be held to uphold demo- racy. Elections leglinise democratic ule, even if ‘thore be only a formal democracy or one that in the Latin ‘Amorican context has been labeled ‘electoral democracy’ ot ‘electoralsm. In several democracies of the so- called ‘developing world’, India inclu deg, the voter rules only at the time ‘hat elections ara hold. Once he hes done the nesdtul, that is, cast his vate, the’ elected leader goes about his business unmindful of those who elected him in the first place. Not surprisingly, a recent opinion poli found tespondents describing the work dena by their respective Members of Par lament as amounting to ‘nohiing’ (63%) or ‘very ttle? (17%). The ability of the elected leader 10 do ‘noting’or ‘ttle’ for his people is not new but (on is part, the politician argues that voters are too demanding, they expect miracles, which he is incapable of. If voters in ‘old’ and ‘consolidatect emocracies like India expect nothing short of ‘miracles’ from their elected roprasentatives, just as those in ‘now’ cemocracies in Lain America like Chile, Argentina and Brazil do, the reason lies in the growing impoveri- chmant of the masses. In-all these countries, a shift from import substiu- ting industrialisation poiicies of the past to the tonote of {roo market ideology has Imposed an enormous burden on the Dotiom half of society. Further, a freer flow of information has made people more aware (and less tolerant) of the misdeeds of their rulers. Braziians were quick to punish the ering Fernando Color de Mello on charges of corruption (he was forced to resign), Argentinas cid not take Kindy to President Carlos Menem’s pardon of military officers involved in human fights violations during the 1976-83 petiod when they were power, and in Chie, where the miftary stil evokes fear, justi is being sought for those who suffered at the hands of overzealous anti-Manxists. Democratic rule, whether in ‘consol deted’ or ‘new’ democracies, throws up the issue of justice in its meny facets to the poilical. leadership. In Latin America, cells for justice. are directed against lack of jobs, increasing socio-economic inequality, deteriora. ting social services (especially health and educalion), end in tiose countries which wore previously under miltary rule, al the men in: uniform who in the name of the father (mother) land, legiimised death and torture. In Inia, comuption of the political class has emerged as the single most important sue for jusiice-seekers’ along with deepening socio-economic inequality and equality before the laws of the tend. In this context, elections remain the single most important means by which people can seek justice. There is a growing awaraness that since elections legitimise formal democratic rule, the voter must also exiract his pound of flesh. Formal, since once elected, politcal leaders often go about functio- hing in a most undemocratic. manner. ‘Ayesha Jelel has recently argued that there is only a superficial difference in the manner in which polities ia India — a democracy since 1947 except forthe two years during the Emergency —and Pakistan — a country that has altemaled. between democracy and military cule umpteen times during the same poriod — is conducted. Jalal makes a sirong case of authortaria- ‘nism in Indian democracy and even though her term ‘Gemocratie authorita- rian’ is inappropriate for India, there is Ile doubt that, for example, reguarl- ty of elections, even if tree and fair, ‘say much about the ‘quality’ of como- racy. In many parts of the worlg, elections have proved a handy wespon for dictators and miltary regimes seeking to legitimise ‘imtted’, ‘controled’ or ‘protected’ democracies. True, no-con- tests whore oppesing parties and ‘groups are otten barred trom participa- n, provide only a shadow of legitima- ey but the fact also is that in many formal democracies, checks and bala- ‘Noes on elected leaders are so inetfe- tual that rational poltics eppears more authoritarian than democratic, (One may, therefore, argue in favour of looking al elections as merely providing @ showcase of democracy. In the so-called ‘democratic decade’ of the 1880s, when miitary regimes all over Latin America gave way to representative governments, elections were taken as a. crucial indicator pointing to a retumn to democracy. Of course, exaggerated views by some analysts suggested that. elections meant that all wes well with Latin ‘America, the first step "back to demo- ‘racy’ would automatically lead to steps two and three. Rumblings by the military in-Argentina, Chie and importantly, in Venezuela. (two failed ‘coups in 1982), a democracy for over thros docads, called for caution. eguler, free and fairelectiors would not only consolidate ‘electoral demo- ‘racy, everyone agroad, and also something more: but there is stil no agreement on what this something more must mean'— greater economic ‘equality, political freedom, ete — befo- re such ‘new’ democracies could be considered democracies in the sense ‘of Western ones. Mexico provides a good exemple of the limits of regular elections and formal democracy. For soven decades, the: ruling institutional Revolutionary Parry (PRI) pretended that the country was a democracy. Elections were held at regular six'year intervals (what the Mexicans call sexenic) and each time the PRI candidate retuned a £0-pus % of the popular vote (unil the 1988 elections, that is)! Realing undor a massive debt problem, the PRI ressied poliical iteralisation anc almost lost. Though the party remains in power after the troubled 1994" Presidential elections. — the costs a’e painfully visible. India has had fewer problems with its democracy. While regular elections fare a characteristic of political Ife, discontent with the quaity of governa- ee has the potential to spill out of ‘electoral options’ to naked opposition to the curious variant of democracy that the country practisas. The tespons to this possible tbreak- down’ has already come in the form of ‘cells for presidential rule, rule by a ‘national goverment’ — and in the extreme case, military rule. The logic is simple: if the “present fom of domeciacy thst has. s0 well: served tha interests of the elite class is under strain, devise enother form of covem- ment that preserves the stalus quo. Peace, stability and progress are the ‘eoncems of those in power, however jimited and defined, not those for whom. democracy merely means heading for ‘a voting booth every few years! = Thi War Network FealuresMainsteem. 7A Selection of the Finest International Brands. CHEESE DIAPERS BREAKFAST CEREALS ) Maxwell oir Huccies me oS DIAPERS Ho cofrte PRUNES FEC DENTAL CARE Ardmona pore ee nen PERSONAL CARE LURPAK BUTTER (xe) SOUPS AND PASTA rowato PRODUCTS TOBLERONE es MAMEE chocomaes INBIANT NOODLES Wena Mam caze BERRI @ Sole Agenis CANNED MEATS PURE FRUIT JUICE £833, Sifmavo Bandaranalke Mawatha, P.O. Box 1970, Colombo 14. To: §22871-2, 622880, 622632, 622934, 522186, 522373, Telex: 21418 Tasstea CE, 21991 Selpro CE, 23476 Solted CE, Cable: lasstea. Telefax: (941) 822919. Quality and Variety within your reach. = SS Availabicar all SupermavleetéEducation for Peace and Unity: Active Listening Ananda Welihena ‘ducation for peace -and unity js a felt-need in our county. It is requisite ‘or the successiul realization Cf the first peace (dovolution) proposal at the Peoples Aliance (PA) govern: ment prosenied in August 1998. Gil Fell, (see, 1988, ‘Peace’. In David Hicks, ed,, Education for Peace, London: Routledge) a Brlish peace educator has Underlined the signticance of skils that can be employed during peace negotiar tion and dialogue, She identifies ACT VE LISTENING as a single most mpor- ‘tant skil that can be cullivated and applied to promote peace. As she writes: “Auch of education concems itself with teaching ine arts of wilten and spoken communication, but in peace educa- tion the emphasis fs on listening, and communication is an active ho-way process” (Fell, G., 1968, 78) There are passive and aciive types of listening. The passve listening allows the Istener to play the role of a spectator, offen referred 10 by aducatonists as the ‘Jug and the mug exercise or what Paulo Freite calls the banking concept of ‘education: here the person observes and listens to the speaker and takes into the mind as f some liquid is poured into a receptacie, and that is it This type of listening does not possess the capacity for constructive, critical or creati- ve thinking. Active etening loads to creativity and originality. It is @ SKILL that can be practised and applied. Ono oan cultivate this skill constantly in day to day ite fo gain success. A person who has acquired the power of mindfulness and awarenoss can secure this skil without ‘much diffcuity. It is Important to note Gil Fol'e two characteristic foatures of acive Istening, She indicates the capacity to remain stening caretuly and mindiuly to a person or disputant without interruoting for some time, As she writes: + Fel Gil, (1988) Paco’ n Hicks, David Educa- on for Peace, London: Route to pay full attention to what the ‘ther person is saying, without asking ‘questions, passing comments or giving advica” (ibid., 78). Interruptions or interventons do not ‘occur haphazardly, but only whon tho speaker has finished and if and only if it is really necessary. This type of listening is dificut, and it is an art that deserves constant practce, Iis principal task is to construct a mental space into which the disputarts can send in ideas and thoughts. The listener welcomes. tem eagerty imo ths space without hesitation. ‘The second aspact o! active listening is, more significant. It is the capacity to feflact on what has been received and understood. It is as Gill Fell says: “Tne essence of what the speaker has said, both the gist of the content ‘and the feeing that lies beneath it” (bid). What is. important. is to acquire the ability to comprehend the emotive di- mension concealed beneath the verbal ‘symbais of the speaker or the disputant. Hloade to empathic understanding of the person's Inner feolngs. It is different from exiending sympathy to the other. ‘These two cardinal principles of active listening must be practised in order to interiovise them, especialy by applying them 10 cay-to-day-activites. It helps 10 ‘overcome or resolve conflicts that arise at diverse lavels, This practice snables the person to resove conflicts that occur between two disputing parties. But to gain this competence one must practise ‘always and everywhere. It can be done at three fundamental levels. The resutt ig that one can learn to resolve conilcts ‘and promoie peace and unity among people. The three levels that one can fpracise tha two principles of active listening are: 1) At the level of the person, 2) soclety, and 3) environment or the ecology. 4) At Personal Level Conflict is the reality, and it exists in ‘each and evaryone. It ls clearly evident at the level of a) thoughts, b) sensa- tions and ¢) breath. ) Thoughts: ‘Thoughis can be of two varetias. They can be either pleasant or psinful. Tha capacity to name and entity them is not oasy. Much training and practice aro Tequired and patience, diligence and persistence are indispeneable. How should one try and approach a painful of a pleasant though!? The following measures would be fruitful: First, one must gain the skill and opacity to racciva a pleasant or painful thougit. It fs important to be postive: ‘orto have an open mind. It is '0 create ‘a menial space in order to allow the thoughts to gain free entry. There should be hardly any pleasant or painful reac- tions towards these thoughts. One must observe these in-coming thoughis wih awareness and mindfuiness. Secondly, the art and skills must be ‘acquired t comprehend no? only the nature but also the functions of thace thoughts. it is important to identity their antecedenis or causes of the arising. The understanding of the nature. of thoughts would reveal their inconsiancy or imperranency (eimilar to that of a water bupble): they arise in order io pass. away. b) Sensations: ‘The approach to sensations is similar to thoughts: sensations are praderrinan- tty Dodily feelings of pain of hatred and pleasantness or craving. Mental space has to be provided for them so that they may gain entry. Resistance or reactions: towards them should not be alowed. When sensations are disiastatul Cr painful, one ie inclined to hate thom. When they are pleasant.one begins 10 ling to them tenacious. fone wants The wrter & a Lecturer in Pala! Science, Untversty of Peradeniya. 9to encounior those saneations, then one ‘must fellect on the behavioral patter Of these sensations and thoir impacte with awareness and mindiunass, The result is that one loars to be cordial and friendly with unpleasant feelings and careful ot mindful with the pleasant feelings because they are ceriain to ras away. The poreon can conclude that both types of sensations are really imperma- Rent of passing phenomena, ©) Breath: ‘One can leam to. observe. one’s mechanical or hatituel breathing habit atom witn awareness and mindfulness. The two above: perspectives: must be kept in mind: he/sne must be able to create a mental space for the brealh {o take place at ts own sweet will and then. to roflect on their nature and functions with awareness: how it enters and touches the nosiris and causing Sensations ot diverse types. All this must be mentally noted. The person then will ‘ee| Deacelu, calm and stil. With mantal ‘space provided for the entry breath and ‘he deperture breath, it is poscibie to be aware of the nature and function of the breathing: whether it is soft or hard, siow or fast, constant or ceasing. A resiless mind enables fast breathing and a calm mind produces soft, slow breathing, Awareness of the nature and function of breath becomes useful oslow ‘down the speedy breathing process. It can help overcome hasty decision ma- ing leading to conflicts, cespair and disappointment in life because when breathing is Siow the intensity of emo- tions are less. 2) Social Level: It is possible to evercome conflicts that aise at the level of social relations bby applying the above two principles of ‘acive listening. The word ‘social’ relers to the relationship between two or many human beings or goups. When nestle relatons caused by anger, hatred or jeelousy between two or mare persons exist, he or sho mus! be aware of the alure ard functions of this negatwity, The options availzble now are either to become Involved in this negativity and make it exacerbate or ty and resolve it without becoming victimised oy it. the intention: is to resolve tho. conflict then the frst task i to provide a mental space for thoso motions that ere Produced by the confict to enter freely ‘and secondly reflect on wha! woud really happen thereafter. IIs 10 welcome with 10, fan open mind without being afta or Nervous anything that is confictual or hateful. A person who has inficted pan on another, out of anger, i wil or hatred ‘encounters conflictual reialions which Ccotid be resolved by the art of odcorving the existing pain and hatred with mind- fulness and awareness. Thero is hardly any necessity for any negative reactions to emarge. All hat Is raquired Is to croato a mental space for the arising contict and welcoma the accompanying emo- fions. It fs to be in it but not of ft. The next strategy is to gradually refloct back on its nature and impact: how cid the ‘emotion arise? How long il lacted? Was it dffcult or easy? These measures would generate an ir-dopth underetar- dding of the confict and the person who, inficted. The result of this oxercice is that the imagined enerry will be conver tad lo a generous riond or a companion. One willot react mechanicaly; t means without mindfulness o* a second thought to the enemy's thought, wore ard d2ed, Allthis shows that one can listen actively to that which happens at tne level of the person's inner self when he or che is impacted by externally induced factors. 9). The Ecological Level: Every person has to live within an ecolocical. environment constructed oy man, Ho or cho encounters. proolems ‘and dificultes while iving in it. Peace ‘and reconeiiation are determined by the jecty to deal with them in a harro- rious manner. Noiss and polluton dis {urb the heathy, peaceful lite of men. Tho first human reaction egainst noise 's 10 Tesist or hale it: The reaction to pleasant wind or the sound consists in-cinging or craving for it One can come to grips wih these reallies by establishing. right relationship. These two principles of active listening can be Useful for this. exercise if they: are ‘correctly applied. The habitual palin of the mind will datast noise, How would it be possble to encounter this menace and overcome is negative impact? How is peace possible in this situation? How can @ person remain balanced when he/she experiences the impact o! noise, Its the ability to accept and live wit it without reacting hastly. It would be Much easier to listen to a bird's singing {and watch the leaves beng tossed by the wind rather than to aceapt and bo with something unpleasant or distasteful. Whatis to be dena is to provide a mental space for this experience and accept it without reaction and resistance, The Text step is to tellect deeply on its nature ‘and functions by leoking inwards: itis 10 take a mental note of tha impact and to think of the pessibilty of being free from it. It can be dona sy boing ‘eccommodative and fierdly. Peace can be gained by active liste ring at all these three levels. It proves ‘person with the capacity to relax and rest with the forces that are inimical to him. To live in pesce is to relax with ‘oneself, the fellow beings and ecological context arctind by praciising the Iwo Principles of active listening, Guru-Sishya Relationship The principles of active listening are Pracised when the Guru and the sishva Mest each othor, The integal develo- pinent of the sistya is caused by the interaction of these two. principles of facve listening. Onenial education and iulture are impariod through this process of learning. This is how the student acquires. a calm mind. The education for peace originatas trom tne relationship established by tho orintal guru-sishya tradition of leaming. Active istening propels the. sishya to be obedient :0 hisher Guru. The sisnya practices the piingiplos of active listening by Deing with hismer_guiu whicn is Responsive Listening. Tho guasrevecls his/her love ang invies the sisnya to share in it The sichya rospende to the gun's love by offering higher lovingness: The gus offers the sishya tho truth ard the sishya offers the guru in retum the understan- ding of that truth imparted to. im/er, Ave Estening is converted into respon- sive listening. There exist profound sharing between the two perscns, Ale- nation diseppearo-and itis replaced by a feeling of futiment Buddhist. and Hinds cultures have ‘maintained active and responsive listo- ting to gain new knowledge. The Hind tradition contains three interrelated di ‘mensions of leaming to gain peace. They, a 1. Sravanarn, 2 Mananam, 3. Nididhysanam, Stavanam moans ‘hat the aishya Istens carefully and actively to what is spoken; mananam means that he/she grasps the meaning of what was listened to and begins to reflect inteligently, Widiahyasanam means that he/she res: Ponds croatively to what was listenedto and understood. It Is here that active listoning is converted into rosponsive listening. Active listening Is now transia- ted into’ a sccial commitmont: it is to vransmit what has been leamed or experienced on a personel level tos wider community ‘The Budchst tradition has a mathod of learning which is equally impressive Ithas three interrelated phases: Tasmahi bho kichcha majjappahaya sunatha dharetha charatna dhamme, It means: “Leave aside, the devoted fone, all your assignments in order to listen, understand and reflect and ‘nally act with a changed paitern of Ife based on the Dahamma’, ‘The three phases of learning include: 4. Sunatha, 2, Dhareina, 2. Charatha, ‘Sunatha relaies to active listening to what was told and Dharetha means to Uundersiand and reflect in silence on what was listened to and Charaiha means to apply or preciise what was interiorised alter Stent rellection. Active listening to the guru finally ends wih responsive listening. ‘This traction of learning was practised by many saintly persons of the East especially in India. The best example is the Bucdha who teamed this techni ques from his contemoorary Hindu gu- ‘us, but he acted creatively and respon- ded by adding new ideas to the existing knowiedge. When those two principles have been cultvated at all levels in life it can assist in the resolution of conilicts betwoon two disputing patties. This lask can be executed if one is conversant with the three preceding levels of contlict resolu= tion which have bean discussed above. ‘There Is ancther benefit that erisés from tha practice of these two principles of active Fsiening. In olhet words, the significant contribution that this practice could offer is the avoidance of wo distinct strategies cf conflict resolutions. They are: 1) the judicial process 2) the mediatory process By avoiding these two strategies one can adopt another strategy of conflict resolution: direct negotiation which cant be more successful than the previous ‘wo strategies to resolve contcts. becau- 'e there ars two groups talking, nogotie- ‘ing and interacting with the hope of arriving at a coneoneus, 1) Judicial process ‘The judicial process involves a distin- guished personality who has the know ledge and expertise. He is familiar with the rules and regulations pertaining to ‘he conflict. But he is not involved in the conflict. He is the judge who fermula- tes the vercict after the competion of the judicial process. In this strategy the judge plays the role of ‘one man show’ for his is tho final word. This process 1s NOt useful for the resolution of soctal and poitical iesues for moro oftan thoy demand creatve and partopatory actions of the disoutants. 2) Mediatory process ‘The mediatony appioach Is often exer- cised in the context of a deep cleavage between the disputants: the pares conflict are incapable of seong one another face to face. The aloofness and the wals buit up are so deeply entrer= ched that a third part's assisiance has tobe sought 1o commence talking and arive et a viable solution. The involvement of India es 2 third: party in the ethnic contict of Sil Lanka, hhas not brought much success: The rola of the Indian Peace Keeping Force Is a clear example. The mediating party is likely to take advantage of the confl- cling sivalion for the enhancement of fal interest. The reconcliator or the meciator is on'y a channel of communi- cation between the dispulants. He/she conveys the perspectives and state- ments of the conlencing parties. But sometimes medators are impartial end just ond they do not intend to ollct advantages cut of a confict. It is advisable and proferable if the conten- ding patties coe around to resolve their vn issues through direct negotiation without depencing on a third party intervention, 3), The negotiatory process The other contrioution that-can ba, dotived from the practice of two prine= ples of active lsterinais the third strategy (of confict rosolution through inter-party Negotiation on a face to face basis. ‘Communication botween them is a two way process (not as in the case of 1ug and tho mug that turns to be a ronclo- ue). This strategy takes Into account the two principles of acive listoning that was discussed at lengihin the preceding paragraphs. ‘The first requirement is to creale a menial space for the other's thought, word and deed without reacting against them at first sight. The second is to Tefiect uoon thoughts, words and deeds (of tho other and understand their mea- ‘hing ang inner essence: the aist, content and feeling that lise beneath it (Hicks, 11988, 79) IRis truitfl to apply these two prirciolos of active Isiening to the on-going peace rocass between the goversment and all other peace ioving, democratic groups ‘and paries in tha couniry. The praciice ‘and application of tese two prircigles ‘can determina the success of tha nego- tiatory process and dialogue, The gove- mment is making every efor to rally round the opposition. United National Parly (UNP), the Tari parliamentary democratic partes, the remeiring snall ‘but radical Sinhala parties, the pressure ‘groups of trade unions, religious bodies ‘particularly the Buddhist monks and their inalitstons. All of ther have listened to the inner meanng of 1995 devolution proposals of te PA Goverment. All parties and groups must be praised for their courage and wilingness to enter Into a dialogue and negotiation process with the governmont. It is the first ime that the government had volunteered to ‘sand its negotiating toam of Sud Nelum ‘Movernent to every pert-of the island to convey the nood for peace and unity, through devolution of power. it manifests the good will of the goverment. to resolve the issue of war, and establish peace, stability and unity in tho country by sialing war, threat to sovereignty and secession. ‘The strategy of negotaiory process ‘would be successful only if these two principles are understood o interiorized at the level o! the masses. It canro! be guaranteed unless 2 steady gradual rearam of peace education launched ‘onan island-wide basis. The role of Sud Nelum (white Lotus) Movemant can be Of assisiance in this’ endeavour. There is a reason to be ontmistic: the voters have given a mandate to: the PA ‘government at the August pariamentary ‘and presidertial elections of 1934 10 establish peace and rot war, unity and ot secessionism, and stabilty and nol the violation of the sovereign power, In the words of French political philosopher Jacques Rousseau, the mandate of the poople constitutes the ‘General Wil!WOMEN Population Control: War Against Women Malini Karkal Contrary to popular perceptions, said the writer, population control in India has a detrimental effect on the health of women and the survival as well as intellectual and physical potential of their children, xcept for China, India_is the most populous country in the World, In 1952 it became the first country to introduce national femily planning At that point, the pro- gramme was instigated to improve matemal and infant heatth, but the objectives altered when the US Congress made population control mandatory for countries secking assisiance of any kind in the 1950s. India is also one of the exceptional countrias (along with Bangladesh, Bhutan Nepal and Pakisian) that have fewer woman than men. In largo part this is due to the shorter Ife expectancy of younger females; from. bir to five years, 111-gIns die for every 100 boys; from age five to 14, 122 girls dio per 100 boys: and from age 15 to 35, 130 females die per 100 males. Only females who ive through the hazards ‘of these 35 years can anticipate that their death rate will be less than that of age-matched men. India's maternal mortality rato is ‘amongst-the “highest in the: world and, tke its infant: morality, is comparable with the abject rates some African countries. Populationists claim that reduced fertiity rates would simuitancously reduce population and maternal and infant mortality. They have popular ed notions of contraceptive popula- tion control in India and tho majority The wife is fom the Forum for Women’s Healt 1h Mure, Bomtay, tna. 2 of other countries in the Asia-Pacific region, Central and South America and Africa, More recently, the dominant fun- ding agency of the populationist lobby, USAID (United States Ald for Intemational Development), spent $8 n conducting a National Family Health Survey (NFHS) in india, Bangladesh, the Philippines and Indonesia, The survey claims to roprosent 89% of the Indian: populetion, and, because of the extiavagant invest- ment and vast numbers involved, the accumulated data is further claimed to be the most relable to date. Yet, as the following figures ilustrate, population control is a crime against humanity, most specifically against women, but also. against their chilcren and partners. Sterilisation In India, where. mariage is early and universal, married women aged 18 10 49 were interviewed for the suvey and revealed that 46,9% of ‘women oF their husbands were using some form of contraception. Howe- ver, sterlisation was the most com- mon method, and was eight times mote prevalent in women than in men (27.3% compared with 8.5%). In contrast with the experience in other countries where temporary contraceptive methods are adopted prior to setting for permanent contra- ception via steriisation, the data also revealed that Indian couples genera- lly had no exnarience with temporary barrier or hormonal. contraceptives before they were sterilised, which in itso implios that sterilisation was @ coercive rather than. personal decision, The survey also found that 36.2% of women were under 25 years at the time of their sterlisation, and another 36.4% were between the ages of 25 and 29. Translating to three of every four wives being slerilsed before age 30, this indica- tos that the medical and. social problems associated vith storlisa- lion procedures such as tubal ligation and tubectomy are the almost exclu- sive burdon of younger women. ‘The median age, or the age by which at least 50% were sterilised, has fallen from 28 to 26 years during the past 10 years. This probably indicates that the population control programme has become increasingly oppressive over that time. In the initial years of family plan- ning in India, men had somewhat equally shared reproductive respon- sibiities with worien. However, the Survey showed that the burden of population control has increasingly been shouldered by women; asido from the smaller proporion of vase- ctomised men compared with tube- etomised women, only 7.1% of men were using condoms. In effect, Population control has reinforced Patiiarchy and _disproportionataly exposes woman to the hazards oftemporary contracepives such as intra-uterine devicos and @ variety of hormonal contraceptives, The survey noted that an aqual frequency, one in five, of vasectorn- sed men and women using tempora- ry contraceptives complained of one cor moro side effects. However, the survey excuded women who had discontinued using IUDs, depo-Provera and Norplant, ‘and it fs reasonable to conclude that tho incidence of complaints in this group would match the one-four Complaint rate of steriised women, By actively promoting problematic permanent and temporary contrace- pion, the population control lobby has exposed its war against people which, reinforced by patriarchy, mounts to a war against women Over decades, indeed centuries, reports consistently indicate that women want fewer children than they actually bear. The NFHS survey also found that women eged 13 to 29 wanted no more than two chidren, and those over 30 wanted only two to three children. importantly, neither group desired a large family. Interpreted by populationists as women’s unmet need for contrace- ption this idea has been applied to legitimise long-acting, hormonal con ‘racoptives, such as depo-Provera, Net-En, Norplant and antiertlty vaccines. All are provider-controlied and serve to further disempower women who have already admitted their powerlessness to bear tha exact number of children that meets thelr personal aspirations. In this context too, population control plays a major tole in bolstering cultural patriarchy 10 deny women control over both their body and their sexualty. Child Mortality Contraceptive acceptance rates ‘were 5% in women with no children, 20% in those wilh one child, 46% in those with two children and 60% jin those with three children. On average, women gave birth to 3.1 children, but afterinfant mortality was taken into account, the number fell to 2.6 per women, The suey failed to demonstrate that chid mortality was caused by high fertility. Infant and childhood mortality wes spread equaly be- tween women bearing one, two, three, or more children. ‘The survey also established the nutrifional status of the children undor five years, and found that '53.4% of the children were below Standard weight or wasted, 52% were below standard height stunted and 17.5% were severely malnour shed. The survey concluded, ‘these levels of undemutiion are among the highest in the world.” Importantly, the birth order of the chid made very litle difference to his or her growth lag, which clearly confirmed that family planning hed failed to solve the problem of malnou- rishment within the population. In India, where 85% of infants are breastfed, tho survey found that the proportion of mainourishment inerea- sed with age: one in five babies was malnourished within six months of birth, but botwoon six and 12 months, this figure rose to one in two, and Clearly teflected the poor health of the mother. India also reports the highest incidence of low bith weight babies, the proportion of mainourishment increased with age: ona in five babies was malnourished within six months of birth, but between six and 12 months, this figure rose to one in two, ahd clearly reflected the poor health of the mother. India. also reports the highest Incidence of low birth weight babies, the. proportion being one in three. According to World Health Organisa- tion guidelines, low bith weight babies, or babies weighing loss than 2600 grams at birth, have poor prospects for both survival and normal growth. Low birth weight babies also have dismal educational ‘and employment fulures because of their school drop-out tates and sub-optimal performance in labour activities. Contray to popular perceptions, this amounts to population control having a dotrimontal offect on tho intellectual and physical potential of the population. Marriage Age Obviously, the issue of child/gid brides lies at the heart of maternal and infant mortality, and as the survey noted, though marriage of Gils Under 18 years 6 unlawful in India, 20% of the interviewed women were mariad at age 13, 37% at age 15, and 68% by 18. ver recent years, the marriage ‘age of gis has increesed marginally, but only to the extent that 50% of tha women now aged 20 to 24 were married when aged 17.4. years, whereas those now aged 40 to 49 Were martied at age 15.5 years. In the climate of promature marria- ge, child bearing begins at a young ‘age. The survey noted that approx mately 28% of the women were mothers by 17, and another 23% by the age of 19. At the same time, due largely to the impact of steriisa- tion, child bearing ends by age 30. In the face of this data, and contray 10 populationist gospel, women are undesirous of large numbers of children and are perfectly capable of regulating thair ferlity accordingly. in spite of this, however, tne popula- tion contol that_has suppianted family planning has assured them of netther their own good health, nor theic chidren’s survival. — Thiel Wo Network Features/Greon Lett 413DECENTRALISATION OF POWER Germany, European Union and Relevance to Third World Cases Hartmut Elsenhans. Federalism and devolution promote consensus but require it also Foderalism is a_systam of sharing compatancas between a central gove- semen and nomally terionaly consi Glee govermments, tn a federal system, the different levels of oovernment are defined in a constitutional acl where both levels draw ther rights from the sove- fegn power whic makes the consttu- fion, In a democratic. sysien people andlor @ special constitutional body. Both levels, the federaton. and the slates which constitute the federation, therefore Consider to draw their power ‘rom the allegiance of the people, its totality or ertof i Whenever there is homogeneity Of citizenship. the necassty of a clear binding power of rulos makes federalism possible only on a teritoral bess. The Move of a member of the federation from one terftory to anothar makes him or her immediately member othe state he or she moves into. Whete tnere are divisions in the citizenry which are legally fecognised, a ‘ederal eystem can be based also on different parts of citzers according to ther special characteristics. in imperial Germany (1871-1914) ‘here was a olizenship of each stats which, at least in principle, would have allovied some ctizens of the ‘ederaton enjoying in thar siate spacial rights, for example with respect 10 volo or to the access to ihe ‘vil sevice of that-state. in multi-ethnic states, suchas Cyprus, the idoal of porscnal fodorelicm has been discussed, where mailers relevant 10 ‘only. some of them would have been atinbuted orly to the competences. of thelr bodies, for example mariage or Inheritance laws. Such models nave been discussed” with respect to. the foform of the Ausivian-Hungarian mona- fohy at the beginning of ths, century algo by Mankst parties. Even in counties wih @ claary uniform etizenship such 4s India, elements of personal federalism can be present as the right of diferent Taigious’ communities of that nation to administer thelr own personal laws. Federalism is a system which dopands ‘on all. component parts accepting mull ple alegances and avoiding 10 cons- fanty ty to change tha fundamental distibution of competences, It this is not , accepted, the different levels can easily block decision-making processes or pro- vyoke opponents to ua extra-coneitutio- ‘el or emergency dispositions inscibed in Me constitution which destroy the basic consensus which such a systom needs in. aupport. Especially no. level should attempt oF threaten to. attempt to destroy the previously agreed setting ‘and tty fo abolish the other or empty iis altdbuions. Obviously, such a balance is more stable if the component stato prooxist the federation The well established federal systems such as Canada, the United States, Brazil, South Akica, ‘Australia, Germany and Switzerland are ‘characterised by the fact that its com ent parts existed beiore the federation which they founded themselves on to basis of their own constituion-making Power. Tha exception, India, where Slates existed before the founcing o! the faderation, but where tho actually oxi- sling states are the resull ofa redrawing, ‘of Boundaires contiems this observation in two aspecie. In relation fo the contor, the Indian slales are weak, as shown the practca of president's tule through which the center cen take over the ‘goverment of any state with woak inhibitions, They draw their force, howe- ‘er, from their being basad in most cases (outside the Hindl-speaking core) on Teguise itera. which, guerentee the ‘edherence of the population of the state to its institutional prerogalives Docontralation lo character'sed by the devolution of competences of the legsaine or the executve. powers of the central state fo ragional or even lal bodies on the bess of a decision of the center, Devolston 1s based on a Pragmatcal assessment on how to orca Feo the legislaive end adrinisrave processes were obviously also ren Sentatives of local bodies. or minonty populations may be consulted, but where the bodies created at regional or local levels craw atvioutions rom an act of the center which is: revocable, perhaps ol completely ct wil, but at toast ocorcing to the assessinent of existing Goncitons through. a majorly et the Canter level, A guarantae against such revocation does not exist, whereas: in a ‘ederal system such cuaranies re ommally proviced By high barionsin the Conetituion againet any change in euch rules not only in. the form of special Mejores recured in the. cental parla: meni, But also in tha fom of honeceesity of consent by 8 guafed majorly of be Slates or even the right of secession ‘The process of “ornging back t Canacian onetiution from. the British patlament io @ Canadian body and tn acessily to. echieve for ths, pumose the consent of the province of Quabae ‘may-de quoted, In,Germany, the insitu- tions, at the federel level may. interfere in the disirbuton cf powers between the federation and the states wih consi tutional majorites in both houses, a houso of directly slocted represantatives ‘and a house of states, but the subsiance 1 federalism is protected by the consitu- tion, se that no majerity can. aboish the states and their ight of substantialy ariicipating in the poliical process ‘Neither federalism nor devolution can ‘exist as iong as pattiesto tha constituent people claim the night to divorce, Federa- lism ané devoluiion are projects and ‘airangemenis, which depend. on. their members abiding to coordination, com- proméco and solidarity. Federale and ‘also devolulicn are based on the idea ‘Of a sngle body poltic whatever dis- tinctions within this body poitic. Incipient forms of federalism can how- ‘ever be an instrument to allow humen ‘Gioups which have not yet developed Such 2 feeling of unity to develop it through the experienca that the cutco- mes achieved at the level of a feceralion are more satistactcry than the ones possible within the framework of their limited resources, Here, the experiment ‘of European Union can be mentioned as an inietestng and quite contradciory ‘example. In order to bring about such ‘result, other unifying forces are how= ever required because the power of a Stalistorganssation lo. increase the ayeilable resources is normally quite ‘estricled, so that zero-sum games deve- op at this level. Federal prncinias of oliical organisation can erable @ uni Cation of an cle-wise selously divided ogy politic, but they cannot create the Will to liing together. They have to be Dui on a consensus that living together should be made passble by puting fogelher rescurces which should be ‘managed togcthor and keeping separate What does not need being pul together. ‘They ave therefore based on the prince of subsidiarty, accoring to which any problem. chould be dealt with: at the owest possible level. of the hierarchy Of tha institutions. and be taken up by higher levels only ithe lowor lovels aro, manifestly unable to reach salisfactory ‘outcomes, elther according to thelr own Views or according to the views of that party on the body poiltic fromm which th ‘draw their legiimacy, normally the terite- fial unt to. which “autonomous powers, ate attibuied or dolegatad. (To bo Continued) 16CONFLICT RESOLUTION Dayton Agreement: No Peace in Bosnia Dilip S. Samarasinghe he twee year ong. conflict which had_been raging in. Bosria ‘was possibly the bloodiest confit to take pace in Europe since the Second World War. In November 1995, the _gove: mments of Serbia, Bosnia and Croatia signed. an agreement et Dayton, Ohio In which they agreed to cease hostities and play a role in rebulling Bosnia, But the most important aspect of the Dayton Agreement was that US gove- ‘ment put the fll weight ofits iplomatic and miliary might to restore peace in Boenia. For three yearo, the world had witnessed some of the worst aroctles commited in any postwar confit but ‘no acton had been taken 19 siop the bloodshed. Because of this belated response, there has been a lt of erticism of Dayton baing too lata, and eynics even attributed its timing to President Cinton's bid for Te-eleciion at the coming US Presidential elections. While. most Bosnians are happy to ‘See end enc to the fighting they consider the acton as long overdue. The Bosnian Mristor of Education summed up this View when he deplored that fact that “whon ‘someone kils a man, he ie put to prison: When he kis twenty, he is dedared’ mentally il. Whan he kils £20,000 he is invited to Geneva for Peace Negotiations. “tt can therefore ba said that the distrust generated by three years ‘Ol war stil, remains and that American mrltary power, in the form of the 60,000 ‘stong. implementation Force (-FOR) may not provide a longterm soliton. ‘The Serb Gambit To understand tha rationale behind Dayton, one has to look at the unfolding ‘of events in Bosnia: prior to the Agres- ‘ment. Buoyed by'a string of victories, the Bosnian Serbs chose to test the UNS resolve by dataining 200 UN troops ‘a3 hostages. They had earlier on seized antlery pleces and: one heavy mortar The wrier Is Senor iniristonal Relatons Executve, Air Lanka Lid: Visting. Lecture, Bantraake Cente or Inveratonal Studies. 16 which had been impounded by the bue helmets. They hopad: by this action to ‘ulfy an earler agreement which had forced tham to give up heavy weapons sed to shell Sarajevo, the Bosnian capital In response, the UN Special Represe- native for Bosnia, Yasushi Akashi allo- wed NATO to carry out air raids against tha Bosnian Sarbs. An alr strike against ‘ammunition dumps near the Bosnian ‘Serb stronahoid of Pale was carried out by 15 NATO jote to convince tho Karadzic government of the UN's re solve, The contlct excalated when the Sarbs began sheiling the so-called UN “Safe Zones” which resulted in the loss of 76 ives. NATO retaliated by launching a Second air strike against Pale. It'was at this stage that the Bosnian ‘Serbs took the radical decision to hold 200 UN peacekeepers as. hostages. Television screens around the world showed UN troops chained to various Installations to deter NATO air raids. UNPROFOR's woaknose was shown by this Serb acon, The intemational community, which feared further losing face was’ at this stage seriously considering pulling out ‘of Bosnia. Bnlain and France, which ‘contributed troops to UNPROFOR stated that they were to pull out of Bosria, Prosident Cinton even euggestod sending 25,000 US troops to cover a withdrawal of the UN forces in Bosria. But to pull out would indicate that the pressure taciics of the Serbs had suc- ‘oeded, s0-the NATO éllies exerrined Gifferent options. The altemate approach was the crea- ion of a Rapid Reaction Force. This wes a force of NATO troops who would protect UNPROFOR tops from any attacks, They would go about in vehicles which are not painted in white, like those of the UN, and have offensive equip- ment. in June 1995 60 Franch Foreign Legionnaires ware landed by helicopter ‘near Mount laman, overlooking Sarajevo. British and Dutch forces joined the Flapid reaction Force. They hadin theirarsanal armoured vohiclss and artillery, which boosted the UN a firepower but since their mandate was only to respond in case of a provocation, it was litle differant to that of UNPROFOR and had the seme problem of being only able to respond to the cat - and - mouse game played so effectively by the Serbs. Belgrade's Policy Change ‘An important factor which paved the way for the Dayton Pesce was the shit In policy of Serbia. At this stage, the Serbian president, Slobodan Milosevic afferad 10 use his good offices to bring the Bosnian Serbs to the negotiating lable, He promsed US officials thal within sic months he could heip bring peace fo Bosnia. While the US had long Considered Milosevic in a bad light anc blared him for the bloodshed. the Serbian leader's behind:the-scenes ass: Stance in tho rescue of a USAF pilot shot own in Bosnia helped improve relations with Washington. Furhermore, Milosevic was also annoyed that the reckless pdlcies of Fiadovan Karadzic, the Bosnian Serb leader ard his military ‘commander Gen Ratko Mladic, covlé drew Sortie into at unwanted confronta- tion win NATO, Miosevic also beleves that the taking of hasteges by his Bosrian brethren was casting all Serbs in @ negatvo. light. Milosovle wanted Seitia to be iniegtaled in post-Codar Europe. However, evan though Serbia hhad broken wih the Pale regime and Closed their border for rad, miftary inks between the Jugoslay National Army (INA) and the Bosnian Serb counter- pat romained strong. Mary Bosnian Serb offcars were seconcod from the Milosevic therefore had sirong levera- ge on the Bosnian Sorbe and could easly deliver teir compliance to any peace agrosment. But Micsevic's actions were not totaly altruistic but more determined by sell preservation. Seibia had suflered seve- fely under UN sanctions but was erjoy- ing_at the time a 75 dey suspension Of the sanctions. Milosevic was keen to see the suspension extended toreleve the debittating aconomic cond= tions in the country, Prior to the signing of the Dayton Agreement, # was estima ted that | milion Serbs vere unemployed ‘out of & work force of 23 milion. The country’s GNP per capita had dropped from § 2.330 in 1991 to $ 1,225 in 1999, It was also estimated that 2 milion ‘Serbs ut of @ population of 10 million lve balow the poverty line, This was the heavy economic price Serbia paid to support its Bosnian Serb brethren. Milosevic was therefore keen to see sattia raintegrated into Europe as well ‘as becoming economicaly stronger, He thus decided to support peace in Bosnia, which oifered him a passortto respect bility and recognition by the International ‘Community. ‘The Dayton Agreement ‘The wilinqness of Serbia to participate In US - sponsored peace talks on Bosnia was also shared by Croatia's President Franjo Tudiman and Bosnia’s. President Aljah zetbegovic. Talks were held at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base ‘near Dayton, Ohio. From the very beginning the US autho‘ities were keen that no extemal influence should jeopardize the talks, so tha partes were lsclated and the media was specitcaly kept out. In order to provont any contravarey, all throo Pros den's were provided with identical hou- sing on the base. The US wanted to show that they were all to be treated equally, ‘The pariies namely Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia could either communicale direclly with each. other or could do so through the US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke. If not, they could communicate by using the good ‘officas of Warron Chrisiophor, tho US Secretary of State. ‘Tho most significant factor was that the most important actors in the Bosnian Tragedy, the Pale Serbs, were kept out, The excise given was thal their leaders Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mlade were indcted as war criminals by the Hague Tritunal and therefore they would be represented by Serbia. This conve- nient arrangement encouraged Bosnia {0 participate without being slighted by the presence of the Karadzic regime. Tho discussion aimed to create a now Bosnia. It was decided that the country would be constituted by two entities, the Muslim-Croat Federation and the Repu- bika Srpska (Bosnian Serbs). Each ‘enfty would ba permitted extensive rights to foun links with Serta or with Croatia. Critics of Dayton see this as a recipe for partion since the Bosnian Serbs ‘would be automatically drawn to Belgra- de end the Bosnian Croats to Zagreb. But others say that under tne present ‘circumstances, Bosnia could not realist: cally expect to have @ strong central goverment. At bect it would have to be a loose federation with a weak central government. ‘The question of demarcation of the ordars of the two entities could also be a contentious issue. The Muslim Croat Fedaration would be awarded 51% Of Bosnia’s tenitory, while the Serbian enity wil gat 49%. it has been arcued thet iis legitimizes ethnic. cleansing sce many teronies held Dy tne Seros were acquired by force. Dayton also provides for a united Sarsjevo, whie the Bosnian Serbs wanied a divided ly like Berlin once was. They fear that Serbs would be persecuted when the Muslim led gove ‘ment reasserts its control aver the city ‘As soon as Dayton wes signed, a 60 day ceasefire cams into offoct which was followed by the signature of a Peace Treaty in Paris. Implementing the Dayton Agreement ‘The US was keen thal the implemenia- tion of tha Dayton Agreement was not hindered in any way by the “duel key’ system, the complicated mechanism where UN and NATO offciais had to ‘consult each other belore using force against @ troublesome party, unusally ‘te Serbs, In most casas the response Was too late, Afar Dayton, NATO was freed of the UN veto and could use force without having to consult anyone. The implementation of the Dayton Agreement wes also faciltsted by the fact that the balance of power. had radically shifted against the Serbian side. “The Bosnian Government bad been able to inflict some defeats ard ragain soma teritory from the overstretched Serbs. ‘More significantly, Croatia was able to, defeat and dismantle the Krejina Sere eniity which held one. third of the country’s territory, The fiuld miltary situa tion therefore encouraged all sides to examine a negoliated solution to the problem. Since Bosnian Serb held land now amounted: to 49% of Bosnia instead of 70% soma months earlier, Karadzc was willing instead to consider poace talks. But in spite of all these points, Dayton 's a last chance agreement imposed by. force on exhausted but stil unwiling parlos. It robes heaviy on US dplomatic and military pressure for suocess..tt is thateiore questionable whother the poa- ce wil hold once FOR withdraws, This use of coercion was apparent ‘when the US forced President Tucjman otto raice the quostion of East Slavonia, since this coud create tension with Serbia. So Croatia had to put aside its wish to see that break-away terliory relumed in order that the Dayton process. continued without problems, Similaity, izetbegovic was wemed not to contact me media because Bosnia could make poitical capital as. victim of aggression, For Dayton to succeed ‘no party could claim moral superiority over the other, at least while the talks want on. Milosevic too was lectured by US officials for not having: done anything ‘about the atrociies committed in Bosnia: ‘This was elated, but sill mattered. was therefore clear inat Dayton was not just an Amorican-brokered.peaco agreement, it was an American-imposed peace backed by the diplomatic nluence and militay migtt of the USA. L-FOR and the crestion of a new Bosnia ‘The lenatny trealy gave details of the Insitutions which would exist in the:new Bosnian State. There would be a Presi- daney, a Patliament and a. Judiciary. ‘Thanks to the Croats and Serbs, these institutions would be extremely wok. Both Croats and Serbs want to have Privileged links with Serbia and Croatia, which leaves the Musims in a weak position, all by themselves. But 'o meke this possible, the 60,000 strong NATO.led implomeniation Force (FOR) was sent. The largest compo- nent is the heavily-amed 20,000 strong US contingent. The role of FOR is to keep opposing. armies apart. These ‘would anyway be in zones of separation two. kilometres “epart form each other. Heavy artlory and tanks would-be piace in “Heavy wezpons exclusion zones". ‘On November 18 1995 the fist of these NATO troops were deployed In Bosria. They have began demarcating v7the land in the two consttuent entes, the Muslim Croat Federation with 51% of the land and Republika Srpska with 49%, Each enity will have’ its own Prosidont and logislaturo, ‘Al the same time FOR has to create confidence in the new Bosnia and in this respect has not aways been suc- ‘eessful. Many Serbs have left Sarajevo afiet setting fre to their homes, fearing Muslim backlash in the reunited capital Sinilarly the Muslim side also resent ‘the fact that Karadzic and Miadic, cons dered war oriminals, shoud co unpuni- ‘shed. Dayton does not endorse the Hague Tribunals indictent of the Bo- ‘nian: Serb leaders. The danger of a resumption of fgnting in Bosnie cannot be: ruled out nor the danger of Croatian attempt to recapture Enst Savonia. There is also the rick ‘that the Bosrian Serbs may seek to ‘occupy the Posovina’ Corridor which ‘would link the Serb-held tertiories, While HFOR's. 60,000 strength -may seem huge, the problems and disputes remain considerable, even for a force of that size. The main concem faced by |-FOR Would-be -1o help 3 millon displaced Persons who in many cases have n0 ‘Place to go. Often their homes have ‘been awarded by Dayton to tho athor side whic confimms that the treaty Is ‘an arrancamant between governments ‘and has litle. concem for individuals probiems. Conclusions The fact that the US, UK, Briain, France, Spain, ttaly, and Russa have all committed troops to implomont the Dayton Agreement shows that at las! the Western World is making an attempt to end a conflict which had a demorali- 2ng effect on a continent whare relative Peace had boon enjoyed for half 2 century. FFOR undoubtedly wil have to spend a long time in Bosnia but even when it finally leaves, the country is unlikely to be trancformod into a happy Balkan Version of Switzerland. It remains to see Whether, once force is removed, the warring factions would stick to he Dayton ‘Agreement or whether thay woulddecide to resume the fighting which for 3 years was screened onthe world's television ote and roculiod in the worst desiruciicn sullered by Europe snce the Second World War, ‘iolograpny (1) fis Aleksa — Tne Contesieg County: ‘Yuoostay Unity andthe Communist Revoli= tion 1910.50 (@) Sibor Lard Lito, A — The Death of ‘Yugoslavia (Penguin 1995). (9) Vutany, € — seasons in Hol (Simer ana Schuster, London 1994). (4) West, R — Tio and the Rice and Fall oF Yugoslavia, (New Yous: Cano and Graft ‘1905} (5) Several artes in the “Intemasional Herald ‘Trbune" “Le Nonds" Newswoek’ "Tims" “The Econernst The Garden Jeanne Thwaltes he “Gardan of - Eden’ is used over and over again as a metaphor for Cayion. The Island with lis slow pace, gentle ponulation and ‘exotic tropical vegetation must have appeared idylio, but the travelers talk of an Adam and Eve who’ lounged on verandahs eating mangoes while Served coconut drinks served by obse- quicus black servants. Naval surgeon William Ruschenberger (1835) quotes a frend who “declated he had naver ‘seen anything so Eden-tks, and felt himself nearer paradise than he had fever done before,” and his next words are, “We alighted at the mancion’ (64). In this Eden you didnt even sit under the trees eating mangoes — you sat in.a mansion. Wealthy. Clara Rogers (1803) had problems with the Eden-concept:: ‘1 said to. myself, “Can this be Ceyion? I think it must be heaven," but when the temperature risas: "good bye hea- veo’, says |. 1 must have mace.a mistake as 10 the locality” (247). 18 of Eden Mr and Mrs. Rogers wars traveling with two fiends, one of whom was Phosbe Hearst, mother cf the nowspa- er magnate Wiliam Randolph Hearst ‘whose eldest son was to become the Tost famous Hearst of all. It was he who built Hearst Castle in Califoria = literally hauling home paris oi European castles to do so, He lived there with is Lolita, actress Marian Davies, who was thirtoen when she became his mistress. ‘These affluent Americans are hila- riously dependent on their servants yal high-handed with them. Mr. Rogers hhas trouble dressing himself. He had hired two servants from Madras. but they had not arrived. So he could dress they hited two more only to have the first two from india. also. show up. Rogers is playfully overwhelmed. He ‘dacides to keep: "David who already looks upen mo as his father” 49). Davie's confirmation of the statement ig not available. Phoobe Hearst took two of the men and the fourth was dismissed as “useless.” The wages they paid were fity conts ($0.15) a day which did not Include board and lodging so their servants spt outside ths door of under a table in the corridor. Their employers found this very “queer” (253) but did not think to find them a bolter place, Rogers merely comments that no Japanese servant would have acted so subservient, Their memoirs give the feoling that the servants were as expendable as ciga- fette stubs. Playing with people the way, is of course stereotypical of the colonizare whom Mommi cays “refuso to consider: personal, private occ renoes in their servant's Ife; thet life ina specific sense does not intarast them, and their servant doss riot exist as an individual” (65). The only Ceylonese the Rogers show respoct for is a crow who comes in through their open Galle Face Hotel window and flies away with Mrs. Roger's jewelry case in its beak. She gets it back and is forced into a handsome tip by the Sinnalese boy who found it on the Green,‘The more open-minded “American ttavelers sought intellectual exchanges with educated Sinhalose or Dutch Burghers.” Conversations with Bud- dhist’ monks left particular impact. Lucian Swift Kirtland (1926) describes. his encounter: “a priest of the temple came up to see me, end immeciately — wilh’ a strange ‘absence of any barriers whatsoever — we fell into an absorbing convorsation” (336). In a witty extended Ceylon/Garden of Eden metephor Kirland contnues "Itis quite tue that almost never doos one hear of a European being bitten (by a serpent), but you must not understand that this comes about though any discrimination on the part of the reptk es" (838), Other remarks which snip al the English and oiher Europeans bound. Color Prejudices at Home When the Americans do not speak of the colonized Ceyionese as equels, one must remember that their country had 2 system of democracy which, for some ot its citizens, was as socially testictive as that imposed by Britain (on their colonies. The Sinhalese and Tamils could be expected to be seen as lesser by all but the most free-thin- king white-skinned Americans just be- cause of their skin color. Bul, when confronted with an Asian who was as welleducated and. opinionated as themselves most Americans were delighted. An exception is Philips Brooks (1883), inappropriately dubbed a “divine,” who sends home a snigge- fing poem: + Uniko tho English the Dutch eolorizere had ‘setled inthe country — that is id not relive in Hotand. Some marred Duich women, ctnats ‘marioe Sinhelese and Tamie. When Holland lan’ Ceylon to Encland to protect it fom a French takeover (Holand had been invaded by France) most Duteh stayed on In. tho Fofessons and govemmen acminstaive poste They adapled English as teirlanguoge. “The Ieand proved so lucrative. to Bain, however, matt was nover von Dact. Bosauco by now most Dutch famtico wore ‘of miced blood, the English didnot the artire ‘conmunty as equals ‘And the people ere cheerful and dirty ‘And dress in’ @ comical wey Asiride on the hips of their mothers ‘Aro black as a gentleman's hat” (182), When ho runs into an cld high-priost teaching @ class in @ temole, the nasty divine remains nasty: “he asked me ‘do you know anything about. me?. ‘and | was obliged 10 tell him that we had never heard of him before in all our lives . ha got down and toddled away” (184). Thus, each American reacts 2s an individual and there are no roal clues as to what causes one to dling to his prejudices and another to drop them. ‘An eatly visitor | have already mentio- ned, Mark Twan (Samuel. Clemens, 1896), is skiltu at showing the process of the change. He sets you up to be disappointed in his reaction by descri- bing the cuteross of the natives and their bright-colored body-revealing clo- thing, describes several tle Singhale- £8 girls wearing western school clo- thing and suddenly rises like an anory ‘cobra to strike, He abouttums and mourns at the subsequent loss of their beauty. It is the garments not the ‘wearers, he rages, that makes the litte irs suddenly udy ‘and he tums to fis own party: “looked at my women foll’s clothos, and was ashamed to be sean in the street wih them . “Then | looked at my own clothes, and was ashamned to be seen in the Street wih myself” (224), The account ends with Twain biting at Westen hypocrisy regarding clothing: ‘They are on us to expose us — to advertise that we wear them to ‘conceal. They are a sign; a sign of insincerity; a sign of suppressed vanity; a pretense that we despise gorgosus cclors and tho graces of harmony and form’... and when we step Into Ceylon we realize that we hhave not oven deceived ourselves. We do love brillant colors and graceful costumes;"" (224). Novelist, Frances Parkascn Keyes artived in 1926-and is amused when entertained by the Govemors wife Lady Gilford who, “wore a tong write veil flowing trom her hat," (823), then, like Twain, coolly nails har pint: ‘One of the mostamazing and regrettn- ble facts of modern history. 1s the arroganca and semi-contampt- with which the people of Europe and ‘America have long looked down upon Asians, as if her people wore interior, {as Iter place in the world's civilizae tlon and the world’s acklevement were Insignificant... (329) The United States v. The United Kingdom ‘The time span covered by Images of Sri Lanka wes one in which the US. was undergoing powedul positve changes. The saves were freed in 1865. Although they were stil discrim/- ated against, new efforts were made to protect the Blacks England was, however, gong in the opposite dirocton. Botwoon 1757 and 1890 Astis Nandy trom India tells Us, “Most Britons in India lived like Indians at home and. in the office, wore Indian dress, and observed Indian. customs and. religious practices..but there followed the flowering of the midcle- class Briish evangelical spirt which began to asoribe cultural meanings to British comination” (Nandy. 5/6). An Uglier side of colonization had begun, William Maxwoll Wood (1856), surgeon of the Fleet to the U.S. East Indian Squadron, was the only early writer to-sense such an atitude was dange- Tous and demoralizing to the colonials themselves — particularly to the chi- Idren. Wood was repelled by hotels and homes in which “whole men, physical, moral and intellectual,” (116) had nothing to-do but to make. him comfortable. He rented 2 bungalow where ha could mako his own rules {117), So whie the United States was trying to shake free of racial prejudices, Britain was taking thom up, Tho-two were never headed in exaclly the same direction. Images shows Americars racing to embrace change. ‘One euch traveler ls Rev. Moncure Daniel Conway (1883),..an_ ardant abolitionist and feminist in the mo- 19dom tradition. He chances on a fellow student. from. Cambridge — Judge Arunachalam — and is invited to dinner. The judge's seventeen-year old Wile speaks no. English but through ‘an interpreter pumps. Conway for Information on the freedom. accorded to wesiein woman. in contrast. with horsolt. As Conway tells her of women lawyers and doctors. He says, “hor colour went and came as she listened” (188). When a Buddhist tells him that Mela, the mother of Buddha, is often represented by a male figure es an honer, Conway responds, “I hopo the time might come when it wil be believed that a man, by exiracrdinary Virtues, might bs rewarded by beco- ming @ wornan, “(191), He meets a famous Pall scholar of whom he later ‘says: “the elevation and sweetness of Fis spirt excited my veneration, He was the Buddhist | had droamed of (191),.What matters any dogma, theo- logy, philosophy, uttered thousands of Years ago, compared with the fife that is quickering hearts today (198). One of the most important Amer- cans to vieit Coyion, wes Vietor He'ser (1915)-a physician who worked for the US. Pubic Health Service and who had neither religious scruples or colo- ‘lal rationalization. He Is pure Scientist and wanted oriy: ‘To open ‘the golden window of the East’ to the gospel of health, to lot in knowledge, 60 that the teeming railions who had no volce in dema- ‘nding what we consider inalienable fights should also benem by the discoveries of science (276). He came to protect the Sinhalese and Tamils workers who were dying by. the thousand from smallpox and hookworm. Heiser was extremely anta-

You might also like

• The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life

  

  From Everand

  The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life

  Mark Manson

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (5835)
• The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are

  

  From Everand

  The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are

  Brene Brown

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (1093)
• Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It

  

  From Everand

  Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It

  Chris Voss

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (852)
• • Magazines
  • Podcasts
  • Sheet music
• Principles: Life and Work

  

  From Everand

  Principles: Life and Work

  Ray Dalio

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (612)
• The Glass Castle: A Memoir

  

  From Everand

  The Glass Castle: A Memoir

  Jeannette Walls

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (1720)
• Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance

  

  From Everand

  Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance

  Angela Duckworth

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (590)
• Sing, Unburied, Sing: A Novel

  

  From Everand

  Sing, Unburied, Sing: A Novel

  Jesmyn Ward

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (1194)
• Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race

  

  From Everand

  Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race

  Margot Lee Shetterly

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (903)
• Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike

  

  From Everand

  Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike

  Phil Knight

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (541)
• The Perks of Being a Wallflower

  

  From Everand

  The Perks of Being a Wallflower

  Stephen Chbosky

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (2107)
• The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers

  

  From Everand

  The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers

  Ben Horowitz

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (350)
• Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future

  

  From Everand

  Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future

  Ashlee Vance

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (474)
• Bad Feminist: Essays

  

  From Everand

  Bad Feminist: Essays

  Roxane Gay

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (1029)
• The Outsider: A Novel

  

  From Everand

  The Outsider: A Novel

  Stephen King

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (1872)
• Her Body and Other Parties: Stories

  

  From Everand

  Her Body and Other Parties: Stories

  Carmen Maria Machado

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (824)
• The Sympathizer: A Novel (Pulitzer Prize for Fiction)

  

  From Everand

  The Sympathizer: A Novel (Pulitzer Prize for Fiction)

  Viet Thanh Nguyen

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (122)
• The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer

  

  From Everand

  The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer

  Siddhartha Mukherjee

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (271)
• Angela's Ashes: A Memoir

  

  From Everand

  Angela's Ashes: A Memoir

  Frank McCourt

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (443)
• Brooklyn: A Novel

  

  From Everand

  Brooklyn: A Novel

  Colm Tóibín

  Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

  3.5/5 (1948)
• The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living

  

  From Everand

  The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living

  Meik Wiking

  Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

  3.5/5 (405)
• Steve Jobs

  

  From Everand

  Steve Jobs

  Walter Isaacson

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (809)
• A Man Called Ove: A Novel

  

  From Everand

  A Man Called Ove: A Novel

  Fredrik Backman

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (4772)
• The World Is Flat 3.0: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century

  

  From Everand

  The World Is Flat 3.0: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century

  Thomas L. Friedman

  Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

  3.5/5 (2259)
• The Art of Racing in the Rain: A Novel

  

  From Everand

  The Art of Racing in the Rain: A Novel

  Garth Stein

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (4214)
• The Yellow House: A Memoir (2019 National Book Award Winner)

  

  From Everand

  The Yellow House: A Memoir (2019 National Book Award Winner)

  Sarah M. Broom

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (98)
• Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America

  

  From Everand

  Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America

  Gilbert King

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (266)
• A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

  

  From Everand

  A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

  Betty Smith

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (1930)
• A Heartbreaking Work Of Staggering Genius: A Memoir Based on a True Story

  

  From Everand

  A Heartbreaking Work Of Staggering Genius: A Memoir Based on a True Story

  Dave Eggers

  Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

  3.5/5 (231)
• Yes Please

  

  From Everand

  Yes Please

  Amy Poehler

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (1905)
• Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln

  

  From Everand

  Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln

  Doris Kearns Goodwin

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (234)
• The Woman in Cabin 10

  

  From Everand

  The Woman in Cabin 10

  Ruth Ware

  Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

  3.5/5 (2526)
• Wolf Hall: A Novel

  

  From Everand

  Wolf Hall: A Novel

  Hilary Mantel

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (3973)
• Fear: Trump in the White House

  

  From Everand

  Fear: Trump in the White House

  Bob Woodward

  Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

  3.5/5 (738)
• John Adams

  

  From Everand

  John Adams

  David McCullough

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (2410)
• On Fire: The (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal

  

  From Everand

  On Fire: The (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal

  Naomi Klein

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (74)
• The Light Between Oceans: A Novel

  

  From Everand

  The Light Between Oceans: A Novel

  M.L. Stedman

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (789)
• Manhattan Beach: A Novel

  

  From Everand

  Manhattan Beach: A Novel

  Jennifer Egan

  Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

  3.5/5 (880)
• The Constant Gardener: A Novel

  

  From Everand

  The Constant Gardener: A Novel

  John le Carré

  Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

  3.5/5 (104)
• The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America

  

  From Everand

  The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America

  George Packer

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (45)
• Rise of ISIS: A Threat We Can't Ignore

  

  From Everand

  Rise of ISIS: A Threat We Can't Ignore

  Jay Sekulow

  Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

  3.5/5 (137)
• Little Women

  

  From Everand

  Little Women

  Louisa May Alcott

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (105)
• December 1 1978

  

  Document28 pages

  December 1 1978

  Sri Lanka Guardian

  No ratings yet
• August 1 1978

  

  Document32 pages

  August 1 1978

  Sri Lanka Guardian

  No ratings yet
• September 15 1996

  

  Document28 pages

  September 15 1996

  Sri Lanka Guardian

  No ratings yet
• September 15 1995

  

  Document24 pages

  September 15 1995

  Sri Lanka Guardian

  No ratings yet
• November 15 1995

  

  Document24 pages

  November 15 1995

  Sri Lanka Guardian

  No ratings yet
• January 15 1995

  

  Document24 pages

  January 15 1995

  Sri Lanka Guardian

  No ratings yet
• November 15 1996

  

  Document28 pages

  November 15 1996

  Sri Lanka Guardian

  No ratings yet
• May 1 1996

  

  Document24 pages

  May 1 1996

  Sri Lanka Guardian

  No ratings yet
• February 15 1996

  

  Document24 pages

  February 15 1996

  Sri Lanka Guardian

  No ratings yet
• December 15 1996

  

  Document28 pages

  December 15 1996

  Sri Lanka Guardian

  No ratings yet
• December 1 1996

  

  Document28 pages

  December 1 1996

  Sri Lanka Guardian

  No ratings yet
• January 15 1997

  

  Document28 pages

  January 15 1997

  Sri Lanka Guardian

  No ratings yet
• February 15 1997

  

  Document28 pages

  February 15 1997

  Sri Lanka Guardian

  No ratings yet