It is a tragic contradiction that such a paradise can be home to individuals who care nothing for anyone or anything outside of their immediate family.
By Stewart Sloan
The views expressed are the author's own
Sri Lanka Guardian -- December 22, 2010 -- Sri Lanka, the tear-drop shaped jewel in the Indian Ocean, a paradise of warm sandy beaches, green lush mountains, sacred temples, a history going back thousands of years, and one of the most corrupt governments in the world.
It is a tragic contradiction that such a paradise can be home to individuals who care nothing for anyone or anything outside of their immediate family. An indication of the amount of the corruption might be gauged by the fact that Chandrika Bandaranaike spent more money on the curtains for her apartment in London than she earned in her entire presidency.
Anyone interested in the country and keeping abreast of the rampant corruption need to not spend months, weeks or even days in studying the local newspapers; the last 24 hours tells the interested reader all he or she might wish to know.
For example, a senior nursing officer who had been found guilty of financial fraud has been appointed as the head Nurse of a National Hospital. This is despite the fact that she had been found guilty of no less than seven charges of fraud, one of which was dropped later. In any normal society this person would have been dismissed and sent to jail in disgrace. According to the disciplinary inquiry report there is no recommendation of dismissal, she was merely "firmly advised not to engage in frauds in future".
In another case a top Government official assaulted the employees of a Night Club in Bambalapitiya Police Area and allegedly crashed into two police vehicles while escaping. Typically, as it happens in Sri Lanka, the Bambalapitiya Police has been unable to apprehend him due to undue influence from top government officials.
And yet the fun continues. In another case a Senior Inspector of Police, the Officer-in-Charge of the Nochchiyagama police, Crimes Investigations Unit, opened fire at an unlicensed restaurant because the noise from the establishment was making it difficult for his children to study. The newspaper article stated that the Inspector General of Police was aware of the case and had called for inquiries. In the meantime two questions beg answers. Why was the restaurant operating without a license and why, when the identity of the errant police officer is known, has he not been arrested for discharging his firearm in public and reckless endangerment?
And last but by no means least: university students were assaulted, stripped naked and chased through the streets during the past few days. Who did this dastardly deed? Neo-Nazi's, communist agitators, remnants of the LTTE, no, it was none other than Sri Lanka's very own Minister of Higher Education, S. B. Dissanayake. Will the students or their parents attempt to file reports at the nearest police stations? Would the reports even be accepted and if by some miracle they were, would any action be taken? I doubt it very much.
So, Dear Tourist, come, visit Sri Lanka today. But stay clear of the hospitals, nightclubs, unlicensed restaurants and universities. If nothing else it will be certainly be entertaining.
Stewart Sloan is the author of three novels and a collection of anecdotes about the Royal Hong Kong Police Force whom he served as a civilian from 1987 to 1997. He works as an editorial assistant for a regional human rights NGO in Hong Kong.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Hidden Agendas
Posted by Sri Lanka Guardian feature, Social, Stewart Sloan 7:31:00 AM
"The list of persons who have been disappeared goes on and on and there is no sign that it will ever come to an end. As long as the regime and the Rajapakses' consider themselves above the law they will use the law enforcement personnel for their own ends. And this will continue until they are overthrown." by Stewart Sloan
(October 26, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka Guardian) A weekend paper published an interview with Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe who is determined to prove that human rights NGOs have a hidden agenda to cause as much trouble for Sri Lanka as possible.
So, yes I confess, I did have a hidden agenda but I have now been encouraged to bring it out into the open. Do I want to overthrow the government of Mahinda Rajapakse? Well yes, I do, but it's a bit difficult when you live several thousand miles away and you do not even hold Sri Lankan citizenship. So what can I possibly hope to accomplish, after all, I am a private citizen, not an NGO with a hidden agenda, so, how can I complete the overthrow of the Rajapakse regime.
I might do it by garnering public opinion. For example, how many people outside of the regime actually have any respect for the king? If the truth were to be told, not very many! But then many Sri Lankans do not have the luxury of living outside of the country, and the reach of the king's bodyguards. They have the well-justified fear of ending up like Prageeth Eknaliagoda; simply disappearing. Or they might be thrown into jail for having had the temerity of running in opposition to the president in the elections.
One of the major problems facing the citizenry of the country is the almost total lack of credible investigations into human rights abuses at the hands of the police or military. The truly amazing thing about this is that the Rajapakses' know full well that everyone else knows full well that no credible investigations are carried out and they don't give a damn. They are truly above, not only the law of the land but also public opinion. Of course, on occasion they might make all the right noises about holding investigations, like for example in the case of the two WMCA workers that went missing after being 'arrested' by plain clothed police officers in broad daylight. President Rajapakse himself promised the parents that if no progress had been made after two weeks he would bring in Scotland Yard to carry out an independent investigation. No progress was made after two weeks and no one from Scotland Yard ever appeared. Perhaps the president did actually ask them to come but they were too busy.
Can President Rajapakse be so arrogant as to believe that the people of the country don't notice these things? Does he honestly think they are as stupid as that? Then of course there was the very sad case of Douglas Nimal, a police officer that threatened to expose the corruption in the police with regard to narcotics. Nimal and his wife were shot dead in broad daylight and once again, the investigation -- let us fool ourselves into thinking that there was actually an investigation -- failed to bring the killers to light. It does not take a Sherlock Holmes to realise that the only persons who might have found themselves in trouble from Nimal's disclosure were the police so any reasonable person would realise that they had a vested interest in ensuring that he did not talk to anyone.
The list of persons who have been disappeared goes on and on and there is no sign that it will ever come to an end. As long as the regime and the Rajapakses' consider themselves above the law they will use the law enforcement personnel for their own ends. And this will continue until they are overthrown. Hopefully this overthrow will be done by means of the vote long before it comes to the point where the people have had enough and resort to violence. Am I advocating the violent overthrow of the regime, no absolutely I am not. But the people of Sri Lanka must realise that it is time for them to stand up in public, point their fingers at the Rajapakses and say, "We have had enough!" It is time for them to demand credible investigations and the prosecution of those responsible. And if they were acting under orders what is the harm, article 35 of the Constitution gives immunity to the president. He is not the one who is going to get into trouble. But if this happens then the police officers who are hauled over the coals might think twice before following the politicised instructions of the regime. And their prosecutions will act as an example to their fellow officers who will then definitely think twice about following mindless instructions to harm their fellow citizens.
Now that I have disclosed my hidden agenda I will have to think of another. All this honesty is depressing me.
Stewart Sloan served as a civilian officer for seven years with the Special Branch of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force. In December 2001 he was awarded a Commanding Officer's Commendation for "Attention to duty of a high order displayed in the pursuit of an operation of major security importance." Stewart currently words as an Editorial Assistant for a human rights NGO based in Hong Kong.
"The list of persons who have been disappeared goes on and on and there is no sign that it will ever come to an end. As long as the regime and the Rajapakses' consider themselves above the law they will use the law enforcement personnel for their own ends. And this will continue until they are overthrown." by Stewart Sloan
(October 26, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka Guardian) A weekend paper published an interview with Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe who is determined to prove that human rights NGOs have a hidden agenda to cause as much trouble for Sri Lanka as possible.
So, yes I confess, I did have a hidden agenda but I have now been encouraged to bring it out into the open. Do I want to overthrow the government of Mahinda Rajapakse? Well yes, I do, but it's a bit difficult when you live several thousand miles away and you do not even hold Sri Lankan citizenship. So what can I possibly hope to accomplish, after all, I am a private citizen, not an NGO with a hidden agenda, so, how can I complete the overthrow of the Rajapakse regime.
I might do it by garnering public opinion. For example, how many people outside of the regime actually have any respect for the king? If the truth were to be told, not very many! But then many Sri Lankans do not have the luxury of living outside of the country, and the reach of the king's bodyguards. They have the well-justified fear of ending up like Prageeth Eknaliagoda; simply disappearing. Or they might be thrown into jail for having had the temerity of running in opposition to the president in the elections.
One of the major problems facing the citizenry of the country is the almost total lack of credible investigations into human rights abuses at the hands of the police or military. The truly amazing thing about this is that the Rajapakses' know full well that everyone else knows full well that no credible investigations are carried out and they don't give a damn. They are truly above, not only the law of the land but also public opinion. Of course, on occasion they might make all the right noises about holding investigations, like for example in the case of the two WMCA workers that went missing after being 'arrested' by plain clothed police officers in broad daylight. President Rajapakse himself promised the parents that if no progress had been made after two weeks he would bring in Scotland Yard to carry out an independent investigation. No progress was made after two weeks and no one from Scotland Yard ever appeared. Perhaps the president did actually ask them to come but they were too busy.
Can President Rajapakse be so arrogant as to believe that the people of the country don't notice these things? Does he honestly think they are as stupid as that? Then of course there was the very sad case of Douglas Nimal, a police officer that threatened to expose the corruption in the police with regard to narcotics. Nimal and his wife were shot dead in broad daylight and once again, the investigation -- let us fool ourselves into thinking that there was actually an investigation -- failed to bring the killers to light. It does not take a Sherlock Holmes to realise that the only persons who might have found themselves in trouble from Nimal's disclosure were the police so any reasonable person would realise that they had a vested interest in ensuring that he did not talk to anyone.
The list of persons who have been disappeared goes on and on and there is no sign that it will ever come to an end. As long as the regime and the Rajapakses' consider themselves above the law they will use the law enforcement personnel for their own ends. And this will continue until they are overthrown. Hopefully this overthrow will be done by means of the vote long before it comes to the point where the people have had enough and resort to violence. Am I advocating the violent overthrow of the regime, no absolutely I am not. But the people of Sri Lanka must realise that it is time for them to stand up in public, point their fingers at the Rajapakses and say, "We have had enough!" It is time for them to demand credible investigations and the prosecution of those responsible. And if they were acting under orders what is the harm, article 35 of the Constitution gives immunity to the president. He is not the one who is going to get into trouble. But if this happens then the police officers who are hauled over the coals might think twice before following the politicised instructions of the regime. And their prosecutions will act as an example to their fellow officers who will then definitely think twice about following mindless instructions to harm their fellow citizens.
Now that I have disclosed my hidden agenda I will have to think of another. All this honesty is depressing me.
Stewart Sloan served as a civilian officer for seven years with the Special Branch of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force. In December 2001 he was awarded a Commanding Officer's Commendation for "Attention to duty of a high order displayed in the pursuit of an operation of major security importance." Stewart currently words as an Editorial Assistant for a human rights NGO based in Hong Kong.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
…but only if you can pay
Stewart Sloan
(The Sunday Examiner, Hong Kong 12 September 2010) I visit once every two or three years, despite the fact that my late wife and I bought property and a house in Cebu City. On every visit I notice an improvement in the country’s infrastructure. The roads, the communications and the public services have all improved over the years since my first visit in 1983.
Unfortunately, this cannot be said for the country's health services to the needy, or even for those in the provinces who could afford them.
On my first visit, I was taken to my father-in-law’s farm in the hill provinces of Cebu; Bulak Dumanjug in those days was a village that ran less than half a mile along a dirt road. There were a general store and several small shops that sold daily-need items. There were no communications, and transport to and from the village was by a jeepney that did two trips a day – when its wheels did not fall off!
There were no health services apart from the so-called witch doctors, who diagnosed every illness as having been caused by a spirit. For a few pesos they were willing to bless a candle, the burning of which would drive the evil out.
On the evening of my first day, relatives carried in a young man who had a cyst on his hip and asked me to help him. The cyst was by this time the size of a tennis ball. Although I was not medically trained at that time – I later went on to become a first aid instructor – I could see that hot compresses could reduce the swelling until the puss was extracted.
If there had been no doctors for miles around I might have been willing to at least try something. However, even today I would not be willing to risk a person’s life in the knowledge that there was, in fact, a doctor in the vicinity. "Why didn't you call him," I asked? The answer, even today, leaves a sour taste in my mouth. The doctor would not come, as the patient had no money to pay him.
"I will pay him," I said, still unable to come to terms with the fact that a medically trained physician, who had taken the Hippocratic oath, refused to treat a person because he could not afford to pay him. "I will pay him," I said, but I had no intention of speaking with him or even acknowledging his existence.
In a short while the doctor arrived. He was a young man who carried his equipment and medicines in a black leather bag. When he arrived, the first thing he did was to take his fees and only after that he looked at the patient.
It was a quick operation; an incision to drain the puss, suturing, bandaging and a few pills to ease the pain. The patient healed quickly and within a week was back on his feet. What is terribly sad is the fact that even today, despite all the roads, electricity and televisions, there are still scant medical services available in the hill provinces of the Philippines, and the few available demand payment first.
On a later visit, my wife and I went to the only hospital in the seaside town of Barili, a beautiful little town that has retained a great deal of its Spanish influence. The hospital is on the outskirts of the town. The person we went to visit suffered from diabetes and the disease had caused gangrene in his leg, which had to be amputated.
By the time we visited he had recovered from the operation and was sitting up quite cheerfully in bed. He was grateful for our visit and we spoke for some time. During the discussion a nurse came in to give him his antibiotics and it was then that the patient’s wife unlocked the cabinet beside the bed and withdrew the medicine for the nurse. The nurse administered the injection and returned the unused portion to the wife, who locked it up and went away.
When I asked why the medicine was locked up in the cabinet, the wife explained that patients had to supply their own medication. ""Isn't it supplied by the hospital," I asked? "It could be," came the answer. "But the quality and supply is unreliable and so it is better to personally get it if one can afford it."
This is the state of healthcare in a country where the rich and famous, who travel in chauffeur-driven cars, accompanied by minders and government officials of the health department travel overseas to conferences in which they seek international aid for their health schemes.
It is almost 26 years since my first visit to Bulak Dumanjug. The road is slightly better, with fewer potholes, and villages have electricity by which to watch television. But there are still no medical facilities, no doctors and no clinics. Yes, the jeepneys run more frequently and can transport a sick person to Dumanjug, the nearest town, or the hospital in Barili – but only if you have the money.
--
(Stewart Sloan works for the Asian Human Rights Commission. He is the author of three works of fiction based in Hong Kong, where he has lived all his life, and a collection of anecdotes about the Royal Hong Kong Police Force, whom he served as a civilian for 11 years. He was married to the late Quirina, who was born in Cebu).
This article was first published in UPI Asia under the title, The cost of ill health in the Philippines.
(The Sunday Examiner, Hong Kong 12 September 2010) I visit once every two or three years, despite the fact that my late wife and I bought property and a house in Cebu City. On every visit I notice an improvement in the country’s infrastructure. The roads, the communications and the public services have all improved over the years since my first visit in 1983.
Unfortunately, this cannot be said for the country's health services to the needy, or even for those in the provinces who could afford them.
On my first visit, I was taken to my father-in-law’s farm in the hill provinces of Cebu; Bulak Dumanjug in those days was a village that ran less than half a mile along a dirt road. There were a general store and several small shops that sold daily-need items. There were no communications, and transport to and from the village was by a jeepney that did two trips a day – when its wheels did not fall off!
There were no health services apart from the so-called witch doctors, who diagnosed every illness as having been caused by a spirit. For a few pesos they were willing to bless a candle, the burning of which would drive the evil out.
On the evening of my first day, relatives carried in a young man who had a cyst on his hip and asked me to help him. The cyst was by this time the size of a tennis ball. Although I was not medically trained at that time – I later went on to become a first aid instructor – I could see that hot compresses could reduce the swelling until the puss was extracted.
If there had been no doctors for miles around I might have been willing to at least try something. However, even today I would not be willing to risk a person’s life in the knowledge that there was, in fact, a doctor in the vicinity. "Why didn't you call him," I asked? The answer, even today, leaves a sour taste in my mouth. The doctor would not come, as the patient had no money to pay him.
"I will pay him," I said, still unable to come to terms with the fact that a medically trained physician, who had taken the Hippocratic oath, refused to treat a person because he could not afford to pay him. "I will pay him," I said, but I had no intention of speaking with him or even acknowledging his existence.
In a short while the doctor arrived. He was a young man who carried his equipment and medicines in a black leather bag. When he arrived, the first thing he did was to take his fees and only after that he looked at the patient.
It was a quick operation; an incision to drain the puss, suturing, bandaging and a few pills to ease the pain. The patient healed quickly and within a week was back on his feet. What is terribly sad is the fact that even today, despite all the roads, electricity and televisions, there are still scant medical services available in the hill provinces of the Philippines, and the few available demand payment first.
On a later visit, my wife and I went to the only hospital in the seaside town of Barili, a beautiful little town that has retained a great deal of its Spanish influence. The hospital is on the outskirts of the town. The person we went to visit suffered from diabetes and the disease had caused gangrene in his leg, which had to be amputated.
By the time we visited he had recovered from the operation and was sitting up quite cheerfully in bed. He was grateful for our visit and we spoke for some time. During the discussion a nurse came in to give him his antibiotics and it was then that the patient’s wife unlocked the cabinet beside the bed and withdrew the medicine for the nurse. The nurse administered the injection and returned the unused portion to the wife, who locked it up and went away.
When I asked why the medicine was locked up in the cabinet, the wife explained that patients had to supply their own medication. ""Isn't it supplied by the hospital," I asked? "It could be," came the answer. "But the quality and supply is unreliable and so it is better to personally get it if one can afford it."
This is the state of healthcare in a country where the rich and famous, who travel in chauffeur-driven cars, accompanied by minders and government officials of the health department travel overseas to conferences in which they seek international aid for their health schemes.
It is almost 26 years since my first visit to Bulak Dumanjug. The road is slightly better, with fewer potholes, and villages have electricity by which to watch television. But there are still no medical facilities, no doctors and no clinics. Yes, the jeepneys run more frequently and can transport a sick person to Dumanjug, the nearest town, or the hospital in Barili – but only if you have the money.
--
(Stewart Sloan works for the Asian Human Rights Commission. He is the author of three works of fiction based in Hong Kong, where he has lived all his life, and a collection of anecdotes about the Royal Hong Kong Police Force, whom he served as a civilian for 11 years. He was married to the late Quirina, who was born in Cebu).
This article was first published in UPI Asia under the title, The cost of ill health in the Philippines.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Fonseka sleeps in a cell, KP in a velvet cage
I have just received information from the Sri Lanka Guardian that as of 2:30 pm Hong Kong time, less than 24 hours after this article was uploaded it has been viewed by over 1,000 readers.
Stewart Sloan
(The opinions expressed at the author's own)
Published in the Sri Lanka Guardian, October 7, 2010
So how does the Rajapakse regime reconcile their treatment of former LTTE cadres who fought for the overthrow of the government of Sri Lanka with that of the General who fought, and suffered terrible injuries, to rescue it from their clutches? Now bereft of his medals and his military pension, his future is bleak, even if he were to be released tomorrow.
In a rare gesture of compassion the Rajapakse regime has announced the release of a group of Tamil Tiger rebels after only 16 months of government detention. Can we hope for a similar gesture for Sarath Fonseka?
Do not misunderstand me, I have written adverse comments about what I consider to be the 'two faces' of the General in these columns in the past and I have not changed my mind. The General announced to the world that he would be happy to testify before the UN on the atrocities committed by the Sri Lankan armed forces in the closing days of the war with the LTTE, only to announce a few days later that, yes, he would testify, but only to clear the good name of the Sri Lanka Army. This I considered to be a terrible 'about-face' and not worthy of a man capable of defeating the might of the LTTE and standing up to the Rajapakse regime.
However, there are extremely serious discrepancies in the way that former LTTE cadres are being treated in comparison with the General.
Take the situation of Daya Master, the former media officer and the official translator George Master who surrendered to the Sri Lanka Army during the last days of the war and who were released after only a few months by the Magistrate's Court of Colombo. They now live in comfortable circumstances as opposed to the General, who, it is reported, sleeps on the concrete floor of his cell.
Kumaran Pathmanadan, internationally known as KP, was the chief procurer of arms for the LTTE. He was widely believed to have been the mastermind behind the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi and upon the death, under suspicious circumstances, of the LTTE leader, Prabakaran, an announcement made by the LTTE's Executive Committee declaring him to be their newly appointed leader. He was arrested on August 5, 2009 but continues to live the life of Riley. Although officially in the custody of the Sri Lanka Army he lives in luxury and is in frequent communication with the outside world from the confines of his velvet cage.
So how does the Rajapakse regime reconcile their treatment of former LTTE cadres who fought for the overthrow of the government of Sri Lanka with that of the General who fought, and suffered terrible injuries, to rescue it from their clutches? Now bereft of his medals and his military pension, his future is bleak, even if he were to be released tomorrow.
Sadly this is just another piece of evidence that reveals how the regime is manipulating the justice system of Sri Lanka for their own ends. We must wonder what promises were made by the Masters and KP to avoid having to sleep on the floor of a concrete cell.
Stewart Sloan served as a civilian officer for seven years with the Special Branch of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force. In December 2001 he was awarded a Commanding Officer's Commendation for "Attention to duty of a high order displayed in the pursuit of an operation of major security importance." Stewart currently words as an Editorial Assistant for a human rights NGO based in Hong Kong.
Stewart Sloan
(The opinions expressed at the author's own)
Published in the Sri Lanka Guardian, October 7, 2010
So how does the Rajapakse regime reconcile their treatment of former LTTE cadres who fought for the overthrow of the government of Sri Lanka with that of the General who fought, and suffered terrible injuries, to rescue it from their clutches? Now bereft of his medals and his military pension, his future is bleak, even if he were to be released tomorrow.
In a rare gesture of compassion the Rajapakse regime has announced the release of a group of Tamil Tiger rebels after only 16 months of government detention. Can we hope for a similar gesture for Sarath Fonseka?
Do not misunderstand me, I have written adverse comments about what I consider to be the 'two faces' of the General in these columns in the past and I have not changed my mind. The General announced to the world that he would be happy to testify before the UN on the atrocities committed by the Sri Lankan armed forces in the closing days of the war with the LTTE, only to announce a few days later that, yes, he would testify, but only to clear the good name of the Sri Lanka Army. This I considered to be a terrible 'about-face' and not worthy of a man capable of defeating the might of the LTTE and standing up to the Rajapakse regime.
However, there are extremely serious discrepancies in the way that former LTTE cadres are being treated in comparison with the General.
Take the situation of Daya Master, the former media officer and the official translator George Master who surrendered to the Sri Lanka Army during the last days of the war and who were released after only a few months by the Magistrate's Court of Colombo. They now live in comfortable circumstances as opposed to the General, who, it is reported, sleeps on the concrete floor of his cell.
Kumaran Pathmanadan, internationally known as KP, was the chief procurer of arms for the LTTE. He was widely believed to have been the mastermind behind the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi and upon the death, under suspicious circumstances, of the LTTE leader, Prabakaran, an announcement made by the LTTE's Executive Committee declaring him to be their newly appointed leader. He was arrested on August 5, 2009 but continues to live the life of Riley. Although officially in the custody of the Sri Lanka Army he lives in luxury and is in frequent communication with the outside world from the confines of his velvet cage.
So how does the Rajapakse regime reconcile their treatment of former LTTE cadres who fought for the overthrow of the government of Sri Lanka with that of the General who fought, and suffered terrible injuries, to rescue it from their clutches? Now bereft of his medals and his military pension, his future is bleak, even if he were to be released tomorrow.
Sadly this is just another piece of evidence that reveals how the regime is manipulating the justice system of Sri Lanka for their own ends. We must wonder what promises were made by the Masters and KP to avoid having to sleep on the floor of a concrete cell.
Stewart Sloan served as a civilian officer for seven years with the Special Branch of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force. In December 2001 he was awarded a Commanding Officer's Commendation for "Attention to duty of a high order displayed in the pursuit of an operation of major security importance." Stewart currently words as an Editorial Assistant for a human rights NGO based in Hong Kong.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
ASIA: WUNRN Presentation on acid attacks
Dear Readers,
Acid attacks on women and children (or anyone else for that matter), is an issue that I have been following and reporting on for several years now. It is impossible for anyone who has not suffered such horror to imagine what the victim goes through in terms of pain and trauma; the knowledge that even if you survive, your life as you know it has ceased to exist and you are left only with a scarred face and body; and the memory of the attack.
The Women's UN Report Network has produced a PowerPoint presentation on the issue and I was asked to prepare a Press Release for the Asian Human Rights Commission to announce. The reason that I am including it here is that fact that it has been picked up by international news agencies and has received wide publicity.
The Press Release follows. If the links do not work please block and copy them into your browser.
Thank you,
Stewart.
ASIA: WUNRN Presentation on acid attacks
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE
AHRC-PRL-020-2010
ASIA: WUNRN Presentation on acid attacks
(Hong Kong, September 28, 2010) Acid attacks occur with frightening regularity in many countries of Asia. Whether they are done out of revenge, religious intolerance or simply pure malice, the horror perpetrated on the victim is inhuman. It is an issue that the AHRC has reported on frequently.
The Women's UN Report Network -- WUNRN has produced a presentation to provide information on this form of abuse against women and children.
"Acid violence drastically changes the life of the victim including education, employment and other aspects of normal life. Survivors often have to face social isolation that further damages their self-esteem and confidence and undermines their professional and personal future".
From the introduction found in the Presentation
The presentation may be seen at: http://www.wunrn.com/powerpoint/aa_10.pps
Further information may be seen in many of the articles published in Human Rights & Culture at: http://hrculture.blog.humanrights.asia/
# # #
About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation monitoring and lobbying human rights issues in Asia. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.
Posted on 2010-09-28
Acid attacks on women and children (or anyone else for that matter), is an issue that I have been following and reporting on for several years now. It is impossible for anyone who has not suffered such horror to imagine what the victim goes through in terms of pain and trauma; the knowledge that even if you survive, your life as you know it has ceased to exist and you are left only with a scarred face and body; and the memory of the attack.
The Women's UN Report Network has produced a PowerPoint presentation on the issue and I was asked to prepare a Press Release for the Asian Human Rights Commission to announce. The reason that I am including it here is that fact that it has been picked up by international news agencies and has received wide publicity.
The Press Release follows. If the links do not work please block and copy them into your browser.
Thank you,
Stewart.
ASIA: WUNRN Presentation on acid attacks
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE
AHRC-PRL-020-2010
ASIA: WUNRN Presentation on acid attacks
(Hong Kong, September 28, 2010) Acid attacks occur with frightening regularity in many countries of Asia. Whether they are done out of revenge, religious intolerance or simply pure malice, the horror perpetrated on the victim is inhuman. It is an issue that the AHRC has reported on frequently.
The Women's UN Report Network -- WUNRN has produced a presentation to provide information on this form of abuse against women and children.
"Acid violence drastically changes the life of the victim including education, employment and other aspects of normal life. Survivors often have to face social isolation that further damages their self-esteem and confidence and undermines their professional and personal future".
From the introduction found in the Presentation
The presentation may be seen at: http://www.wunrn.com/powerpoint/aa_10.pps
Further information may be seen in many of the articles published in Human Rights & Culture at: http://hrculture.blog.humanrights.asia/
# # #
About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation monitoring and lobbying human rights issues in Asia. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.
Posted on 2010-09-28
Hand grenades, arrogance and gullibility
"The arrogance of the Sri Lankan police never ceases to amaze me. They come up with these stories almost every month and because the rule of law situation in Sri Lanka has deteriorated to the point where there is no command responsibility they get away with it. From the Inspector General of Police all the way down to the Police Constable on the street, there is no accountability."
by Stewart Sloan
(The opinions expressed at the author's own)
(September 24, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka Guardian) It is an almost weekly occurrence now that the Sri Lankan police report the shooting to death in custody of a criminal when he attempted to throw a hand grenade at the officers. I am not sure what annoys me more, the incredibly poor standard of policing in the country or the fact that the Sri Lankan police think that we are all idiots.
NEWS: UNDERWORLD LEADER KILLED IN POLICE FIRE
September 22, 2010: Dematagoda Kamal, said to be a leader in the underworld, died in police fire at Diddeniya in Hanwella last night.
According to police, the suspect had been arrested last evening in the Diddeniya area in Hanwella along with a pistol and ammunition.
A high-ranking police officer said that when the suspect was taken to the Diddeniya area to locate a firearm and a haul of drugs, he had attempted to lob a hand grenade at them forcing police to open fire..........
- From an article published in Newsfirst.lk on the 23 September)
Let us take the typical scenario (two of which occurred within the last few weeks). A criminal is arrested for whatever reason and the police take him to a weapons cache. During the proceedings the criminal, no doubt a heinous and dangerous person, grabs a hand grenade and attempts to throw it at the officers; as a result of this cowardly act they bravely shoot him dead. The only witnesses to the incident are the police officers themselves so there is no one of an independent nature to corroborate their version of the events.
But, please, let us take a close and serious look at this scenario.
Any suspect, whether a known criminal or not, when being transported outside a police station should be securely handcuffed and closely guarded. This is not just for the protection of the police officers but also the suspect himself. Under Sri Lankan law as well as international law, a suspect is innocent until proven guilty. It does not require 15 years of experience in policing to know this. It is simply common sense. Any suspect must be considered dangerous until proven otherwise and it is recognised procedure to ensure the safety of the accompanying officers and the suspect himself at all times. Yet amazingly, all these suspects that are taken to a weapons cache to show it to the officers are able to grab hold of a grenade which they then attempt to throw at the officers. This raises several questions.
Anyone who has ever seen a war film will know that grenades are indiscriminate killers. They explode. They throw out shrapnel in all directions, killing the targets and, in close quarters, the person who threw it as well. So, the obvious question is, why would anyone throw a grenade in the knowledge that it is going to kill them as well as their intended targets. I suppose it is feasible that one out of every five criminals might be suicidal and uncaring as to whether they live or die, but all of them?
If the suspects have been keeping a cache of weapons for any length of time they would be in the position to know exactly what was there other than the grenades, perhaps a pistol, a T56 or some other weapon more suitable to killing or wounding the people around you without killing yourself at the same time. Why then do the suspects always opt for the grenade?
And then of course there is the obvious question: where do all these grenades come from in the first place? Is the Sri Lankan army so lax with its ordnance that it habitually looses the odd dozen grenades? If that is the case then the Secretary of the Ministry of Defense has a lot to answer for. And when these grenades do go missing what action is taken? Is anyone held responsible? There must be a tremendously profitable black market for these weapons if the street level criminals can get hold of them.
The arrogance of the Sri Lankan police never ceases to amaze me. They come up with these stories almost every month and because the rule of law situation in Sri Lanka has deteriorated to the point where there is no command responsibility they get away with it. From the Inspector General of Police all the way down to the Police Constable on the street, there is no accountability.
It is time for the people of Sri Lanka to say enough. It is time for the Magistrates to question the continuing incidence of the extrajudicial killing of suspects (against one of whom just recently there was no arrest warrant and no record of arrest. The first information that the Magistrate had that the fellow had been arrested in the first place was when the police officers told the court that they had killed him because he had tried to throw a bomb at them). The police know full well that without any independent witnesses the Magistrate has no option but to accept their version of the story. But when the same story is presented to the courts time and time and time again, is it not the duty of the Magistrates to question it?
It is the opinion of the author that both the Inspector General of Police and Secretary of the Ministry of Defense have some explaining to do; the IGP for the laxity of his officers in transporting criminals and the Secretary for the seemingly constant supply of hand grenades to the underworld. As for the arrogance of the police officers themselves, that is the responsibility of every Sri Lankan that remains silent when yet another suspect is extrajudicially killed for trying to throw a hand grenade at officers of the Sri Lankan Police Service.
Stewart Sloan served as a civilian officer for seven years with the Special Branch of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force. In December 2001 he was awarded a Commanding Officer's Commendation for "Attention to duty of a high order displayed in the pursuit of an operation of major security importance." Stewart currently words as an Editorial Assistant for a human rights NGO based in Hong Kong.
by Stewart Sloan
(The opinions expressed at the author's own)
(September 24, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka Guardian) It is an almost weekly occurrence now that the Sri Lankan police report the shooting to death in custody of a criminal when he attempted to throw a hand grenade at the officers. I am not sure what annoys me more, the incredibly poor standard of policing in the country or the fact that the Sri Lankan police think that we are all idiots.
NEWS: UNDERWORLD LEADER KILLED IN POLICE FIRE
September 22, 2010: Dematagoda Kamal, said to be a leader in the underworld, died in police fire at Diddeniya in Hanwella last night.
According to police, the suspect had been arrested last evening in the Diddeniya area in Hanwella along with a pistol and ammunition.
A high-ranking police officer said that when the suspect was taken to the Diddeniya area to locate a firearm and a haul of drugs, he had attempted to lob a hand grenade at them forcing police to open fire..........
- From an article published in Newsfirst.lk on the 23 September)
Let us take the typical scenario (two of which occurred within the last few weeks). A criminal is arrested for whatever reason and the police take him to a weapons cache. During the proceedings the criminal, no doubt a heinous and dangerous person, grabs a hand grenade and attempts to throw it at the officers; as a result of this cowardly act they bravely shoot him dead. The only witnesses to the incident are the police officers themselves so there is no one of an independent nature to corroborate their version of the events.
But, please, let us take a close and serious look at this scenario.
Any suspect, whether a known criminal or not, when being transported outside a police station should be securely handcuffed and closely guarded. This is not just for the protection of the police officers but also the suspect himself. Under Sri Lankan law as well as international law, a suspect is innocent until proven guilty. It does not require 15 years of experience in policing to know this. It is simply common sense. Any suspect must be considered dangerous until proven otherwise and it is recognised procedure to ensure the safety of the accompanying officers and the suspect himself at all times. Yet amazingly, all these suspects that are taken to a weapons cache to show it to the officers are able to grab hold of a grenade which they then attempt to throw at the officers. This raises several questions.
Anyone who has ever seen a war film will know that grenades are indiscriminate killers. They explode. They throw out shrapnel in all directions, killing the targets and, in close quarters, the person who threw it as well. So, the obvious question is, why would anyone throw a grenade in the knowledge that it is going to kill them as well as their intended targets. I suppose it is feasible that one out of every five criminals might be suicidal and uncaring as to whether they live or die, but all of them?
If the suspects have been keeping a cache of weapons for any length of time they would be in the position to know exactly what was there other than the grenades, perhaps a pistol, a T56 or some other weapon more suitable to killing or wounding the people around you without killing yourself at the same time. Why then do the suspects always opt for the grenade?
And then of course there is the obvious question: where do all these grenades come from in the first place? Is the Sri Lankan army so lax with its ordnance that it habitually looses the odd dozen grenades? If that is the case then the Secretary of the Ministry of Defense has a lot to answer for. And when these grenades do go missing what action is taken? Is anyone held responsible? There must be a tremendously profitable black market for these weapons if the street level criminals can get hold of them.
The arrogance of the Sri Lankan police never ceases to amaze me. They come up with these stories almost every month and because the rule of law situation in Sri Lanka has deteriorated to the point where there is no command responsibility they get away with it. From the Inspector General of Police all the way down to the Police Constable on the street, there is no accountability.
It is time for the people of Sri Lanka to say enough. It is time for the Magistrates to question the continuing incidence of the extrajudicial killing of suspects (against one of whom just recently there was no arrest warrant and no record of arrest. The first information that the Magistrate had that the fellow had been arrested in the first place was when the police officers told the court that they had killed him because he had tried to throw a bomb at them). The police know full well that without any independent witnesses the Magistrate has no option but to accept their version of the story. But when the same story is presented to the courts time and time and time again, is it not the duty of the Magistrates to question it?
It is the opinion of the author that both the Inspector General of Police and Secretary of the Ministry of Defense have some explaining to do; the IGP for the laxity of his officers in transporting criminals and the Secretary for the seemingly constant supply of hand grenades to the underworld. As for the arrogance of the police officers themselves, that is the responsibility of every Sri Lankan that remains silent when yet another suspect is extrajudicially killed for trying to throw a hand grenade at officers of the Sri Lankan Police Service.
Stewart Sloan served as a civilian officer for seven years with the Special Branch of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force. In December 2001 he was awarded a Commanding Officer's Commendation for "Attention to duty of a high order displayed in the pursuit of an operation of major security importance." Stewart currently words as an Editorial Assistant for a human rights NGO based in Hong Kong.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Mervyn, the IGP and proof positive
Stewart Sloan
The Sri Lanka Guardian – September 13, 2010
The views expressed at the author's own
I am sure that it is with much consternation to the ruling regime that the Sri Lanka Police Service has proved that they are not the complete idiots they portray themselves to be.
An editorial in a popular Sri Lankan newspaper reported the story of how the police were able to apprehend a heinous criminal and present her before court with sufficient evidence that the judge ordered bail in the sum of Rs. 100,000/=. What was the crime that called for such a stiff amount? She stole Rs. 5/=. Yes dear readers, you have read this correctly, it is not a misprint; a young girl with the most criminal intent stole five rupees! When the matter was reported to the police in Thebuwana, Kalutara, they sprang into action and arrested the culprit within moments.
Therefore, ergo and to wit, we all owe Inspector General of Police, Mahinda Balasuriya a heartfelt apology. Indeed, he should be commended by President Mahinda Rajapakse for proving once and for all that the Sri Lankan police can do their job with professionalism and honour.
Now that we have that out of the way the problems set in. Now that it has been publically acknowledged that the Sri Lankan police can do their job it is time for them to continue doing so and this is where President Rajapakse might not be so pleased.
They should immediately arrest Mervyn Silva for publically threatening the press for writing anything that he might consider offensive to the government. To quote the gentleman himself, ".... journalists should not write in a way which would ultimately force them to be hanged". They should also reopen the case in which Mervyn manhandled a Samurdhi officer and tied him to a tree as there is sufficient photographic evidence to prove this. The last time I looked the SLFP disciplinary committee, who found him innocent, is not a legally constituted judicial body and while they might have found him innocent a court of law might deem otherwise. They should also reopen the case against Mervyn for fraudulently issuing a cheque in the sum of Rs. 70,000/= in 2007 for which he was only asked to pay Rs. 2,500/= in costs. Okay, let us do the maths here: Fraudulently issuing a cheque in the sum of Rs. 70,000/= results in costs of Rs. 2,500/=, stealing Rs. 5/= results in bail of Rs. 100/000/=. If the survival of the world relied on my mathematical capabilities we would all be in serious trouble but even I can see a discrepancy here.
There is plethora of cases the police can sink their teeth into. The disappearance of Prageeth Eknaliyagoda, the assassinations of Sugath Nishanta Fernando and Lasantha Wickrematunge would be a good start. Using the same fervor and professionalism that they used in the arrest of the 13-year-old girl for stealing Rs. 5/= they should be able to solve these cases within days if not hours.
Dear Mr. Balasuriya, your officers have provided proof positive that they are capable of ensuring law and order and you may be proud of them. Now please ask them to do their job.
Stewart Sloan is the author of three novels and a collection of anecdotes about the Royal Hong Kong Police Force whom he served as a civilian from 1987 to 1997. He works as an editorial
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Mervyn Silva: a good man or misguided miscreant? His private war on dengue
by Stewart Sloan
(The views expressed are the author's own)
(August 31, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka Guardian) I recently had the honour of editing a lengthy article about the outbreak and spread of dengue fever in Sri Lanka. It was an eye opener. I knew from my past research and studies that dengue is endemic and a real threat to the citizens of Sri Lanka. However, what I was blissfully unaware of is the government's seemingly total disregard of the very real danger this disease poses to the people and the lack of any real eradication programme.
This government, who only 15 months ago decisively defeated the LTTE has all the finances, resources and personnel available to start an immediate campaign for the control, if not eradication of this killer disease from the shores of its country. Why then are they not doing it? What possible excuse does the Rajapakse regime have for denying the people of the country their constitutional right to health?
Dengue eradication programmes have been instigated with success in many places around the world. Hong Kong started its eradication programme in the late 90s and by 2007 had wiped it out. Of course, a disease such as dengue can never be considered fully eradicated, but constant monitoring ensures that if it ever re-emerges it can be dealt with instantly.
How did Hong Kong eradicate dengue? They like many countries and territories around the world used the vector surveillance system and a special instrument known as an oviposition trap. The ovitrap, as it is known, has been used in conjunction with the vector surveillance system since the 1970s. Yet the ovitrap and the surveillance system are unknown in Sri Lanka. How can this possibly be the case? How can it be that the government of Sri Lanka, the government that successfully defeated the LTTE, with its suicide bombers and military might, cannot launch such a programme to save its people?
The vector system and the trap basically work in the following manner. Using the ovitrap in various locations or vectors, dengue carrying mosquitoes are trapped so that their existence in any one area can be detected. The vector system is then created so that the relevant authorities can maintain records on which areas are at risk so that concentrated efforts at eradication can be made. What is needed here is not an outlandish amount of money and hundreds of thousands of trained personnel. No new technology has to be developed or invented. It is readily available as is the assistance in setting up such a system.
Mervyn's private war on dengue
Much has been written in the Sri Lankan press in recent years about the exploits of Mervyn Silva. From his son's fight at a nightclub and Mervyn's attempt to storm the Canadian Embassy to obtain a visa for him, to his siege of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Cooperation. And of course, more recently his alleged assault of a Samurdhi officer who he is supposed to have tied to a tree for failing to attend a dengue control conference. How is it possible that Mervyn Silva, the bully, the ruffian, the ruling regime's court jester is the only member of the Rajapakse government that believes strongly enough in the very real threat to the country that dengue poses?
Now Mervyn has been sacked from his position and thrown out as chief organiser of the Kalaniya constituency of the SLFP for this latest antic. The Sri Lankan public, once again is having a good laugh at him. After all, you can't go tying civil servants, no matter how junior to trees. But I suggest that if, in fact, Mervyn did tie this man to a tree he made another serious error; he tied the wrong person to the tree.
People are suffering and dying in a potential land of plenty. The war with the LTTE is over. The money used to build up the military might of Sri Lanka at a time when such might was needed should now be spent to eradicate dengue.
Are the Buddhist monks who marched for Mervyn's reinstatement the only people that can see what he was trying to do? No doubt it will come as a shock to many people to learn that they have to apologise to him.
Who should Mervyn tie to a tree next?
Sloan is the author of three novels and a collection of anecdotes about the Royal Hong Kong Police Force whom he served as a civilian from 1987 to 1997. He works as an editorial assistant for a regional human rights NGO in Hong Kong.
(The views expressed are the author's own)
(August 31, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka Guardian) I recently had the honour of editing a lengthy article about the outbreak and spread of dengue fever in Sri Lanka. It was an eye opener. I knew from my past research and studies that dengue is endemic and a real threat to the citizens of Sri Lanka. However, what I was blissfully unaware of is the government's seemingly total disregard of the very real danger this disease poses to the people and the lack of any real eradication programme.
This government, who only 15 months ago decisively defeated the LTTE has all the finances, resources and personnel available to start an immediate campaign for the control, if not eradication of this killer disease from the shores of its country. Why then are they not doing it? What possible excuse does the Rajapakse regime have for denying the people of the country their constitutional right to health?
Dengue eradication programmes have been instigated with success in many places around the world. Hong Kong started its eradication programme in the late 90s and by 2007 had wiped it out. Of course, a disease such as dengue can never be considered fully eradicated, but constant monitoring ensures that if it ever re-emerges it can be dealt with instantly.
How did Hong Kong eradicate dengue? They like many countries and territories around the world used the vector surveillance system and a special instrument known as an oviposition trap. The ovitrap, as it is known, has been used in conjunction with the vector surveillance system since the 1970s. Yet the ovitrap and the surveillance system are unknown in Sri Lanka. How can this possibly be the case? How can it be that the government of Sri Lanka, the government that successfully defeated the LTTE, with its suicide bombers and military might, cannot launch such a programme to save its people?
The vector system and the trap basically work in the following manner. Using the ovitrap in various locations or vectors, dengue carrying mosquitoes are trapped so that their existence in any one area can be detected. The vector system is then created so that the relevant authorities can maintain records on which areas are at risk so that concentrated efforts at eradication can be made. What is needed here is not an outlandish amount of money and hundreds of thousands of trained personnel. No new technology has to be developed or invented. It is readily available as is the assistance in setting up such a system.
Mervyn's private war on dengue
Much has been written in the Sri Lankan press in recent years about the exploits of Mervyn Silva. From his son's fight at a nightclub and Mervyn's attempt to storm the Canadian Embassy to obtain a visa for him, to his siege of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Cooperation. And of course, more recently his alleged assault of a Samurdhi officer who he is supposed to have tied to a tree for failing to attend a dengue control conference. How is it possible that Mervyn Silva, the bully, the ruffian, the ruling regime's court jester is the only member of the Rajapakse government that believes strongly enough in the very real threat to the country that dengue poses?
Now Mervyn has been sacked from his position and thrown out as chief organiser of the Kalaniya constituency of the SLFP for this latest antic. The Sri Lankan public, once again is having a good laugh at him. After all, you can't go tying civil servants, no matter how junior to trees. But I suggest that if, in fact, Mervyn did tie this man to a tree he made another serious error; he tied the wrong person to the tree.
People are suffering and dying in a potential land of plenty. The war with the LTTE is over. The money used to build up the military might of Sri Lanka at a time when such might was needed should now be spent to eradicate dengue.
Are the Buddhist monks who marched for Mervyn's reinstatement the only people that can see what he was trying to do? No doubt it will come as a shock to many people to learn that they have to apologise to him.
Who should Mervyn tie to a tree next?
Sloan is the author of three novels and a collection of anecdotes about the Royal Hong Kong Police Force whom he served as a civilian from 1987 to 1997. He works as an editorial assistant for a regional human rights NGO in Hong Kong.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Police probe on nightclubs, another opportunity to make money?
Wednesday, August 4, 2010 To say that corruption does not exist in the Sri Lankan police force is to stretch credibility. Of course it exists, at all levels, and it extends up to the patrons in the political sphere.
............................
by Stewart Sloan
( The views expressed are the author's own)
(August 04, Gong Kong, Sri Lanka Guardian) Underage drinking is a problem that should be taken seriously in that it can lead to early age alcoholism and drug use. The experimentation with 'soft' drugs such as marijuana can lead to dependence on the harder addictive narcotics such as cocaine and heroin, all of which are readily available to anyone who wants them and all of which kill.
And so the Sri Lankan police have begun a probe into nightclubs that allow underage drinkers into their establishments. This probe is apparently in response to a series of complaints by unknown persons; quite possibly the parents of such children.
Underage drinking is a problem that should be taken seriously in that it can lead to early age alcoholism and drug use. The experimentation with 'soft' drugs such as marijuana can lead to dependence on the harder addictive narcotics such as cocaine and heroin, all of which are readily available to anyone who wants them and all of which kill.
Of course, not all young people are stupid enough to go down this route, but if one in ten does, then that is one too many.
So the police are to be congratulated for taking the initiative in this probe. The bar and nightclub owners know exactly what they are doing when they sell liquor to an underage person. The responsibility lies firmly with them and hefty fines and prison sentences for repeat offenders will make a difference. However, in order for this to make a difference the legislation on providing liquor to underage drinkers must be enforced. And sadly, in Sri Lanka, enforcement of any law is very much at the discretion of the investigating police officer or his seniors.
To say that corruption does not exist in the Sri Lankan police force is to stretch credibility. Of course it exists, at all levels, and it extends up to the patrons in the political sphere. So if the bar or nightclub owner has a tame politician under his belt it is no great hardship for him to request that the investigating officer look the other way. The politician simply has a word with the officer concerned and the job is done. Almost every day there is an example of this type of thing. The recent arson attack on the Siyatha TV station and radio broadcast facilities of the Voice of Asia Network in the early hours of July 30 is a prime example of the authorities turning a blind eye to a crime.
This attack took place in an area virtually festooned with police checkpoints. It is a well known fact that the officers manning these checkpoints stop almost every vehicle passing through to see if there is any possibility of extorting money from the drivers. Even Sri Lankan judges have deplored this state of affairs. How is it possible that the two vehicles carrying the arsonists and their weapons were not stopped either going to or running from the attack; an attack that occurred within striking distance of Temple Trees, where security is maximised?
So is anything to come of the police probe into underage drinking or will it just be another opportunity for the Sri Lankan police to earn some extra money? The health and lives of young people are at stake here and it is the responsibility of the police to enforce the legislation that controls the sale of liquor to minors. This is a responsibility that cannot be neglected for the opportunity of making money.
Stewart Sloan is the author of three novels and a collection of anecdotes about the Royal Hong Kong Police Force whom he served as a civilian from 1987 to 1997. He works as an editorial assistant for a regional human rights NGO in Hong Kong.
............................
by Stewart Sloan
( The views expressed are the author's own)
(August 04, Gong Kong, Sri Lanka Guardian) Underage drinking is a problem that should be taken seriously in that it can lead to early age alcoholism and drug use. The experimentation with 'soft' drugs such as marijuana can lead to dependence on the harder addictive narcotics such as cocaine and heroin, all of which are readily available to anyone who wants them and all of which kill.
And so the Sri Lankan police have begun a probe into nightclubs that allow underage drinkers into their establishments. This probe is apparently in response to a series of complaints by unknown persons; quite possibly the parents of such children.
Underage drinking is a problem that should be taken seriously in that it can lead to early age alcoholism and drug use. The experimentation with 'soft' drugs such as marijuana can lead to dependence on the harder addictive narcotics such as cocaine and heroin, all of which are readily available to anyone who wants them and all of which kill.
Of course, not all young people are stupid enough to go down this route, but if one in ten does, then that is one too many.
So the police are to be congratulated for taking the initiative in this probe. The bar and nightclub owners know exactly what they are doing when they sell liquor to an underage person. The responsibility lies firmly with them and hefty fines and prison sentences for repeat offenders will make a difference. However, in order for this to make a difference the legislation on providing liquor to underage drinkers must be enforced. And sadly, in Sri Lanka, enforcement of any law is very much at the discretion of the investigating police officer or his seniors.
To say that corruption does not exist in the Sri Lankan police force is to stretch credibility. Of course it exists, at all levels, and it extends up to the patrons in the political sphere. So if the bar or nightclub owner has a tame politician under his belt it is no great hardship for him to request that the investigating officer look the other way. The politician simply has a word with the officer concerned and the job is done. Almost every day there is an example of this type of thing. The recent arson attack on the Siyatha TV station and radio broadcast facilities of the Voice of Asia Network in the early hours of July 30 is a prime example of the authorities turning a blind eye to a crime.
This attack took place in an area virtually festooned with police checkpoints. It is a well known fact that the officers manning these checkpoints stop almost every vehicle passing through to see if there is any possibility of extorting money from the drivers. Even Sri Lankan judges have deplored this state of affairs. How is it possible that the two vehicles carrying the arsonists and their weapons were not stopped either going to or running from the attack; an attack that occurred within striking distance of Temple Trees, where security is maximised?
So is anything to come of the police probe into underage drinking or will it just be another opportunity for the Sri Lankan police to earn some extra money? The health and lives of young people are at stake here and it is the responsibility of the police to enforce the legislation that controls the sale of liquor to minors. This is a responsibility that cannot be neglected for the opportunity of making money.
Stewart Sloan is the author of three novels and a collection of anecdotes about the Royal Hong Kong Police Force whom he served as a civilian from 1987 to 1997. He works as an editorial assistant for a regional human rights NGO in Hong Kong.
Monday, July 12, 2010
The King with Two Faces
Monday, July 12, 2010The King with Two Faces
In all honesty no one who has experienced it firsthand has any knowledge of what Fonseka is going through at the hands of his captors. Quite possibly the retired general's nerves just gave out. .................................
by Stewart Sloan
(The views expressed are the author's own)
(July 12, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka Guardian) As an international observer I was fascinated by the Sri Lankan Presidential Elections which were held on the 26th January, 2010. While there were several contenders the main characters in the field were the incumbent president, Mahinda Rajapakse and the man who would be king, retired general, Sarath Fonseka.
Much has already been written about the election and it is not my intention to go into great detail about it here. However, I must say that I believe the results to have been rigged in favour of Rajapakse in the most blatant manner. So sure of the government's victory, and so arrogant as to believe that no one would challenge the results, ballot boxes containing votes in favour of Sarath Fonseka were discarded in a field adjoining a voting station at Ratnapura. This degree of arrogance is truly mind boggling.
It probably came as no surprise to anyone when the news broke that Fonseka had been arrested. But the manner of this arrest was surprising, even for Sri Lanka. The arrest was carried out with no form of due process and in the most horrendous fashion so as to cause maximum humiliation to Fonseka himself and the obvious intimidation to his family and followers. He was literarily dragged out of his election offices by the ankles.
For the next few months I, and the rest of the world watched as Sarath Fonseka was treated with the utmost contempt. A group on Facebook was created, Free the GENERAL has, to-date, 2,463 members. Every day I logged into the Sri Lankan news papers expecting to read the news that he had been killed while attempting to escape; that his wife had managed to smuggle in an AK47 and twenty hand grenades in his lunch box with which the general had tried to kill his guards.
Numerous articles have been written demanding his release, protests held in Colombo and elsewhere and the clergy both Christian and Buddhist have agitated for his release. And yet his court martial goes on. Then the general's courage shone through; he would testify, he said, before the UN on the issue of war crimes committed by the Sri Lankan Army at the close of the war between Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam, the LTTE.
This, I thought was a true test of the man's mettle. Incarcerated by the Rajapakse regime, completely at their mercy and suffering from the effects of his injuries he received in a terrorist bombing some years before, here was a man that was not going to allow the Rajapakses to intimidate him. He would testify before the UN and the world would have first hand evidence of the war crimes which included the slaughter of surrendering LTTE soldiers and that the orders to kill them had come from no less a person than Gotabhaya Rajapakse, the Secretary of the Ministry of Defense and Mahinda Rajapakse's brother. European journalists jostled for the 'honour' of interviewing Gotabhaya who made no bones about the fact that he would have Fonseka hung if he had the temerity to do such a thing.
All was quiet for a few weeks and I am sure that many of the other observers would dearly love to know what went on behind closed doors. Where there threats, or promises of leniency; perhaps even the promise a reward for changing his story? Whatever happened, last week Sarath Fonseka announced that, yes, he would testify before a UN inquiry, but it would not be to denounce the Sri Lankan army or Gotabhaya Rajapakse but rather to clear the 'good name' of the Sri Lankan army.
This was something of an about face and no one can help but wonder what brought it on. Suffice to say, Fonseka's stock fell badly in the minds of many of his followers and supporters.
In all honesty no one who has experienced it firsthand has any knowledge of what Fonseka is going through at the hands of his captors. Quite possibly the retired general's nerves just gave out. Whatever the case there can be no doubt that he has been effectively silenced. The man who would be king has two faces.
Stewart Sloan is the author of three novels and a collection of anecdotes about the Royal Hong Kong Police Force whom he served as a civilian from 1987 to 1997. He works as an editorial assistant for a regional human rights NGO in Hong Kong.
In all honesty no one who has experienced it firsthand has any knowledge of what Fonseka is going through at the hands of his captors. Quite possibly the retired general's nerves just gave out. .................................
by Stewart Sloan
(The views expressed are the author's own)
(July 12, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka Guardian) As an international observer I was fascinated by the Sri Lankan Presidential Elections which were held on the 26th January, 2010. While there were several contenders the main characters in the field were the incumbent president, Mahinda Rajapakse and the man who would be king, retired general, Sarath Fonseka.
Much has already been written about the election and it is not my intention to go into great detail about it here. However, I must say that I believe the results to have been rigged in favour of Rajapakse in the most blatant manner. So sure of the government's victory, and so arrogant as to believe that no one would challenge the results, ballot boxes containing votes in favour of Sarath Fonseka were discarded in a field adjoining a voting station at Ratnapura. This degree of arrogance is truly mind boggling.
It probably came as no surprise to anyone when the news broke that Fonseka had been arrested. But the manner of this arrest was surprising, even for Sri Lanka. The arrest was carried out with no form of due process and in the most horrendous fashion so as to cause maximum humiliation to Fonseka himself and the obvious intimidation to his family and followers. He was literarily dragged out of his election offices by the ankles.
For the next few months I, and the rest of the world watched as Sarath Fonseka was treated with the utmost contempt. A group on Facebook was created, Free the GENERAL has, to-date, 2,463 members. Every day I logged into the Sri Lankan news papers expecting to read the news that he had been killed while attempting to escape; that his wife had managed to smuggle in an AK47 and twenty hand grenades in his lunch box with which the general had tried to kill his guards.
Numerous articles have been written demanding his release, protests held in Colombo and elsewhere and the clergy both Christian and Buddhist have agitated for his release. And yet his court martial goes on. Then the general's courage shone through; he would testify, he said, before the UN on the issue of war crimes committed by the Sri Lankan Army at the close of the war between Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam, the LTTE.
This, I thought was a true test of the man's mettle. Incarcerated by the Rajapakse regime, completely at their mercy and suffering from the effects of his injuries he received in a terrorist bombing some years before, here was a man that was not going to allow the Rajapakses to intimidate him. He would testify before the UN and the world would have first hand evidence of the war crimes which included the slaughter of surrendering LTTE soldiers and that the orders to kill them had come from no less a person than Gotabhaya Rajapakse, the Secretary of the Ministry of Defense and Mahinda Rajapakse's brother. European journalists jostled for the 'honour' of interviewing Gotabhaya who made no bones about the fact that he would have Fonseka hung if he had the temerity to do such a thing.
All was quiet for a few weeks and I am sure that many of the other observers would dearly love to know what went on behind closed doors. Where there threats, or promises of leniency; perhaps even the promise a reward for changing his story? Whatever happened, last week Sarath Fonseka announced that, yes, he would testify before a UN inquiry, but it would not be to denounce the Sri Lankan army or Gotabhaya Rajapakse but rather to clear the 'good name' of the Sri Lankan army.
This was something of an about face and no one can help but wonder what brought it on. Suffice to say, Fonseka's stock fell badly in the minds of many of his followers and supporters.
In all honesty no one who has experienced it firsthand has any knowledge of what Fonseka is going through at the hands of his captors. Quite possibly the retired general's nerves just gave out. Whatever the case there can be no doubt that he has been effectively silenced. The man who would be king has two faces.
Stewart Sloan is the author of three novels and a collection of anecdotes about the Royal Hong Kong Police Force whom he served as a civilian from 1987 to 1997. He works as an editorial assistant for a regional human rights NGO in Hong Kong.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Kidney Kids--Providing dialysis machines and treatment for children--Don't belittle the humble ring pull Stewart Sloan*
There are branches of Kidney Kids in many countries of the world.
The concept behind this not for profit organisation is to provide vitally needed medical support for children suffering renal failure; they also, perhaps equally importantly, arrange for emotional support and information for their parents by parents who have been through it themselves. This is done through counseling, educational materials and social events.
No one can understand the commitment in both time and money involved in seeking treatment and the accompanying exhaustion if they have not experienced the grief of having a close relative, whether a child or an adult, suffer renal failure.
Caregiver burnout is a real threat. Dialysis is required up to three times a week and must, under no circumstances, be missed. This places tremendous pressure on the parents and relatives of patients. A helping hand to take the patient for treatment on just one of these days each week is more of a blessing than many of us would realise.
In Hong Kong a locally based businessman has taken an active role in providing assistance to one of the Kidney Kids branches, Kidney Kids of New Zealand.
Colin Barlow, a New Zealander himself, is a dental technician by trade and several years ago on a visit to his home country came into contact with Paul Norfolk, the Chief Executive of Kidney Kids of NZ Inc. Colin learned that one way to take an active part in assisting was to collect ring pulls from soft drink (and beer) cans (Kan Tabs). These are sent to New Zealand where they are sold for scrap and melted down and the money received goes to the purchase of dialysis machines and the cost of treatment. (In a local event in New Zealand a load of aluminium ring pulls and screw caps weighing 1,369 kgs brought in NZ$ 2,464). Colin put the word out to his friends and the ring pulls started pouring in from individuals and restaurants and bars. Now Colin, with the assistance of Air New Zealand sends packets of up to 20 kgs back to New Zealand on a regular bas is.
Lots of little bags of ring pulls add up to a big box when donated regularly. To donate ring pulls in Hong Kong please contact Stewart at sloanbooks@gmail.com or Colin at chevlab@gmail.com. Elsewhere please refer to the websites below:
http://www.kidneykids.org.nz/
http://www.kidneykids.org.uk/
http://www.kidneykids.org/
http://www.kidney.org.au/ForPatients/KIDneyKids/tabid/613/Default.aspx
*Stewart's wife Quirina died in December last year after a five year battle with renal failure.
** To see the latest issue of this News Letter please see: http://newsletters.ahrchk.net/hrc/docs/AHRC-ART-053-2010.pdf
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Vitriolage--The horror and injustice of acid attacks
Dear Readers,
This article was uploaded by the Asian Human Rights Commission.
[AHRC Article] ASIA: Vitriolage -- the horror and injustice of acid attacks
FOR PUBLICATION
AHRC-ART-049-2010
May 13, 2010
An Article by the Asian Human Rights Commission
ASIA: Vitriolage -- the horror and injustice of acid attacks
Baseer Naveed and Stewart Sloan
"Acid will be thrown on the faces of women and girls who step out of their houses without covering their faces… People who fail to comply with these orders will themselves be responsible for the consequences."
This was the announcement made by the Baloch Ghaeratmand Group; until recently a little known fundamentalist group in Pakistan that has carried out their threat on several occasions. Their attacks have resulted in the victims suffering inhuman pain and unimaginable mental anguish. Despite strikes by the citizens and demands that action is taken, the government has done nothing to bring the perpetrators to justice, nor have they done anything to prevent future attacks.
A recent press release by Women without Borders left no doubt as to the effects, both immediate and following an attack:
If the victim survives, the effects of acid attacks are life-changing. Acid burns through eyes, skin tissue, and bone. Usually, the victims are left blind and with permanent scar tissue. Their bones are often fused together—jawbones sealed tight, chins locked to chests, hands left permanently contorted in the position they held as they tried to deflect the splash. The psychological scars are even worse. Depression, anxiety, shame—these would be part of the emotional aftermath of any scarring injury, but victims of acid attacks are also often ostracized by their communities and even held responsible for incurring the attack they suffered.
http://www.women-without-borders.org/news/193
Acid attacks, of which the victims are invariably women, happen in several countries of Asia. Sadly, very little is done to prevent them and even less to bring the perpetrators to justice. They are done for religious reasons and as acts of revenge and sometimes as acts of mischief. There were several recent incidents in Hong Kong when bottles of acid were thrown into crowded shopping areas from buildings overhead. The police reacted quickly and have arrested at least one man but it is feared that not all of the attacks were carried out by the same person.
In Thailand acid attacks are frequently the result of revenge attacks by housewives who are convinced that a certain lady is having an affair with her husband. In June 2007 a mother and daughter were charged with throwing acid in the face of a 23-year-old woman because they believed she was having an affair with the mother's husband. Until legislation was introduced to control its sale, acids and other corrosive liquids could be purchased on the street. It is still available on the black market.
Asia and South East Asia however, are not alone in suffering these attacks. While the majority of attacks in Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are carried out for religious reasons, in the west it is usually for revenge. Regardless of where they happen, the attacks come without warning and there is little or no defence against them. The acids used, either hydrochloric or sulphuric, eat through clothes, flesh and bone almost instantly. The only course of action, which must be taken immediately, is to wash the affected areas with water. As most attacks happen in the street this is unlikely to happen, allowing the effects of the acid to run their course.
There are several organisations, international and local offering assistance to victims of acid attacks and these are listed below. The following poem by Airyn R. Lentija highlights the feelings of desolation known by the victim.
VITRIOLAGE
Airyn R. Lentija
Just as my scarred hands hold these rails
so the tiny drops
of my faith make me live, too.
I, who never asked for this blindness,
The scarring of my face and body that
erased my existence to the real world...
embarassed...
in fear of the stigma and of prejudice
that bubbles from the mouth
of the community I once belonged to.
I am a mother turned into a baby,
desperately dependent...
I am a teenager who forgets how it was to be a teenager...
I am a lively lady that used to enjoy the company of my peers...
A victim of vitriolage,
I am shunned now...
and relive the vivid memories that lift me
to another level of distress, of such agony,
that my mind almost shut down,
they called...
a psychologist for in-depth intervention,
counselors...
A brilliant mind may give a hand
to restore my damaged skin tissue;
surgical treatment...
Yet I will never be free
from the memory of such pain,
such punishment
nor will I be Me again...
Note: This poem will also be published under the title: Testimony of Acid Attack Woman Victim.
The three pictures below show a victim before the attack, during treatment and more recently, tying hard to get on with her life.
Relevant organisations:
The Acid Survivors Foundation--Bangladesh-- http://www.acidsurvivors.org/
The Acid Survivors Foundation—Pakistan-- http://acidsurvivorspakistan.org/
The Acid Survivors Trust—Canada-- http://www.acidviolence.org/index.php/news/acid-survivors-trust-canada/
The Cambodian Acid Survivors Charity (CASC)-- http://cambodianacidsurvivorscharity.org/
# # #
About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation monitoring and lobbying human rights issues in Asia. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.
This Article was also posted in the E-Publication Sri Lanka Guardian
Posted on 2010-05-13
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Lakbay Dangal—Jose Rizal and Filipino history in Hong Kong today
Stewart Sloan
On Sunday the 14th March a unique organisation met in Chater Gardens in Hong Kong. The brainchild of Fr. Roberto Reyes, the Running Priest, a group of Filipino domestic helpers, journalists and friends met to inaugurate Lakbay Dangal—an association determined to bring out the historians and tour guides among the Filipino community in the territory.
After introducing the concept, about which more later, Fr. Roberto led the group in a tour of historical areas of the Central District, the business hub of Hong Kong. Many of us, myself included, had no idea that the antiquities board, dedicated but not the most audible of Hong Kong government departments, had raised several plaques dedicated to the memory of Jose Rizal.
Jose Rizal is perhaps best known for his activism against the Spanish colonial government in the Philippines and his subsequent execution. However, perhaps not many people are aware that he was a man of wide ranging talents and skills. Rizal's multifacetedness was described by his German friend, Dr. Adolf Meyer, as nothing short of stupendous. He was a polymath with the ability to master various skills and subjects. He was an ophthalmologist, sculptor, painter, educator, farmer, historian, playwright and journalist. Besides poetry and creative writing, he was interested in architecture, cartography, economics, ethnology, anthropology, sociology, dramatics, martial arts, fencing and pistol shooting. He was also a Freemason, joining Acacia Lodge No. 9 during his time in Spain and becoming a Master Mason in 1884. Jose Rizal was executed by firing squad in December 1896 at the age of 35.
At least one of these plaques had been in place for several years and I could not help but wonder how many times I had passed underneath it without the slightest knowledge of its existence. The one in D' Aguilar Street identifies the location where Rizal opened one of his eye clinics.
Lakbay Dangal—a 12 month 'histourism' training programme
Fr. Roberto's plan in creating Lakbay Dangal has many aims. The first is to reveal to the Filipino community itself that there is a link between Hong Kong and the Philippines in Rizal's history in the territory. By bringing this to the fore he also hopes that the Filipino ladies who work here as domestic helpers will see themselves, and be seen by others, as much more than cleaners and babysitters. A good knowledge of the various historical sites in and around Central and other areas of Hong Kong will give these ladies the opportunity to show off these sites and reveal their historical and cultural significance to others.
In order to accomplish this trips are planned to sites such as Stanley where you can see both history in the form of the War Cemetery where many of the soldiers and civilians killed during the Japanese invasion were laid to rest and also one of the most favourite tourist sites in the territory, Stanley Market. Stanley used to be famous for its 'seconds' shops; shops that sold items of clothing that had been rejected by the buyers and were picked up by the Stanley vendors. Sadly, as with all things, progress stepped in and many of the shops are now up market and costly. However, that does not seem to deter many of the western tourists that visit the place.
Speakers will be tasked with the job of finding out as much as they can about the various sites and take turns at giving lectures to their fellow trainees. One such gathering was held on Sunday the 4th April and another is planned for the 25th. The ladies have shown great enthusiasm for this project and are to be congratulated for their zeal. Thanks must also go to Fr. Roberto who will visit the territory as often as his schedule permits to encourage and assist in the training.
Domestic Helper Tour Guides; Ladies with the knowledge, willingness and ability to show others, not only Filipinos, but anyone interested, that there is more to Hong Kong than tall buildings.
On Sunday the 14th March a unique organisation met in Chater Gardens in Hong Kong. The brainchild of Fr. Roberto Reyes, the Running Priest, a group of Filipino domestic helpers, journalists and friends met to inaugurate Lakbay Dangal—an association determined to bring out the historians and tour guides among the Filipino community in the territory.
After introducing the concept, about which more later, Fr. Roberto led the group in a tour of historical areas of the Central District, the business hub of Hong Kong. Many of us, myself included, had no idea that the antiquities board, dedicated but not the most audible of Hong Kong government departments, had raised several plaques dedicated to the memory of Jose Rizal.
Jose Rizal is perhaps best known for his activism against the Spanish colonial government in the Philippines and his subsequent execution. However, perhaps not many people are aware that he was a man of wide ranging talents and skills. Rizal's multifacetedness was described by his German friend, Dr. Adolf Meyer, as nothing short of stupendous. He was a polymath with the ability to master various skills and subjects. He was an ophthalmologist, sculptor, painter, educator, farmer, historian, playwright and journalist. Besides poetry and creative writing, he was interested in architecture, cartography, economics, ethnology, anthropology, sociology, dramatics, martial arts, fencing and pistol shooting. He was also a Freemason, joining Acacia Lodge No. 9 during his time in Spain and becoming a Master Mason in 1884. Jose Rizal was executed by firing squad in December 1896 at the age of 35.
At least one of these plaques had been in place for several years and I could not help but wonder how many times I had passed underneath it without the slightest knowledge of its existence. The one in D' Aguilar Street identifies the location where Rizal opened one of his eye clinics.
Lakbay Dangal—a 12 month 'histourism' training programme
Fr. Roberto's plan in creating Lakbay Dangal has many aims. The first is to reveal to the Filipino community itself that there is a link between Hong Kong and the Philippines in Rizal's history in the territory. By bringing this to the fore he also hopes that the Filipino ladies who work here as domestic helpers will see themselves, and be seen by others, as much more than cleaners and babysitters. A good knowledge of the various historical sites in and around Central and other areas of Hong Kong will give these ladies the opportunity to show off these sites and reveal their historical and cultural significance to others.
In order to accomplish this trips are planned to sites such as Stanley where you can see both history in the form of the War Cemetery where many of the soldiers and civilians killed during the Japanese invasion were laid to rest and also one of the most favourite tourist sites in the territory, Stanley Market. Stanley used to be famous for its 'seconds' shops; shops that sold items of clothing that had been rejected by the buyers and were picked up by the Stanley vendors. Sadly, as with all things, progress stepped in and many of the shops are now up market and costly. However, that does not seem to deter many of the western tourists that visit the place.
Speakers will be tasked with the job of finding out as much as they can about the various sites and take turns at giving lectures to their fellow trainees. One such gathering was held on Sunday the 4th April and another is planned for the 25th. The ladies have shown great enthusiasm for this project and are to be congratulated for their zeal. Thanks must also go to Fr. Roberto who will visit the territory as often as his schedule permits to encourage and assist in the training.
Domestic Helper Tour Guides; Ladies with the knowledge, willingness and ability to show others, not only Filipinos, but anyone interested, that there is more to Hong Kong than tall buildings.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Anger Management – pros and cons
I am sure that the people who know and work with me will be surprised to know that I used to have an anger management problem.
The following incident will clarify any questions as to this matter.
When there is horse racing on a Wednesday evening or Saturday at the Shatin Jockey Club some of the Lo Wu trains are diverted from Fotan to the Race Course Station. Under normal circumstances announcements are made at the earlier stations where I might board the train so that I know to wait for another train. Occasionally the staff forget to make the announcement and many is the time I have watched in dismay as Fotan flashes past and I arrive, reluctantly, at the Race Course. Here I have two options, get off the train, cross the platform, get back on the train, return to Shatin and wait for the next train which is going to Fotan. The second option is to stay on the train and go to the Chinese University Station and do the same thing.
A few weeks ago I got on the train at Kowloon Tong and forgot to double check as to whether the train was going to Fotan. This was my fault. However, I was annoyed; quite rightly so on this occasion because there were no announcements, and I ended up at the Race Course. I got off the train and made a point of telling the platform supervisor that there had been no announcements on the train. Much to my surprise this gentleman could not have cared less and my respect for the management of the MTRC fell a few notches. I wasn't going to get any sense out of this fellow so I just waited for the next train and returned to Shatin.
On arrival at Shatin I went up to the concourse which I crossed and descended to the correct platform for the Fotan train. It arrived shortly and I boarded and moments later arrived back at the Race Course Station. Once again there had been no announcements.
Three months ago I would have had a long conversation with the Station Master in which I would have seriously questioned his pedigree. However, on this occasion I meekly crossed the platform, boarded the train and returned to Shatin where I left the station and walked back to Fotan, a distance of just over a mile. It seemed to be the less complicated and safer option and it made the beer taste better.
Now what were you saying about my anger management?
The following incident will clarify any questions as to this matter.
When there is horse racing on a Wednesday evening or Saturday at the Shatin Jockey Club some of the Lo Wu trains are diverted from Fotan to the Race Course Station. Under normal circumstances announcements are made at the earlier stations where I might board the train so that I know to wait for another train. Occasionally the staff forget to make the announcement and many is the time I have watched in dismay as Fotan flashes past and I arrive, reluctantly, at the Race Course. Here I have two options, get off the train, cross the platform, get back on the train, return to Shatin and wait for the next train which is going to Fotan. The second option is to stay on the train and go to the Chinese University Station and do the same thing.
A few weeks ago I got on the train at Kowloon Tong and forgot to double check as to whether the train was going to Fotan. This was my fault. However, I was annoyed; quite rightly so on this occasion because there were no announcements, and I ended up at the Race Course. I got off the train and made a point of telling the platform supervisor that there had been no announcements on the train. Much to my surprise this gentleman could not have cared less and my respect for the management of the MTRC fell a few notches. I wasn't going to get any sense out of this fellow so I just waited for the next train and returned to Shatin.
On arrival at Shatin I went up to the concourse which I crossed and descended to the correct platform for the Fotan train. It arrived shortly and I boarded and moments later arrived back at the Race Course Station. Once again there had been no announcements.
Three months ago I would have had a long conversation with the Station Master in which I would have seriously questioned his pedigree. However, on this occasion I meekly crossed the platform, boarded the train and returned to Shatin where I left the station and walked back to Fotan, a distance of just over a mile. It seemed to be the less complicated and safer option and it made the beer taste better.
Now what were you saying about my anger management?
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Update
I confess, I'm blowing my own horn here but I recently came across two very flattering bits of news on the internet. The first entails a review of Temutma, the book I wrote in partnership with Rebecca Bradley. Temutma was published by Asia 2000 who was remiss in informing us that they had sold the publishing rights to a German company, Union Verslag, who are now producing audio copies of the book. Neither Rebecca nor I have ever seen a penny in royalties from the sale of these audio books. However, the review, which is copied here, soothes my wounded pride somewhat.
Possibly the BEST vampire novel since Dracula. March 9, 2005
By Devlin Tay (Adelaide, Australia)
"Temutma" is a little gem of a horror novel from Hong Kong that most readers would unfortunately never have heard of. It is quite possibly the BEST vampire novel I've ever read since Dracula (take that, Anne Rice) - and I say this not because of Temutma's literary merits, but because of its frenetic pacing and the atmosphere of sheer terror that it evokes. Set in Hong Kong in the early 1990s, an ancient horror awakens deep within the catacombs of Kowloon's famed Walled City. A series of grotesque murders are committed on one single night, leaving the Hong Kong police completely baffled. The murders are seemingly unrelated; but for the fact that the crime scenes all fall on a direct line of sight beginning from the Kowloon Walled City, across the narrow strait separating Kowloon from Hong Kong island, to the Bank of China building, and finally ending at a luxury home at the Peak. All victims had been drained completely dry of blood. Even more strangely, one of the first victims had been seen following a subsequent victim hours after he supposedly died, according to forensics. As the chief investigating officer, Superintendent Michael Scott of the Royal Hong Kong Police, delves deeper into the mystery, little does he know that he will soon come face to face with a being more ancient and powerful than he could ever imagine - an amoral being whose only instinct is to satisfy his own bloodlust. Rebecca Bradley and Stewart Sloan successfully weave Chinese superstition with vampiric lore into a melange of fear and action so thick one could almost imagine watching the story unfold in a Cineplex with full DTS surround sound. The characters are believable, the action is evenly paced, and the horror is conveyed though a finely-balanced mixture of suspense and gore. Temutma, the eponymous vampire, is a creature so believably alien, repulsive and evil - and yet strangely compelling. There is none of that vampiric angst, the likes of which authors like Anne Rice are so fond of, to be found anywhere in this book. Here, at last, is a creature that stalks, tortures, kills and inflicts pain simply because it is what it does - much like the way a cat hunts for, and plays with, its prey purely out of instinct, the way all cats do. Five stars and two thumbs up!
The other bit of news that cheered me up was the news that my first book, 'The Sorceress' which was published in 1994 and sold for the grand sum of HK$ 70.00 is available on a second hand book website for the price of HK$ 168.20!
The question that now begs to be asked is, if I'm that good, why aren't I sitting on a beach somewhere sipping champagne?
Possibly the BEST vampire novel since Dracula. March 9, 2005
By Devlin Tay (Adelaide, Australia)
"Temutma" is a little gem of a horror novel from Hong Kong that most readers would unfortunately never have heard of. It is quite possibly the BEST vampire novel I've ever read since Dracula (take that, Anne Rice) - and I say this not because of Temutma's literary merits, but because of its frenetic pacing and the atmosphere of sheer terror that it evokes. Set in Hong Kong in the early 1990s, an ancient horror awakens deep within the catacombs of Kowloon's famed Walled City. A series of grotesque murders are committed on one single night, leaving the Hong Kong police completely baffled. The murders are seemingly unrelated; but for the fact that the crime scenes all fall on a direct line of sight beginning from the Kowloon Walled City, across the narrow strait separating Kowloon from Hong Kong island, to the Bank of China building, and finally ending at a luxury home at the Peak. All victims had been drained completely dry of blood. Even more strangely, one of the first victims had been seen following a subsequent victim hours after he supposedly died, according to forensics. As the chief investigating officer, Superintendent Michael Scott of the Royal Hong Kong Police, delves deeper into the mystery, little does he know that he will soon come face to face with a being more ancient and powerful than he could ever imagine - an amoral being whose only instinct is to satisfy his own bloodlust. Rebecca Bradley and Stewart Sloan successfully weave Chinese superstition with vampiric lore into a melange of fear and action so thick one could almost imagine watching the story unfold in a Cineplex with full DTS surround sound. The characters are believable, the action is evenly paced, and the horror is conveyed though a finely-balanced mixture of suspense and gore. Temutma, the eponymous vampire, is a creature so believably alien, repulsive and evil - and yet strangely compelling. There is none of that vampiric angst, the likes of which authors like Anne Rice are so fond of, to be found anywhere in this book. Here, at last, is a creature that stalks, tortures, kills and inflicts pain simply because it is what it does - much like the way a cat hunts for, and plays with, its prey purely out of instinct, the way all cats do. Five stars and two thumbs up!
The other bit of news that cheered me up was the news that my first book, 'The Sorceress' which was published in 1994 and sold for the grand sum of HK$ 70.00 is available on a second hand book website for the price of HK$ 168.20!
The question that now begs to be asked is, if I'm that good, why aren't I sitting on a beach somewhere sipping champagne?
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