By Stewart Sloan (Written after a fun afternoon with the Hong Kong Immigration Department)
Do you remember a time when
As a child we automatically believed and respected
Anything told to us by an adult, or
A person in uniform?
Adults didn't lie, did they?
Policemen and firemen, the Gods of my youth
NEVER lied, did they?
Of course not!
It was just, well,
They didn't always tell the whole truth.
Sometimes it was just easier to tell a little white lie,
Or a fib.
No real harm done;
No one would be hurt, would they?
And everyone could just get on
With what they were doing.
Naivety dictates that I believe anyone in authority.
If a policeman tells me it is safe to cross the road,
Or a fireman tells me it is safe to re-enter the building,
Or a person from immigration tells me to do something......
....I believe them, wouldn't you?
Because people in authority wouldn't intentionally hurt us.
But under the uniforms they are just people.
People who are tired and want to go home to their families and
A little while lie helps them to get there sooner rather than later.
So, yes they do tell little while lies
And yes, it does cause harm
Perhaps not insurmountable harm but
Harm nonetheless.
And we have to put our trust in these people.........
Monday, February 21, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Justification: Sri Lanka's Excellence in Disaster Management
by Stewart Sloan
(February 10, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka Guardian) I have been accused on occasion of being sarcastic and even vitriolic towards the Sri Lankan government and the Rajapakse regime. In the aforementioned article I accused the government of turning a blind eye to the suffering of the people while paying more attention to the wellbeing of its MPs.
.....To-date there is no clear indication of just how much the government has allocated for disaster relief but it is known to be less than Rs. one billion. This is significant as the same government, just a few months ago, allocated 1.5 billion for the import permits for the vehicles purchased by the newly elected MPs......
Interestingly, on the day that my article was published there was also another article announcing that the government had set aside Rs. 850 Million towards relief work. Upon seeing this I felt somewhat justified in my approach and 'sarcasm'. Today however, I was completely vindicated by the announcement in The Island (Economist wants govt. plans reviewed following Rs. 50 bn flood damage -- February 8, 2011 by Shamindra Fernando).
I have admitted openly in these pages in the past that I failed O-Level maths while at school and did not receive an equivalency until I was 44-years-of-age, however, even I do not need to bring out my slide rule or calculator to work out that Rs. 850 Million is a bit short of the estimated sum of Rs. 50 Billion caused in damages.
Back to you my beloved detractors.
(February 10, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka Guardian) I have been accused on occasion of being sarcastic and even vitriolic towards the Sri Lankan government and the Rajapakse regime. In the aforementioned article I accused the government of turning a blind eye to the suffering of the people while paying more attention to the wellbeing of its MPs.
.....To-date there is no clear indication of just how much the government has allocated for disaster relief but it is known to be less than Rs. one billion. This is significant as the same government, just a few months ago, allocated 1.5 billion for the import permits for the vehicles purchased by the newly elected MPs......
Interestingly, on the day that my article was published there was also another article announcing that the government had set aside Rs. 850 Million towards relief work. Upon seeing this I felt somewhat justified in my approach and 'sarcasm'. Today however, I was completely vindicated by the announcement in The Island (Economist wants govt. plans reviewed following Rs. 50 bn flood damage -- February 8, 2011 by Shamindra Fernando).
I have admitted openly in these pages in the past that I failed O-Level maths while at school and did not receive an equivalency until I was 44-years-of-age, however, even I do not need to bring out my slide rule or calculator to work out that Rs. 850 Million is a bit short of the estimated sum of Rs. 50 Billion caused in damages.
Back to you my beloved detractors.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Sri Lanka's Excellence in Disaster Management
Reuters Pictures :
People stand at where a dam wall used to be, before it was destroyed by flood waters in Anuradhapura district, 206km (128 miles) north of Colombo, February 7, 2011. Heavy rain triggered flooding in Sri Lanka that killed at least eleven people and is threatening up to 90 percent of the island nation's staple rice crop,. heightening concerns over supply shocks and higher inflation,. according to officials.
by Stewart Sloan
(February 08, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka Guardian) Let's face it, if there is one thing that they can do properly in Sri Lanka it's manage a good disaster. Does that sound sarcastic? It is not meant to be. Believe me, there is nothing in the very least bit amusing about 42,000 people losing their lives in a tsunami, or thousands of persons being made homeless and destitute by flooding. There is also nothing amusing about millions of dollars meant for relief and reconstruction going missing.
What does, however, raise a smirk is the endless cant by the government that relief operations are in full swing.
In the most recent tragedy six districts have been inundated by as much rain in six days as would normally have fallen in six months. There was initial flooding and before any real relief or humanitarian efforts could be made another flood hit the same areas. As a result thousands of acres of paddy have been destroyed along with vegetable cultivation. This is the most damage caused to Sri Lankan crop cultivation in history. The cost of green chili, a staple, has risen from Rs.150 to Rs. 1000 per kilogram overnight along with other vegetables. In addition 400 head of cattle died and there is no way of knowing what effect the floods have had on the wildlife. It is, however, known that at least four wild elephants, animals revered and appreciated by all Sri Lankans, have died.
The flooding was followed by landslides in many areas and evacuations have been carried out after tests by government geological engineers. Many schools including 48 in the Central Province have been closed. The inmates of Anuradhapura prison were transferred to other locations. However, given the overcrowded conditions in Sri Lankan prisons this may be more of a boon that a curse.
When asked about the relief being provided by the government a Sri Lankan expat merely laughed.
A government circular provided on relief efforts limits the amount that state officers can hand out to not more than Rs. 230/= (US$ 2) per week per person. This circular was suspended but not withdrawn by the president on his return from the US (while it was a private visit the cost involved in this ten day jaunt could have gone a very long way to relieve the suffering of the affected people of his country).
To-date there is no clear indication of just how much the government has allocated for disaster relief but it is known to be less than Rs. one billion. This is significant as the same government, just a few months ago, allocated 1.5 billion for the import permits for the vehicles purchased by the newly elected MPs. Apparently, keeping 225 MPs happy is more an issue that relieving the suffering of thousands of people.
Six years after the 2004 tsunami there are still questions as to how the millions of dollars donated by countries and organisations has been spent, or misappropriated. It is interesting to note that these countries and organisations have not been so quick to jump in with relief as they were in 2004. Perhaps a final accounting of what happened to the tsunami relief funds and exactly what the government is doing to relieve the suffering caused by the present catastrophe might change this.
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.
People stand at where a dam wall used to be, before it was destroyed by flood waters in Anuradhapura district, 206km (128 miles) north of Colombo, February 7, 2011. Heavy rain triggered flooding in Sri Lanka that killed at least eleven people and is threatening up to 90 percent of the island nation's staple rice crop,. heightening concerns over supply shocks and higher inflation,. according to officials.
by Stewart Sloan
(February 08, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka Guardian) Let's face it, if there is one thing that they can do properly in Sri Lanka it's manage a good disaster. Does that sound sarcastic? It is not meant to be. Believe me, there is nothing in the very least bit amusing about 42,000 people losing their lives in a tsunami, or thousands of persons being made homeless and destitute by flooding. There is also nothing amusing about millions of dollars meant for relief and reconstruction going missing.
What does, however, raise a smirk is the endless cant by the government that relief operations are in full swing.
In the most recent tragedy six districts have been inundated by as much rain in six days as would normally have fallen in six months. There was initial flooding and before any real relief or humanitarian efforts could be made another flood hit the same areas. As a result thousands of acres of paddy have been destroyed along with vegetable cultivation. This is the most damage caused to Sri Lankan crop cultivation in history. The cost of green chili, a staple, has risen from Rs.150 to Rs. 1000 per kilogram overnight along with other vegetables. In addition 400 head of cattle died and there is no way of knowing what effect the floods have had on the wildlife. It is, however, known that at least four wild elephants, animals revered and appreciated by all Sri Lankans, have died.
The flooding was followed by landslides in many areas and evacuations have been carried out after tests by government geological engineers. Many schools including 48 in the Central Province have been closed. The inmates of Anuradhapura prison were transferred to other locations. However, given the overcrowded conditions in Sri Lankan prisons this may be more of a boon that a curse.
When asked about the relief being provided by the government a Sri Lankan expat merely laughed.
A government circular provided on relief efforts limits the amount that state officers can hand out to not more than Rs. 230/= (US$ 2) per week per person. This circular was suspended but not withdrawn by the president on his return from the US (while it was a private visit the cost involved in this ten day jaunt could have gone a very long way to relieve the suffering of the affected people of his country).
To-date there is no clear indication of just how much the government has allocated for disaster relief but it is known to be less than Rs. one billion. This is significant as the same government, just a few months ago, allocated 1.5 billion for the import permits for the vehicles purchased by the newly elected MPs. Apparently, keeping 225 MPs happy is more an issue that relieving the suffering of thousands of people.
Six years after the 2004 tsunami there are still questions as to how the millions of dollars donated by countries and organisations has been spent, or misappropriated. It is interesting to note that these countries and organisations have not been so quick to jump in with relief as they were in 2004. Perhaps a final accounting of what happened to the tsunami relief funds and exactly what the government is doing to relieve the suffering caused by the present catastrophe might change this.
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, February 1, 2011
Toothless dogs and laughing hyenas
by Stewart Sloan
(February 01, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka Guardian) It is a sad reflection on the commitment of the United Nations to human rights that they have not acknowledged the petition, asking for assistance for Prageeth Eknaligoda and when asked for their opinion of the arson attack on Lanka e News had not even heard of the incident. In a hurriedly prepared statement Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Martin Nesirky, said that, "Freedom of the media is vital and journalists should be able to carry out their work without fear of attack or being harassed to do the work that they need to do." What he did not say was that there was very little point in relying on the UN to ensure such freedom.
The hierarchy in the Sri Lankan government must be laughing through their teeth at the lackadaisical attitude of the UN. What happened to Ban Ki Moon's stance on investigating possible war crimes in Sri Lanka? There was the first grandiose announcement of the formation of his committee followed by the statement that they would visit the island nation and then the abrupt about face when the Sri Lankan government announced that they would not be given visas. Well, it was not absolutely necessary for them to visit anyway. You could almost hear the gales of laughter coming from Templetrees.
Eknaligoda's disappearance occurred over a year ago and has been one of the most widely reported cases involving journalists in South Asia. Just one week ago journalists and internationally acclaimed writers boycotted the Galle Literary Festival in support of the beleaguered journalists of Sri Lanka, it was at that festival that Sandya Eknaligoda, Prageeth's wife and their son held placards decrying his disappearance and asked the UN to take note. Is Ban Ki Moon so unwilling to rock the boat that he not only did not see this cry for help but went so far as to ignore it?
Perhaps the United Nations cannot be held solely responsible for the debacle of human rights in Sri Lanka when the rest of the world is more interested in lending money and selling military equipment to the Rajapakse regime. However, Ban has no right to hide behind anyone else's hypocrisy. Ban and the UN are the toothless dogs to Rajapakse's laughing hyenas.
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.
(February 01, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka Guardian) It is a sad reflection on the commitment of the United Nations to human rights that they have not acknowledged the petition, asking for assistance for Prageeth Eknaligoda and when asked for their opinion of the arson attack on Lanka e News had not even heard of the incident. In a hurriedly prepared statement Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Martin Nesirky, said that, "Freedom of the media is vital and journalists should be able to carry out their work without fear of attack or being harassed to do the work that they need to do." What he did not say was that there was very little point in relying on the UN to ensure such freedom.
The hierarchy in the Sri Lankan government must be laughing through their teeth at the lackadaisical attitude of the UN. What happened to Ban Ki Moon's stance on investigating possible war crimes in Sri Lanka? There was the first grandiose announcement of the formation of his committee followed by the statement that they would visit the island nation and then the abrupt about face when the Sri Lankan government announced that they would not be given visas. Well, it was not absolutely necessary for them to visit anyway. You could almost hear the gales of laughter coming from Templetrees.
Eknaligoda's disappearance occurred over a year ago and has been one of the most widely reported cases involving journalists in South Asia. Just one week ago journalists and internationally acclaimed writers boycotted the Galle Literary Festival in support of the beleaguered journalists of Sri Lanka, it was at that festival that Sandya Eknaligoda, Prageeth's wife and their son held placards decrying his disappearance and asked the UN to take note. Is Ban Ki Moon so unwilling to rock the boat that he not only did not see this cry for help but went so far as to ignore it?
Perhaps the United Nations cannot be held solely responsible for the debacle of human rights in Sri Lanka when the rest of the world is more interested in lending money and selling military equipment to the Rajapakse regime. However, Ban has no right to hide behind anyone else's hypocrisy. Ban and the UN are the toothless dogs to Rajapakse's laughing hyenas.
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.
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