humanity is my fraternity”
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By D. B. S. Jeyaraj
The tsunami rose in the Indian Ocean as many in Canada were
sitting down to Christmas dinner. Some describe the death and
damage it wrought as the first truly global disaster of a newly mature
world. A world in which stark images of distant ruin are brought
instantly into our homes. A planet that daunted intrepid explorers of
old, a world once regarded as impossibly vast, has been
transformed into an intimate community. Oceans may separate us
from South Asia, but we are a family.
Today, right now, we are connected by compassion. We must
nurture that connection. We must let those in distress, those who
have so few earthly possessions and so much unearthly pain “we
must let them know that we will be steadfast. We will help to raise
them up. We will be there for them“ now, and tomorrow as well. For
all the tomorrows it takes."
The Canadian Prime Minister was very correct when he spoke of the
positive Canadian response to the tragedy. The Canadian people
regardless of ethnicity or religion had responded with magnificent
generosity. Ordinary people and institutions were donating lavishly
to charities aiming at tsunami relief. Sri Lankan - Canadians in
Canada were touched by the numerous expressions of concern and
sympathy extended to them by fellow Countrymen from all walks of
life in the days after the tragedy that was given much publicity over
the media.
Paul Martin also mentioned a particular incident in Sri Lanka during
his address. He went on to say - "Along the south coast of Sri Lanka,
Our Lady of Matara Church sits across a narrow road from the
ocean. The church is known throughout the country for its small
statue of Mary and the Baby Jesus. The faithful have long made
pilgrimages to see the artifact, which was pulled from the sea by
fishermen some five centuries ago. On the morning of Dec. 26,
communion was just beginning in the church when the waves came.
The parishioners were so close to the sea, they had no warning. At
least seventeen people died in the sanctuary, where they had come
to worship God.
The pastor survived. He struggled to save the statue, but a wall of
water swept it away. History has it that the statue was lost twice
before, once when it was misplaced for many years, and once in a
shipwreck at sea. Both times it was recovered. And it would be so
again. Three days after the tsunami, the small statue was
discovered, undamaged, in a nearby garden. The pastor said of the
likeness of Mary: "She came from the sea. She knows how to swim."
As a human being, as a person of faith, I'm not sure exactly what to
take from this. It's heartbreaking to imagine the horror that must
have been brought to that most serene of places. And yet each time
I think of it I find some hope, a renewed sense that true faith is
unshakable, eternal. That's the human instinct, of course is to
search for a flicker of hope in even the most dire and dark of
circumstances. We see it in the response within our borders".Along
the south coast of Sri Lanka, Our Lady of Matara Church sits across
a narrow road from the ocean. The church is known throughout the
country for its small statue of Mary and the Baby Jesus. The faithful
have long made pilgrimages to see the artifact, which was pulled
from the sea by fishermen some five centuries ago". [Contd.]
Sunday Essay by Ajith Samaranayake
Now that the debris is being cleared away and the country is
coming to terms with the terrible human and emotional cost of the
Tsunami tragedy the hunt for villains and culprits has begun in
earnest.
Perhaps a nation ravaged by the most awful calamity in her
history has need for an exercise in collective catharsis. So while
the writers and the columnists are trying to draw metaphysical and
philosophical conclusions from December 26 the more logical and
practical-minded are seeking to find out whether the disaster
could not have been forecast so that there would not have been
such a terrible cost in human lives and suffering.
Government's opposition to allow UN Secretary General Kofi
Annan to visit tsunami devastated areas in the North and East has
widened the gap between the LTTE and the government on the
resumption of peace talks, the Sudaroli screamed in its lead story
on Monday and added that the tigers were angered by this action.
In a related story the paper said hundreds of people gathered in
the Jaffna town and held a demonstration opposite the UN branch
office demanding that the UN Head should visit the North and East.
In another front page story the paper said President Kumaratunga
herself had said that it was the government that advised the
Secretary General not to visit the North-East.
The Thinakkural quoted LTTE political wing leader Thamilselvan
and said the government had destroyed the efforts on peace by
preventing Kofi Annan from going to the North-East.
TNA leader R. Sampanthan and Parliamentarian Gajendrakumar
Ponnambalam met with Kofi Annan before his departure and
complained about discrimination in the rehabilitation work in the
North-East.
The Thinakaran in its lead story said that Kofi Annan had assured
that equal assistance would be granted to all affected areas in the
country. The Thinakaran on Tuesday quoted President
Kumaratunga and said houses would be built within 90 days for all
those families who lost their dwellings in the tsunami.
All Tamil dailies reported the death of former Parliamentarian and
Leader of the EROS, Shankar Raji.
NEWS - RELIEF - ALERT # 2
Operation STRUCTURE -
Tsunami
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
At least one Canadian official was puzzled when this writer
informed him of the demographic nuances. The earlier
understanding had been that the tsunami had victimised the
Amparai people in accordance with the overall population ratio.
Despite the unevenness of tsunami damage, the Canadians too
are playing it safe by seemingly adopting an ethnic balance
regardless of need based imperatives. [Contd.]
The little schoolboy who innocently quizzed the President, A.P.J.
Abdul Kalam, about God may have, unknowingly, joined a
worldwide debate around one of the most profound philosophical
questions raised by the tsunami disaster — whether there is,
indeed, such a thing as an "omnipotent," "omniscient" and
"benevolent" God and, if so, how did he allow a human tragedy of
such proportions to happen?
For Eons now, a hero who is superhuman, a villain who is brutal
and a heroine who is vulnerable are characters chiselled to suit
formula ventures in cinema.
The same combo comes together to provide some masala fare in
Mars Entertainment Group & Motion Pictures Partners
International's "Aayudham." And it's all very fine if you are not
looking for anything innovative in the entertainment offered.
Siva (Prashanth) is a medical college student who is easily irked
by the atrocities around him.
As many as six Tamil films are being released today, special day
for Tamils. Kavithalaya's "Aiya," Supergood films "Thiruppachi,"
Mars Entertainment Group "Aayudham," Roja Combines's
"Devadhaiyai Kandaen," K. R. Infotainment Pvt. Ltd. "Dancer,"
and a dubbed film featuring Arjun will provide entertainment for
the eager fans of stars.
1447, Gerrard Street,
Toronto
Tel: 416-778-4542
Mr. Dixit, who would have turned 69 on January 8, was well known
in the region — having been envoy to Sri Lanka, Pakistan and
Afghanistan — as well as being responsible for opening India's
first mission to Bangladesh. He was the Foreign Secretary from
November 1991 to February 1994.
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