Gajalakshmi Paramasivam

28 June 2018

Child Abuse and War profiteering

It was heart wrenching to learn about the six year old girl in Chulipuram, Vaddukoddai, in Northern Province, being raped and murdered (http://www.ceylontoday.lk/print-edition/2/print-more/7653). The alleged reason was stolen toddy. But the root cause is lack of firm relationships in families and physically crowded environments where ‘freedom’ is enjoyed at low levels. Did we always have this problem in North which boasts of strong family and community commitments? Or is it due to the war – especially where children and immature adults became soldiers? Is it due to the ‘gap’ between past and present due to emigration ? Where a sad manifestation is isolated – one is entitled to not do anything about it but feel for the victims. But where the indicators strongly confirm that it is a common problem all of us who feel we belong to that common area must contribute to the solution – at least through prayers.

A Tamil leader from London indicated a major cause of the problem as follows:

[Diaspora Tamils are dreamers of yesteryears so detached from the reality facing the Tamil people in Sri Lanka. The affluent and able Tamil Diaspora does not even know there are serious social pressures in sections of the Diaspora Tamils. Sadly Kondattams and lavish Kaliyatams to expose their wealth is taking place so insensitively. Puberty celebrations have become disgrace and extravagant birthday parties for the 50’s and 60’s have nauseating  thamashas. ……………]

I identify with the above as indicator of common problem within the Tamil Diaspora which naturally infects their respective home-areas in Sri Lanka. Hence I looked within for common areas of vulnerability – especially in issues where the West is ‘free’ by culture – such as more freedom in enjoying sexual pleasures than in the ‘traditional’ eastern communities where such enjoyment is regulated trough marriage and family relationships. Hence I looked within – as a person naturally common person to both cultures. Ultimately one has one’s own unique culture based on one’s own true abstinence of early pleasures towards common life.

I found by living as part of Thunaivi – a toddy tapper village not too far from Chulipuram mentioned above – that weddings, puberty celebrations and lavish birthday parties are not unusual in that toddy tapper community. Likewise the Vaddukoddai community here in Australia.  The video of London Pannagam Association gathering at http://www.pannagam.com/association.htm  where food is served  to those on stage and photos of Canada Association at https://www.facebook.com/pg/CanadaPannagam/photos/  , where LTTE leader who killed elected leader of that area, Mr Amirthalingam confirm lack of commitment to structure and that frivolous enjoyment  is common between the Tamil home communities and the Tamil Diaspora. A community that has seriously suffered due to the war would not enjoy such pleasures at any level – leave alone publicly.

They just copy those whom they see on TV and also the net and through personal interactions. In Thunaivi, even those who do not work have smart phones.  I stopped residing there after our cottage was repeatedly stoned because I reported theft and trespass to the Vaddukoddai Police. But I do spend the day from time to time, towards strengthening my protective Energy that I believe would help those who are of common faith – especially through our family temple which is now protected from Trespassers carrying ‘party genes’.

When we suffer and internalize that pain we develop natural structures that elevate our thinking and reception in that environment. That becomes our natural protection. Such protection comes with us wherever we go and warns us to leave an area where we do not have control over what is to come. That is how Colombo Tamils developed their protective strength to continue to live in an area that was seriously wounded by civil riots in which Tamils became victims. Taking revenge – an eye for an eye has made the whole blind.

Those who lived in isolated communities specialising in manual work – tend to use emotions as their weapons. This was seriously strengthened during the war. If it had ended there one could say all was fair in war. But both sides are using the other side’s weaknesses to promote themselves. As per recent news, Reverend Father S. J. Emmanuel , an elected leader of Global Tamil Forum – based in London, was likely to be fielded by TNA’s Mr Sumanthiran as a candidate for the position of Chief Minister in the upcoming Provincial elections. That would be so wrong. Here in Australia, the latest development in this regard has been reported by Sydney Morning Herald as follows:

‘The laws will set up a register of people and organisations that are pushing the interests of foreign governments or political organisations, with criminal penalties for those that are liable for registration but refuse.’

Given that GTF by its very nature is Politically driven, it would be counterproductive to both nations – for members of such groups to represent the public of one nation in the other. It’s based on the same philosophy as Dual Citizenship.

On the other side Mr Wigneswaran who as per my memory opened the new local government building in the Hon Appapillai Amirthalingam’s electorate is indiscriminately mixing the structures of the two groups – Politicians and Armed Rebels – and is referring to Velupillai Prabhakaran as Tambi / Younger brother. This would naturally weaken the political structures that civilians developed in an area – to the extent they leave even personal protection to those who are more physically powerful.

Instead of leaving it to the Politicians and/or armed rebels – civilians need to separate themselves into small groups that could be self-managed. Where armed persons and those who use physical power before mental power are leaders – those seeking the mental pathways of faith in a wider community and those driven by intellectual skills – must set up their own separate units – however small they may seem on the outside. That is what democracy is about. The mind would travel beyond the body to invoke the alliance that we need at our time of need.

The LTTE lived by the gun and it was an honor for them to die by the gun. Not so those who seek the democratic pathway and this includes Mr Wigeneswaran who promoted Ms Ananthy Sasitharan who promoted herself through LTTE association and who won her seat by playing on the emotions of civilians wounded by armed forces of the government. LTTE was very much responsible for inviting those forces into civilian areas.

As per recent Daily Mirror report, ‘Northern CM opposes using soldiers for development projects’ – Mr Wigneswaran is against armed forces involving in civilian work.  If he was practicing Dharma / Righteousness he would first clean his own cabinet of those involved in armed rebellion – unless they categorically renounced all benefits including election wins – through that pathway AND proved themselves to be providers of outstanding civilian service from zero base. This is highly unlikely with Ms Ananthy Sasitharan whom I heard speak at Chulipuram mentioned above, with strong passion for the likes of her husband who as per my knowledge was a dignified soldier within his chosen community. He did not need the demotion of an elected government to uphold his leadership position in his group.

The first duty of the Diaspora is to replace itself to fill the ‘gap’ that emigration caused. If the Diaspora is busy promoting itself in the new countries by taking high positions in small groups – they become indebted to the communities that groomed them.  As mentioned above, this has become unlawful in Australia in any case. The new law means that we can no longer leave it to the government to protect Australia being invaded by foreign powers but that each citizen must protect her/his home area from such infiltration – especially through easy donations which are really ‘cost’ they pay for us selling our ‘home-values’. Unless Father Emmanuel was a politician before leaving Sri Lanka, he is unlikely to succeed where Mr Wigneswaran failed.

I continue to promote order in the Vaddukoddai community where caste based separations continue to be practiced.  Premature mixing would lead to destruction of traditional structures and the hierarchical positions that come with  such structures. Until we become truly democratic – we need to consciously and sometimes expressly preserve such structures. Those of junior caste tend to take equal positions with more educated folks, once they think there are no more benefits to come. Their relatives in money affluent countries themselves live in ghettos and tend to be driven by new luxuries. They disconnect with traditional structures and the Energies that went into the development and maintenance of such structures.

The value of positions is that they separate and protect internally. One who operates within position borders is protected by the whole. That is the law of nature. In democracy where Equal positioning is facilitated between different cultures – one must expressly stay away from the other. The LTTE failed due to wanting leadership over the political and intellectual communities. The Northern Provincial Council has failed due to indiscriminate mixing of civilian leadership and armed leadership. Mr. Wigneswaran is a foreigner to MY JAFFNA where there is room for all but intellectuals lead the whole.
What solution does Ms Ananthy Sasitharan, Minister for  Women's Affairs, Rehabilitation & Social Service have to the children of Vaddukoddai who have become the targets of those who do not have enough work to control their  bodies and minds?

 

Gajalakshmi Paramasivam

27 June 2018

The Question of Tamil Leadership

 

Yesterday, in response to my article ‘Judicial King  or Political Indian – Who is speaking?’ (at http://austms.blogspot.com.au/ ) a  Tamil leader from Europe referred me to the article headed ‘Brother Prabhakaran is always the leader of Tamils – Sampanthan’ published by Canada Mirror – at http://www.canadamirror.com/srilanka/04/131284

My response to the above went as follows:

‘I do not know of anyone in North or East who have expressed their belief that VP is their mentor / leader. There are those who admire VP for his skills. But mentoring requires deep common faith. CVW who was groomed in a different environment has a duty to THAT group.  There needs to be separation of powers between armed rebels and official politicians who are officially an arm of the government. Neither Mr Sampanthan nor Mr Wigneswaran has the authority to indiscriminately mix the two. I maintained that separation when helping the LTTE set up democratic civil administration. I needed to not think of armed resistance and I did not. That is because like Gandhi I used the path of peaceful assembly – here in Australia and was sent to prison for it. But then that is not of value to the likes of you. That does not mean that there are no heirs to this heritage.’

Another reader responded as follows:

‘Wigneswaran has been and still is my biggest disappointment. He has in fact disgraced his position as a retired Supreme Court judge and has failed miserably as CM of the NP. He belongs to the garbage of Jaffna - this could be the reason why he has not organised the collection and disposal of the garbage of the province he is in charge of!’

The most mature expression of appreciation of my work went as follows:

‘Great and a refreshing piece that could see Prabakaran in an objective manner.’

The Canadian report distorted Mr Sampanthan’s words and it qualifies to be listed as cheap news. As per their own report, Mr Sampanthan said words to the effect ‘The Liberation Tigers also have a share in TNA.’ There is a huge difference between being a shareholder and being managing director.  At Kilinochchi where the Liberation Tigers had their headquarters, Mr Samapanthan was inclusive of them and rightly so. The People of Kilinochchi needed it. But that does not mean that Kilinochchi is the capital of Northern Province.

We need to have our own structures as per our true experiences to prevent such distorted reports from infecting our brain and causing mental disorders.

The separation risk between TNA led by ITAK and Mr Wigneswaran is nothing new. Deeper search informs us that Mr Wigneswaran is supported by Mr Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam – the grandson of the founder of Tamil Congress - the Hon G.G.Ponnambalam.  Tamil Congress and ITAK were the leading opposing parties over a long time. If they were united we would fail as a Democracy – just as the Sinhalese did.

In his interview through SBS radio here in Australia, Mr Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam did confirm his stronger consciousness of global influence than most other Tamil Politicians known to me. But in terms of votes in 2018 Local Government Elections,  Tamil Congress won only about a quarter of the votes won by ITAK – confirming that the People believed in ITAK much more than they did in Tamil Congress – despite Mr Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam referring to Prabhakaran as  Thesiya Thalaivar / National Leader. Those driven by outcomes tend to hijack popular labels. But the ordinary people who have suffered due to the war – would vote against another war and therefore against a group that claims to be led by armed rebels.

To my mind,  Tamil Congress in Northern Province is the parallel of TNA in National Parliament. So long as one feels for the victims of war,  that Truth would naturally support the party that represents that  person at the common level – be it national or global. On True basis – that is how self-governance is achieved including through majority vote. During his interview with SBS, Mr Ponnambalam  did demonstrate that the 13^th amendment to the Constitution, which brought about the formation of Provincial Governments, was to him not a significant achievement in Tamil Politics. To the extent Mr Wigneswaran relies on Mr Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam – he would dilute his own power as Chief Minister of a Tamil Province. On the other hand, as intellectuals, together they would be healthy opposition to TNA in Northern Province – and particularly in Jaffna – the intellectual capital of Northern Province.  The 2018 Local Government elections have also confirmed this – that the Jaffna voter is more intellectually driven relative to the Kilinochchi voter.

When our mind  is steady, Truth precedes knowledge. Those who have had the bitter experience of armed war would reject the leadership of Liberation Tigers but due to them being part of ourselves – the individuals would be ‘included’ – as Mr Samapanthan did and I also do in my circles. Unless Prabhakaran was led by Truth I would never accept him as People’s leader of Jaffna. Even in Prabhakaran’s home electorate of Valvettithurai, Tamil Congress achieved only half of ITAK’s votes. The other armed group EPDP came close behind Tamil Congress – confirming that the people of Valvettithurai are strongly driven by armed fight. They would elect an armed fighter and that must be respected and included by the intellectual leader. But that alone does not make Northern Province and certainly will NOT lead Tamils towards self-governance. The emotionally driven armed fighter often indulges in excesses and crosses the border between defence and invasion – as Liberation Tigers did for which the civilian Tamils paid the price.

In his Daily Mirror article ‘TNA set to split as elections approach’ Mr P.K.Balachandran states ‘While the Sampanthan faction has been busy with the process of drafting a new Sri Lankan constitution and taking up Tamil issues in parliament, Wigneswaran and his cohorts have kept debunking these efforts as a farce.’

So long as TNA is conscious of its inheritance from Genuine Political leaders of Sri Lanka – they need not need popular votes to endorse their work. Mr Wigneswaran on the other hand abandoned his inheritance in Common Judiciary of Sri Lanka and has demoted his investment to be popular in Northern Province. Once we demote inheritance to ‘outcomes’ level – we demote our own status. To become an independent politician Mr Wigneswaran needed to renounce his benefits from Judiciary – as Murugan did in the Hindu Mango legend. If on the other hand he needed to stay close to his parents/ancestors in Politics – because like Ganesh he also cannot run as fast as young Sumanthiran – he ought to rely on the wisdom of elders in the party.

True separation is healthy – so long as both sides have contributed equally – one intellectually and the other by actively doing the ground work. The former, if genuine has the opportunity to lead Sri Lanka intellectually. But the moment they want both – they are sent to their lower positions during election time by true voters – who ultimately drive the electorate from within.

Gajalakshmi Paramasivam

26 June 2018

Judicial King  or Political Indian – Who is speaking?

 

 

This morning I received email advice regarding the release of Mr C V Wigneswaran’s book headed "Neethiyarasar Pesukiraar" / Judicial King Speaks.

 

My search took me to the Tamil version of a report on this subject matter. As per that report, Mr Wigneswaran refers to LTTE leader as Brother Prabhakaran.  Velupillai Prabhakaran was no doubt the Chief of Armed rebels in Northern Sri Lanka – towards which he killed fellow rebels. There was no justice in killing politicians – who are heirs of the elders who fought for self-determination through various  intellectual pathways.  Prabhakaran  was very much a child in intellectual politics and more importantly, in a community that claims to be committed to Democracy – including through the Vaddukoddai Resolution 1976. So, if Prabharan is the younger brother of Mr Wigneswaran – one concludes that Mr Wigneswaran is the chief of armed rebels. Given that they expressly broke the law – how could Mr Wigneswaran be crowned king of judiciary?

 

During the reign of such a king the following experience was recorded by me:

 

 

 

 

 

 

In essence it is about my experience in Mallakam District Court – where I was insulted and treated like a mistress. It compares with the trauma experienced by Hindu queen Paanchali / Throupathi who asked the question  in the King’s Court as to whether her husband staked her,  his lawful wife, before he lost his status in a game or whether he did so after? If after he did not have the right to stake his wife – who married royalty and not a slave. Likewise, when we the People, go into a Courthouse – we are entitled to be treated as per our positions and not as slaves without rights.

 

Since the above happened during the reign of  King Wigneswaran one is entitled to conclude that his karma in respecting self-governing women is negative. In terms of Common Principles of Democratic system – Mr Wigneswaran, like Mr Rajapaksa is acting in breach of the Doctrine of Separation of Powers between the Judiciary and the Executive Government. What a shame that there is not a single Tamil, holding official position – using her/his leadership position to educate the public? Our heritage is being buried by frivolous deals and collusions. Do we deserve to call ourselves a self-governing community at that level? NO. People seeking self-governance need to stay away from such persons. They are selfish individuals.

 

In my case Truth prevailed to protect our heritage in our family elders. Those of us who draw on the real values through which we experience self-governance in all its sweetness – are the true heirs of Independent Tamil Leaders – wherever they may live and whenever they may have lived.

Ganesha  had only a mouse on which he could travel. So how could Ganesha beat him in the race? -

http://www.hindupedia.com/en/Ideals_and_Values/Duty_of_a_Son_or_a_Daughter_towards_Parents

Living in the Past or the Present?

 

This morning I wrote in my current book an account of one of my experiences in Thunaivi, Vaddukoddai in Northern Sri Lanka. In essence it was about a statement by a pro-government Tamil with London influence claiming that by asking for self-rule Tamils,  like Murugan have ended up with their kovanam / underwear – meaning indigenous power only.

The Hon Mano Ganesan has expressed his sentiments on this issue in his Facebook  posting of 18 June. To my mind, the honourable minister for National Dialogue seems to be stating that due to Tamil National Alliance (TNA) not joining the Government – there has been lack of progress in terms of  Political solution nor economic development. I on the other hand identify with the progress made by all common Sri Lankans through the outcome in which Tamils have Equal status as the Governing Party with executive powers in National Parliament.  

Where such opposition is also of Buddhist Sinhalese culture that structure is like minority status for the mother, relative to the father whose surname is carried by the common family. Where the leading opposition is different / diverse in culture – it is confirmation of Equality in National level leadership. No one needs to ‘give’ it to us. Those who contributed to this will be empowered naturally in any system of democracy – including at family level where husband and wife are ‘seen’ to be equal.

My observation in relation to the Thunaivi comments was that as per the philosophy demonstrated by that legend – Murugan renounced his parental wealth before declaring his own rule with his capital as Palani Hill. That Murugan has come to Nallur in Jaffna as Alankara Murugan (Decorated Murugan). In Thunaivi also – those who renounced the benefits from their Traditional culture –  have migrated to  various parts of Sri Lanka and beyond. The folks of Thunaivi are of toddy-tapper origin and it is not unusual for some of them to be seen to be climbing up Palmyrah trees to tap toddy. They say they feel more relaxed in that job than in others. The Tamil from London probably was ‘attached’ to the Jaffna of his times and hence the comment. He must have mistaken the ‘freedom’ that the kovanam confirmed for money poverty. That was the zero base start that confirmed globalization.

My attention was caught also by the following comments by Mr Sasanka Perera in his Island article ‘ Meena Amma’s Line Rooms; Anatomy of a Corporate Misadventure’:

If one visits Sri Lankan hotelier, Jetwing’s official website, amongst what can be set aside as ordinary promotions of local tourism, one specific ‘experience’ stands out for all the wrong reasons. Touted as ‘local living in the highlands’, this package is marketed specifically as ‘Meena Amma’s Line Room Experience.’ Line rooms are of course the horrendous living quarters initially constructed by the British for the laborers they had mass-transported from southern India beginning in the 19th century to work in Sri Lanka’s nascent planation sector. Their journeys of mass-migration, pain, death, relocation, living in squalor as well as their contribution to the national economy and local politics are well researched. One of the most recent attempts in this direction is Kumari Jayawardena’s and Rachel Kurian’s 2015 book, Class, Patriarchy and Ethnicity on Sri Lankan Plantations: Two Centuries of Power and Protest. If Jayawardena’s and Kurian’s work as well as that of other researchers places in context, the unenviable ground situation of this specific Sri Lankan ethno-cultural community, the discourse that emanates from Jetwing’s promotions take this narrative to an altogether different and absurd level of articulation.’

The parallel of the above is true of Jaffna also - where also Jetwing has two hotels. I started staying there after our cottage in Thunaivi was stoned because I reported some youth to the Police. This year I rang to wish my brother on May 12^th from Jetwing Jaffna, to wish my brother on his birthday.  My brother was born in Jaffna hospital across the road and we shared that experience – especially our mother’s challenges during that time. When I described not only Jetwing but the surroundings, my brother said that Jaffna sounds very different to the Jaffna he grew up in. My brother left Jaffna for Canada, in 1983, due to the war. My husband’s brother  was shot dead by the armed forces near Jaffna hospital. That area was seriously wounded by the war. Yet, I felt very much at home at Jetwing, Jaffna. I said to my brother that had I stayed on in Jaffna, I would have resided in a home with similar comforts. That confirms the structures that I have developed along the pathway. I now contribute to that global standard as a customer. That is how I pay my respects to Jaffna.

But now I do not keep in the front of my mind the memories of the past – as they happened. The essence of it is registered to motivate me to produce more like myself along MY pathway. I grew up in a home not too far from the city centre. That was good then and Jetwing  is its current version of my consolidated self.

Mr Sasanka Perera comments as follows on Jetwing promotion:

[What more would one want? An ‘authentic’ meal with sit in extras from the extended locality to perform the choreographed rituals of ‘authenticity.’ This is Jetwing’s corporatized understanding of estate labor’s ‘simple pleasures.’

But the simplest pleasure of many workers I have talked to over the years has been to escape from the cycles of poverty to which they were bound in the estates, and to ensure that their children had a better life away from the circumstances of poverty they were born into. In this context of sharp contradictions, I wonder what the ‘variety of traditional activities characteristic of their lifestyles’ that Jetwing has in store for us. Of course, to be reasonable, there could be many options. But if the experience has to be ‘authentic’ as claimed, then, over-consumption of alcohol widely available in the form of locally brewed hooch as well as national brands in local taverns and listening to nursery rhymes in dilapidated school buildings where the tin roofs leak in the rains might well be part of the overall experience. We do know from research that these are hardly far from day to day realities in many estates]

Like the folks of Thunaivi who continue to be toddy-tappers – the residents of that home that I lived in would continue to live in lesser luxury than myself. A complaint  of lack of sugar in  milk  cannot be directly related to the complaint of one who complains of lack of salt in the soup. Each manifestation needs to be taken in its own context. The boundaries are space or time.

Plantations need the tourism income and the investors in tourism would know how best to promote their investment in that area. Happiness of the plantation guy who remained a plantation worker cannot be compared directly with happiness of the likes of Mr Mano Ganesan who motivates those who seek to go national and global. They are relative to each other within that community. Outsiders – be it commentators or tourists – become trespassers  when insider information is used indiscriminately for their own publicity.  

Jetwing is good for Jaffna and I feel Jetwing in  Hill-country is also good for progress in that area.  Within the local electorate – time based relativity is used to measure progress. If  time is the border that separates – then place based relativity is the measure. Time measure should not be applied to the person who has chosen the wider current measure of multiculturalism.

Gajalakshmi Paramasivam

18 June 2018

                                                              

Preventing Sexual Abuse

 

According to Australian news:

‘AN 11-year-old girl who was allegedly abducted in broad daylight from a park and raped in a horrific five-hour ordeal has been praised as a hero.

Detective Superintendent Brett Greentree said the crimes were “horrific” and had sent “shivers down the spines” of the community, as the alleged attacker was remanded in custody on Sunday.’

When I first heard the news – I prayed to god – not only to protect my grandchildren but also to thank the powers that protected my own children here in Australia as well as over in Sri Lanka. To my mind the little girl mentioned above is Royalty. Whether that Governing quality is an individual, family or national characteristic, while of secondary importance, would help prevent future cover-ups.

This week I received a report about an arrest in Vaddukoddai town (Northern Sri Lanka) in relation to sexual abuse at an educational centre close to our own training centre. A male-teacher is reported to have been the culprit. But I was not surprised by the report. The order in families and various sections of the Vaddukoddai community have deteriorated due to lack of leaders of good conduct.  When I started residing there in 2006 – I found that any show of friendliness was received by the ‘boys’ as ‘sexual attraction’. Some set out to indicate it, while others used it to elevate their own importance – mentally. As is my way I wrote about it to the mothers of the young boys but they took no notice – probably because they did not know what to do. One of them was reported to have been part of a gang that brought a school-girl from another village, to an abandoned house. But, the matter was suppressed and the guy is now overseas. The mother of this young guy often talked about her sister committing suicide because a high caste master slapped her for using makeup. We have since learnt  also about the case of  Vithya Sivaloganathan’s brutal rape and murder by a group that spread laterally at the lower cultural level.

Equally disturbing to me was the following account under the heading ‘Two Sri Lankan Women Making News Overseas’ by the Island:

[Tanya Selvaratnam

We read in our newspapers too about this young Sri Lankan Harvard educated author, actor, producer and activist living in New York. Tanya came forward bravely to accuse Eric Schneiderman, New York’s Attorney General, with sexual harassment in an intimate relationship that deteriorated to almost manic abuse. The New Yorker magazine quoted her as saying that her yearlong affair with Schneiderman "was a fairytale that became a nightmare and quickly escalated into violence in the bedroom, even as he begged for threesomes. Sometimes, he’d tell me to call him Master, and he’d slap me until I did. He started calling me his ‘brown slave’ and demanding that I repeat that I was ‘his property’. It wasn’t consensual. This wasn’t sexual playacting. This was abusive, demeaning, threatening behavior."  The deepest irony of Schneiderman being accused thus is that he has long been a liberal Democratic champion of women’s rights, and recently a strong supporter of the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment. "As New York State’s highest-ranking law-enforcement officer, Schneiderman, who is sixty-three, has used his authority to take legal action against the disgraced film mogul Harvey Weinstein, and to demand greater compensation for the victims of Weinstein’s alleged sexual crimes."

What interested me most in what I read about this case was that The New Yorker and Times were awarded a joint Pulitzer Prize for coverage of sexual harassment. Schneiderman is reported to have issued a congratulatory tweet, praising "the brave women and men who spoke up about the sexual harassment they had endured at the hands of powerful men. Without these women, there would not be the critical national reckoning under way."

The story on Harvey Weinstein, head of Miramax and the Weinstein Company, came out in The New Yorker of 23 October 2017, researched and written by Ronnan Farrow. It was good to read that Farrow shared the Pulitzer for this article. I quoted from his article when I wrote on the issue of sexual harassment to this column on 10 November 2017 titled Abuse of Power.

Now Schneiderman is facing a reckoning of his own. I quote from The New Yorker: "As his prominence as a voice against sexual misconduct has risen, so, too, has the distress of four women with whom he has had romantic relationships or encounters. They accuse Schneiderman of having subjected them to nonconsensual physical violence. All have been reluctant to speak out, fearing reprisal. But two of the women, Michelle Manning Barish and Tanya Selvaratnam, have talked to The New Yorker on the record, because they feel that doing so could protect other women. They categorize the abuse he inflicted on them as ‘assault.’ They did not report their allegations to the police at the time, but both say they eventually sought medical attention after having been slapped and choked and threatened to be killed if they broke up with him."

Is the Island reporter not making the same mistake as The New Yorker and Times  - in relation to praising Tanya Selvaratnam ? To my mind, if as an adult, Tanya failed to do the parallel of what the 11 year old princess did – then it was consensual and is not fit to be shared with wider world. One who had the ‘right’ measure in terms of sexual enjoyment would have prevented such move or reported it immediately to the authorities. One who accepts other favours / quid pro quos – outside the official structure of a relationship – loses the right to complain to higher authorities or to even make a judgment. One who so judges is trading and not governing. Such a person would lack the preventive Energy and works independently to protect us.

People often tolerate and live with such ‘wrongs’ because they get other compensations. Hence as per their personal conscience / truth – they accepted such pain for other forms of pleasures. This can happen also - not only in marriage relationships but in any official relationship for various forms of returns.  It’s when we renounce our earned benefits for common good – that we have the natural preventive structures and Energies that we carry as intuitive powers. One who quietly cures develops such powers more strongly than those who trade-off  - after the due date. We need such women/minorities in environments where the official system of  law and order is weak even in Courts.

Commitment to marriage and the positions taken through such marriage is a strong preventive measure. Above that is true love.

Gajalakshmi Paramasivam

02 June 2018

                                                              

Minority behind every successful Majority

 

 

To my mind, the above confirms the high level of civilization that the English system followed back then. The observations by a Sinhala Nationalist went as follows:

 

‘OH MY GOD--MUST HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE RACIST SEAMAN TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND RECOGNISE REAL ROYALTY’

 

I doubt that it would have been difficult for Prince Philip to bow to another Royalty. We bow to our seniors under the hierarchical system. Many Sinhalese touch their parents’ feet and seek their blessings even now. Some to whom I am a mentor do this in Jaffna. That system would naturally result in respecting an independent leader holding parallel position – as a respectable person.  To my mind, therefore Queen Elizabeth & Prince Philip were bowing to their Equals who in the latter’s territory effectively become  seniors to the English and v.v. in English territory.

 

Those who are attached to their seniority, would have difficulty doing this. Many such examples could be found in Sinhalese politicians. One Sinhala Nationalist to whom I highlighted our Common British heritage wrote :

 

[May YOUR soul work towards a new system where, after an election, the minority will be chosen to rule.

Good luck. 

And while you are doing that perhaps you can take separatism in a new direction so that I am completely devoid of having any common heritage with the likes of you.]

I responded as follows to the first part:

[Mothers who get less status than fathers for Equal work and commitment,
become Shakthi/Energy. In Western world they express this by  the saying
that  there is a woman behind every successful man. Likewise minorities -
to the extent they work and commit themselves at a level equal to  or more than
the majority in that group. One could therefore say that there is a
minority behind every successful majority.]

Those who fail to have such a power avoid true success. That has become the sad story of Sri Lankan Politics and since the militancy – that of Tamil Eelam Politics which now includes a history of juniors disrespecting seniors – enough to kill the latter.  Those who disrespect seniors while benefiting from the work of seniors shrink due to their rejection of different cultures.

Juniors who seek to establish their own kingdom – need to renounce all benefits from the old system – as depicted by Lord Muruga on Palani Malai/ Mount Palani.]