19 April 2023

Gajalakshmi Paramasivam

 

 

 

MONKEY CITIZENSHIP BILL?

As per my experience based observation, the human brain receives information at different levels. In a free mental environment, the mind reveals the true reception. Hence transparency is essential in Democracy.

During a ‘free’ discussion of my article headed , one professional wrote ‘Unfortunately those Sri Lankan monkeys most suited for recruitment have left the country’

My mind then went to Sirima-Shastri Pact, about which  Wikipedia presents the following:

‘During the British rule, Tamils from Tamil Nadu were recruited to work in tea, coffee and coconut plantations of Ceylon. Due to continuous recruitment and population growth, of Indian Tamils constituted 13.5 percent (602,700) of the total population in 1921. By 1936, Indian Tamils numbered 1,123,000, 15.3 percent of the total population in 1936, and many of them were non-citizens of Ceylon.

Sinhalese nationalists resented the growth of the Tamil population and pressured the government to send them back to India. Therefore the government introduced the Ceylon Citizenship Bill. The act came into force in 1948, and it granted citizenship to about 5,000 Indian Tamils. However, more than 700,000 people (about 11%) were either non-citizens of Ceylon or became stateless. Pakistani

The above confirms that Sinhala Nationalists habitually distrusted Tamils, who remind them of majority power of Tamil Nadu, once one disregards sovereign borders.

The proposed monkey-export to China is the parallel of the above on the stated basis that they, like the Indian-Tamils have become dispensable. As per Ceylon Today report:

‘The decision of the Minister of Agriculture to export 100,000 toque monkeys stirred a debate as to the ultimate purpose of such export together with concerns as to whether it is done in accordance with the law and necessary assessments.

According to Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera, 100,000 toque monkeys will be exported to China to be displayed in zoos. This is in an effort to control the monkey population in Sri Lanka and with a view to reducing damage caused by the animals to cultivations.

However, no assessment of any kind has been conducted in this regard thus far. “Even the operations of the committee appointed last year to prepare a report regarding crop damage caused by animals was stalled as certain continuous requests made by the researchers were not complied with,” he said.

Senior Environmental Lawyer Dr. Jagath Gunawardana, commenting on the decision on social media, observed that although various sources indicate that the number of sub-species of monkeys in Sri Lanka is from 2 to 6, according to the book ‘Sri Lankan Primates’ published in 2012 containing the research report published by J. Fooden in the scientific journal ‘Primates’ in 1979, there are only two sub-species. They are ‘Macaca sinica sinica’ which is mainly found in the dry region and Macaca sinica aurifrons

Monkeys in Sri Lanka are not protected by law due to which even the killing of monkeys who damage crops is not considered illegal. He added that under such circumstances, toque monkeys could only be exported following obtaining a permit in accordance with Section 40 of the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance. According to this section, such permit shall not be issued except for the promotion of scientific knowledge including supplies to foreign museums, foreign zoological gardens in exchange for supplies to local museums or local zoological gardens.

Thereby, monkeys could be exported to China or any other country zoos or museums upon such request. He emphasised also that in many countries including Japan, monkeys are bred within the zoo for generations, adding thereby that the purpose behind the decision to export monkeys should be examined.’

As per my reading of the section this is a hasty conclusion, blinded by desire. Section 40 (2) of the ordinance states as follows:

‘Such permit shall not be issued except for the promotion of scientific knowledge including supplies to foreign musems, foreign zoological gardens in exchange for supplies to local museums or local zoological gardens.’

It is highly possible that Dr. Jagath Gunawardana was blind to the latter part of the said Section of the law, because he was eager to please the government. Be it desire or fear – they drive our mind through outcomes – often some parts of outcomes being imaginary. Hence one separates from the common team.

Interestingly, this legislation came into being in the same year – 1964 Mrs Sirimavo Bandaranaike initiated the deportation of Indian Tamils. Wikipedia presents this as follows:

‘In September 1964 Bandaranaike led a delegation to India to discuss the repatriation of the 975,000 stateless Tamils residing in Ceylon’

The lady failed to facilitate Humans through gradual acknowledgement of Tamils through appropriate visas including work visas. Their entitlement jumped into the jungle protection law of ‘Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance’.

This to me is no coincidence. The following section of the law indicates the jungle connection:

3. (1) Save as hereinafter provided-

(a) no person shall be entitled to enter any Strict Natural Reserve or Nature Reserve, or in any way to disturb the fauna and flora therein ;

(b) no person shall be entitled to enter any National Park except for the purpose of observing the fauna and flora therein ;

(c) no animal shall be hunted, killed or taken, and no plant shall be damaged, collected or destroyed in a Strict Natural Reserve, destroyed, in a Strict National Reserve,

( d) no person shall hunt, shoot, kill or take any wild animal, or take or destroy any egg of any bird or reptile or any nest of any bird, in any Sanctuary

 

The philosophy underpinning this is that even though Indian Tamils were repatriated, their spirit remained in Sri Lanka, including through the Hon  Arumugam Thondaman was the grandson of the Hon Savumiamoorthy Thondaman who is honoured as follows:

At the time of his death, he was both the oldest and the seniormost member of the Sri Lankan Cabinet where he had served continuously for 21 years from 1978, under four Sri Lankan Presidents and the leader of the political party Ceylon Workers' Congress. He was succeeded by his grandson Arumugam Thondaman who was born in 1964’

 

The plan is to export  Toque Macaques who are known also as Macaca Sinica (of China) is the parallel of Indian Tamil repatriation. If carried out there is likely to be Chino-Lanka war through communists. The prevention is provided through Section 40 (2) of the ordinance which recommends a family barter system. As per Hindu culture, there needs to be no money transactions except on the basis of need, or structure – as provided for through community law. Money without need separates – as has already happened with China/Sinica.