pic credit- Colombo Gazette

And now the Jaffna office has been burnt down. The Government has been quick state this was a malicious act conducted by Uthayan to frame the government. Sure, Uthayan Newspapers which has been around since 1985– and which has continued to publish their paper even though they’ve been attacked, and journalists and staff killed– would set their own office ablaze (losing important documents) so that they can make the government look bad.

I’ve spoken to the Editors of Uthayan, and they’ve given me a list of incidents that have taken place since 2006. Over the 7 years, not a single arrest has been made. They informed me that Uthayan has been attacked and threatened by the terrorists during the war, as well as political authorities.

I’ve reproduced the document (unedited) listing the murders, attacks and threats since 2006. Note– NO arrests have been made.

02.05.2006:

Marketing Manger Mr. Bastian George Sahayadas (Suresh – 36) and Rajaratnam Ranjithkumar (25) employee shot dead within the office, 02 others maimed and several others injured. Also damaged the Electronic and Electrical items by shooting, Machineries and furniture did not escape their eyes.

The net result was the Senior Journalists abstained from coming to the Office.

11.08.2006:

Divisional reporters due to threatening failed to give news stories.

11.08.2006:

Sales.

Before the closer of A-9 Road, we had been printing 25,000 copies daily with 20 pages.(i.e. very occasionally) whenever there is a delay due to the transport by road from Colombo and the number of pages for Sunday were 20 + 08 with a weekly Supplement.

Even after the closer of A- 9 road (on the 11^th August, 2006, we manged to continue with the normal circulation of 25,000 copies with 20 pages. But we were compelled to reduce the pages step from 20 to 08 pages and the number of 22,000. But since there was no symptom about the permission to bring the News print by ship, we reduced our pages to 8,6 and then 04 and the number of copies from 25,000 to 22,000 then to 16,000, 6,500 and from February 2007 to 5,000.

In the survey Conducted by the “Media Habitat” institute in 2005 it was catecorised that Uthayan had the highest sales amounting to 389,381 per month out of the 8 Tamil dailies that are published in Sri Lanka.

15.08.2006:

While Uthayan driver, Sampasivan Baskaran was distributing our News Paper to the Agents he was shot dead.

18.08.2006:

Uthayan main stores and our stock of News print fully burnt.

10.09.2006:

Several gunmen entered the Uthayan premises (during the curfew hours) jumping over the wall and walked up straight to our Editorial floor. The alert Security Guard informed the Police (They are being posted by the Government after May 2^nd massacre at our office.)

The police immediately rushed and apprehended the intruders in civil and subsequently released them without taking any action against them.

This was officially reported to high ranking Police Officers.

23.09.2006:

At about 04.00 P.M., Curfew time, Major general G.A.Chandrasiri, the Commanding Officer of the Security Forces in Jaffna, sent his men from Palaly Head Quarters to bring Uthayan Editor. As the Editor was not available a Senior Journalist represented him.

 He told the journalist that news about Security Forces should not be published in Uthayan to tarnish them. If that is not adopted, the Newspaper Office will be sealed and publication ceased.

 He further added that a committee appointed by him will visit the Newspaper office, at nights for seven days (from 24.07.2006) for monitoring the news to be published. The Committee will make alternations if necessary.

The Commander continued; Journalist not to divulge details of his conversation. They should not go to the web, specially the “Tamil Net”. He said it is merely my advice to you and nothing else.

In fact, the S.F. Commander threatened Uthayan Journalist to toe the Government line or face closure of Uthayan.

24.10.2006:

At a function organized by the International Journalist Association Journalists Associations, Federation of Media Employees Trade Unions, Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance, Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum and Free Media Movement, the Award for Public Service and Tolerance Journalism was showered on Uthayan.

06.11.2006:

Commanding officer of 512 Brigade, summoned all three Newspaper representatives published in Jaffna under the pretext of News Conference.

Pointed out that the instructions issued to prohibited any news items and stories adverse to security forces in the news papers are not adhered. In future, any item such as comments from Illamparuthy (Ex Jaffna political chief of LTTE) should not be published.

Also added, news relating to Hero’s Day speech of LTTE Leader Prabaharan should not be published.

29.04.2007:

Mr.S.Rajvaraman (24) one of our Staff Reporters was shot dead by unidentified gunmen while on his way for duty to our Office in the morning.

07.05.2007:

Mr. Ranjith of 512 Brigade Jaffna, called over at our office and said that the Brigade Commander does not want us to publish any news relating to the students strike.

21.06.2007:

Unidentified gun men got down from the a ‘White Van’ and tried to intrude into the apartment of our Editor Mr.N. Vithyatharan and inquired from the Security personnel and tried to go inside pretending that they have come to meet him personally. But the Security Personnel wisely replied’ he is not inside and gone out’.

Immediately, it was informed to Government Instituted highly Powered monitoring Committee consisting of Government ministers and Politicos.

14.10.2007:

Commanding Officer of Major General G.A.Chandrasiri met the Press. He said still the news papers in Jaffna are publishing news stories tarnishing the image of Security Forces and news against them.

About six months back also there was a discussion about this. There must be a balance in publishing news. By publishing news about tarnishing, the actions and activities of security Forces you are not only hurting me but also the 30 thousand Army Men who are under me.

He indicated that Media unit is maintaining separate, files for each Newspaper particularly for news and articles not palatable to then.

17.11.2007:

One of Journalist cum Editorial Assistant Mr.V.Nimalrajah was kidnapped near an Army Check point at Navalar road, very close to our office. He is now in the list of missing persons.

06.01.2008:

An anonymous telephone caller from Kayts (Fortress of the Para Military Group” ordered in rough voice’ that publication of the Uthayan  be stopped immediately (i.e.07^th January).

An Official complaint was made at the Jaffna Police about this threat by the Chief Editor.

In addition to direct inhuman acts leading to stop the publication there are and were indirect pressures from the Security Forces to throttle the neck of the press.

                                                                                Here are some of them:

30.06.2008:

An Army Officer of Manohara Civil Office came to our office and requested from the General Manager for a list of all employees working at Uthayan.

01.07.2008:          

At about 7.30 P.M., an Army Officer named Mr. Prasanth from Manohara Civil Office, came and wanted to speak to the General Manager. As he was not on duty, he went away. The Officer named Mr. Prasanth of the Manohara Civil Office came again the following morning and spoke to the G.M. Then M.D. was contacted and spoke to the Officer and then he went away.

24.10.2008:        

At a function organized by the International Journalist Association, Federation of Journalists Associations, Federation of Media Employees Trade Unions, Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance, Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum and Free Media Movement,  the Award for Public Service and Tolerance Journalism was  showered on Uthayan.

02.02.2009:    

M/s, Wilson and Charles of the E.P.D.P. came to office in the morning and asked for the Editor. G.M. said that the Editor was not available and then they went away. Again in the evening at about 7.30 p.m., came and requested the Security Guard that they wanted to meet the Editor.  They were told that he was not available in his seat. Then they wanted to speak to any other person from the Editorial and  was told no one is available and M.D. was contacted, and M.D. spoke to them. When leaving the security point, they said that they would have to pay for all these as they have not highlighted about the demonstration they staged the previous day.

26.02.2009:      

Editor Uthayn/ Sudar Oli was kidnapped/ arrested while he was at a funeral house by an armed identified white van gang and was detained in Police custody and was released after 02 months.

24.03.2009:        

At 11.10 p.m. an unidentified crowd had hurled a grenade to the apartment of the Chief Editor within Uthayan premises. He narrowly escaped the attack without any injuries, but unfortunately the Police Guard who was on duty was badly injured and was immediately taken to hospital.

25.06.2009:      

All three news papers that were taken for delivery was snatched by two masked persons with small arms like swords and thrown to the middle of the road, poured petrol and burnt. This incident took place in close proximity to the town- in between Navlar Road and Anaipanthy junction. The hooligans ordered the Uthayan Delivery personnel to set fire to the News Papers. At the same time, Uthayan News papers were snatched from a private person who purchased same at the gate and does house delivery, were thrown on the road and burnt.

After the incident, Army Personnel are giving security for the distribution of all the three News Papers.

The burning of the three news papers is a revengeful Act for not publishing a statement issued under the nick name “Joint Tamil Body to Save the Country”.

29.06.2009.     

A Pamphlet was issued under the nick name of a Joint body called “Joint Tamil Body to Save the Country” stating that Uthayan would not be permitted to function, and the employees, Agents and correspondents would have to face death sentence, if Uthayan does not cease publication by 30^th June, 09.

30.06.2009:       

The S.F. Commander Pallay and Political parties issued statements condemning the threat to Uthayan. Also informed the security Officers about same and they took timely action in regard to the distribution of our News Paper and informed the Agents, Reporters and Employees to attend to the duties/work without fear.

01.07.2009:  

His Excellency the President on hearing same, immediately issued a statement that Uthayan should not be harassed. Remedial measures were taken in this regard.

07.07.2009:    

 The above mentioned pamphlet was sent to three of the Agents in Vadamardchi Area. They informed us immediately on receipt of pamphlet and timely action taken in this regard as well. In the midst of all these trials and tribulations, Uthayan received the Highest Award for Protecting the Press Freedom in

Sri Lanka for 2008 by the Editors Guild of Sri Lanka.

04.02.2010    

Uthayan, Chudar Oli Editor Mr. N.Vithyatharan was threaten by  Kishore Sivanathan M.P.

16.03.2011:            

A Police Constable named Ratnadasa Prdeepan alias Setti of Atchuvely South entered Uthayan Premises and threatened the employees saying that he would set fire to the entire building; was arrested by the Police within the premises itself.

07.04.2011:      

The Uthayan News Paper was banned and not allowed to be taken inside the premises of the Municipal Council premise by the Mayor Mrs. Yogeswaray Patgunarajah. She also ordered to her Officers that with immediate effect, advertisement or news should not be given to the Uthayn News Paper.

29.04.2011:         

Mr. Puvanenthira Mayurathan, a Reporter of Uthayan was manhandled and beaten up at the Jaffna University Premises by the students and Security personnel when he had gone to collect news.

28.05.2011:      

Uthayan Reporter Mr.S.Kavitharan, was assaulted at about 6.30 A.M. on his way to Office by four unidentified persons. This occurred in close proximity to the Jaffna Hindu College Play Grounds.

16.06.2011:                 

Uthayn Photographer Mr. Ratnum was attacked and he sustained severe injuries in his hand at the T.N.A. Local Government Propaganda Meeting held at Alvaddy Mahajana College Building.

05.07.2011:         

Death threat to Mr. E.Saravanabavan, Member of Parliament. At about 9.25 P.M., a threat call was received by the Member of Parliament. The caller warned that the Member of Parliament should leave the country and if he stayed in the country, he should stop criticizing the Government and the Ministers, if not he will be murdered. He should leave the country within 02 days.

29.07.2011:   

Uthayn News Editor Mr. Gnasundaram Kuganathan was assaulted and was seriously injured, when he was returning home after the day’s duty at about 7.30 P.M., by two un identified armed men. This occurred in close proximity to an Army Camp on the Navalar Road junction.

26.04.2012.                        

Minister Douglas Devananda has filed an action in the court demanding thousand million rupees to control and suppress the freedom of expression and freedom of publication of “Uthayn News Paper”. This legal action is filed for the news item that pertains to the contents of Wikileaks exposing the murders of the people by the EPDP cadre.

15.05.2012.      

Minister Douglas Devananda has filed action in the Jaffna court, demanding thousand million rupees against the Managing Director and Chief Editor of “Uthayan” saying that libel news items are being published by “Uthayan” news paper by distorting and tarnishing his public image.

23.07.2012.  

Major General Jagath Jayasooriya Commander of the Sri Lankan Army has filed an action in the court demanding rupees hundred million for a news item appeared in the “Uthayan News Paper” on 11.07.2012, which claims that it conveys a wrong message to the readers to effect that as the Commander of the Sri Lankan Army has no control over subordinate officers.

27.11.2012:  

Uthayan Managing Director Mr. E.Sarvanapavan, who visited at the scene of pandemonium created by Military Personnel in civil and the Police. The Army soldiers who were in civil dress have throw stones at him and also to his vehicle.

27.11.2012:  

The media reporters who have gone to University premises to collect news were attacked by arm forces on 27.12.2012.

27.11.2012.    

The Managing Director of  ‘Uthayan’  Mr.E.Sarvanapavan, who is also a Member of Parliament had visited the University of Jaffna, no sooner he heard that a clash between the students and Police. He was prevented by the Army to enter, but he managed to reach the destination, where the clash was took place. When he returned to take his vehicle, he found that all the glasses of his van fully broken and damaged. The surprising matter is that the vehicle was parked near the Army check point.

10.01.2013.   

“Uthayn” News Paper delivery employee Mr. N.Pratheepan (30years old) was waylaid and brutally attacked by some unidentified mask mob with iron bars wrapped with barbed wire sustained serious injuries all over his body and also a fracture in his right hand. He has been admitted to Jaffna Teaching Hospital in a critical condition.

15.01.2013. 

At a protest rally organized by Equal Rights, Movement, in front of Jaffna bus stand, to give pressure to release the Jaffna University Students, the crude oil was thrown on media reporters, who were there to cover news assignments. “Uthayan” reporters Mr. K.Nirojan is also one of the journalists, who were affected.

07.02.2013.     

Two unidentified men has chased the “Uthayan” delivery employee at Kopay junction, who has taken news papers to Valvettiturai for delivery. But he escaped without being attacked.

15.02.2013.    

The “Uthayan on Line” journalist’s camera has been plunged and damaged by an Army Officer at the satyagraha held by the people of Valigamam North at Tellippallai in front of the Durgai Amman temple.

20.03.2013

Mr. G.Deleepamuthan, our staff reporter, had been threaten bodily harm and warned by a senior officer – Brigade Commander 512 – Brigadier Ajith Pannawella, who was in civil.

 The Staff Reporter took a picture of the event “Attention Drawing Campaign” held at central bus stand: Jaffna today     (20^th March 2013).

Our staff has told the Army Officer that he was taking the photo for the press. He also tried to show the Media accreditation card issued by the Department of Information for the year 2013.

The Officer said that he knows well that Deleep from ‘UTHAYAN’.

Our staff told repeatedly the Army Officer, that he is taking the photos to be published in the news paper. But Army officer reiterated that our staff is taking his personnel picture purposely and also commended (warned) “You go: I will see you.”

This is saying purported Intimidation to a journalist from a high officer of the Army, in Jaffna.

I explain to the man in a brown t-shirt, that one of the attendees of the ‘peaceful vigil‘ was just dragged off by the police. He looks surprised. Then he motions towards the barricade of police in front of us and remarks that they’ve brought cans of tear gas with them. I turn towards the policemen and take pictures of the cans. Then I hear a scuffle behind me.

I swing around and I see the police trying to haul off the man I was just speaking to! For a moment, I’m stunned. He hadn’t done anything. He was just standing there, watching what was going on. A few people tried to intercede, questioning the police as to why they were attempting to take him away. Seconds later, a well-known female activist is in between the policeman and the young man, trying to separate them. She is manhandled and shoved aside. I felt a little helpless. I felt worse that I wasn’t able to do anything apart from taking pictures. But then it struck me that I could help him, and everyone else who was detained by the police last evening by uploading my pictures and writing about what really went down. Especially since the events of last night have gone unreported in most of the print media and print media websites.

One of the people trying to intercede

Shreen trying to free the young man from the policeman’s grip

Manhandled and pushed back

Quite a few times I was asked what I was doing there. I flashed my media ID, which served like a protective shield. But others around me were being violently chased away. The crowd was dispersed, but they weren’t ready to give up. They took the vigil further up the road, to Gower Street. Here again the police quickly disrupted the vigil.

Vigil moves to Gower street

Dilantha Withanage

All while Dilantha Withanage (member of the BBS), charges that those who’d attended the vigil were trying to change the National Anthem, and that it is a criminal offence because it is against the Constitution. When I asked him under which Article it comes under, he responds– stammering– that if I’m a journalist, I should know which Article it is! So I asked him to enlighten me, seeing as he seemed to know more about the Constitution. All he did was parrot that as a journalist I should know it, which made it quite evident he could not prove the fustian he was spewing!

The print-outs that the attendees had with them were not, in fact, a new National Anthem, but a Buddhist prayer that they had planned to chant at the vigil.

Towards the end of the ruckus, while at Gower Street, a little balding man wearing a t-shirt with a BBS logo is trying to take a picture of me on his P&S camera. I move aside and take few steps to my right. He’s in front of me again trying to take my picture. I demand to know why he’s trying to take my picture, and he becomes confrontational. I ask him if he is from the media, explaining that I’m from the media, and I can take pictures. He tries to scuttle away, but I demand that he delete my picture. There are police standing two feet from us, surrounding the balding little man and me in a semi-circle. I ask them for help, but they just look confused!

An Editor of the Sunday Leader who was standing close by, walks up and explains to the policemen that the balding man can’t take my picture, and they should ask him to delete it. The policemen continue to look confused before they say we should speak to the OIC about it.

Several others I spoke to afterwards told me that their pictures were taken too. Clearly BBS is making note of the people who participated in the vigil. What are they going to do with the pictures? Who knows… They’ve got the police on their side, anything could happen.

Police protecting the BBS office

An attendee with taken away by the police

Police waiting with tear gas

BBS monks got involved

BBS monk quite pleased with their effort to disrupt the vigil

Filed under: Photography, Politics, Sri Lanka Tagged: Arrest, BBS, BQBBS, Buddhism, Buddhist Monks, Colombo, Law, Monks, Peaceful, Police, Politics, Sri Lanka, Vigil, Violence ]]> http://messiahofmadness.wordpress.com/2013/04/13/whose-side-is-the-law-on/feed/ 19 6.927468 79.848358 6.927468 79.848358 DSC_4700 The Puppeteer DSC_4719 DSC_4700 DSC_4701 DSC_4702 DSC_4766 DSC_4808 DSC_4686 DSC_4722 DSC_4719-2 DSC_4780 DSC_4782-2 DSC_4794 http://messiahofmadness.wordpress.com/2013/02/20/dear-bodu-bala-sena/ http://messiahofmadness.wordpress.com/2013/02/20/dear-bodu-bala-sena/#comments Wed, 20 Feb 2013 05:49:22 +0000 Meg http://messiahofmadness.wordpress.com/?p=4365 ]]>

Dear Bodu Bala Sena,

Over the past few months I’ve come to notice that you seem to dislike Halal meat. Perhaps you dined at a Halal restaurant and found the meat gamey. I can assure you though, that Halal meat is not too different from any other meat. What makes meat Halal is merely in the way the animal is slaughtered. Like you, we Muslims do not believe we can take lives willy-nilly. So we say a little prayer for the animal about to be slaughtered.

The animal’s throat is then slit. And that’s about it, really. Anyone can eat this meat; we’re happy to share our food with all of you– Buddhists and Hindus who choose to eat meat, Christians, atheists, and Scientologists too; no discrimination.

Of course, if you still have reservations about consuming Halal meat and wish to continue to boycott it, that’s fine. Though I see how this may circumscribe your dietary options. Quite a number of restaurants, cafes and eateries in Colombo serve Halal food. There are a fair number of meat products in the frozen food section of super markets as well. You would have to stick to Keells meat products. It would be a shame because then you wouldn’t get to try Bairaha’s saporous marinated chicken thighs that come in neat packets. You won’t get to taste Domino’s Pizzas either (though, trust me; you aren’t losing out on anything there).

While that may be a reason for you to boycott it, in the recent news reports you were demanding for this business of Halal certification to be chucked out entirely. And that’s what I find difficult to digest. Isn’t it the prerogative of the restaurant owner to decide if they want their food Halal certified or not? It would do better for their business if Muslims patronise their establishment. More customers the better, isn’t it?

By asking them to abandon their Halal certificates, they’ll lose their Muslims clientele. In these times of inflation and economic hardship, that’s not going to help them much. I sincerely hope you have thought this through.

A matter of interest

I wish to add that by demanding other Buddhists to boycott Halal food, you’re cooking up an unsavoury pot of odium for your community. Why create disharmony? You’re philosophy is about peace and so is my religion, I’m sure we can accommodate each other’s dietary preferences; peacefully. As it is right now, it’s the Muslims who stew over what we can and can’t eat. The Buddhists were free to eat whatever they fancy without giving it a second thought; now they will have to go through the pains of having to pick and choose their food too.

You may also be interested to know that during Ramazan, the mosque at the top of my lane feeds Buddhists who live in the area. During the month of Ramazan– right after the Asar prayers– the mosque distributes congee (rice porridge) which is consumed during iftar (breaking fast). The congee is, of course, Halal. Many Buddhists (who aren’t fasting) come to the mosque with buckets and join the Muslims (who are fasting) who have lined up for their iftar congee. The mosque does not refuse the non-Muslims congee, and this has been in practice for years.

The congee is not for free for the Muslims in the area. A few days before Ramazan begins, an official from the mosque visits the Muslim houses in the area and each household makes a donation for a month’s supply of congee ingredients. A month’s supply of congee that’s enough to feed ALL those who turn up at the mosque after Asar; irrespective of their religion.

The non-Muslims households don’t contribute to the mosque’s collection till; so for them the spiced porridge is for free.

By demanding for a boycott, the Buddhists in my neighbourhood will have to refrain from taking their bucket to the mosque during Ramazan. That would be a pity because some of them are not exactly well to do and could use the food.

Sri Lanka is a peace-loving, multicultural nation. We all enjoy each other’s festivals. Just as the Buddhists in my neighbourhood indulge in the Ramazan congee, during the Sinhala New Year, they bring around plates of kevum and kokis for us Muslims. We’ve been living quite peacefully over the years. It would be a shame if all of this came to an end now with your call to boycott Halal food, and your incitement of discord.

I do hope you will consider recanting your campaign, or at least allow the Buddhists people too choose for themselves if they wish to consume Halal meat or not– instead of stoutly banning it islandwide.

Yours Sincerely,

(Disappointed) Meg

Though it seems there are a few who believe the global One Billion Rising (OBR) campaign undermines the work of grassroot level organisation working on GBV (such as what this article expressed- Natalie Gyte). Or that it’s a campaign on a treadmill, like this comment on the Daily FT:

In response to Natalie Gyte and Arvind, expecting a policy change to spring from OBR is non-sequitur; at least I don’t expect anything of the sort to manifest here in Sri Lanka. OBR was more a collective global voice. It was one billion people across the world showing their antipathy towards all forms of violence against women. And unlike most boring or angry demonstrations, OBR had a twist. It had a more carnival atmosphere, it caught hold of public attention not by nettling them, but by being colourful; and even funny.

Funny like this-

So what good was OBR?

Here are my reasons:

1. And this is more of a response to Arvind’s comment about OBR being nongermane to Colombo. While Colombo may be more forward-thinking than rural areas of Sri Lanka, it does not mean that Colombo is free of rape, domestic violence and sexual harassment. In fact, I’ve interviewed domestic violence victims of the more elite areas of Colombo for an article.

The walls of their sprawling and grander homes don’t necessarily make it safe for women who live with a temperamental and abusive husband. Date rape, gang rape and incest, all happen in Colombo too. And sexual harassment is rampant here. Just walk around Colombo in jeans and t-shirt, and you’ll get an earful of luridly sexual comments, such as ‘nice pussy’ (that’s one I received while walking down Bullers Road, wearing jeans that were actually too big in size and a shirt!). And you’d be lucky if you aren’t groped. So, yes, OBR Colombo is a pertinent campaign– and it was trilingual.

2. Okay, so we stood around Lipton Circus for a few hours, what impact will it have on the public? Well, did you know that UNICEF revealed that an alarming number of young Sri Lankan women believe that domestic violence is acceptable? It’s alright for a husband to beat his wife around bit; it’s inherent in men and we have to accept that– is what these young women seem to think. Now this is something that’s imbibed in society and a campaign such as OBR can be an eye-opener for these women. It also teaches men that it is not normal or acceptable for them to treat women in such a way. Maybe they won’t stop, but at least it will ring in their conscience and they will know it’s wrong.

3. The people who participated will feel more empowered to speak out about it. Not all the people who participated were activists. Some of the people were regular office workers who believe that GBV is not acceptable, but they have not done anything about it before. And it creates some awareness in the media reports too.

Even Feminist have different opinions on discrimination

In response to Gyte’s views that some of the ‘reasons to rise’ were counter-productive, such as Stella Creasy speaking about One Billion rising and its inclusion of men in the campaign, and stating ‘violence is not a gender issue; this affects our societies as a whole’. I understand Creasy’s statement to mean that GBV is a universal problem; it affects men too.

But even if you disagree with Creasy, it’s important to understand that when it comes to one billion people across the world, there will be different takes on GBV that different people will stand for. For example there are different types of feminists in the world. There are those who believe that women should be free to walk around topless, just as men do. And there are some feminists who would disagree with that. I personally don’t believe that legalising prostitution will help sex workers,but there are feminists who believe that it will. And they and I were present at OBR Colombo. With the sheer number of people who participated, all sharing their own views, you can’t narrow it down. Not to mention, even on a grassroot level each will advocate either own opinions.

Even if it won’t pack as much punch as a grassroot level campaign, I believe OBR could do more good than harm.

I’ve posted a few more photographs I took of the Colombo campaign below. If you click on the images a nice slide show will blow up and you will be able to read the placards better.

I have a proposal to all those who drive in Sri Lanka. It’s a protest of sorts against a menace that has killed a few, left some severely injured, damaged vehicles and property, and angered even those who don’t drive.

I’m writing about the army and police convoys that clear the streets for ministers, who seem to be in a great hurry to get to their meetings or tea-parties for all we know.

This is something I’ve done and I think if every single driver in Sri Lanka does the same, we might actually be able to rid the roads of these baneful convoys.  The roads are public spaces, we shouldn’t be forced off it for some minister who has no qualms about putting our lives at risk.

I’ve been driven frothing mad by these convoys, and I think it’s time we showed the government we aren’t going to be pushed around any more. Articles in the newspapers, news reports and deaths have had no no effect on them, so it’s time we take some action.

The protest is simple. Don’t move.

While driving along a not-so-main-road on a lazy Sunday morning, I heard the deafening honking of the police convoy behind me. I figured that was it. Why should I move for these morons? If the minister is late, he should, like everyone else, leave earlier for whatever function/meeting their heading for. If it’s that their life is at risk (which is a ridiculous excuse) why should we care, considering they don’t give a damn about others on the road?

So I just cruised at 35-40km (within our sad speed limit). Sure, the convoy continued to honk angrily, but what could they do? Run over my car? Shoot me?

I’m part of the public, I’m on public property and I’m abiding by all the road rules. If they hurt me, they will be held responsible. Sure that doesn’t go a long way in Sri Lanka. But just imagine if ALL the traffic refused to be pushed around? There’s nothing they can do about it, and eventually they’re going to have to stop being the greatest menace on our roads.

This could be our little movement! Not exactly Tienanmen Square or the Egyptian revolution. But if we’ve got at least a modicum of democracy left we should make use of it; instead of being such an acquiescent nation.

A wider street in New Road, Kathmandu

Almost racing to keep up, we’re following our Nepali friend cum tour/foody guide. We navigate through New Road (a Pettah-like) marketplace– weaving through dense crowds of people, squeezing through narrow alleys, leaping out of the way of crazy motorcyclists and chickens, dipping through hobbit-sized entrances that lead into (what seems like) houses and courtyards  to end up at another street that looks completely different. A few rounds of this, then zipping past a saviar kade, and cutting through a small temple, we end up at a little shop hidden behind it.

Starving, we order chai  and a platter of dry flattened rice and curries—which I wasn’t too crazy about. But that wasn’t a sign of things to come!

Chai: the tea leaves are brewed in a saucepan of milk.

The platter of flat rice and curried potato, buffalo and chickpeas

Buff momos in gravy

Having found a vendor selling momos a la carte, we get a bowl of buff momos in gravy. I didn’t try the buff momos because they weren’t halal but my friends who did said the meat was tougher than beef but tasted amazing. They managed to wolf down three leafy bowls full of buff momos.

The best nana. Ever!

I had to settle for naans. I’ll never know if it was because I was absolutely famished, but those  naans are unparalleled. In a good way.

Of course I didn’t miss out on the momo experience.

Chicken momos I had at the lodge

The night before, while I was wandering around Thamel (a more touristy marketplace) some friends and I decided to get dinner at a local restaurant. Once again– hidden in a narrow alley, between some shops, was a Tibetan restaurant. I ordered a plate of vegetable ‘kothe momos’.

Veggie Kothe Momos

They were seasoned vegetables in a thin doughy wrapper which is steamed, and then pan fried on one side. It’s a lovely crispy momo! And while I’m more of a carnivore, I must say the veggie mix was so delicious I polished off the plate of 10 kothe momos! I was quite surprised myself.

Perfect Pani Puris

Why was I determined to try all the Nepali street food I possibly could on my last day in Nepal? Well, I believe hotels will never provide you with authentic local cuisine (the food at the lodge was mostly bland anyway). The only way you can get a ‘taste’ of the country is to try the street food.

Washed down with a chilled glass of Sprite and lime

Lunch at a restaurant: seasoned rice and mutton curry

And nothing is more popular than pani puris on the streets of Nepal. Yes, pani puri is actually very Indian, but that’s Nepali food for you. It’s a collision of Indian and Tibetan influences. And with over a 100 different ethnic groups scattered along the Himalayas; each community has their own traditional food varying from exceedingly spicy to surprisingly tame.

But I digress! A little earlier in the day we had a pani puri feast. Eating them went something like this- ‘one pani puri, two pani puris… and I’ve lost count’. I was standing by the wayside of a busy street in New Road, popping the crispiest and tastiest pani puris I’ve had to date. I told myself that’d be the last one but the puri vendor was already, expertly—or more accurately— mechanically reaching  for a puri in his gigantic plastic sack of puris.

Crack the puri and stuff it with curried potato

He cracks the crispy ball on the top with his thumb, stuffs it with a spicy potato mix, dips it in a watery (pani) sauce of mint and other herbs, all in what seems like one smooth movement, and places it on my little steel plate.

Dip it in delicious pani puri and place it the little steel plate the salivating costumer is holding out

Ready to eat pani puri

My newly acquired puri addiction overpowering my last though, I pop the pani puri into my mouth and crunch down on it. Flavoursome pani mixture pouring out into my mouth, and I gleefully munch on the crispy shell and potato mix.

Flat puri and my bony fingers

I’ve got a lot more street food to try out before I hop aboard my flight to Sri Lanka, so I finish off my pani puri feast, with a flat puri sprinkled with an exceptionally spicy chilli mix on top.

Pavement hawker selling gauva

Puris tucked in, I needed something sweet to appease my tongue wildly protesting against the last spicy puri. Just around the corner of the pavement are fruit sellers with trays of guava and custard apples. We pick a few fruits and proceed through the dusty, noisy streets in search of momos.

Street Food for the Sweet Tooth

During my stay at the hotel, I was surprised to be served jelabi for breakfast. Apparently, a glass of hot fresh milk and jelabi (like cookies and milk) is a popular breakfast treat among the upper caste. Apart from Jelabi they’ve got quite a few Indian influences such as rasgullas and gulab jamun.

The delicious stuff that I don’t know the name of…

But for something a little more Nepali, you can try this lovely sweet that’s of an interesting consistency. I can’t recall the name of it… but I will ask my Nepali friend what it’s called and post it here in due time.

Lapsi: like jujubes sans the sugar coat

It’s not too sweet, tastes a bit milky and it’s got more of a grainy texture. It’s the same texture as semolina pudding but a bit stiffer in consistency. I love it! Stop at any wayside sweet shop and you’ll find a tray of the sweet laid beside packets of candied lapsi (pronounced lopsy), and titaura which is chewy dried fruit (such as mango) that is sweet, sour or spicy, and almost always salty.

Well, that’s as much as I could stuff myself with in one day. I’m quite happy with having tried so many different types of food; I honestly wouldn’t have been able to do it without the help of Sunita, my awesome, super sweet, very crazy Nepali friend who went out of her way to give us the best experience, I could possibly ask for, of Nepal.

Another reason as to why I am rising, and this is what I stated in the One Billion Rising (OBR) South Asia video (that will be available on Youtube soon), is that violence against women affects men and children as well. It perpetuates violence against women and several degrees of emotional confusion felt by men, generation after generation.

Here’s an example; two years back when I wrote an article on the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act, I interviewed women victims of domestic violence. Many of these women had been beaten severely, some required surgery to piece back together their broken or crushed bones. They would be beaten repeatedly but they refused to divorce their husbands. When asked why, they would reply that their husbands loved them despite the various forms of brutality they inflicted on them. And you know what, their husbands really do love them. Women In Need (WIN) first provides counselling for the husband before they mention divorce. And WIN says that more often, counselling the husbands has helped.

As we all know men are not violent beasts, they are sensitive too, and quite capable of loving their partner. However, society does not allow men to show their sensitivity– after all they are the hunters; the breadwinners, right? A weak man is of no use, according to society. And so generations of boys have watched their mothers being beaten by their fathers, and some of them have grown conditioned into believing that it is manly to demonstrate their physical power to control their families. And then their wives and children fear them, they grow distant. The husband/father receives little or no affection from his family any more.

Is that fair? I don’t think so.

I think men, just as much as women, should be able to enjoy family life and affection. It’s the element of patriarchy in society that does not allow for men and boys to be sensitive, to enjoy their family life and  to express their sexuality (male homosexuals face all forms of harassment).

And that’s why I will rise on 14th February 2013, for women, men and children, to end violence against women. And I hope you will rise too.

One Billion Rising is an initiative by Eve Ensler. She’s made a moving short film on it; and while it hasn’t been released yet, here’s a trailer.

Inadvertently of course. Though it’s quite sad that they campaign with such passion to be exactly what patriarchy (and capitalism) wants of women.

Take slut-walk for instance. Sure, I agree that women should have the freedom to wear whatever they want and not be oogled or worse raped. But we all know that clothes have nothing to do with men oogling, passing remarks, sexually harassing or raping women.
There are friends of mine who despite wearing an abaya have been subjected to first three. I’ve heard cretinous men making disgusting comments though I was wearing a long sleeved kurta (not figure hugging) and jeans.

So men will harasses women no matter what they wear.

If I’ve managed to convince you of that, then the easy part is over. In order to illustrate how wearing revealing clothes is buying into exactly what patriarchy wants, I’ve posted a little quote from John Berger’s ‘Ways of Seeing’. It should help you understand the difference between being nude and naked (hopefully).

“To be naked is to be oneself.
To be nude is to be seen naked by others and yet not recognised for oneself.”
― John Berger, Ways of Seeing

Tribal women in Africa are naked. And there’s nothing wrong with that. If you wear a pair of shorts because you feel comfortable in them, there’s nothing wrong with that. If you’re exposing parts of your naked body because it makes you comfortable or helps you function better, then by all means you should continue to do so. The problem arises when women are ‘nude’. When they expose their bodies not for themselves but for men.

The day before I left for Nepal, I was at a social gathering of sorts and I noticed a girl in a very short dress. The dress ended a little below her bum. She didn’t look very comfortable in her dress. In fact, I think she must have been quite uncomfortable in it because every two minutes she would tug at the hem of her dress pulling it down. Every time she moved she seemed to instinctively pull her dress; putting whatever she was holding aside to do so.

From what I could see she wasn’t dressing for herself; she was dressing the way (most) men want her to dress; how patriarchy wants her to dress. By giving into patriarchy, she becomes an object in the eyes of the men in the room. An object for all the men to enjoy, at the expense of her comfort and mobility.

Now that wouldn’t be the same if she was completely comfortable in that dress. If she was exposing her legs and thighs, but had to compulsion to pull her dress down and could move about freely, then she is not nude.

Here’s a little extract from ‘Ways of Seeing’-

“But this has been at the cost of a woman’s self being split into two. A woman must continually watch herself. She is almost continually accompanied by her own image of herself. Whilst she is walking across a room or whilst she is weeping at the death of her father, she can scarcely avoid envisaging herself walking or weeping. From earliest childhood she has been taught and persuaded to survey herself continually. And so she comes to consider the surveyor and the surveyed within her as the two constituent yet always distinct elements of her identity as a woman. She has to survey everything she is and everything she does because how she appears to men, is of crucial importance for what is normally thought of as the success of her life. Her own sense of being in herself is supplanted by a sense of being appreciated as herself by another….One might simplify this by saying: men act and women appear. Men look at women. Women watch themselves being looked at. This determines not only most relations between men and women but also the relation of women to themselves. The surveyor of woman in herself is male: the surveyed female. Thus she turns herself into an object — and most particularly an object of vision: a sight.”

So when feminists say they should have the freedom to dress as they please and walk on the streets in clothes that to them are symbols of liberation, but in reality they are uncomfortable, restrict their movement (such as tight clothes) or harmful to their health (4 inch high heel shoes will make their hips swing as they walk but it’s a strain on their spine and calves), they may well be shooting themselves in the foot.

But cities across the world, even our neighbour—India, have pretty neat graffiti. While there is the commissioned work, which is usually mindblowing, there’s the graffiti that is basically vandalism but actually quite good in terms of art. You can appreciate that stuff; you wouldn’t have the heart to paint over it, and sometimes they’ve got inspiring messages. Here’s some of the graffiti I caught on camera while moseying around Toronto a few weeks ago.

Just a bit past the Ontario Art Museum

China Town

Just out of Downtown

Suburbs of Ontario

Seen in Chinatown. Uploaded because it was cute!

I haven’t had the time to write a proper blog post about my much needed vacation. So I’ve uploaded a bunch of pictures from my trip to London and Toronto, below. Had a super time with relatives and sightseeing. Was fed till I almost burst; since it’s summer there were a variety of berries available at the local market and I went on a berry-craze indulgence. Apart from that my uncle insisted I was too thin and put me on a diet of ice cream and chocolate.

Hopefully, the pictures sum up the holiday. (They were too heavy to upload individually so I packed them together. Click and enlarge to see them better).

Photo credit- Tai Hsin Shiek (Snapped and Framed)

I am bruised and battered after taking part in the Colombo Fun Ride—organized by the Pedal Pushers. Not because I’m inept in riding a bicycle but because a *feral little girl charged her tricycle right into my push bike at the Colombo University turn off. She was cackling the whole time. Yes, I was taken down by a vicious little girl, but, the mishap included (it makes it all the more memorable) the Colombo Fun Ride was certainly nothing short of ‘fun.’

Props go to the Pedal Pushers for organizing a fantastic event that was enjoyable and executed well. After all it is no easy feat organizing an event that involves taking over a large area of Colombo and ensuring none of hundreds of participants injured themselves while riding alongside ill-famed ‘Sri Lankan’ traffic. Especially when those hundreds of participants ranged from children just knee-high to senior citizens (plus one maladroit).

The total number actually, was over 275 with a grand total of about 400 if one includes the spectators and supporters. I managed to coax EyeoftheCyclone to participate and we got to Green Path on Sunday (June 10) by 7am, groggy and starved but eager to take part in the cyclothon.  Some of the participants had their own bicycles (including pro Hummer bikes!), others rented bikes off the Pedal Pushers and some, like myself, rented cycles off the DSI truck  parked at Green Path on the morning of the event. The DSI bikes were pretty decent– 29 gears, sturdy, and for only Rs. 450 it wasn’t too bad at all.

Me on my rented DSI bike

I felt a bit self-conscious riding around with bright yellow DSI boards inserted in the wheels and all that bubble wrap at first but once I started cycling I had too much fun to notice. The bikes snapped up like freshly baked kimbula bunis (yes, breakfast was on my mind), with several cycling enthusiasts renting them out. It just goes to show that there’s a cycling culture in Sri Lanka that’s waiting for the opportunity push pedal around Colombo.

I was disappointed though that there were no outrageously decorated cycles. Apparently, prizes were to be distributed to the fanciest decorated one.

Well anyway, here’s a map of the track (that I’ve unceremoniously ripped off the CFR event page on Facebook):

In all, that is 7km. So after four laps you’d have completed 24km. An extra kilometre was covered as we doubled up around Green Path when we started out. If I haven’t confused you, that’s a grand total of 25km. That’s almost the distance of cycling from Kelaniya to Panadura.

It seemed daunting at first but cycling 25km is not as hard as I expected. Also, with large sign boards and the Pedal Pusher marshals—in neon green jackets, guiding batches of cyclists along the route, getting lost was impossible (even for the directionally-challenged, like myself). They also had police stationed at major junctions; stopping vehicles to ensure the participants could get across with limbs intact.

With good weather– the sun was out but it wasn’t beating down on us mercilessly, it was a pleasant morning for cycling. And of course the entertainment was jaw-dropping! Groups of stunt cyclists performing wheelies and stuff I don’t know the names of but it looked as though they defied gravity!

It’s a shame though that cycling isn’t too popular here in Sri Lanka. What with deadly traffic, practically no bicycle lanes and high taxes on importing bicycles and spare parts.

One of the Pedal Pushers/organisers told me that taxes on importing bicycles is 50%. A mid-range bike would cost you around 256 USD (34,000 LKR), double that price with taxes, and you’re forking out 68,000 LKR for an average mountain or road bike. Don’t even think about the pro-bikes.

Toss in the scarcity of spare parts and the price of importing them, and weigh in high-risk of becoming rush hour road-kill, the prospect of buying a shiny new bike to ride around, will fade away.

Hopefully, the event will get the wheels in the head of ministers turning. But till then, events such as the Colombo Fun Ride is a splendid way to give cycling enthusiasts a chance to push pedal.

*All right, she was a cute little girl who lost her balance. Though my version is better for story telling!