22nd April

Help The Civilians

The article expresses concern for the civilians trapped in the battle between SriLankan Army and LTTE in what is called the final battle of the ethnic war that has lasted for more then a quarter century. 

With around 40k people moved to the NFZ (No Firing Zone) in Wanni region, under the Sri Lankan Army control, this is a welcome development considering the allegations that LTTE as been using these people as a human shields and not allowing them to move to refugee camps. However, Colombo must extend the ceasefire as demanded by UN since two days aren’t enough to move over a lakh Tamilians trapped in the war zone. Both, Sri Lankan Army and LTTE, have been alleging each other for the civilian casualties and that the other side is using civilians as human shields. Without independent sources it is difficult to confirm the truth. It is high time that international community should step in and make the warring sides put a pause to these casualties. LTTE has urged International Committee of the Red Cross for medical supplies and help the evacuation of injured people. Colombo should also facilitate entry of Red Cross and other international aid agencies considering that fact that it is seen as hostile to Tamilians in the region. It would also help Colombo counter the LTTE argument that refugees refuse to enter the camps for the sake of their safety. As world expects Colombo to adhere to human rights, the history says otherwise. Both LTTE and Colombo is accused of using war tactics that has led to huge amount of casualties and can be considered war crimes by UN Commissioners. 

It is important for Colombo to keep the track of its international commitments while fighting for what is considered the last battle of ethnic war of over 25 years. 

Misplaced Morality

The article criticizes the opposition by some of politicians to implement sex education into the schools as it is ‘morally incorrect’ and against the Indian culture. 

Sometime back, a bunch of state governments opposed the inclusion of sex education into the school curricula. Now a parliamentary committee on petitions – led by BJP’s Venkaiah Naidu – has opposed sex education in schools by saying that it ‘promotes promiscuity’. Its weird in which world these politicians live in as 14 to 18 is not considered by them as an age to know about sexuality. All the more at 18 you have the right to vote but not the right to get credible information about the reproductive health through your school. As the politicians call it as against ‘Indian Culture’ it is to be reminded that getting children married off had a social sanction not very long ago. It has to be accepted that sex is a reality in today’s society and there shouldn’t be any taboo in talking about it. In this internet age where any information is just a click away, it is just not safe to believe that our youth live in an asexual world. More important is to educate them through right channels with right information. Schools, along with parents, play a vital role in this. Unfortunately, our society indulges into morality games instead of growing up. Youth, today, is more sexually active then it was before.

Thus, it is in their interest and health, physical and emotional, that we need to talk to them sensibly about sex.