Your Excellency,

I am among your millions of admirers from neighbouring India. I have always admired your courage and determination in the wake of militancy that continues to make efforts to rip apart the social fabric of the tiny emerald island. I hold you in great esteem and Statesmanship for you have time and again demonstrated that what men can do, women can do better. Your leadership, at the time of the ethnic conflict, would remain a lesson for the the next generation of political Heads.

Equally more remarkable, but on a different battlefront, is your unique stand to keep the untested and unproven technology-which, the multi-billion biotechnology industry promotes as a 'silver bullet'-at bay. For a country, which continues to be faced with an inhuman use of bullets day in and day out, you probably know much better what a silver-coated bullet would mean. Like the bullets being used by the militants and terrorists, 'silver bullet' is the weapon that 'mafia science'-a term that connotes biotechnology for it tolerates no dissidence and criticism-has begun to aggressively use. One by one, the lure of profits, and in case of political backing the lure of funds for electioneering, has made the biotechnology industry to horizontally expand its reach. The United Nations, the voice of the poor and deprived-whether it is the people or nations-is the latest to succumb to the industry's allurements. No, not in the name of poor and deprived. For a cash-starved UN, the allurements were too difficult to resist and for obvious reasons.

I know how difficult it must have been for you and your government to take a dignified stand in the interest of your people. To say no to a technology monster, and that too when it is backed by the world's only superpower, is a decision that requires political Statesmanship. You spurned all the allurements and the threats to safeguard your peoples health and the endangered environment of the island nation. Unlike the political leadership in India, which was only asked to bend but has begun to crawl, you have resisted the temptation. Given your courage and determination to fight an ill-advised biotechnology approach to eradicate hunger, you stand out like the Rock of Gibralter.

I am aware that you now face the ire of the United State's government for your determination to ban genetically modified foods from Sri Lanka from September 1. Your landmark decision has certainly not been palatable to the US, which is known to be remote-controlled by the biotechnology industry. No where else in the world you come across a perfect example of 'convergence'-of politicians and the industry-and therefore your government is faced with innumerable threats. I recently read a statement: "At no time did we oppose the ban. Our concerns were based on the fact that there is no evidence," the chief US spokesperson in Sri Lanka was quoted as saying. Since when have the US Embassy's begun to openly promote industry's stand? Is that the role of the US Consulates?

You would probably know of the veiled threat the Enron chief issued against India. Since India has decided to kick out Enron after its murky dealings, Enron threatened by saying that it is requesting the US government to impose economic sanctions against India. Didn't I say earlier that the US is the perfect example of 'convergence'. One really doesn't known whether the US government represents only the industry or vice versa.

Knowing well that you had the courage to continue with the democratic process of electioneering even after a bomb attack had injured you, I know for sure that you will once again refuse to buckle under pressure and temptations. At a time when the world is faced with a leadership vacuum, you only can show the way. Your Excellency, you have to charter the way to a new millennium, to a new century where poverty and hunger will not be exploited for the commercial interests of the biotechnology companies, where national decisions are not taken at the behest of the 'shouting brigade' of the mafia science, where equity and justice be the mantra of development.

Please show the right path of development to the global community. And let me assure you, you will go down in history as the only leader to have stood up in the name of science. You have not only the support of your people but from millions and millions of voiceless all over the world.

Thanking you,

I remain, yours sincerely

Devinder Sharma

Devinder Sharma
Chair,
Forum for Biotechnology & Food Security,
7 Triveni Apartments,
A-6 Paschim Vihar,
New Delhi-110 063,
India.

Tel: +91-11-525 0494
Email: dsharma@ndf.vsnl.net.in