Laying it all on the table
By Sarath Wijesinghe
There appear to be lot of anti-Sri Lankan propaganda today,
especially in the western and some local private media, on the "Human
Right" situation in the country in general and specifically the
situation in the North and East.
It is very opportune and a matter of relief that the Government is
sensitive to this vigorous anti Sri-Lankan propaganda, and pleased to
note that measures are being taken to educate the international
community and the media, misled by anti SL-lobby.
Issues by some British MPs should not be taken lightly as it has
emerged due to vigorous LTTE lobbying in London, the "HUB" of LTTE
activism in the world despite the ban in the United Kingdom and Europe.
They are being misled by propaganda, activism, considerable number of
the Tamil vote base in their electorates, propaganda machinery by the
Sri Lankan Leader of the Opposition on the Human Rights situation in Sri
Lanka, and large number of periodicals, journals, papers, front line
organisation in the name of Human Rights and Humanity, published and
organised by the LTTE directly and indirectly in the United Kingdom. In
Sri Lanka some academics, and journalists who are in the payroll of
foreign invisible forces contribute extensively to websites and journals
published by local and foreign NGOs with vested interests.
In London too, LTTE is economically powerful with their network of
dedicated but misguided members, uses every possible step to collect
funds discretely and illegally. Credit card scams, extortion of innocent
members of the Tamil Community by threats and following up of their
funds in UK and Sri Lanka and trailing their relations properties and
bank accounts in Sri Lanka, fund raising events in the guise of
deteriorations of the Human Rights situation, Tsunami and other
disasters, are some methods that are being used for fund raising.
The Offices and front line organisations, network of super markets,
Petrol stations, non-governmental organisations sometimes backed by
local authorities and international organisations in the UK, acts and
backs as the second line of attacks aiming at their main objective. Even
Universities and printed and electronic media are not spared. Money
speaks here too. If one spends lavishly on media centres and
Universities in pounds. University Dons and propaganda machinery will be
active where there are thousands and thousands of pounds backed by
misleading and convincing information. This is how often anti-Sri Lankan
programs and study reports are published and telecast by Universities
and media organisations all over the world quite frequently. Local media
representations in Sri Lanka are taken into their clutches on arrival at
the Airport and the hotel, where they are constantly "looked after" in
every respect by providing various kinds of comforts and pleasure.
There are over twenty five publications, radio/TV channels, web sites
and large number of back up organisations all over the United Kingdom to
help the LTTE machinery which is growing fast with the international
"human smuggling trade" which is as lucrative and profitable as the drug
trade.
Smuggled human beings must have a story for the home office, based on
history of persecution on the grounds of race religion or political
belief. To support these claims the immigration underworld has access to
forged birth certificates, police statements and all connected documents
as supportive evidence, where the propaganda war against Sri Lanka too
is extremely useful to political asylum claimants who will be looked
after and protected by the "host government" on claiming political
asylum. Being a signatory to the Convention and Protocol of Political
Refugees, the host government will honour the international obligations
of protecting refugees claiming political asylum. We are informed that
in Wembley, East Ham, Tooting and areas with substantial Tamil
population, fake documents and seals of various Sri Lankan government
departments to be used in asylum claims are freely available.
High Commission had a separate attach‚, to monitor the shady
activities of the underworld and it is now time to tighten the rope and
show more and more dedication and commitment to control illegal and
anti-Sri Lankan activities. It has to play a major role as people are
spending millions and billions of hard earned rupees for the maintaining
of our missions abroad. Once refugee status is granted by the Home
Office, the claimant will be entitled to housing, social security, free
education and all other benefits enjoyed by a person with indefinite
stay. Until recently Sri Lanka was in the "White List" country which
means the country is safe for Tamils and Muslims to return. Due to the
alleged deterioration of the human right situation the Home Office has
taken Sri Lanka away from the white list.
When a country is in the white list it is hard for political refugees
to maintain their claim for political asylum-that is the situation is
conducive for refugees to return. Today things have changed. Tamil
Political Asylum claims are being considered favourably again, and the
tough stunt and repatriation of illegal immigrants to Sri Lanka is
suspended by the "Home Office" The administrative centre of immigration
process.
This is a U turn taken as a result of anti-Sri Lankan lobby by the
LTTE worldwide network and the anti Sri Lankan propaganda machinery by
the Leader of the Opposition and the United National Party in Sri Lanka.
Foreign and Commonwealth office in the website advises tourists and
other travellers in a different tone. All these information and website
materials, and country information published by governments and NGOs are
often used in Immigration Tribunals in the United Kingdom in favour of
their clients by the solicitors and representatives for the success of
their cases. This indicates how the propaganda machinery, human
smuggling scam, propaganda war by the LTTE and UNP are interconnected.
It is a pity that the leader of the opposition is acting in such an
irresponsible manner when the leaders of the opposition and the entire
opposition in the United Kingdom were united in eradicating Northern
Island terrorism and bring them to the negotiating table after pounding
and weakening militarily.
The opposition was united in the diplomatic involvement of Senator
Mitchell of USA and the GOOD OFFICE extended by the leaders of both
nations and leaders of opposition. Labour, Conservatives and Liberals
were together in the settlement of the dispute and after having settled
the issue which destabilised the nation for nearly three decades.
Though Prime Minister Tony Blair was instrumental in the peace
process, today he is about to relinquish his responsibilities. According
to reliable reports and information opposition led Conservative are to
form the next government in the United Kingdom. Why not the leader of
the opposition too be patriotic and help the ongoing peace process
launched by the President, without tarnishing the image of Sri Lanka
during his frequent visits abroad which has caused irreparable damages
to the Sri Lankan economy and day to day life of an ordinary citizen.
There are good examples from world leaders for our Leader of the
Opposition and the opposition in general to follow.
Is the Human Rights situation really bad in Sri Lanka, to take it out
of the white list in the UK? Certainly it is not so. Sri Lanka provides
for a fine Human Rights mechanism constitutionally and administratively
on par with any international standard. The main reasons of
deterioration of human rights according to some reports are the
allegation of disappearances, abductions, and increase of crime due to
publicity by the media of sensational crimes published to market the
publications. As a result of the infamous CFA, any criminal or terrorist
can hide in LTTE controlled areas, where the Sri Lankan Government has
no access to as a result of weak provisions in the CFA. Most of the
complaints of disappearances on record are regarding disappearances of
people with addresses from North and East and after the Police entry or
informing the respective NGO, complainant is back in the Home Town where
the security forces has no access to. Media and monitors are well
informed of these data and adds to the list of displaced.
Stolen vehicles and criminals who have been bought over too have been
given safe haven in the same way. Stories of abductions for ransom pre
planned and organised to discredit the government. On the contrary
constitutional legal and administrative machinery in Sri Lanka is well
in place as par with accepted international standards. Most Human Rights
Conventions, instruments and norms are part of our legal system, and the
Constitutional guarantees embodied in the Constitution are effective and
powerful. It is time for the Ministry of Justice to streamline the
applicability of law and order based on Rule of the Law and due process,
to the satisfaction of the local and international community eyeing our
performances with suspicion. We the educated civil society and
expatriates has a responsibility to help the Government and our missions
abroad to educate the misinformed international community and the media.
Statement of Richard Boucher the US envoy who was in Sri Lanka
recently of the US recognition, that Sri Lanka faces the threat of
terrorism by Tamil Tigers and the promise of US government to continue
assistance to eliminate that threat is a very encouraging way forward,
though the delay of granting Tsunami aid by USA and UK governments based
on Human Rights concerns are worrying factors. Japan's continuous
commitment to back Sri Lanka is an encouragement to the ordinary people
who are the real sufferers and understands the real issues. At the same
time the brave statement of the President that the Government will not
wait for foreign grants or NGOs for Tsunami reconstruction as it is our
responsibility to look after the people gives relief and additional
strength to the peoples in Sri Lanka depending on the President to bring
about a lasting solution to the current North and East issue.
Sri Lankans initially migrated to UK as professionals and were
considered as a educated professional community until the situation
changed in 1980s as a result of the influx of Political Asylum seekers
to the United Kingdom.
Neither the United Kingdom Government nor the Sri Lankan Government
has the accurate figures of the Sri Lankan community in the UK, where
majority are considered to be Tamils. Some senior citizens guess the
number be around two hundred and fifty thousand Tamils and Muslims, and
around one hundred and fifty thousand Sinhalese staying legally and
illegally. These are very rough guesses. Any way the Sri Lankan
community in the United Kingdom has a substantial say regarding our
local issues. The Members of Parliament are very tolerant and listens to
grievances of any kind with an open mind and expresses the views freely.
These are realities and it is up to our missions expatriates and the
propaganda machinery to act with a sense of commitment and dedication.
This situation has to be handled carefully considering international
law and relations, International realities which are of a very sensitive
nature. We can not afford to antagonise either the British Government
including the Mission in Sri Lanka or the International Community
however painful it is for us when we hear of some media reports in local
and international media. If the Mission in Sri Lankan acts beyond the
parameters of the Vienna Convention or accepted norms and principles,
the respective forums will take appropriate steps. Our Foreign Ministry
is in the best hands- the Minster and the Secretary are highly qualified
and experienced. These appointments made by the President are timely and
well thought of, appointments. We patiently await their timely
intervention in using their "GOOD OFFICE" in peaceful resolution of
North and East issue which has escalated due to mishandling of
successive governments, which has been inherited by the President who is
takeing meaningful steps acutely and steadily.
How do we counter the propaganda and give the correct picture to the
world.
How is the LTTE so active being a proscribed organisation, with no
mass backing and credibility. It is the dedication and commitment that
keeps the organisation going. We too need a dedicated group backed by
the expatriate's world wide that are awaiting and eager to serve the
country with dedication and commitment. Government backing and vision
coupled with back up group in Sri Lanka too is essential to fight this
battle. Centre of activity should be London as the "Hub" of the LTTE is
in London. High Commission of Sri Lanka in the United Kingdom no longer
publishes the news letters and periodicals to counter LTTE activities
and it is now time to re start the propaganda machinery by intensifying
and educating the British Media, Parliamentarians, International
Organisation and the Public on adverse propaganda and that is tarnishing
the image of Sri Lanka which is costing our Tourist Industry and Economy
particularly in addition to the damage to the country as a whole..
There is a warning signal to the Missions abroad and those
responsible in media issues that LTTE and front organisations world wide
work hard to de-proscribe LTTE, for which all the current issues are
being catalogued and collected to be canvassed in different forums in
due course.
Today wars are not necessarily fought on the ground. IT-Computer and
media war is equally essential in the modern warfare. It is the modern
technology, and sophisticated and modern arms that decide the fate of
any modern war. Do we fight a war in Sri Lanka is a moot question. A
group of misguided members belong to the Tamil Community, have resorted
to violence to achieve their main goal for a separate state for North
and East where the inhabitants consisting of the main three communities
lived in harmony for thousands of years. In the North Tamils are the
majority and the Sinhalese and Most of the Muslims have been driven away
by LTTE. In the East the ethnic proportion is equally distributed among
namely Sinhala Tamil and Muslim. Northern Tamils are the majority and
Sinhalese and Muslims are driven away. Once the two areas are merged as
demanded by some groups, Tamils will be in the majority. Now that all
the moderate Tamils leadership is wiped out by the LTTE, and the TNA is
in the hands of the LTTE, any power given will be taken over by the LTTE.
They have still not put forward a set of proposals apart from Thimpu
proposals which spells as follows. (1). Recognition of Tamils as a
distinct nationality (2). Recognition of an independent Tamil Homeland
and guarantee of its territorial integrity (3). Recognition of the right
of self determination of the Tamil Nation and (4). Recognition of the
right to full citizenship rights and other fundamental and democratic
rights of all Tamils who look upon the island as a country. ISGA (self
governing authority) proposals which are non negotiable. LTTE has never
stated that they will accept a solution less that a separate state and
not put forward any constitutional amendments or proposals. They want
others to put forward proposals white maintaining their demands nothing
less than a separate state.
The main players for the ongoing North and East conflict are as
follows. (1) the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (2) the United National Party
(3) Traditional Tamil parties(4) Liberation Tamil Tigers for Eelam (5)
Minority political parties(6) People in the North and East(7) people in
the other districts and (8) International Community and local and world
media. Out of these players the deciding factors are the SLFP, UNP, and
LTTE as traditional Tamil Parties are in fear of the LTTE and unable to
act independently, where as small political parties have very little
vote base and influence in the country.
People in the North and East are stressed. Those in LTTE
affected/controlled areas are trapped and imprisoned. International
Community and a part of the media needs to study more on the main issues
based on cultural historical and economic factors and the wish and
feelings of inhabitants and not the self appointed leaders! It is time
the main players get together to settle this long standing resolvable
issue.
In search of peace UNP has made two serious and unpardonable
blunders. One is accepting Indo Sri Lanka accord thrust upon by Rajiv
and the other is the Cease Fire Agreement thrust upon by the Norwegians
and LTTE, by which the main issues on which a permanent solution could
have been achieved drastically drifted away. Provincial Council system
is not functioning in the North and East for which it was established
and it is a white elephant.
CFA is the main obstacle for a viable solution to the NE issue as
reiterated in Mahinda Chintana as follows" The ceasefire agreement
entered into by the United National Front Government in much haste and
in a short-sighted manner without consultations further complicated this
problem. It is now time for the UNP to put forward their proposals.
Mahinda is elected by the people as a Trustee for a given period
based on the principle embodied in Mahinda Chintana as follows " A ruler
is only a temporary trustee and not an owner of your children's
heritage". As the trustee he has a moral and a legal duty to abide by
the Honourable Agreement entered into with the peoples in Sri Lanka to
deal with the complex problem and consider it based on a fresh Home
Grown approach for an undivided country a national consensus and an
honourable peace. It is the duty of the Trustee to offer the people, who
trusted him a set of proposals in order to protect, preserve and
maintain individual and collective Human Rights.
According to Mahinda Chintana document the talks during 2002-2004
undertaken by the United National Front failed because such talks were
not based upon any clear plans or pre determined time frames.
This is absolutely correct. The basis of discussions to date by
successive governments were based on outdated thinking and theories on
self determination agitated and requested mainly by NGOs. The proposals
of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party in search of peace follow the ideals of
Mahinda Chintana states as follows." My primary aim would be to arrive
at a peaceful political settlement where the power of each and every
citizen is strengthened to the maximum, without being trapped within
concepts such a traditional homelands and right to self determination.
My intention is to devolve power to the level of the citizen. I believe
that by developing a strong citizen, we should be able of reach a
solution in this national conflict." Accordingly the proposals offer
extensive devolution to grass root level by strengthening the power of
individual ordinary citizen.
The SLFP proposals are Home Grown and Modern. It gives a basis for a
long and lasting solution acceptable to every citizen, extending power
to grass roots on district basis.
It is an ideal set of proposals as a basis of a broad unity .It is
the duty of the Missions abroad and the expatriate community to grasp
this window of opportunity and help sell the proposals to the world in
order to prove that we mean a long term solution to preserve, maintain,
and protect individual and collective human rights in Sri Lanka based on
humanity and love.
(The writer is Convener-Committee for International Law and
International relations in Sri Lanka -
[email protected] )
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