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DateLine Sunday, 3 June 2007

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Laying it all on the table

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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