Dancing to different tunes must be under check

By Dhaneshi Yatawara

[email protected]

The role of international bodies in the local milieu was being questioned over a long period of time. The pros and cons were always debatable. This time ‘Face 2 Face’ focused its attention on this ever unsettled issue.

Gomin Dayasiri Attorney-at-Law

Dharmalingam Sidarthan Leader, People’s Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE)

Gomin Dayasiri Attorney-at-Law

Dharmalingam Sidarthan Leader, People’s Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE)

How would you define the role of International bodies and INGOs?

GD:

They work on their agenda to suit their interests. Survival of INGOs depends on the cash flow from their benefactors who set the agenda. Host country provides handsome sums as playing fields for their objectives and has to bear the unfortunate consequences.

Agenda is manipulated by the parachuted foreign personnel with their local lackeys-most are yuppies with confused theories in search of adventure.

They are totally alienated from the realities of the local environment. They come to the East to implant seeds of the West which they cannot propagate in their home countries. They work alongside local sycophants who play music to suit their ear while picking the pocket.

DS:

Their role in Sri Lanka to a certain extent the INGOs are doing a good job. In certain areas of the country they have done a successful job. But at the same time we see fake INGOs as well.

Especially so many INGOs came after the tsunami and promised thousands of things and at the end, went without giving us any benefit. And among the local staff of these organisations we have seen LTTE infiltration - especially in the North and the East.

The chiefs or the top managers of these organisations may be unaware of this fact. And now some concrete proofs are coming up - some of the NGO employees are arrested with weapons and for smuggling weapons.

While working in LTTE controlled areas and having a good relationship with the LTTE is fine but doing whatever they want to do out of the scope of the NGO is totally immoral.

Where do you place them in the service structure of a country of our nature which is currently facing an internal conflict situation?

GD:

They thrive on tragedies of other people in other countries. A new breed of tourists camouflaged as good samaritans-they bring cheer to their local sycophants than to the victims.

Most enjoy a better living than back home, take back fond memories and discredit the host country on being brainwashed by their local handlers while scratching the surface of our conflict situation.

They enter to confuse and complicate the entire conflict situation. Living lives of luxury in Sri Lanka thriving on the funds allocated to alleviate hardship. Truly, they are the lords of poverty.

DS:

They can not act directly. They can play an indirect role by educating the masses or by mediating. Definitely they have a role to play. But it should be a well coordinated effort. Overall program must be streamlined. It can be either with the Government or the Local Government.

Most of the NGOs have done a good job. I’m confident to talk about the North and the East since I’m more familiar with the area. I’m not blaming all the INGOs but since now the number has increased immensely the work should be well coordinated and followed up especially programs at the grass roots level. Certain areas this has become a business now.

How do you compare the role of International Organisations and INGOs in Sri Lanka with the other countries?

GD:

We have unfortunately an open sky policy even for those so called “do-gooders” with niggardly pig tills, but India is much smarter and do not provide such easy access. These expatriates service their own organisations like economic and social (s)hit men, and exploit poor countries.

Due to recent exposures most countries realize their true character but often local chieftains seek their patronage to further their own careers in such organizations. It is often a mutual back scratching operation. However there are some organisations that do make valuable contributions.

DS:

The thinking pattern of the western INGOs is, because we are weak and small as a nation and economically not strong, they feel they can dictate to us. But definitely they can not fool around!

Especially if you take India, where the INGOs just do their jobs and go. And one other issue is India is too vast for a single NGO or and INGO to mingle with. And here we are too small and easy to interfere - gullible to pressures.

Do you believe the involvement of the international community is vital for a country?

GD:

Terrorism is a global concern and must be outlawed across borders. However their involvements are often self centered with self interest. There are countries that abhor terrorism within their borders but are slow to act against it where it is not a hindrance to them outside their realm of interest.

If it happens in their territory it is terrorism that must be eradicated from the roots, but if happens elsewhere they are more concerned of the human rights of the associates of the terrorists. It is a subjective and not an objective agenda. With such double standards each country must eliminate terrorism according to their own specifications and schedules not on the guidelines of others.

Wherever the international community has intervened it made the life unbearable for the local residents and the intrusion and interference has always benefited the intruder or interferer rather than the resident.

DS:

Yes, because no country in this world can live in isolation.

Coexistence is a must. But I do not agree with interference but it should be only be an involvement. Their presence here, working and helping the people is good. I’m not blaming all of them. The technological input we get through certain projects is important simply because we do not have those resources and knowledge.

Honestly do you think Sri Lanka needs international involvement to curb terrorism and find a settlement to the political cycle?

GD:

Most certainly not. We have the experience of Indian IPKF and Norwegian SLMM. After they enter Sri Lanka, to make them exit is so much more difficult. The East was freed and the North is now being freed without foreign involvement.

If the SLMM was here they would have conscripted foreign elements to ensure that the terrorists were a protected species in the name of human rights; the civilians in the North and East would be still under terrorist domination.

They are more interested in safeguarding human rights of terrorists than saving the lives of civilians from attacks from the terrorists. They run to Kilinochchi but never to Kebitigollawa.

Human Rights are a cherished doctrine but not when interested parties with a hidden agenda utilize it as a cover to safeguard terrorism. Such foreign hands and their local agents must be castigated in the name of hypocrisy.

Local agents do it purely for personal enhancement to them. Human Rights is a rewarding business enterprise.

DS:

We need international involvement simply because the parties to the conflict are so wide apart. I’m referring to the political representatives of the Tamil and Sinhala people only. I’m not talking about the Tigers. I don’t believe them as representative of the Tamil community. Not the Government but the total Sinhala polity needs to realize the importance.

For that mediation or facilitation from the International community. And after all the problem is too big and complicated for a single INGO or a NGO. Not even Governments could bring peace so how can one expect an international organisation to do? Bringing a solution is our problem and our responsibility.

Do most of the international organisations and INGOs treat terrorism in the West and in our part of the world in similar way?

GD:

West entered Iraq and Afghanistan to make regime changes to eliminate terrorism. They continue to act violating all laws on human rights in those countries. West is blind to human rights infringements in Colombia, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Nigeria, Turkey, Mexico and Zaire because these are client States which assist the West with defence pacts and petro dollars. They concentrate on Cuba.

Iran, Myanmar, Serbia and Syria because they do not fall within the axis of servility. We, as a threatened small nation, has stupidly opened the doors to foreign visitations and inspection and is therefore targeted; while India that does not permit any foreign access by any of these human rights tourists is excused because it has great consumer market and is an emerging Asian heavyweight.

So the double standards are used wherever it suits their agenda. They are never for pure pristine wholesome unadulterated form of Human Rights. For them it is always calibrated to a selfish self seeking agenda for their advantage.

DS:

If we talk about the Human Rights violations I don’t think they measure with the same yardstick. When the LTTE went on a killing spree on the members of other Tamil parties none of these Human Rights protectors spoke.

This is the basic problem in our country in Human Rights violations. When the LTTE was killing members of other Tamil political parties during the Ceasefire. By then all of these parties have handed over weapons and the LTTE killed these people.

The only excuse stated was these parties were not included in the Ceasefire Agreement. But if some LTTE leader dies of an attack then the ‘Human Rights protectors’ start panicking and shout of HR violations.

How do you see the current development process which is in progress in the recently liberated areas?

GD:

It will succeed only if it is serviced without being a political pursuit. The benefits must flow the people irrespective of their political complexion. East is a laboratory to show genuine goodwill to the minorities who are the provincial majority and to the majority which are the provincial minority.

There must be a fine balancing act where practical politics must combine with pragmatic intelligence. It must be a showcase that will win the hearts and minds of the minorities and be a magnet to attract the people of the North.

DS:

I visited the area, especially the East, so I’m not just merely talking about it. Okay it might not be at the rate of our expectations. But certainly I have seen lot of major projects going on in these areas. Even there are small small positive changes. The farmers have started working.

Micro businesses have emerged. Slowly people have started to live on their own without depending on welfare. Because of this drawback this area had experienced not for one or two years but it is of almost three decades. So recovery takes time. Our opinion is that it should be quickened since it is going at rather a too slow pace.

How do you see the role so far played by the international community in the local milieu?

GD:

Response requires a chapter and cannot be answered in a paragraph. It is impossible to capsulate. International community is interested in its own self-interest and not in the welfare of the local milieu, which does not enter their equation at all. A local troubled situation is for the foreigners an opportunity to fish in troubled waters to make a catch for themselves.

DS:

Well at the local set up most of these NGOs have really done a good job. But, especially after tsunami a lot of NGOs mushroomed all over the country. And they collected lots of money as grants and vanished without finishing their job.

As I have mentioned above, may be without their knowledge, certain INGOs and NGOs have recruited LTTE supporters and cadres to their local staff. May be these organisations are unaware but somehow it has happened.