People's security - the top priority

The US and those countries which supported the American Resolution against Sri Lanka at the recent United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and shouted from the rooftops over the reconciliation process in Sri Lanka should bear in mind that it was the Government which initiated the reconciliation process following the liberation of the East, long before the Tigers were vanquished from the North.

After the successful liberation of the Eastern Province, the Government embarked on many development and nation-building projects to usher in a better tomorrow for nearly 300,000 civilians liberated from the jaws of terrorism in the East during phase one of the humanitarian operation.

Development and reconciliation were fast-tracked after an equal number of civilians were liberated from the clutches of LTTE terror in the North. In next to no time the Government resettled those rescued and assured them a safer future with enhanced living conditions. Simultaneously, the Government appointed the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC). In point of fact, Sri Lanka initiated a home-grown solution even before the international community could tell us so.

At this point of time, it is worth taking stock of the unprecedented investments that flowed into the North and the East after the two provinces were liberated by the Security Forces. The Government spent funds to the tune of Rs. 160 billion to develop the Northern and Eastern Provinces from 2006 to 2011. Did any other province receive this preferential treatment with such a huge allocation of funds?

It is all the more significant that Rs.15 billion had been expended to uplift the living standards of people in the Northern Province. The Government's timely implementation of the Eastern Reawakening program after the liberation of the East paid rich dividends.

The Eastern Province now contributes six percent to the national economy - much higher when compared to the contribution of the North Central and Uva Provinces. The Northern Province too has begun to make a praiseworthy contribution to the national economy that would soon surpass the East.

The new turn of events would develop the Northern Province and bring it on par with the Western Province. The Jaffna Peninsula would be connected to the national grid before the end of this year, thereby guaranteeing an uninterrupted power supply to the North at a cost of 65 million US dollars for power projects in the area.

The Government has expended 800 million US dollars to develop 250 kilometres of rail track in these provinces, Rs. 1,064 million on the Iranamadu water project and Rs. 600 million on the Northern rural development program. All infrastructure development projects now in full swing in the North will be completed before the end of this year.

These are just a few of the landmark investments by the Government; giving preferential treatment to people in the North and the East compared to their fellow countrymen in other provinces. This was done solely to assist people in these two provinces as they were the worst-hit due to LTTE terror.

It is incomprehensible as to why a section of the international community is totally deaf and blind to all the positive steps taken by the Government. Even a kindergarten child knows that it was the Government that took the first move in reconciliation.

Despite all the sacrifices by the valiant Security Forces to rescue civilians from the clutches of LTTE terror and resettle them with a secure future, certain countries and international organisations continued to scream to the high heavens only about the human rights of the LTTE terrorists killed during a battle with a legitimate Army of a sovereign state.

Internationalising an internal issue of Sri Lanka, by any initiative through organisations such as the UNHRC would certainly not help Sri Lanka's efforts to build an atmosphere for all communities to live in peace and harmony. Such efforts would only run counter to the reconciliation already initiated by the Government.

On the other hand, is there any justification for any intervention that would only pave the way to resurrect the LTTE? While Sri Lanka would continue to engage with the UN in the most proactive manner as it had done consistently, the country does not need unwarranted pressure that would compromise the successful implementation of recommendations.

Many countries which voted against the UN Resolution on Sri Lanka at the UNHRC sessions had stressed the danger of setting such a precedent which would enable ad hoc intervention by powerful countries in the internal affairs of other nations.

Sri Lanka has been a role model by any standard for consistently and unambiguously engaging with every member country of the UNHRC, not merely on the last occasion due to the US-led Resolution, but as a matter-of-fact over the years. This engagement has been voluntary and not restricted to a timeframe in the aftermath of the humanitarian operation, as it was done even during the height of the long-drawn-out battle against a ruthless terrorist outfit such as the LTTE.

The US and those countries which voted in favour of the Resolution against Sri Lanka must bear in mind that barely three months have elapsed since the domestic mechanism report of the LLRC was presented.

It is totally unfair for the UNHRC to pre-judge Sri Lanka's commitment in all aspects of the domestic reconciliation at this juncture. If these countries are sincerely interested in the well-being of the people in Sri Lanka, they should give the country the time and space to continue the current process of implementation and reconciliation without undue interference.

The US-sponsored Resolution could warm the cockles of the hearts of the proxies of the now defunct LTTE which had massacred hundreds and thousands of civilians. It could also encourage the Tiger proxies to resume operations under the protective umbrella of these countries and, moreover, undermine a long-standing, well established democracy such as Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka, by no means would compromise matters pertaining to the country's national security, sovereignty and territorial integrity. No country or organisation should dictate to us what we ought to do on such issues. The people's security is the topmost priority. President Mahinda Rajapaksa would never permit anyone to rob the hard-earned peace enjoyed by all communities in Sri Lanka.