Opinion:
Sri Lanka not a British colony anymore
By K.M.H.C.B. Kulatunga
Certain Western countries are trying to make use of the Commonwealth
to pass judgments on smaller countries which had been former British
colonies, under their iron fist.
Certain so-called big countries appear to think that countries such
as Sri Lanka are still their colonies and that we should dance to their
melody.
Under the circumstances, Sri Lanka is fortunate to have a fearless
leader in the calibre of President Mahinda Rajapaksa who has always put
country before self to safeguard the interests of his people and the
motherland.
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The new bridge in Panichchankerny,
Vakarai which was opened in September. Pic: Sudath Silva |
It was a great honour not only to Sri Lanka but also to all other
smaller states in the Commonwealth to have President Rajapaksa as the
Commonwealth Chairman-in-Office succeeding the Australian Prime Minister
for the next two years.
Global and Commonwealth issues
The CHOGM is the Commonwealth's ultimate policy and decision-making
forum. Commonwealth leaders meet to discuss global and Commonwealth
issues such as international peace and security, democracy, human
rights, health and the environment, and to agree on collective policies
and initiatives.
But never before in the history of the Commonwealth have internal
matters of a member country has been dug so much. The way some delegates
are taking about Sri Lanka, it looks as if the Commonwealth has nothing
else to do, other than meddling in Sri Lanka’s internal affairs. The
Prime Ministers of Canada and Britain seem to be thinking that the
Commonwealth is all about Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka is among the oldest members of the 53 member Commonwealth
of Nations, being one of its founders since it gained independence in
1948.
President Rajapaksa became the Chair-in of the Commonwealth at a
milestone month of his exemplary career as a dynamic politician loved by
all. His match to the chairmanship of the Commonwealth coincides with
his 68th birthday which falls tomorrow and the eight anniversary since
becoming the President on November 18, 2005.
Overwhelming majority
He established a record in Sri Lankan political history with being
the first Executive President to lead his party to a landslide victory
in Parliamentary Elections held just over two months after being elected
for a second term of office as Executive President with an overwhelming
majority of 1,842,749, polling 6,015,934 votes in January, 2010.
This saw the Sri Lankan electorate recognising him as the national
leader who liberated the country from the terrorism of the LTTE and set
the country on the path to peace, stronger democracy and rapid economic
development.
He was elected as the Chairman of the eight-member South Asian
Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) at the 15th SAARC Summit
held in Colombo in August 2008, taking over the Chair of SAARC from
India. He relinquished his position at the 16th Summit to Prime Minister
of Bhutan, Jigmi Thinley. He was also Chairman of G15 from 2010-2012.
Leadership
Hence, Sri Lanka has a string political leadership which is capable
of facing all overwhelming odds. But the international community should
think twice as to why these concocted stories are doing rounds every
time Sri Lanka takes part in an international for a.
Why did the visiting British Prime Minister David Cameron completely
shun local media personnel at the press conference he held yesterday?
Cameron put Sri Lanka on notice to address allegations of war crimes
within months or else he would lead a push for action at the United
Nations.
Cameron has been here to attend the CHOGM 2013 as a Head of
Commonwealth Member state. We wonder whether he has got his priorities
mixed up and think that he an international arbitrator or investigator
sent to Sri Lanka by the UN Security Council?
The British Prime Minister who held a press conference at the BMICH
media centre last morning, completely avoided the majority of local
media who were ready to pose questions while only answering a selected
few questions mainly by foreign journalists.
Development
Cameron has no business to advocate Sri Lanka or its democratically
elected leaders on the course of action they should take. Is he blind to
not see the unprecedented volume of development activities that has been
accomplished in the North and the East and the speedy resettlement
process that has taken place after the eradication of the terrorism?
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Victims of one of the
several attacks on civilians by Tigers. |
It seems that Cameron and his team had only spoken to some of ex-LTTE
cadres who are still dreaming of a separate state. If Cameron is so
sympathetic on terrorists, he must first show that at back home,
treating the same manner he preaches us to the Irish rebels.
Sri Lanka has embarked on its own reconciliation process and we would
not take any threats from Cameron who has unilaterally set deadlines.
Cameron has threatened that if an investigation is not completed by
March, he will use UK’s position on the UN Human Rights Council to work
with the UNHRC and call for a full, credible and independent
international inquiry.
But what Sri Lanka’s celebrated Test bowler Muttiah Muralitharan has
told Cameron at the CCC yesterday was food for thought.
It was heartening to see Muralitharan, as usual, vocing on behalf the
country, as he had done with the ball on a many a occasions in
international cricket. Muralitharan has done his level best to convince
Cameron on the true situation in Sri Lanka.
People's needs
As President Rajapaksa told the CHOGM 2013 opening ceremony, if the
Commonwealth is to remain relevant to its member countries, the
association must respond sensitively, to the needs of its people's and
not let it turn into a punitive or judgmental body.
We must also collectively guard against bilateral agendas being
introduced into the organisation, distorting Commonwealth traditions and
consensus.
The strength of the Organisation lies in keeping the member countries
together, helping one another in a spirit of partnership, making the
Commonwealth truly unique.
The Commonwealth should not act as international policemen,
forgetting its values and customs.
As a matter of priority, the Commonwealth should focus on development
challenges, confronting the majority of their member nations.
There is a compelling need for those who guide the destiny of the
Commonwealth to give serious thought to practical modalities, focusing
on social and economic issues.
This will greatly enhance the relevance and value of the
Commonwealth. Special emphasis on the well-being of women and children
is important.
Accountability
Prince Charles said that Sri Lanka had confronted great adversity in
recent years. “I am especially pleased to be back among the people of
Sri Lanka who, in recent years, have confronted great adversity,” the
Prince said.
Hence, we trust the Commonwealth brings healing to our troubles,
rather than poking into internal matters of member countries.
It appears that Cameron was using the visit to win favour with the
Tamil community in the UK. If Cameron is taking about accountability and
human rights violations, he must first and foremost apologise for the
brutal killings and gross human rights violations by the British Forces
when they invaded Sri Lanka and took complete control of the country by
1815. Those too are war crimes and could never be compared with Sri
Lanka’s Security Forces action against LTTE terrorists.
Cameron appears to be a spokesman for the Channel 4 when he mentioned
about a controversial documentary produced by the notorious channel on
Sri Lanka’s Security Forces.
As Minister of mass Media and Information Keheliya Rambukwella has
quite rightly pointed out, Cameroncould not treat Sri Lanka as a colony
still as the country has gained independence from the British in 1948.
Perhaps, Cameron may not be aware that when the British ruled Sri Lanka,
they ordered not only to kill all civilians against the forcible British
rule but also ordered to kill cattle in 1818.
War crimes
Before talking about internal matters of Sri Lanka, Cameron must
prove Britain’s accountability in killing 1.2 million people by invading
Iraq with the US. Though the West made a big hue and cry over weapons of
mass destruction, they could not find any in Iraq.
They also committed the same war crimes in Libya and Afghanistan.
These are the strategies of the West to take the regimes which do not
dance to their melody.
If Cameron is so concerned about civilian casualties, he should first
give explanations and compensate thousands of civilians who has been
killed by NATO forces and the US-led drone attacks in Pakistan.
Despite all those gross human rights violations, the UN appears to
act like a toothless tiger. If the UNHRC chief Navi Pillay is
transparent in her conduct, she should first act against human rights
violations by the US-led NATO forces in Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan.
While allowing the US and its allies to do anything and everything in
the guise of their national security, the UNHRC continues to question
Sri Lanka’s right to protect its 21 million people from the most
ruthless terrorist outfit in the world.
Hence, Cameron should first prove UK’s sincerity and transparency by
tendering an unconditional apology for thousands of Sri Lankans killed
when the British forces invaded Sri Lanka nearly three centuries ago.
Those too are war crimes and it is the duty of the UK to address them
rather than shouting from the rooftops on the human rights of the LTTE
terrorists killed in action. |