Asia leads the world economy today - Senior Minister DEW Gunasekara

By Uditha Kumarasinghe

Senior Minister for Human Resources D.E.W. Gunasekara said we have to identify the three elements in the whole Geneva scenario such as US and Western global strategy and geopolitics, the genuine human rights and reconciliation process and the propaganda drive carried out by the Western funded NGOs under the pretext of human rights. They are really carrying out the agenda of the West.

The Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer said in our country, some people talk only about the human rights dimension, while others talk about the anti-American aspects and still others the role of the NGOs. But we should identify these three elements separately and then formulate our own strategy. These are the issues we should really address.

The Minister said unfortunately the Opposition is not playing its legitimate role, not only on the human rights issue but also in other national issues.

It is the country's fate. If we consider the war on terrorism and the factors which led to it, all happened as there was no consensus among the main political parties. That was the situation ever since the 1950s.They take up one position today and another the next day. They maintain a similar stance on the human rights issue as well. The two main parties are responsible specially in relation to matters of international significance.

Q: Why is America moving one resolution after another against Sri Lanka when there are more outstanding issues affecting world peace. Is it in keeping with the Western policy of divide and rule or geopolitics or is it to maintain a military balance?

A: Not a military balance, but the US has two aspects in its foreign policy. One is global strategy and two is geopolitical interest. This policy is implemented either through a military offensive or throgh a diplomatic offensive. Former US President George Bush concentrated on the military offensive. After the advent of President Obama there is a shift from a military to a diplomatic offensive particularly with regard to developing, emerging and weak countries.

They prefer to take diplomatic recourse. As far as our country is concerned, I don't anticipate a military offensive. Its an exaggerated view. As far as this question is concerned, all this arose during the final phase of the war against terrorism.

They never anticipated that the LTTE would be destroyed int the final phase. They tried to pressurise the Government anticipating that they would be able to evacuate the LTTE leadership. However, the Government didn't succumb to pressure.

It is because of this that they are operating under various pretexts of human rights and alleged war crimes. However, the Government didn't give in. They can't get over the fact that we being a small country, we resisted them.

The US moved two resolutions against Sri Lanka in 2012 and 2013. They are going to move another resolution against Sri Lanka in 2014 as well. Before moving resolutions, they resort to threats and blackmailing. These are all part of their

diplomatic offensives. Although they talk about economic sanctions and other things even at this time, they will have to take into account the sentiments of all 47 members and how they look at this question.

They might come with a diluted resolution. The last time the main thrust of the resolution was the implementation of the LLRC report and they expected the UNHRC High Commissioner to report back to the Council after one year.

That is what is going to take place on March 3.

The High Commissioner will table her report with her observations after her visit. Then the debate will take place. They will decide on the resolution depending on the debate. There are 147 member countries in the UNHRC.

Of 47 countries, 45 are from the developing countries which comprises 13 from Asia, 13 from Africa, 8 from Latin America, 11 from the EU and America. The majority are developing countries.

America has 10 EU countries excepting Russia. Among them there are some wavering states like Czechoslovakia and Rumania.

They might shift, abstain or sometimes take their side. This is in pursuance of their foreign policy because the global strategy has geopolitical interest.

Q: As far as the new developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America are concerned, what is underlined in the Western agenda is R 2P. Could you elaborate?

A: This is really their economic and geopolitical interest. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the new world order emerged which is known as the unipolar world. But with the dawn of the 21st century, many changes took place in the world situation. Today that world order is shifting from unipolar to multi polarity gradually and steadily.

The balance of forces political and economic are also changing. In the meantime, after the economic recession in 2007 and 2008, they were in a bad way particularly on the economic front. The Asian continent took the lead.

Today Asia leads the world economy. Excepting for poorer countries such as Bangladesh and Nepal, all other Asian countries secure more than 6 percent economic growth. This has changed the economic balance. The role played by Latin America has also changed over the past 10 years.

All 33 countries in Latin America are today under a new organisation known as CELAC. Earlier those countries were under the dictate of US imperialism. Today they are functioning independently as sovereign countries. So that has changed the balance of forces in the Latin American region. Then a new zone is emerging in Central Asia where ex-Soviet Republics are taking their independent positions with the backing of Soviet Russia.

When the collapse of colonialism, there were only 45 African countries. At present there are about 50 odd countries in the African continent. New states have come into form through separation. But there is strong democracy in the African continent.

Seven countries which are known as 'Seven sisters of Africa' are emerging as fast developing countries. The world order is changing today. When the American Government in pursuing their policy, global strategy and geopolitical interest, they must keep on changing their tactics.

In the case of a small country like ours, they use the pretext of human rights and other issues so as to interfere into our affairs. We have to identify the three elements in the Geneva scenario such as the US and the Western global strategy and geopolitics, genuine human rights and reconciliation process and the propaganda drive carried out by the Western funded NGOs under the pretext of human rights.

They are carrying out the agenda of the West. In our country, some people talk only about the human rights dimension, others talk about the anti-American aspect and still others the role of the NGOs. But we should identify these three elements separately and then formulate our own strategy. These are the issues we should really address.

Q: Could third world countries expect justice and fair play from West dominated global institutions if one looks at what happened to Afghanistan, Iran and Libya?

A: That is part of their strategy. Former US President Bush pursued a military offensive in Iraq, Afghanistan and some other countries. But President Obama is different and he has launched a diplomatic offensive. He gets things done through NGOs and through other forces. That is what is happening in Ukraine and Egypt and they are continuing to do it.

Q: According to Prof. Nigel Copsey when over 700 mosques are reported to have been attacked in England itself after 9/11, why should Western peace crusaders highlight a few isolated cases in Sri Lanka and call it acts of chauvinists?

A: That is part of their propaganda and we need not take these seriously. Terrorists such as Al Qaeda and Taliban were created by America under the Cold war. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, they no longer needed them.

Because all the counties came under their orbit. They began pursuing terrorists after the September 11 incident. They nurtured, nourished and funded terrorists by giving them everything. That is how they operate.

Q: Don't you think the Opposition should collaborate with the Government on issues such as human rights, so- called war crimes rather than harping on petty domestic issues?

A: Unfortunately, the Opposition is not playing its legitimate role, not only on the human rights issue but also on other national issues.. It is country's fate. If we consider the war on terrorism and the factors that led to it, it all these happened as there was no consensus among the main political parties. That was the situation ever since the 1950s.

They take up one position today and another on the next day. They maintain a similar stance on the human rights issue as well. The two main parties have a huge responsibility specially in relation to matters of international significance.

Q: The Northern Provincial Council resolution to launch flights from Jaffna to several parts of India and developing the Kankesanthurai harbour to a commercial hub for closer links with India goes against the 13th Amendment provisions. Is the TNA still acting on its hidden Eelam agenda?

A: We should not exaggerate. We must be careful. They have a right to move a resolution or whatever they want. Its only a request made by the NPC. That request can be complied only by the Central Government. Otherwise the NPC is not in a position to launch flights from Jaffna to India. If there is a wish from the people, we should have flights from Katunayake, Jaffna and Chennai. Everything uttered by the Tamil parties should not be dismissed as conspiracies.

In our country and India, politicians engage in empty rhetoric particularly at the time of elections. They give unachievable promises. Some politicians today say Jayalalitha has declared an Eelam. If Jayalalitha becomes the Indian Prime Minister, will she be able to implement it? The reality is India and the world will not permit it. We need not get perturbed over rhetoric made by some politicians.

Q: Jayalalitha's stand off with Sri Lanka and her attempt to release the Rajivu Gandhi murder convicts from prison indicate her open support for separatism. Don't you think this hostile atmosphere is the biggest obstacle to resolving the problems of the Tamil community, if any?

A: No, that affects India, not us. That is their internal problem. The Indian Supreme Court has powers to deal with it. If that province wants to release the convicts, they should get the concurrence of the Central Government. Jayalalitha has not released the convicts.

She has said that she will release them. That is why the Indian Central Government intervened and stopped it. Jayalalitha is playing politics because of the elections. I don't think she is ignorant of the law. She deliberately does these things to t score aiming the Premiership.

If Jayalalitha becomes the Prime Minister, we will have to work with her. But some of our politicians have not taken into account the Tamil factor in Indian politics.

There are over 65 million Tamils in South India who practise the same religion and have the same language. Therefore there is a close affinity between the Tamil people in Sri Lanka and India. We have take that reality into account. Otherwise we can't run countries. Feudalistic thinking should go. We should take the reality into account.

Q: There are allegations that the COPE reports which had made constructive recommendations have gone unheeded at the hands of respondent institutions. Can't you bring in legislation to ensure its implementation?

A: You can't implement these recommendations through legislation. I am also a part of the Legislature which has the control of public finance. Parliament entrusted upon us a job and I have given its report to the Executive.

So it is the duty of the Executive to implement it. We can't implement it through legislations or by force. The Ministers and secretaries will have to exercise their authority. We can only supervise and over monitor. Both COPE reports have been accepted by the Cabinet and instructions have been given by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Ministers and secretaries are bound by the Cabinet decision to implement it. It is the duty of the Executive to look into whether they are implemented or not. It is also the duty of the Opposition to raise it in Parliament which they don't.

Q: If not the CP and the LSSP the conditions of workers and peasants in the country would have been hopeless. In this context what would the country expect from the CP and the LSSP in today's politics?

A: Today only 10 percent of the working class is organised and it has reduced to unprecedented levels.

That is a general phenomenon all over the world. As a result of neoliberalism, a new contract system is in operation and the changes in the economic structure and manufacturing concern came up so that they started giving off-show contracts.

It distorted working class unity. This is one of the biggest curses of the working class which they don't realise. Today 90 percent of the working class is not organised. This is what is happening today. Of course, we represent the working class and it is necessary in today's context.

These are objective conditions. We can't immediately change the situation subjectively. The time will come and gradually the people will realise so that the need for organisation will arise. Then the cycle will turn the other way.

We will have to wait until it comes. It is not only our two parties, the entire trade union is weak. Even the SLFP trade unions have no control over the private sector. The UNP has also some state sector trade unions. But generally the entire trade union movement is at a very low ebb.

Q: What is your opinion about the JVP dispensation under its new Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake?

A: It is good the JVP leadership has changed and a new generation has come to power. My personnel view is that they must make a self critical assessment within the party of their past records.

I believe now the time is right and they are mature enough to engage in such self criticism.

That might solve most of their problems. They must also give up their hegemonistic and arrogant behaviour and try to work with the rest of the other political parties by taking Sri Lankan and world realities into account. I look at them with optimism.