Physician, heal thyself

It is still fresh in people's minds how several Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) filled their coffers with an unprecedented volume of foreign funds during the Security Forces' relentless battle against terrorism from 2006-2009. To reciprocate it, these NGOs danced the fandango around some Western countries which are on a witch-hunt against Sri Lanka.

It is deplorable that there are several NGO goons here who would stoop to any level and betray their country in their lust for filthy lucre. International NGOs (INGOs) are acutely aware of this and exploit it to the maximum to use people to conspire against their motherland.

Western elements, who daydream of a regime change, are making a desperate attempt to get leaders who would be like putty in their hands. They pump funds to make their regime change dream a reality. Large sums of money were channelled to local NGOs during the 2010 Presidential election as those with vested interest in the West felt that they could use Sarath Fonseka to get rid of a fearless leader who always puts the country before self without bowing to Western pressure.

Those patriotic and loyal in the country had not fallen prey to this Western trap and re-elected President Mahinda Rajapaksa with a thumping majority. From that time, certain Western countries exerted undue pressure on Sri Lanka, bringing in successive resolutions against Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and appointing a panel to investigate alleged war crime charges against Sri Lanka.

Of late, there has been an increasing trend in foreign funding for local NGOs as the West is hell-bent on another attempt to achieve its dream of a regime change. From the day there was speculation of an early Presidential election, Western 'godfathers' of democracy and human rights had stepped up funds to NGOs in Sri Lanka. The need to increase foreign funds to local NGOs here before a major election in Sri Lanka is mind-boggling, to say the least.

It is crystal clear that some Western countries are using money-hungry NGO goons here to conspire against the Government and its elected leaders. Certain NGOs, in the guise of strengthening democracy and protecting human rights, exceed their mandate to satisfy their funding agents in the West.

In this scenario, the Finance and Planning Ministry has taken steps to ensure that these foreign funds are used in a meaningful and transparent manner. Western leaders who invariably preach to us on transparency and good governance use the INGOs' funds to meddle in the internal affairs of countries which do not sing hosannas to the West.

The Finance and Planning Ministry has apprised Non-Governmental Organisations that they should receive prior approval from the Ministry before obtaining foreign funds.

This comes hot on the heels of several acts of omission and commission of INGOs and NGOs in Sri Lanka. USAID's controversial foreign aid program stands out as a classic example of Western hypocrisy. Would INGOs or NGOs be permitted to operate in such a high-handed manner threatening national security in their own countries?

Sri Lanka has had universal franchise from 1931 and USAID expertise is by no means necessary to teach Sri Lankans about elections or how to cast their votes. There is no doubt whatsoever that this is a deliberate attempt to brainwash voters under the pretext of educating them. No sovereign state would tolerate such arrant nonsense.

USAID had planned to provide USD 190 million for a program titled, Election Support Through Voter Education but withdrew it later following protests. If USAID is sincerely interested in working for the people's well-being in Sri Lanka, there are transparent ways to channel these huge funds to improve the lot of underprivileged people.

The notice, issued by the Director General of the Department of External Resources of the Ministry of Finance and Planning said that numerous complaints have been lodged at the Ministry regarding the use of foreign funds, without adhering to local standards and structures.

Hence, all government agencies, local institutions and civil society organisations must now obtain prior approval from the ministry to ensure that diligence is observed on the use of funds they receive from foreign funding sources, INGOs or any other source.

It has been revealed that many programs, including micro financing and other instruments are being funded by various foreign agencies without proper approval and compliance with local and national requirements. This is a serious matter which no other sovereign state could permit, not even those countries from which these funds originate.

Moreover, some projects launched with foreign funds are outside the government budget, thereby undermining national development programs.

Certain NGOs are minting money, looking for witnesses for the controversial UNHRC probe against Sri Lanka. These NGOs operate in a clandestine manner to groom witnesses.

Reports said that each witness has been offered rewards ranging from Rs. 50,000 - Rs. 100,000 to testify before Navi Pillay's controversial team which has no mandate to meddle in Sri Lanka's internal matters. Payments would be made through local NGOs from the foreign funds they receive. This is precisely why a transparent mechanism should be set up to show how NGOs utilise the foreign funds they receive.

It is heartening to note that member countries of the South Asia - SAARC, in one voice rejected Pillay's probe team against Sri Lanka. Almost all SAARC countries have expressed reservations on the UNHRC international investigation against Sri Lanka by refusing visas to the UNHRC team to enter these countries to conduct the probe. The countries are India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and the Maldives.

Although India is a key UNHRC player, the probe team got an early warning after India rejected the team's entry. Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and the Maldives are not willing to provide support for the resolution brought against an individual country.

Although the UNHRC probe team tried to conduct investigations in a country close to Sri Lanka, since it cannot enter Sri Lanka, their hopes were shattered due to the unity of the SAARC nations. Even Afghanistan had its reservations towards the investigation, a high-handed act on the part of Pillay who has clearly overstepped her mandate as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The Chairman of the BJP Committee on Strategic Action and BJP's National Executive Committee Member Dr. Subramanian Swamy has said that Sri Lanka should not be perturbed over the international inquiry as the UNHRC could not take any unilateral action.

Dr. Swamy dubbed the OHCHR as a 'scarecrow' adding that it had no powers to take any action without seeking a mandate from the UN Security Council. Dr. Swamy, an ardent supporter in Sri Lanka's battle against terrorism, said that the intervention by international agencies in Sri Lanka could not be justified.

The US and the UK have no moral right to question Sri Lanka's legitimate humanitarian operation. The US bombed Hiroshima and Great Britain carpet-bombed German cities during World War II. If these countries are sincerely concerned about human rights, they must hold a credible inquiry against those very acts against mankind.

Instead, they continue to show that they are the 'sole agents' for human rights worldwide and continue to exert undue pressure on the countries which do not fall in line with them. These self-appointed godfathers of human rights should first and foremost clear the loads of garbage in their own backyards before pointing an accusing finger at Sri Lanka.