Opinion:

Some Western countries feel Lanka still a colony

by K.M.H.C.B. Kulatunga

Certain Western countries assume that Sri Lanka is a State or a colony of theirs so that they could try anything they wish to do here. Their representatives here in Colombo-based missions are under the impression that they are the governors in Sri Lanka of those powerful states and that they have every right to indulge in any matter, be it diplomatic or otherwise.

Indiscriminate bombing by Israel in the Gaza Strip

Hence, they even go to the extent of meddling in the country's domestic matters, ranging from instructing the masses how they should vote to conducting elections. Sri Lanka is a country which had enjoyed universal franchise since 1931 and we certainly do not need Western prophets to preach to us on democracy.

External Affairs Ministry last week noted that the basis for training programs such as that of the US Embassy-funded Rights Now Collective for Democracy for Jaffna based journalists was unclear particularly when the target group has been limited to one geo-political region and ethnic group.

Extremist elements

Referring to the denunciation of the protest against the conduct of the workshop by the US Embassy, leading to its 'cancellation', the Foreign Ministry observed that the US Embassy appears to be selectively upholding the fundamental principles of freedom of speech and freedom of assembly in Sri Lanka, depending on who is exercising the rights, whereas such protests have been taking place all over the world, including in the USA, on numerous occasions organised by extremist elements against the Sri Lankan State.

It is deplorable that the Embassy statement chose to ignore the responses provided by the government following queries raised over the weekend on this issue by US government officials in a spirit of reciprocal engagement, in Colombo and in the ministry in Washington DC.

It appears that the US Embassy in Colombo was selectively upholding fundamental rights in Sri Lanka, depending on who is exercising them and criticised the Embassy of questioning the media freedom in Sri Lanka.

In a statement the External Affairs Ministry has quite rightly said the circumstances surrounding the cancellation of a training program for Jaffna based journalists according to the statement of the Embassy appear to be the protest that reportedly took place against the conduct of the workshop, which has been denounced by the US Embassy.

Unclear

There is no doubt whatsoever that the rights of these protestors to the freedom of assembly and expression are being questioned by the Embassy which further on in the same statement refers to these principles in the context of "those who interfere with freedom of speech and freedom of assembly". It appears the Embassy is selectively upholding these fundamental principles in Sri Lanka, depending on who is exercising the right.

Moreover, the Embassy refers to incidents surrounding the cancellation by the organisers, of a training organized for Jaffna based journalists, funded by the US government through Rights Now Collective for Democracy, which is registered under the Companies Act.

The Ministry said the basis for the training program was unclear, particularly when the target group has been limited to one geographical region and ethnic group. Given the sensitivities involved when the country is going through a sensitive process of national reconciliation, restrictively targeting a specific group of people from a particular community or region can lead to a perpetuation of mistrust among communities, seriously hampering reconciliation efforts.

Erroneous

Further, if the Embassy had expressed concern about the reports of intimidation of media personnel the Ministry would have expected the sharing of specific details of such intimidation and harassment in the spirit of constructive engagement, without making judgmental statements based on erroneous and biased information.

The outgoing US Ambassador in Sri Lanka Michele Sison undertook a tour to North last January with Stephen Rapp in the terrorist-affected region in the north and east of Sri Lanka. The Twitter Accounts carried in Colombo's American Embassy official web portal describing the areas they toured as cites, as framed by the American Embassy- "killing of hundreds of families by army shelling."

The Ministry of Defence on January 9 expressed shock and anger at what it called a "baseless allegation" against the nation's military in a photo caption posted on the official Twitter feed of the United States Embassy the day before.

The photograph showed Sison, and Stephen J. Rapp, the United States ambassador at large for war crimes issues, during a visit to the North of the country, where the Security Forces fought the LTTE terror until 2009. The caption that enraged the ministry referred to the "killing of hundreds of families by army shelling" at the site that the United States diplomats were pictured visiting.

Terror campaign

Sison leaves Colombo for New York to take up a higher posting, undoubtedly with the mindset to work closely with agencies which had supported her. As deputy representative to the US Mission in the UN, she will also maintain a close rapport with the US Mission at the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva.

The operatives within the Tamil Diaspora - operatives well-known for their contribution to Velupillai Prabhakaran's terror campaign by way of fund-raising, propaganda, counseling and encouraging arms procurement declaring the Tiger movement a liberation organisation all of which fall within the 'Material Support Law' in US legislation - were actively instrumental in levelling 'war crimes-genocide' scrutiny by international bodies.

The main responsibility of a diplomatic mission is to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries. Regrettably, the US mission in Colombo has gone beyond that mandate and stepped into an unwarranted and unauthorised area in which they have no right to indulge in.

There had been a time during previous Governments that Sri Lanka turned a blind eye to all those undiplomatic practices. But the clear-cut foreign policy under Mahinda Chinthana has made all Sri Lankans proud as the country has always maintained its identity as a sovereign nation. The manner in which President Mahinda Rajapaksa has maintained cordial relations with sincere world leaders has enabled Sri Lanka to make new friends without over depending on those who adopt double standards.

Toothless

The Mahinda Chinthana has enabled Sri Lanka to win new friends across the globe and it has been those sincere and genuine friendly countries which stood by Sri Lanka during its humanitarian operation and to eradicate LTTE terror. If not for the support of those friendly countries, Sri Lanka would still have been subjected to LTTE terror while listening to the Western peace merchants.

While pontificating to us on human rights and good governance, the selfsame countries adopt double standards in other world affairs. Not only those countries but certain international organisations too act in similar manner. The UNHRC, which has been gunning Sri Lanka on human rights of LTTE terrorists, appears to become a toothless tiger when it become to Israeli action in Gaza.

UNHRC chief Navi Pillay should reveal her stance regarding the violation of international military law and international human rights in Palestine.

It will be interesting if Navi Pillay clarifies her stance on the genocide in Palestine. She should declare her stance to the world regarding that. But she seems to be silent when the international military law and international human rights were being violated in Palestine.

The the UN Human Rights Commissioner is pursuing double standards on certain countries in the world. One wondered whether Sri Lanka is the only country in the world where US probes on alleged human rights violations should be conducted when there are enough and more proof in other countries under grave human rights violations. But Pillay seems to be fast asleep as her hands are clipped by a couple of powerful Western nations.

Refugee status

Her disgraceful silence on the Palestine genocide implies that her approach had been different in some countries of the world. She termed it a war crime when a Malaysian Airlines plane was shot down in Ukraine. But she keeps mum on the Palestine genocide and on the abduction of 200 female students by Boko Haram militants in Nigeria. Is this what we expect from the UN High Commissioner on human rights?

The LTTE terrorists have made full use of the freedom they had got under the UNHCR refugee status card to operate in Malaysia. But neither Pillay nor any of the UN officials could explain how the LTTE terrorists had managed to obtain UNHCR refugee cards.

On May 15, the Malaysian Police, in a special operation conducted by the Special Branch's Counter-Terrorism Division 3, arrested LTTE suspects from different locations. As LTTE was enjoying explicit nod of approval by Western NGOs/INGOs and even certain Western Governments, we are not all surprised that they had UNHCR refugee status cards with them.

The UNHCR has lavishly issued its official refugee status cards for Tiger terrorits during the infamous cease fire agreement. Under the mediation of the so-called peace facilitator Norway, the Tigers managed to get all comforts and cover they needed internally.

Sri Lanka will continue to forge ahead with confidence against all odds who are conspiring to gun down its image. President Rajapaksa's political sagacity has been the key factor in Sri Lanka's success in the humanitarian operation as well as its steady progress in development and economic growth.

Sri Lanka has made s determined forward march since the eradication of terrorism. The West does not like Sri Lanka standing on its feet. They would always like to see Sri Lanka as a dependent of the West so that they could use that to let Sri Lanka to their own melody. The West could no longer dictate terms to Sri Lanka as we could stand on our own with the support of the friendly countries!