Opinion:

'Be more conscious of local sensitivities'

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

It seems that a few Western diplomats based in Colombo have mixed up their priorities. They also ignore the mandate they have got as those in the foreign service. Some seem to be indirectly involved in local politics, interfering in Sri Lanka's internal affairs.

Mannar town: The Presidential Commission to Investigate into Complaints Regarding Missing Persons will hold sittings at the Mannar Divisional Secretary's office today.

They should keep in mind that Sri Lanka is no more a state or a colony of theirs. hence, they should not try anything they wish to do here. Their representatives here in Colombo-based missions should abandon the impression that they have that they are the governors in Sri Lanka.

There was a time before Independence when Governors were sent to Sri Lanka from the West. Those Western nations had invaded Sri Lanka without any concern about human rights. But the self same countries now try to teach us human rights and good governance.

The Ministry of External Affairs has called upon the diplomatic community to be more conscious of local sensitivities when attending events of an emotive nature. We recognise the fundamental right to freedom of assembly and expression. But at the same time, foreign diplomats in Colombo should not indulge in activities other than those they have been assigned in the foreign service.

Volatile

A certain section of the diplomatic corps appears to be involved in a manner lacking in objectivity, in events organised for a particular region and community. “This has led to the emergence of a pattern of such potentially volatile situations giving rise to the perpetuation of mistrust amongst communities at a sensitive juncture in the country's history. How come vehicles belonging to a couple of foreign missions here did their rounds at the vicinity of the Centre for Society and Religion in Colombo where a controversial meeting had taken place on August 4.

The meeting, organised by the NGO called Right to Life Human Rights Centre, involved families of disappeared persons from the North. However, another NGO, - Parents’ Collective of Disappeared Persons, had sought access to the meeting, demanding that their grievances should also be heard. If the meeting had been organised with sincere idea of assisting the families of missing persons, both the parties should have been accommodated. But the organisers had a hidden agenda.

Several diplomatic representatives from Western Missions based in Colombo had also been present at the event.

We are witnessing today far too many instances of the deliberate, even arrogant violation of fundamental principle of justice and the rule of law by some agencies within and outside the United Nations.

As President Mahinda Rajapaksa pointed out last week, this situation also can be seen to impact on matters relating to environment and sustainable development, especially in the areas of climate change and sustainable use of natural resources.

Sustainable development

The consequence of such unjust and unfair actions can only result in the absolute negation of justice and the rule of law, and complete loss of faith and trust in the international system of justice. This has to be avoided in the interest of international peace, security and friendly relations among states.

Since the eradication of LTTE terrorism five years ago, the country has marched forward with an economic and social development program founded on the principles of sustainable development on a scale and spread, never seen in the history of the country in modern times.

Highways, roads, bridges, railroads, an international airport at Mattala and a new Port in Magampura in close proximity to one of the busiest international shipping lanes of the world, have dramatically increased international and national mobility, which is essential to usher in a better future for all.

Such landmark achievements have been witnessed after the successful resettlement of over half a million displaced persons. But the West has been totally blind to these praiseworthy achievement which no other country has reached after such a bitter battlefield experience.

As the President had pointed out, another very fundamental principle of equal importance is that there must be consistency and evenness in the application of international and national laws. This means that there cannot be, and must never be, double standards in the application and interpretation of laws by Courts and international organisations.

Human shield

It is a matter of grave concern and much regret that we are witnessing today far too many instances of the deliberate - even arrogant - violation of this fundamental principle of justice and the rule of law by some agencies within and outside the United Nations. This situation also can be seen to impact on matters relating to environment and sustainable development, especially in the areas of climate change and sustainable use of natural resources.

Protecting the environment for present and future generations is an obligation shared by all governments whether big or small, rich or poor. Of equal importance is the obligation of governments especially in developing countries like Sri Lanka to enhance the quality and standards of living of the vast majority of our people. Under the stewardship of Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Colombo and suburbs have been transformed to be on par with any other city in the world.

It is unfortunate that certain Western countries could not see these positive developments experienced by a nation which had had an uncertain future merely five years ago. When the people in the North were forcibly held as a human shield none of those Western godfathers of human rights had courage to criticise that and help those civilians. But when they had been rescued from the jaws of defeat and begun a new life, these Western elements level war crime charges against Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka has made every possible effort to strengthen national reconciliation and also to investigate on missing persons. But the West have no right to force anything on us when they have loads of rubbish in their own backyards.

Nelsonian eye

The sixth round of public sittings inquiring into allegations of missing persons will conclude in Mannar District tomorrow. The Presidential Commission to Investigate into Complaints Regarding Missing Persons concluded its two-day sittings at the Manthai West Divisional Secretariat yesterday and the sittings at the Mannar Divisional Secretariat will take place today, followed by Madhu Divisional Secretariat tomorrow. A total of 47 Grama Niladhari Divisions will be covered during these pubic sittings.

To date, the Commission has received 19,284 complaints, inclusive of approximately 5,000 from relatives of missing security forces personnel. The Commission has thus far inquired into 786 complaints, which are being analysed for further investigations through an independent investigation team.

The Commission had previously conducted public sittings in January, February, March, June and July of this year in Kilinochchi, Jaffna, Batticaloa, Mullaitivu and again in Batticaloa respectively. During the previous sittings, more than 80%of thee complaints received, except in Jaffna, were against the LTTE terrorists. But none of the INGOs, Western missions or the so-called godfathers of human rights are turning a Nelsonian eye on these stunning disclosures. That clearly shows that they are only interested in human rights of the LTTE terrorists killed in action and not the human rights of civilians!

True that the TNA seniors had been remote-controlled by the LTTE when its leader Velupillai Prabhakaran was alive. But the TNA should now give up that separatist agenda prove that they repose faith in democracy. Taking part in elections and winning their power in the North alone would not prove that. The TNA should not echo the voice of the Tigers anymore.

Instead, the TNA should work for the betterment of the people in the North. They are the people who had suffered the most.

Unrealistic

While the TNA leaders had comfortable living in Colombo and overseas, their own people in the North had experienced untold sufferings due to LTTE terror. Now that the TNA has gained power in the Northern Provincial Council and the Local Government bodies in the North, they must work for their people by making the maximum use of the funds allocated by the Government.

But NPC Chief Minister C.T. Wigneswaran appears to be a cry baby without doing any worthwhile job to the people who had voted for him. Rather than indulging unrealistic clashes with the Chief Secretary of the Province, Wigneswaran must make use of the funds allocated to serve his people.

President has the power to appoint, transfer or dismiss the Northern Province Chief Secretary Vijayalakshmi Ramesh and the Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary should work in harmony, cooperating with each other, as declared by the Supreme Court last week.

The Court was of the view that as a public servant, Chief Secretary Ramesh came under the control of the Public Service Commission. The Supreme Court made the above ruling after considering the Fundamental Rights Petition filed by Chief Secretary Vijayalakshmi Ramesh in which she claimed that the Chief Minister was interfering with her duties and attempting to dismiss her from her post.

President’s Counsel Kanag-Eswaran and P. Sumanthiran appearing for the Chief Minister submitted to Court on July 28 that their client had unconditionally withdrawn the circular issued by him that the Chief Secretary and other Provincial Council officials among other things should seek his approval when going on leave or going out of the province, which the Chief Secretary prayed was a violation of her fundamental rights. Hence, yesterday’s ruling was made without the matter being taken up for inquiry.

The Court further observed that the Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary should work towards building national harmony and in terms of the 1987 Provincial Councils Act carry out their duties in cooperation with each other. This is exactly what the people in the North would expect. Instead of trying to grab additional powers which are vested with the Government, Wigneswaran must use the powers which he already enjoy to serve his voters.