‘Time to form alliance against Western Imperialism’

By Dhaneshi YATAWARA

To withstand the oppression weak countries encounter in the face of Western Imperialism, it is high time an alliance of like-minded countries was formed, said Senior Counsel S.L. Gunasekara.

In an interview with the Sunday Observer Gunasekara emphasised “Let us not forget that the West is economically powerful. And they will try to crush us somehow, be it through political or economic sanctions. Those will hurt the poor people of the country. We have to take the poor people on our side.”

“People have races, castes and creeds, but their problems don’t,” said Gunasekara, stressing the need for a proper plan to revive people’s lives irrespective of their ethnicity.

Excerpts of the interview:

Q: The end of terrorism has not ended criticism and comments on Sri Lanka from local and international groups on the human rights front. Why do you think the West wants to take Sri Lanka to task, apparently for defeating terrorism?

A: These people who criticise, in Western countries led by the United States, and in Tamil Nadu cannot get over the fact that we won. We achieved this, disregarding their orders or requests for a ceasefire. Hillary Clinton from the United States asked us to declare a ceasefire. Ban Ki-moon from the UN told us to do so. British and Norwegian politicians were here, emphasising on the same lines. President Mahinda Rajapaksa refused point blank and moved forward in the humanitarian operation. Going for a ceasefire, we would have committed national suicide. As a result, today we have more peace than in many other countries, than in any other country where the West intervened.

No longer do bombs explode in city centres or trains in our country. People go about their normal activities without any suspicion, though they still have certain fears, may be not completely, but they are largely free from fear and suspicion.

There are unforgivable incidents happening even today, risking the safety of the civil society and these must stop. But, by and large, we have a free environment and this is what the West can’t get over since they could not make such situations in the countries where they intervened.

As for the locals who level criticism, they also depend on the West. They get Western handouts, are acolytes of various NGOs and are funded by the West. So, naturally, they will sing for their supper-serve their masters.

Q: The majority of Sri Lankans, the ordinary citizens, are not involved in any activity to criticise or condemn the country’s achievement. Yet, why can’t the international community tolerate what Sri Lanka has achieved, going through much pain and misery? Is it the greed for power that leads them?

A: Yes, a majority of Sri Lankans are not involved. However, our people don’t understand the West and what they are up to. The first question we should ask ourselves is what are their bona fides? Are they asking us for accountability in good faith?

Then how is it that they were silent on accountability, human rights and related issues when our people were being trampled on. When armed terrorists trained in India and destroyed our people and property, the West was silent. Why were they silent when Indian forces invaded our air space, preventing us from defeating terrorists 22 years ago? Had we done so, tens and thousand of lives and limbs would have been saved.

The West did nothing. Today, when Indian fishermen steal fish from our fishermen, particularly the Tamil fishermen living in the North, the West is silent. Their only worry is about us defeating the LTTE.

You see, to the West, we are a servant nation; what they call ‘WOGs – Worthy Oriental Gentlemen. And when we decide to stand on our own two feet and ignore them, that is too much for them. When we succeed where they failed, they can’t stand it. It is a question of pride. It’s not that we have done anything wrong to them, but we have hurt their pride with our success.

Developing countries

Q: What can we, as a developing country, do?

A: One of the best options I always emphasise is forming a frontier with like-minded countries.

Q: How viable would this be? Weak countries had been oppressed by stronger countries throughout history. Yet, no alliance was formed. How would it be possible today?

A: Irrespective of what happened in the past, countries or those holding similar status should form a front against Western Imperialism. For example, for a long time we said that the LTTE must be defeated, but it was not defeated for a long time.

However, the fact that it was defeated proved that it could be done. A genuine effort is needed to make this happen, a genuine effort by intelligent people who will not give up their efforts for vain glory or things of such nature. These committed people should be unconcerned about their futures, but only about the country.

We should focus on these paths instead of organising demonstrations which serve the purpose of boosting some politician’s ego, or using them to take the people’s mind off things such as the rising cost of living. Without wasting time on such things, the real focus should be on forming an alliance.

It is difficult, but must be done. Let us not forget that the West is economically powerful. They will try to crush us somehow, be it through political or economic sanctions. Those will hurt the poor people of the country. We have to take the poor people on our side.

Q: From a legal perspective, is it possible for outside sources to intervene in a matter that is already being domestically sorted out? How far could international interventions be viable?

A: It is an important point. The West is always trying to suppress the East. For that purpose they have evolved theories such as R2P, just to be able to control us. Those are things which we must defeat. To do so we, the countries facing continuous oppression from the West, must get together. The problem is, all countries act through sheer self interest. Thus, when a country oppressed by the West receives a helping hand from the West they would go for it. That is just human nature. Even in Sri Lanka, there were traitors who took money from the LTTE and carried out jobs for the terrorists. Likewise, countries are also prone to act purely for self-interest. Those are facts of life.

We should take these things in our stride and somehow try to forge an alliance of this nature. At present, there is only one super power in the world; they can do murder and get away with it. For example, the murder of Osama Bin Laden. Though the USA had all the reasons to murder him, they had no right to enter a foreign country without informing that country. US President Barack Obama and State Secretary Hillary Clinton were watching the operation. Nowhere in the world have we heard of a head of State watching such a murder.

People’s support

Q: In your point of view, how should Sri Lanka proceed in the future, especially protecting Human Rights at all times?

A: Think, first of all, the Government has to get the sincere support of the people, sincere appreciation, acknowledgement and support. They can only do this by turning inwards and correcting their faults.

They have to start giving appointments on merit. And importantly, cut down unwanted expenditure. How many people comprise Government delegation going abroad on an official visit? The public has to pay for all that.

If the government cuts all that down and keeps simplicity as the keynote and implement the Article of the Constitution, i.e. All are equal in front of the law, then the government will get the sincere support of the people to fight the foreign forces. People will then be willing to put up with any hardship. This can only be done by extending its sincerity.

During the conflict, the people stood behind the Government, they willingly put up with so many difficulties. Why? Because people knew the Government was involved in a valid, necessary action.

Similarly, if the people can see and feel that the Government is making a sincere effort, being a good government, one will surely find people genuinely backing them. If we are to defeat the foreign conspiracies and face the new imperialism, we should have the people behind the Government.

Q: Not only Sri Lanka, but many countries have signed numerous conventions and treaties accepted in the world. Thus, without being aggressive, can’t the Government take their plans in to action?

A: We have to take a stand. If it means being aggressive, we have to be so. I know we have so many treaties and conventions, too many to mention.

We should be able to defend our country. On the other hand, how many conventions apply to rich and powerful countries? It is one law for the rich and powerful and another for the weak. The rich and powerful will get away with murder and the poor man gets hammered all the time for the smallest thing. This has to stop.

Q: Bringing normality back has to be through a combination of reconstruction, resettlement, rehabilitation, reintegration and reconciliation. Yet, people see no combined approach in Sri Lanka. What is your view on this?

A: It is a tragedy. I totally agree with former President the late D.B. Wijethunga’s statement that Sri Lanka has no ethnic problem, but a terrorist problem. The terrorist problem devastated people’s lives and these lives need to be rebuilt. This must be done on a scientific basis, irrespective of race, caste or creed. This should not be politicised at all.

This process should look in to matters on an objective plan irrespective of ethnic groups. It is the people who have problems. There are no Tamil problems, Sinhala problems or Muslim problems.

There is no difference in hunger or any other basic necessity. People have races, castes and creeds, but their problems don’t.

These processes should look into the material aspect of people’s needs. I see no need for reconciliation. It is necessary if two ethnicities are fighting each other. Sri Lankan people don’t have that problem. It is all politically created.