Archives

Steering the Commonwealth

The high point in the Commonwealth Heads of State summit which will be conducted over the weekend in Abuja, Nigeria is expected to be the election of the next Commonwealth Secretary General.

This contest is expected to pit the incumbent Secretary General, New Zealander Don McKinnon against Sri Lanka's Lakshman Kadirgamar, whose nomination is said to be backed by President Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. He is, therefore, a veritable consensus candidate, as far as the Lankan State is concerned.

While the task of making the final choice for this prestigious position in the Commonwealth resides with the latter collectivity, it is quite plain to see that this multi-faceted organisation which impinges closely on the development prospects of a good part of the Third World, should ideally be steered into the future on a rotational basis among the several regions represented by it. Unfortunately, the Commonwealth Union is now being perceived among some sections as reflecting a North-South rift or more seriously, a "White-Black" bifurcation. Differences of opinion within the Commonwealth fold on particularly Zimbabwe are seen as being responsible for these divisions.

While there is no denying the relative effectiveness of the Commonwealth on some important issues affecting the developing countries represented in it, the future vibrancy of the organisation would depend on the degree of unity it achieves among its membership. It will also depend on whether visionary leadership could be provided to the Union and on whether such a leadership would be broadly representative. It could be found that Sri Lanka, with its history of cordial relations with both, the countries of the Western and Eastern hemispheres, is quite suitable to pilot the Commonwealth into the future.

There are also Sri Lanka's political credentials to be considered. Democratic governance, although on occasion flawed, is still alive in Sri Lanka. Democratic freedoms and a justice system which conforms to some of the most hallowed principles in the administration of justice, continue to be operative here. Besides, economic pragmatism continues to be the chosen approach to development.

Nevertheless, we are also a developing country which is following a rugged, rocky path to economic betterment. Being a victim of the economic inequities of the current world economic order, we are in a position to identify closely with the Third World component of the Commonwealth Union.

We could, therefore, prove to be an effective healer of the North-South 'divide' within the Commonwealth. In the normal course of events, therefore, Sri Lanka could make a strong bid for the post of Commonwealth Secretary General and it would be in the fitness of things to back Sri Lanka for this prestigious position.

It is all too obvious that the states of the world should organise themselves into collectivities in tune with the vision of a shared future. Increasingly, Third World personnel should be provided the opportunity of steering international organisations along the path of equal development. The Commonwealth Union should prove a standard-bearer of these ideals. An Asian Secretary General is likely to prove a catalyst in the growth of the Commonwealth.

Democracy on CHOGM agenda

Leaders from 52 countries in the Commonwealth, the global body of mostly former British colonies, have flocked to the Nigerian capital for another Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). The Abuja deliberations will focus primarily on democracy, terrorism and trade, but divisions over Zimbabwe are threatening to overshadow these issues.

Many critics have questioned the usefulness of the Commonwealth in a modern world far removed from the colonial era, but the disparate band of developed and developing countries are determined to go on. Friction on contentious issues is an inevitable result of their widely differing views. Zimbabwe, which is not represented at CHOGM this year, is a case in point.

The Commonwealth as a whole wants to see real progress in talks between President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change on finding a plan to rebuild Zimbabwean democracy. But individual members of the Commonwealth have different prescriptions for the ills of Zimbabwe. Some prefer a gentler approach while others seek tough action.

Unfortunately, this division is being seen as a conflict between the so-called 'White Commonwealth' of developed countries and the rest. The same applies to Pakistan, whose suspension is also under discussion at the Commonwealth.

The difference between the two, in the words of Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon, is that Pakistan was "very busy building democracy again" whereas Zimbabwe had not got any closer to national reconciliation since the violent election in March last year.

The crisis over Zimbabwe, and to a lesser extent Pakistan, indicates that a streak of colonial mentality still runs through the Commonwealth with a number of countries advocating socio-political formulas for their poorer cousins from the Third World.

The expulsion of 'problem' countries from the Commonwealth, as suggested by some leaders, is likely to isolate them further in the world community and veer them away from democratic reforms. Engaging these countries diplomatically through the Commonwealth and other world bodies could prove to be more constructive.

There could be no better example than CHOGM host Nigeria itself, which emerged as a democracy in 1999 after years of military rule and violence. The Commonwealth can still work for the betterment of all its member states through a collective effort.

www.ppilk.com

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries

Produced by Lake House
Copyright © 2003 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager