A Response to TamilNet
by Ambassador Blake
I was disappointed to read on TamilNet criticism of the US
Government’s programmes to help stabilise and develop Eastern Sri Lanka.
Since there is no mechanism to respond to TamilNet, I thought I would
use the Embassy’s blog to respond to some of the incorrect assertions in
the TamilNet article.
US Ambassador Robert O’ Blake |
First, a Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP asserts in the TamilNet
article that Washington’s purpose in our programmes for the east is to,
“help Colombo make majoritarian inroads into the east.” This is
incorrect. We have specifically established the goal of fostering
economic development, good governance and stability while preserving the
existing ethnic balance in the east.
It is well known that the east is one of Sri Lanka’s poorest
provinces and that poverty and lack of adequate economic opportunity are
principal drivers of conflict. One of the best ways to address such
poverty is to establish programmes that will link new businesses in the
East with the country’s principal markets in the western and other parts
of the country. Indeed, USAID’s Connecting Regional Economies programme
in the East has five goals:
- First: Support livelihood development for vulnerable
populations;
- Second: Promote the development of agriculture-based value
chains;
- Third: Ensure that groups in conflict-affected areas benefit
from participation in these value chains and our other efforts;
- Fourth: Implement a workforce development strategy; and
finally promote a business enabling environment.
The Member of Parliament also alleges that U.S. development
initiatives “take place through direct collaboration between the
American agency and the ministries of Sri Lanka, sidelining the
provincial council.” This also is incorrect. While we of course
coordinate with the Central Government as we would in any country, none
of our money goes through the Central Government. Rather, it goes
directly to U.S. and/or Sri Lankan organisations working in the east to
implement our programmes.
Furthermore, one of the goals of our “Supporting Regional Governance”
programme in the East is to improve the capacity and Governance of the
Eastern Provincial Council and Local Government authorities.
Specifically, this programme aims to support and facilitate increased
citizen engagement in Regional and Local Government, strengthen
inter-community reconciliation, and promote social equality by, for
example, promoting citizen interaction with Government institutions, and
strengthening the capacity of journalists and media outlets in the East.
Lastly, the MP alleges that America’s programme in the east will only
“add to the ethnic conflict in the island.”
He says “meaningful development of the east can take place only after
a substantial political solution to the Tamil national question.” We
agree that a political solution is necessary, but we do not agree that
meaningful development can take place only after a political solution is
agreed upon.
It is important to give the people of the east the opportunity now to
obtain vocational training and sustainable private sector jobs. Such
sustainable livelihood opportunities are an essential part of ensuring
stability and development so that the Tamil, Muslim and Sinhalese
communities in the East can rebuild their lives and cooperate with each
other to help the East realize its potential. |