GSP+ and strengthening ties with developing world

Sarath Wijesinghe

GSP+ is a system introduced by the USA and the EU to extend conditional help and encourage industries and production in selected countries by adjusting tariff and other facilities for a given period. The European Union and member countries intensified the scheme during and aftermath of the tsunami for Sri Lanka.

Before the introduction of this facility we managed without this concession and we should know that this is not a permanent facility and should have been ready to be without at some stage in life. As President Rajapaksa and the Central Bank Governor have reiterated we can be without this facility, yet it is good to settle matters in friendly atmosphere based on mutual trust and respect based on accepted international and legal norms and practices.

In 2008 European imported apparel worth 1.24 billion Euro thereby the income to Sri Lanka has exceeded to 75 million Euros. This procedure is regularized by the European Community Law and in 1993 Justice Bagawathie - one time Chief Justice of India - advised the EU on the procedure and implementation on the countries awaiting the facility which is a privilege and favour but not a right.

It is internationally accepted that once a right or a privilege is enjoyed, withdrawal too should be based on a just cause and should not be arbitrary. Arbitrary withdrawal is not only illegal but also crude and immoral.

The threat to withdraw GSP+ facility from Sri Lanka has raised serious concerns on the international community, especially at a time when Sri Lanka has helped the world community by militarily crushing the most ruthless and feared terrorist outfit which terrified and terrorized the entire world. This is the time the international community should increase the aid in the interest of the regional security and international security. The EU alleges that Sri Lanka has not adhered to the Convention on Human Rights, International Convention of Civil and political rights, Convention against torture and Convention on rights of Child for which Sri Lanka a parry to.

This is an unfair and unrealistic expectation of Sri Lanka on international standards, when in Iraqi, Afghanistan and other war torn countries controlled by EU and USA are far below the expected standards on human rights and war related issues. EU was unreasonable to expect unattainable and difficult tasks of full implementation of 27 Conventions, an ideological and unrealistic and impossible goal which no country could fulfil.

Termination of trade concessions such as GSP is not a mere mechanical process that come down arbitrarily but one that should be cognized upon its associated possible economic ramifications.

These are processes to support vulnerable developing countries and not a mode of punishment or means of taking revenge of being independent and fearless of international terrorism. Thanks to President Rajapaksa we are no longer a vulnerable nation, yet we need the support of our friends for a better and prosperous world.

International political issues

Why is this indifference to us at this stage, when we are rated one of the best tourism destinations and stock market reaching the peak? Steps are being taken to mend the patches of misunderstanding of powerful INGOs and some diplomats. US President Obama has spoken of our long history of friendship and pledged to continue friendship when the USA Senate says they can not afford to lose Sri Lanka based on minute matters. Former Ambassador Robert O’Blake’s interference in international matters raised the eyebrows of the international community and Sri Lankans. President Rajapaksa’s relations with China, Russia, Middle East, and the African Sub Continent are Par excellence and now it is time to turn to the West and EU. We hope the GSP+ issue will be a minute matter for President Rajapaksa to bring about a settlement.

We need the West and the West needs us in the current political and economic climate of co-operation. Our education, economy, governance, legal system, link language is part of the great western culture. We absorb the great concepts of democracy and human rights from them. Surely Sri Lanka should not be pushed towards another power bloc out of sheer necessity.

Whatever happens President Rajapaksa will not deviate from the non-aligned policy adopted based on his vision which has proved to be successful. He is an emerging world leader heading number of regional bodies representing billions of world citizens today. We are grateful to USSR and the emerging world and economic power China for saving and bailing us out in danger of being questioned by the world body during the most difficult era of crushing the LTTE.

EU-NGOs and international relations

West expected Sri Lanka to listen to them and conduct our war on their terms. They never expected the war to be won militarily and advised us to settle our matters based on solutions proposed by INGOs and some interested parties and embassies. It was not to their liking that President Rajapaksa crushed the terror regime which has been a threat to world and regional peace. The decision of European Union to suspend the EU’s preferential trade status to Sri Lanka is not a surprise, but a short-sighted decision based on incorrect and incomplete information which needs careful scrutiny in the interest of the friendly relations of member countries and give a correct assessment to the Human Right standards in an atmosphere of threat of terror regimes.

Obama vows to continue relations with Sri Lanka. They little realize that Sri Lanka has been a leader of the non-alignment and not foolish to align to a Super Power. On the other hand Sri Lanka has overcome the difficult period and now we can afford to go through difficulties and the people too will be prepared to gulf the difficulties with the new found freedom and the national pride as a result of winning the unwinnable war.

Conventions and international instruments

The Convention on Human Rights is a non-binding instrument to which we have become a signatory. Our Human right mechanism may not be the best in the world. We have the Human Rights Commission which is effective. Fundamental jurisdiction of the Supreme Court is cheap, accessible and less cumbersome. Non Governmental Organizations in the human rights area in Sri Lanka are very powerful. Civil society and the media too are powerful and vigilant in Sri Lanka unlike in the United Kingdom which is complicated in practice and less effective. Sri Lankan NGOs are funded heavily and they are interested in internal politics than protecting human rights which is worrying.

They misuse our kindness and good natured treatment to outsiders as a weakness and make use of anti- national forces and politicians rejected by the masses to achieve their political and financial goals. EU is not happy the way we conducted the war on terror successfully though the mechanism adopted by the EU and allies in Iraqi and Afghanistan is a miserable failure.

Allegations of human right violations and abuses are fast growing in these countries with resentment from their citizens. The main allegations in addition to the other issues on Sri Lanka are the treatment of Tamil civilians, killing of aid workers and summery executions orchestrated in the Channel 4 video issue. Aid workers were definitely killed by the LTTE as Sri Lankan Forces considered to be the most disciplined and professional force in the world.

Treatment of displaced civilians is exemplary and transparent and it is sad that EU has not considered how the civilians living under the clutches of terror regime in jungles subjected to starvation and degrading treatment.

Now they are free and proud citizens having exercised franchise after 30 years and gradually gaining complete economic and political freedom. The Road network in the North is now excellent and villagers and farmers are enjoying the past glory and ethnic integration. President Rajapaksa has pledged equal rights to all nationalities having declared that there will be no minorities any longer.

European Commission

On December 16, the European Commission will discuss this matter and the pleasant news is that the dissenting views are fast growing and there is strong possibility that they will reconsider the decisions already taken in the interest of world peace and proper economic balance of the world family.