Rogue NGOs with Western agendas
Minister Prof G. L. Peiris has spoken of the need for
the Government to set up a surveillance mechanism to monitor
programs and funding sources of NGOs. Addressing the Cabinet
Media briefing on Wednesday he was quoted as saying that the
Government has information to the effect that many local NGOs
and INGOs have been involved in domestic politics and other
unscrupulous activities violating the country's law. Therefore
he argued a monitoring system for NGOs is essential.
Many would agree with the Minister's views. Today NGOs have
become a burgeoning industry. While a majority of these NGOs
perform a commendable service to uplift the social and economic
conditions of the poor and assist in many projects beneficial to
the public, there are also rogue NGOs whose main agenda it is to
undermine the unity and stability of the country. They have also
inveigled certain local politicians to implement their vile
schemes. Hence it is not without reason that the likes of Wimal
Weerawansa and other vociferous politicians of the Government
rant and rave against these NGOs whose agenda is all too clear
to the independent observer.
The Minister's concerns are certainly not unfounded
considering the subterfuge practised by many NGOs in this
country particularly during the war period. It is readily
accepted that some of these NGOs became the mouthpieces of the
LTTE and their activities smacked of open hostility towards the
Government. The discovery of several NGO vehicles and
sophisticated communication equipment in the abandoned camps of
the LTTE certainly tells a tale.
There were many local heads of NGOs who masqueraded as
peaceniks but their real agenda was all plain to see to the
enlightened observer. These NGOs brazenly sided with the
terrorists while taking pains to highlight the alleged human
rights violation of the Government Forces. There were even LTTE
apologists among the NGO circuit who functioned as journalists
to put Sri Lanka in poor light before the world. All these
cumulatively affected the war against terror with Western
pressure mounting against the Government. It is to the eternal
credit of President Mahinda Rajapaksa that he ignored these
threats to bring the war to a successful conclusion.
There is no doubt these NGOs had the full blessings and the
patronage of certain Western powers who kept pouring funds into
their already overflowing coffers. These funds were being used
to undermine the Sri Lankan State by circulating false
propaganda to vilify and demonize the country.
It is these very same NGOs who provided false information
regarding casualty figures which were pounced upon by the likes
of the Milibands to bring war crimes charges against Sri Lanka.
Hence the views aired by Prof Peiris no doubt will be shared
by all dispassionate observers. The conduct of some of the NGOs
in Sri Lanka had been a recurring theme and even a Special
Commission was appointed by President Premadasa to probe the
NGOs and their funding sources. But they continue in their merry
way despite the same complaints and issues against these NGOs
still being raised. These have today surfaced in many forms.
There is not so subtle a move to debase the cultural values of
this country too under the patronage of some of the NGOs. Some
of them have been accused of carrying out religious conversions
using money as inducements.
Today there is no scrutiny on the massive funds received by
these NGOs which are being used for questionable purposes. Some
NGOs are virtually functioning as adjuncts to political parties
who carry out the agenda of the benefactors of these NGOs.
Prof Peiris noted that the NGOs continue to receive huge
amounts of funds from various foreign sources. But whether these
NGOs use those funds for their declared work program is the
question.
It is no secret that the NGOs found Sri Lanka a haven during
the three decades long civil war which provided the ideal ground
situation to thrive. Demonstrations organised by well heeled NGO
fat cats in Colombo denouncing the war was the order of the day
with the constant refrain for a political solution. The well
organised demos, the large crowds all pointed to well organised
NGO network flush with funds. The ubiquitous presence of the
local leaders of these NGOs in the diplomatic cocktail circuit
was a clear pointer to the agenda at work.
It is time that Government makes a serious effort to flush
out all rogue NGOs from the country. Now that the three decades
long conflict has ended every step should be taken to ensure no
NGO stirs the pot again. |