Ban Ki Moon is moonlighting

Gomin Dayasri

Continued from yesterday

With peace achieved after the war effort being productive, the peace activists have lost their cause and with it the monetary dividend. The Diasporas days of glory ended with the demise of Prabhakaran- to be in business they have to, at the least, discredit Sri Lanka’s war exercises- it is the way to be in money fame and influence.

These three imposters have successfully pressurized UN officials again to re agitate the call to investigate war crimes in Sri Lanka. They have found a strange ally in frustrated Sarath Fonseka with his recent utterances much to their comfort.

It is just days away from the unmanned drone aircrafts functioning from US bases in Pakistan which missed their targets and killed innocent civilians.

The killing of by- standers by US Forces in Pakistan and Afghanistan has become a common feature during the war against the Talibans. So it is Iraq and the Middle East during the past few weeks where a large number of civilian deaths are reported due to the firepower of the West and Israel.

The worst offender in the international scene Colombia remains untouched.

Unequal treatment

Why is the UN concerned of Human Rights violations in Sri Lanka but silent on the events in Afghanistan, Middle East and Pakistan? Why do not the French and British Foreign Ministers make visits like they did to Sri Lanka, especially to Afghanistan and Iraq where their Forces are stationed and make a plea as they did in Sri Lanka by insisting on access to Prabhakaran to start a dialogue with the terrorists elements?

Is Ban Ki Moon and Pillai wearing tinted glasses that they fail to see only Sri Lanka as the sole violator in South Asia of humanitarian laws? Did not the UN see or hear of the atrocities in Rwanda and yet choose to look the other way but concentrate on Sri Lanka that did the civilized world a great service proving there is an answer to combat terrorism? Is the UN that delivered hostile findings on child soldiers to the LTTE, anxious to discredit Sri Lanka for rehabilitating and delivering the captured children to their lawful custodians? Was there a word of appreciation from the UN for eliminating the existence of child soldier image comprehensively, which has not happened in any other conflict area, but instead Ban Ki Moon wants to appoint a panel to investigate Sri Lanka to probe war crimes?

Does not UN realize that the people of Sri Lanka are living in peace with security after 25 years and are they keen to give a fillip to those forces of terrorism to revive themselves?

Did not the UN continue to recognize the Government of murderous Pol Pot regime of Cambodian while it remained in exile in the jungles of Thailand while a lawful Government was functioning in Phom Phen after overthrowing the architects of the killing fields? Did the UN inquire as to the human rights violations in Uzbekistan after British ambassador Murray reported gross violations in that country which led to his dismissal from the Foreign Service? What action did the human rights activists in the UN take against the Pinochet regime in Chile or against Suharto administration in Indonesia for the mass murders that took place?

It is obvious that the British Labour Government is trying to woo Tamil voters in the forthcoming General Elections in UK and therefore has to placate the Tamil Diaspora in the UK. Therefore, on their behalf, they are exerting pressure on the UN agencies to investigate Sri Lanka in an attempt to win over the Diaspora vote. It appears just as much as the UN agencies do not act against US interests on human rights violations; on the contrary UN reacts rapidly when the British Government lodges a complaint. Where are the level playing fields? Are there not discernible differences amounting to discriminatory practices?

During the war there were allegations against the Forces for Human Rights violations in cases like the Mutur murder trial of 17 aid workers, deaths in Shencholai LTTE training camp which were inquired into and the findings of panel were that the Forces were not liable. These were sessions held in the presence of foreign observers and the findings were adverse to the LTTE. Had the findings being against the Sri Lankan forces, what a price we would have had to pay?

Why then this sudden outburst from the UN Secretary General and Human Rights Commissioner? It draws strength from a statement made by Sarath Fonseka that he is prepared to disclose facts before an international tribunal on events that took place in Sri Lanka. It would sound sweet to those desiring to find Sri Lankan Forces culpable because for the first time in history, a Commander of a Military Force was volunteering to testify against its own Forces.

Absence of internal machinery

They would have realized whereas there was no evidence forthcoming or the evidence so far presented proved to be unfavourable, a valuable source was emerging from the military to punish Sri Lanka.

Much of the blame that Sri Lanka has to face is due to the impotent Human Rights Commission-a virtual school for the deaf dumb and blind-which does not sufficiently pay attention to Human Rights complaints and has failed act effectively and win confidence. It is important there must be strong internal surveillance system, which would be a strong counter to foreign pressures. It is in the absence of an internal machinery to check human rights violations; it has become possible for alien bodies to attempt intervention into domestic affairs. It would be a threat to our national sovereignty if foreign busybodies are permitted to interfere in domestic procedures.

We have the unfortunate experience of watching the role played in Sri Lanka by the Scandinavian monitors when entrusted to monitor violations under the CFA and the IIGEPS in the Special Presidential Commission as observers to inquire into Human Rights violations.

Whenever foreigner/inquirers have arrived on the scene as observers/inquirers in another country, they have exceeded their authority conferred, to give effect to their own agenda, which is detrimental to the host country. It is for this reason India does not tolerate any human rights observers like Philip Alston to enter India and forbid NGO’s the right of access during the tsunami. Sri Lanka made the error of opening our gates that made many of them become willing tools and accessories of the LTTE. Sri Lanka paid dearly for this colossal blunder.

Today all political parties have extremely patriotic forces in their membership and in their silent support bases.

Now is the time for these forces to rally around again as during the war and prevent any foreign interventions in the name of humanitarian exercises to enter this country to shame our Security Forces.