The truth through the LLRC

The government’s most effective rebuttal of the current allegations leveled against Sri Lanka in connection with the closing stages of the humanitarian operation would come in the form of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) Report in the middle of next month and it is fitting that no less a person than President Mahinda Rajapaksa should alert the world to its imminent release. The LLRC Report is the basis of Sri Lanka’s counter-thrust to the disinformation campaign currently being unleashed against her by sections of the international community and it is best that the Lankan state and its supporters make full and effective use of it.

President Rajapaksa, currently in Australia attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit had occasion to speak about the vital importance of the LLRC Report to sections of the Lankan expatriate community in Australia and we hope this segment of Sri Lankans would take-up the cause of their motherland in the ‘Councils of the World’ and elsewhere in vibrant, exuberant fashion. In doing so, they would do well to draw the attention of the world to the most fundamental principles of International Law because very many of Sri Lanka’s critics are glossing over them to win on to their side the more credulous sections of the international community.

One of the most fundamental of rights enjoyed by a state is that of self-defence. A government owes it to its people to defend the state they inhabit from internal and external aggression and to uphold its unity and territorial integrity. The Western powers operated on this principle when they militarily intervened in Afghanistan in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 tragedy, which had deeply destabilizing consequences for the international military and political order.

The Western powers are remaining militarily involved in Afghanistan essentially because it is their belief that their national interests are being served well through it. And whatever the consequences for Afghanistan, the Western powers will remain militarily involved in her because they see some of their most vital interests being served through this controversial intervention. Yet, this armed foray into Afghanistan goes on record as one of the most questionable foreign policy decisions the Western world has ever made in recent decades.

The reason for our dwelling awhile on the Afghan issue is to highlight the continued use of double standards by the international community in assessing the conduct of countries in external and internal policy matters. Considering the baseless criticisms Sri Lanka has incurred over its use of legitimate force to quell the LTTE terror threat, the Western military intervention in Afghanistan, to take just one example, should be seen as most unjustified and scandalously dismissive of all that International Law holds up as vital for the continuation of international law and order. It should be obvious to the international community that the Lankan state was safeguarding its legitimate interests when it destroyed the LTTE. But some powerful members of the world community are preferring not to see matters in this light for reasons best known to them. Thus, are the principles of International Law blatantly ignored in the name of selfish interests.

These and many more things would need to be spoken of and debated by those who see it as their duty to uphold Sri Lanka’s interests in the forums of the world. Besides, they would need to be emphatic about the point that Sri Lanka is persisting in putting things right internally and is quite conscientious in bringing justice and well being to those who have been affected by the conflict. One of the most substantial pieces of evidence that the Lankan state would have in hand, in this regard, is the LLRC Report.

The government should lose no time in circulating the LLRC Report, when it comes out, among states which are friendly towards it and who empathize with it on the issues currently confronting it.

The document needs to be widely discussed and used by those who are with Sri Lanka in the debating and deliberative forums of the world. The state should, of course, lead from the front in highlighting the pluses of the Report and underscore very clearly that Sri Lanka is on the road to normalcy.