Vote of Confidence in Sri Lanka
The triple
diplomatic triumph achieved by Sri Lanka at the just concluded
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth, Australia, is
a veritable Vote of Confidence in this country by the majority
of Commonwealth countries, and constitutes a high moment in this
country's international relations.
External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris, who is quoted
extensively on our front page today, elaborates on the nature of
this triple triumph and it would be superfluous to go into any
further detail on these victories in this commentary but suffice
it to know that Sri Lanka's most trenchant critics have failed
once again to prevail against her in one of the most prestigious
of international forums.
The general consensus of the Commonwealth of Nations seems to
be that Sri Lanka must be given a chance to forge ahead on the
path of reconciliation and national rejuvenation, without being
compelled prematurely to answer this or that allegation on
issues seemingly growing out of the humanitarian operation of
May 2009, and the fact that Sri Lanka did not suffer any deeply
embarrassing moments at the CHOGM, seems to bear this out.
The consensus seems to have held that Sri Lanka should be
given the opportunity to sort things out on the domestic front
by herself, without being pressurized into doing the bidding of
international actors who may not be acting out of disinterested
motives.
This is the reason why the Report of the Lessons Learnt and
Reconciliation Commission should prove an effective rebuttal of
the allegations that are being levelled against Sri Lanka. Its
recommendations and prescriptions should prove ideal answers to
the ills which have been afflicting Sri Lanka over the decades.
If the Report reaches these standards and lays the basis for
durable reconciliation and normalcy, Sri Lanka's domestic and
external critics would be completely rebuffed and end up with no
case against this country. Therefore, much with regard to this
country hinges crucially on the 'fool proof' nature of the LLRC
Report.
It also would not suffice for the recommendations and
remedies of the LLRC to be merely impressive 'on paper'. The
more crucial aspect would be implementation. These
recommendations for the furtherance of reconciliation and
normalcy should be implemented 'on the ground' and that too in
double quick time if some of the sting is to be taken out of the
allegations that Sri Lanka is facing internationally. Therefore,
while Sri Lanka's current diplomatic victories should be fully
savoured, there is no getting away from the need to put into
practice our most effective domestic remedies.
While efforts by some Commonwealth members, to put in place a
human rights monitor seem to have suffered a setback, this
should not be a cause for complacency. This should not be taken
as proof that the Commonwealth and other sections of the
international community would be going slow on human rights and
democratic development in general. It would be in the interests
of the totality of developing countries to forge ahead on the
road to development, while preserving the fundamental rights of
their populations.
What all this boils down to is that Sri Lanka must forge
steadily ahead with its nation-building process. Ideally, the
Parliamentary Select Committee process too must be activated
urgently and the national reconciliation effort put into top
gear. All this and more the country needs to do in its national
interest.
That said, Sri Lanka could not have some ill-informed
critics, internal and external, pontificating to it
self-righteously either. Sri Lanka has successfully fought a
ruthless enemy of democracy and human rights in the form of the
LTTE to the ground. If the LTTE was allowed to continue on its
destructive course, a section of our people would have been
condemned to lifelong subjugation. Thanks to the Lankan state,
the LTTE has been militarily defeated but its rump is very much
alive and breathing internationally. And it is the critics of
Sri Lanka who are providing this rump the needed breathing space
to be alive and about.
This is food for thought for Sri Lanka's international
critics. Rather than provide the LTTE rump with a lifeline by
denigrating Sri Lanka for doing what is right by defeating the
LTTE militarily, they must join hands with Sri Lanka to enfeeble
and defeat these anti-Lanka elements which are in a desperate
attempt to damn this country. This need could be met to a
degree, by the relevant foreign governments cracking down hard
on the LTTE rump which is also triggering law and order issues
for the states concerned.
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