'Middle path politics will take us through'

Wasantha Priya Ramanayake -Translated by A. A. M.Nizam

"We will never have a proper existence if we do not comprehend something in the proper manner", stated the former President of Cuba, Fidel Castro in the Economist magazine of March 24. The founder of Communist Cuba, Fidel Castro made this statement at the end of the recent Geneva Human Rights Council sessions.

Castro as Head of State presented a great challenge to American imperialism. His country is now ruled by his brother Raul Castro. Raul's Cuba is not Fidel's Cuba. But Fidel's blessing is received by this Cuba as well.

Fidel Castro

Raul Castro

Fidel Castro under his international policy vehemently condemned what the Americans did in Libya and at the same time he does not acknowledge Gadaffi's indigenous policy either. Even on the resolution against Sri Lanka presented at the Human Rights Council sessions by America, the stance of the Cuban representative was anti American. Their anti Americanism is nothing special to Sri Lanka but common to all.

Contemporary Cuba is not prepared to be puristic as some Sri Lankans. Fidel Castro simply calls it "understanding the realism of the world" . It neither embraces capitalism nor is subdued to imperialism. At the same time it is looking at the world with a middle approach distancing from both, childish patriotism and imperialism.

Imperialist challenges

There is no question if everyone in the country is prepared to live by lighting their lamps with the oil of 'Kekuna' seeds and eating sweet potatoes, Jak and breadfruit. In such a feudalistic self sufficient economy there is no point of talking about imports and exports. But a civilization does not travel on the reverse. Even Karl Marx in his analysis did not encounter Internet, face-book and e-mail. It is the very same people who lecture us on the importance of protecting indigenous values who would oppose the decision to drive the country back to historic time. Attempting to fool the innocent people of the country is a criminal endeavour. It is disgusting to find some hiding their policies in the face of contemporary imperialist challenges.

Anti-American statements

Meanwhile, some people think President Rajapaksa's government will fall at this juncture. They think if that happens they will inherit the country tomorrow. The government will not fall as they expect and it will not certainly fall into their laps. Steps should be taken to refrain from making anti-American statements. In respect of India too we should not spite.

We do not know whether some groups are driving the nation towards extremism through slogans of patriotism and thereby isolating Sri Lanka internationally. Also, we do not know whether there are people in the government willing to see President Rajapaksa internationally isolated similar to "the Lewke who was isolated in the middle of the paddy field".

The General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, Minister Maithripala Sirisena and the Treasurer, Minister Dallas Alahapperuma seem to have clearly understood the political reality. They expressed their views thus: "Know thou that Sri Lanka Freedom Party persons are also in this government".

Minister Sirisena joined the SLFP at an early age. He was brought to the Party by the former Member of Parliament for Polonnaruwa Leelaratne Wijesinghe. From that day onwards he remained a firm member of the SLFP similar to President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Maithri has clearly understood the pulse of middle path politics of the SLFP.

"Steps should be taken to convert adversaries into friends and further strengthen the friends....". "It is important for everyone to act with futuristic wisdom at a time the country is facing this kind of challenge. While dealing with the international community it should be done with diplomatic prudence and when there is a problem it should be handled with an understanding of the neighbourhood. This theory is a truth in a person's personal life as well as in dealing with the international community" (Lankadeepa - March 25, 2012).

Economic crisis

Minister Sirisena's concept of middle path politics has gathered strength and value after the recent global economic crisis. Even socialist Cuba is currently attempting to trod on this political path. Some of the SLFPers do not have any understanding about these things. Minister Dallas Alahapperuma too has understood this reality and expresses a reasonable middle policy about India.

"Nevertheless we should not forget that during the decisive final stages of the war, when schools were continuously closed in Tamil Nadu, cinemas were constantly closed, film directors and lawyers demonstrated on the streets, the Indian government helped us eliminate the LTTE. Therefore, we should not confuse this situation and fall into the category of a nation that forgot the beginning. We must analyse the situation and realise that this decision was taken due to an internal crisis in that country. Think for a moment that if we faced a similar situation, do we not do something like this? (Rivira - March 26, 2012)

This statement was made by the Treasurer of the SLFP which has 122 Members of Parliament representing this government. Some think it is a statement favourable to India. But it is foolish to forget about the existence of a powerful country of the world, just 22 kilometres away. At the same time it is advantageous if such a huge country could be managed properly. It would become a source of security and strength to us. Therefore, the demand for boycotting Indian goods is foolish and would distance us from India.

Making the Darusman report a blank letter and instead making the LLRC report acceptable over and above it, is a huge victory achieved by Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Asian countries

There is no vote for this victory. Therefore some people do not even talk about it. Similarly when the vote on the American resolution was taken all Asian countries as a combined force standing in support of Sri Lanka is also another victory. It has made even India to think about it.

It is in this manner that we should take the Geneva incident for future analysis. Even the UNHRC may send an official letter to us in the future based on this resolution in an attempt to get us entangled. We could either reject them, or forget about past acts and expect their assistance. We could also take the middle course of action in informing them saying "we would communicate if it becomes necessary".