Cameron BLIND TO Kashmir horrors - in plea for more trade with India
With
the next sessions of the UN Human Rights Council fast approaching, there
is much action by forces targeting Sri Lanka, with a rapid regurgitating
of earlier charges against the country, by groups with a clear agenda of
anti-Sri Lanka action. Amidst a lot of the old hat of unverified and
unsubstantiated charged being leveled against those who defeated the
LTTE in 2009, being given new tinsel dressings of authenticity, there
are also new areas of attack that have emerged in the past few days.
One such diversionary attack was the British media “revelation” about
alleged arms sales from UK to Sri Lanka. The Independent and Guardian in
the UK, made much of this piece, with the former going to unimaginable
stretching of imagination to show why the UK should not sell arms to a
fellow member of the Commonwealth; that according to its own report is
using these weapons for anti-piracy operations. This was the first
indication that fighting piracy, which is emerging as a major threat in
the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea region, should not be done by a Navy
that has played its own role in defeating the world’s most ruthless
terrorist organization – the LTTE - so identified by the US State
Department.
J Jayalalithaa |
Afzal Guru |
There are no qualms in quoting from clear one-time activists of this
terrorist organization, now banded together as the Global Tamil Forum,
and several similar groups, whose concern for human rights, and for the
lives of children, was never noticed by anyone when the LTTE was
carrying its war against democracy for the subjugation of the Tamil
people of Sri Lanka, with the killing of Tamil children by the hundreds
as child soldiers.
It is strange that these sections of the British media were making
such a din about the UK having arms sales to Sri Lanka, because of its
alleged bad record on human rights, when the British Prime Minister,
David Cameron, was in India, with the biggest trade delegation ever,
trying to get the best trade deals possible, while there is huge outcry
there against the most foul execution ever - the hanging to death of
Afzal Guru on February 9, 2013, for the offence of attacking the Indian
Parliament, seven years after the Supreme Court pronounced the death
sentence on him in August 2005.
It is interesting to quote what the Hindu, which also chimed in with
some synch on the media attacks against Sri Lanka, had to say of this
execution in its edition last Tuesday (February 19). An Op-Ed titled
“Execution most foul”: said: “The execution of Afzal Guru on February 9,
2013 was an inhumane act by the Government of India. Afzal Guru was
hanged seven years after the Supreme Court’s pronouncement of the death
sentence on him on August 4, 2005 and over six years after his clemency
petition to the President of India on November 8, 2006. During this
period, he and his family remained in agonizing suspense over his fate
every day — a situation that is condemned by all civilized countries and
our Supreme Court. The rejection of his petition by the President after
over six years on February 3, 2013, was kept secret and deliberately not
communicated to his family, lest it became the subject of judicial
consideration as has been done in other cases of delayed execution.
Within a few days of the rejection of his mercy petition, the execution
was carried out in secrecy on February 9, 2013 without informing his
family, and his body was buried in equal secrecy in a grave inside Tihar
Jail, New Delhi.”
Human rights violations
David Cameron was busy shaking hands with those responsible for this
heinous disregard for civilized practice, while the UK media and many of
its Legislators, across party lines, were ganging up against Sri Lanka
on human rights and accountability. Meanwhile the British media
targeting Sri Lanka for alleged human rights violations and crimes
against humanity in this country’s war against terror seem totally
ignorant, or willfully blind, to the huge human rights violations that
continue in India, in the Kashmir Valley.
Indian commentator, Amaresh Misra wrote in mid-2011 that “the State
Human Rights Commission (SHRC) of Kashmir brought out a report, after
three years of painstaking investigations that revealed shockingly the
existence of 38 sites of unmarked graves in North Kashmir. Estimates
vary, but more than 2,500 unidentified bodies were unearthed during the
exercise. The SHRC has asked for DNA profiling to identify these bodies
and determine whether they are dead militants or dead, ordinary
Kashmiris.
“The Kashmiri Association of Parents of Displaced Persons (APDP) has
been agitating for several years about locating more than 10,000 missing
persons. These people could have been targets of militants, or of the
Indian army, or both. It is suspected that many more unmarked graves
exist in other areas of Kashmir. The SHRC has requested the State
government to conduct a thorough inquiry in the matter.”
British Prime Minister David Cameron (L) shakes hands with his
Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh prior to a meeting in New
Delhi on February 19, 2013. British Prime Minister David Cameron
promised full cooperation with India and its police as a probe
into alleged kickbacks in a helicopter deal clouded his meetings
Tuesday with leaders in New Delhi. AFP |
“Truth seeking, and coming clean on facts, plus justice and
compensation for people killed either by the army or the militants, will
boost India’s credibility.”
We are well aware of the problems faced by the British economy, with
continued recession and the pressures building on the ConLib coalition
to get the economy moving. But the UK media, and other commentators who
are so concerned about human rights in Sri Lanka, and why that should
affect trade with the UK, enjoy their pretended blissful ignorance of
the huge human rights violations taking place in Kashmir today, which
was further focused on by last week’s “Execution most Foul”.
In its efforts to draw Indian opinion in the UK or elsewhere to the
campaign being heightened against Sri Lanka, the Independent went as far
as to draw in alleged attacks on South Indian fishermen by the Sri
Lankan Navy. This is what it said: “The final destination of the small
arms (from UK) is not known – but a footnote in the (UK) government’s
data suggests some of it may have been intended for “maritime
anti-piracy” measures. Sri Lanka is fast turning itself into an
anti-piracy hub, centred around the south-western port of Galle where
many ex-navy and army servicemen who fought against the Tamil Tigers are
making themselves available for security details on international
shipping routes heading towards the pirate-infested waters off the Horn
of Africa.
“Anti-piracy measures could also include the Sri Lankan Navy, which
has a controversial track record especially when it comes to firing on
Indian fishermen from the southern state of Tamil Nadu. Over the past
few decades hundreds of Indian Tamil fishermen have been shot and killed
by Sri Lankans after they have inadvertently or deliberately strayed
into their waters. Earlier this month, 12 Indian fishermen claimed they
were thrashed with sticks by Sri Lankan Navy personnel while fishing
near Katchatheevu, an islet ceded by India to its neighbour. The Sri
Lankan High Commission did not respond to calls to comment on the
sales.”
Sri Lankan waters
It moves to the farcical when writers who speak of the killing of
hundreds of fishermen by shooting also talk in the same breath of being
“thrashed with sticks by the Sri Lankan Navy personnel”. The fact is
that Katchatheevu is very much a part of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lankan
Navy is giving protection to both Indian and Sri Lankan Catholics who
come there this week for the annual church feast. Also, how does even an
Indian fisherman deliberately “stray” into Sri Lankan waters?
But the facts about how the Sri Lanka Nay deals with Tamil Nadu and
other South Indian fishermen who poach in Sri Lankan waters is very much
different to what the Independent has reported, this Monday (18). The
reports of the Indian Coast Guard and evidence placed before South
Indian Courts give a totally different story to what this anti-Sri
Lankan propaganda states.
Here is some recent evidence of the truth from reports published in
the India media. “TN govt denies reports on alleged attacks by SL Navy”
– (Tuesday July 17 , 2012) - Tamil Nadu government today denied reports
that the Sri Lankan Navy had allegedly attacked fishermen belonging to
the state on Sunday.
Fisheries Minister K. A. Jayapaul said following reports that the
fishermen were attacked while fishing at Katchatheevu, and Tamil Nadu
Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had directed officials to probe the matter.
"The fishermen said they heard some sound near Iranial island and
suspected that it could have been a gunshot. However, no one said they
witnessed the Lankan Navy firing in the air and could not confirm about
such an incident," he said in a statement.
Some 697 fishermen, who had put out to the sea on July 14 from
Rameswaram, had safely returned and there was no damage to boats or
fishing accessories, he said. If the Sri Lankan Navy had attacked the
fishermen, the Chief Minister would have immediately brought it to the
notice of the Centre, he said. He dismissed the reports as "contrary to
facts," published without ascertaining the truth, with the motive to
create sensation.
“Attacks on Indian fishermen by SLN are mere allegations - Indian
Govt” (Sunday, January 08, 2012) - Recent attacks on Indian fishermen by
the Sri Lanka Navy are mere allegations sans any proof, the Union
External Affairs Ministry of India said.
Deepak Mittal, Director, BSM (Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and
Maldives) Division, Ministry of External Affairs, made the submission in
a counter affidavit filed in reply to a couple of contempt of court
applications filed in the Madras High Court Bench against the Union
Cabinet Secretary, National Security Advisor, Defence Secretary,
External Affairs Secretary and Deputy Director-General of Indian Coast
Guard.
“Fishermen sensationalizing attacks by SL Navy - Indian Coast Guard”
(Thursday, November 17, 2011) Indian fishermen have sensationalized
alleged incidents of attacks by Sri Lanka Navy instead of seeking help
from the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) or Indian Navy.
The Inspector General of ICG V.S.R. Murthy stated this in a
counter-affidavit in the Madurai bench of Madras High Court.
He noted that Indian fishermen crossing the IMBL may be potential
target for non-state actors towards anti-national activities as they
could use Indian fishing vessels to carry out serial blasts, as in
Mumbai, he warned.
The official has suggested strict punitive measures for violators of
the 'no fishing zone' to avoid illegal cross border fishing, PTI
reported.
“Alleged attack on TN fishermen: Madras court questions Tamil Nadu’s
blame game” – (Tuesday, September 25, 2012) - The Madras High Court
Bench yesterday questioned the rationale behind the State government
blaming the Centre alone for alleged attacks on Indian fishermen by the
Sri Lankan Navy when the Coastal Security Group, under the State police
department, was also equally responsible to check infiltration in
coordination with Central agencies such as Navy and Coast Guard.
The question arose during the hearing of a batch of public interest
litigation petitions before a Division Bench comprising Justice Vinod
Kumar Sharma and Justice A. Selvam, Indian media reported.
While one of the petitioners sought protection for fishermen, the
other wanted the government to give them fire arms and another sought to
take up the issue with the International Court of Justice.
Later, when a Special Government Pleader, representing the State,
said that it was up to the Coast Guard to prevent such attacks on the
high seas, the judge retorted saying: “We want to ask you one question.
Protection of law and order is whose duty? It is the State’s duty. Why
don’t you prevent the fishermen from crossing the International Maritime
Boundary Line (IMBL)?”
Then, Additional Solicitor General P. Wilson said that almost all
boats owned by fishermen were fitted with Global Positioning System
(GPS) equipment and wireless communication systems. But none had ever
contacted the Coast Guard regarding any kind of attack by the Sri Lankan
Navy probably because the alleged attacks had not taken place in Indian
territorial waters.”
Well so much for the “terrible” Sri Lanka Navy shooting and killing
hundreds of Indian fishermen as claimed by the Independent. The facts
show a very understanding navy, whose work has been appreciated by the
Indian Coast Guard, and State authorities across the Palk Strait. But
this is not the truth that a biased western media that is targeting Sri
Lanka wants today.
It is no better than David Cameron pleading for more business with
India, just when the norms of civilized behaviour were shattered by
India’s “Execution most Foul” among continued violations of human rights
in Kashmir, and his government too moving on action against Sri Lanka on
unsubstantiated charges that don’t stand the test of scrutiny – whether
they come from Channel 4, in new edits of its horror videos, allegations
by the Global Tamil Forum or an alliance of UK MPs trying their best to
harvest Tamil votes in their electorates.
As the orchestration of action against Sri Lanka to sync with the
upcoming UNHRC Sessions, where the US will bring a resolution on Sri
Lanka, the duplicity of the players becomes increasingly evident,
whether from so-called “Tamil Diaspora” elements, human rights activists
and the western media. |