Self-Destruction through self-imposed isolationism

by Shanie

(August 07, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) "Sri Lanka has played a key role among countries of the Third World in their common stand against colonial domination, violent repression and denial of human rights. All those friends of Sri Lanka are duty-bound today to help this country consolidate peace and ensure that the causes of its terrible 30-year civil war are not allowed to lay the foundations for another conflict.

"Speaking out is neither unfriendly to the people of Sri Lanka, nor an interference in the internal affairs of its government. Quite the opposite: it is a strong manifestation of support for justice, peace and progress for all the people of Sri Lanka."

These are the friendly words of Lakdhar Brahimi, former Algerian Foreign Minister and a friend of Sri Lanka. Algeria, like Sri Lanka, has been in the forefront of the Non-Aligned Movement. In fact, Sirimavo Bnadaranaike took over the Chair of the Non-Aligned Summit in 1976 from the then Algerian President Boumedienne.

Brahimi is one of the twelve who form The Elders, ‘an independent group of global leaders, brought together by Nelson Mandela in 2007, who offer their collective influence and experience to support peace- building, help address major causes of human suffering and promote the shared interests of humanity.’ The twelve who form this distinguished group are Martti Ahtisaari, Kofi Annan, Ela Bhatt, Lakhdar Brahimi, Gro Brundtland, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Jimmy Carter, Graça Machel, Mary Robinson and Desmond Tutu (Chair). Nelson Mandela and Aung San Suu Kyi are honorary Elders.

Some of the readers of this column will be aware of the exemplary role played by The Elders in trying to bring about peace and justice to the Palestinian people, restoring human rights and democracy in Myanmar and Zimbabwe, re-unification of divided Cyprus, and many other similar initiatives. Their approach has been to engage with the governments of those countries and challenge them to ensure peace, democracy and an end to human suffering. It is in that spirit that they have been engaging with the government of Sri Lanka. The Elders’ recent public statement calling for meaningful progress on reconciliation in our country should challenge not only our Government but all of us. Their call for specified practical action is timely and will pave the way for reconciliation and peace which undoubtedly is the aim of all peace-loving Sri Lankans. The connected media release states:

‘The Elders have been following events in Sri Lanka closely since the last months of the civil war between government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2009. They have contacted the government of Sri Lanka and officials around the world to express their concerns about alleged violations of international humanitarian law and the need for actions that promote sustainable peace and reconciliation in the country. The Elders have noted some positive change since the end of the war, including greater economic activity in the north, and the return of some 260,000 displaced people to their home districts.

However, these signs of progress are tainted by intolerance of debate or dissent and a culture of impunity that protects those close to the government. The Elders now believe that the Sri Lankan government’s domestic conduct, as well as its recent unacceptable treatment of the United Nations in Sri Lanka warrants a firm, public response from its most influential friends – particularly China, India, Japan and the United States as well as the non-aligned group of countries.

Only the European Union has taken any direct action by suspending Sri Lanka’s preferential trading access (GSP Plus scheme) for its failure to respect its international human rights obligations.

Among recent events that most concern the Elders are:

* The persecution, intimidation, assassination and disappearance of government critics, political opponents, journalists and human rights defenders.

* Ongoing detention of an estimated 8,000 suspected ex-combatants without charge or access to legal representation, their families or independent monitors.

* The government’s failure to withdraw wartime emergency laws more than a year after the end of the conflict with the LTTE.

* Lack of action by the government to address the political marginalisation of ethnic minorities that was at the root of Sri Lanka’s thirty years of war.

* Unacceptable behaviour towards the United Nations — including a siege by demonstrators of UN offices in Colombo, led by a Cabinet Minister — following the UN Secretary-General’s appointment of a panel of experts to advise him on accountability issues relating to alleged violations of international human rights and humanitarian law committed by both sides during the final stages of the conflict in Sri Lanka.

Some Practical Suggestions

The Elders urge the international community and especially China, India, Japan and the United States to insist that the government of Sri Lanka takes the following actions:

1. Withdraw wartime emergency legislation and make a public commitment to uphold the human rights of all citizens of Sri Lanka, including minorities.

2. Allow immediate ICRC access to the estimated 8,000 people detained on suspicion of being ex-combatants.

3. Co-operate with the UN Secretary-General’s panel of experts on accountability, including granting visas if requested.

4. Ensure that any prosecutions are based on evidence and not political expediency; cease political interference in the work of the judiciary.

5. Allow domestic and international NGOs and media to carry out their work in Sri Lanka without harassment, intimidation or undue restrictions.

6. Begin a meaningful process of consultation with people in the north and east of the country on land issues and economic development as well as constitutional reforms to address long-standing political marginalisation of ethnic minorities.

7. Ensure the security of United Nations operations and personnel.’

All who desire peace, reconciliation, democracy and development in Sri Lanka will find little to quarrel with in these eminently practical and implementable suggestions. Indeed, it will be difficult for the government to provide any reasonable justification for not implementing any one of the seven suggestions. It is time we viewed issues from the national interest rather than a sectarian or partisan mind-set. For far too long we have gone along with politicians who took every opportunity to further their own personal or party interests. It is time we ask our leaders to turn away from taking our country on this path of self-destruction.

The recent attack on the Siyatha TV and radio establishment, the earlier attacks on the Maharaja Organisation and their Depana studios were brazen attempts to intimidate the media considered unfriendly to the attackers and their sponsors. So also were the intimidation, including physical attacks and disappearances, of individual journalists. Equally shocking are the despicable attempts by some to white-wash these attacks on fellow-journalists. Yes, all the relevant authorities, including the IGP, order a full inquiry every time an attack of this nature tales place. But the country knows what has been the outcome of these inquiries in the past. In the Lasantha Wickrematunga murder, the Police were only able to apprehend a person who allegedly stole Wickrematunga’s mobile phone from his vehicle. Contrast this with the cases being continually instituted against Sarath Fonseka almost at break-neck speed. No wonder the Elders want prosecutions to be based on evidence and not on political expediency.

Denigrating the United Nations and non-governmental organisations without any evidence of impropriety does not serve the national interest. If any individual, national or foreign, has violated any law or even a code of ethics, there are dignified ways of dealing with such individuals, including prosecutions. Instead, placing restrictions and barring them from certain areas of the country can only lead to the suspicion that their presence is a hindrance to some sinister scheme. It is only transparency that can lead to peace, reconciliation and democracy in our country. Recent actions that lead to isolationism for our country can only be self-destructive.