by Y. Fernando
An article by Adam Taylor in the Washington Post on September 16, 2014 gives a descriptive breakdown of the “newest” countries in the world.
Majority of these nations were split based on so-called racial and/or religious requirements. The feuds in these countries seemed maneuvered and the majority forced to concede to bullying tactics by various Western nations.
The “bullies” have a vested interest in causing such chaos in susceptible countries, i.e. the requirement of large quantities of weapons for prolonged conflicts and related resources provided by the West at a price, abundant natural resources which could be bartered for the weapons and pilfered at no cost and strategic geographical location etc.
This bully then takes on the role of “moderator” and appeals on behalf of the “new potential nation” to the United Nations. Recognition granted by the UN enables these “new nations” to “rebuild and be independent” with the support of the relevant “moderator”. This moderator can then cunningly seek stakes in the new nation as in the case of Palau that hosts a large American military base in the Pacific region.
Sadly, since separation, a majority of these “new” nations such as South Sudan, Kosovo, East Timor, Eritrea, The Czech Republic, Slovakia and South Ossetia have struggle economically, with border disputes, wars and an untold amount of grief for the people unending. The tensions and struggles continue along divided borders, even for nations so assisted by the Imperialists decades ago, as in the cases of North and South Korea, Pakistan and India.
Sri Lanka had a 30-year conflict with terrorism rearing its ugly head and causing untold suffering, mainly for the very people on behalf of whom the “war” was carried out. Now there is a demand for a new constitution to address the “national problem”, enable “devolution of power” and create ethnic harmony.
First of all, what is the “national problem”? It is yet to be clearly defined. As for “ethnic harmony and reconciliation” – when the “brothers-in-arms” were fighting for their rights, the people of the North and East fled to other parts of the country for safety, where they were accepted by other “ethnic” Sri Lankans and continue to live to this day without a hindrance. Some left our shores to avoid being a part of the rift.
Those who continue the “struggle” for separation from within and out of Sri Lanka seem to do so without realising the various vested interests. Or maybe they are an integral part of the maneuvers. Division based on race, religion, caste and socio-economic standing is instigated possibly to enable the “divide and rule” aspect in support of the “higher caste” politicians of the North and of course the “supporting nations” who stand to gain economically and strategically.
Is Sri Lanka being manipulated by these politicians for their personal gain?
Are these politicians being supported by nations with a hidden agenda needing a stronghold in this region?
Apparently fresh water is the new black-gold and is one among many of the vast quantities of natural resources
Sri Lanka possesses. We have built close ties with China and will become a major hub in the new trade route connecting the East and West. China will then have potential access to become militarily superior in the region. These could be the hidden reasons that require an entry by the various Western powers in to this region to mitigate their risks of losing control of the area.
If Sri Lanka is destabilised and divided, the politicians of the North and East and their Western supporters will be able to rule the region and dictate terms. An ideal way forward, since the “war” attempt failed, would be to enable a different kind of conflict in Sri Lanka. Among such machinations could be:
- the promotion of wheat flour products causing many health issues with less of a requirement of indigenous and other traditional food in turn causing less demand and low agricultural production of those healthier options.
- the failures of the various agricultural systems causing economic hardship to farmers by cheaper imports and the introduction of the chemicals, which causes the soil and water table to be contaminated resulting in health concerns as well.
- the promotion of large reservoirs instead of traditional irrigation systems with small lakes which are more suitable for sustainable agriculture and fresh water retention during the dry season. This results in severe environmental degradation of vast areas with ensuing inability for agricultural practices.
- the resistance promoted towards other sustainable energy harvesting in addition to hydropower
- promoting dependency on various pharmaceutical aspects monopolised by the West, not allowing us to manufacture our own or resort to indigenous treatments.
- theft and patenting of our indigenous methods, flora and fauna and their uses to curtail local use, research and innovation.
- threats of trade embargos on our exports and forced trade pacts with nations to try to minimise local production, flood the market with low cost imports, disrupt small businesses and thereby the economy.
In addition to these machinations, the latest tactic seems to be the “constitution” enabling “devolution of power”. If this constitution is defeated in parliament, what with all the ridiculous inclusions and “mistakes” with several versions of the same document presented in Sinhala, Tamil and English, there will be a call for a referendum. If the referendum is defeated by the people with a “Sinhala majority” vote, while “Tamil minority vote” remains FOR the new constitution, the politicians of the North and East can rush to their cronies crying “discrimination”. These “moderators” will then support a UN call citing “marginalising of Tamils” by the “majority Sinhalese”. This move will be wholly supported by the Tamil Diaspora now dispersed in various countries, eagerly awaiting to return. The UN can then declare its recognition of Tamil Eelam in support of eliminating the “national problem” and the “marginalised Tamil victims” by the “majority Sinhalese” in Sri Lanka.
It is prudent to be cautious and understand the objective of this “new constitution” and all the fiascos surrounding it. It could be a manipulative move to promote the objection to this constitution by the majority and then hasten a referendum.
Additionally, the various racial and religious conflicts, which seem to be orchestrated, in the recent past, such as in the Digana and Beruwala incidents as well as all the purported administrative discrimination against minorities such as missing Tamil translations of documents/forms and lack of Tamil-speaking public officials delaying services to Tamil speakers could also be such machinations created to fuel rifts amongst the people with the final objective of officially being accepted as a “Tamil Eelam”.
Hot on the heels of a creation of Tamil Eelam will come a demand for a “Muslim Nation” which will enable the Eastern areas to host the Myanmar refugee Rohingya and others desperately seeking their own “Muslim” territory. Apparently as the possibilities are endless for conflicts, the country destabilised in this manner will breed the need for many “moderators” to swoop in to “support” the various “causes. Cases such as this are rampant in the above mentioned nations and in Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Palestine, Afghanistan and the lost nation of Diego Garcia where its people were transported lock-stock-and-barrel to pave the way for Britain to host an American military base in the Indian Ocean region.
This is modern day IMPERIALISM by very subtle means. Therefore, BEWARE and BE WISE. It is prudent to look beyond this proposed constitution and calls for referendums regardless of who suggests, for what and when.
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