When we were young and Sri Lanka was a British colony, we were made to
understand that the Western Colonialists were a just , honest, and
reliable people. They were very punctual in attendance, very strict,
generous in giving credit to those who carried out their duties, and
impartial in judgement.
We believed so much in their righteousness, that we did not hesitate
to call our own people who were punctual, and honest, that they were
like the whites. Even the fruits, which were big and pleasant looking,
came to be called in the language of the natives, foreign fruits, thus
we have the "rata amba", "rata puwak", "rata del" and so on.
It was, therefore, natural for us to receive all people who were white
like the Colonialists, with respect and offer them the best of our
hospitality. The Independence did not change this colonial mentality
which had been inculcated into us by our elders. Even though we know
today, that the white Westerners are not different from any other
people, we continue to carry this false belief of their being
unquestionably honest, generous, just and reasonable.
The President Mahinda Rajapakse, during the short period since
assuming reins of office took several wrong decisions, which were of
the nature of appeasement of the Western powers, some of them no doubt
influenced by the old colonial mentality, with the subconscious
attitude, that appeasing the International Community would render them
more helpful, generous , just and reasonable , and would readily help
Sri Lanka to rid itself of the terrorism that had taken hold of the
country, disrupting its economic, social and cultural progress.
One of these wrong decisions was the setting up of the IIGEP. Now we
begin to see, the descendants of the former Colonialists, and white
Westerners, without the apparels of righteousness with which we had
once dressed their ancestors. If you try to appease them, they take
you for a servile native, and pressurise you the more to make you
serve them the better, and give into their lopsided ideas of democracy
and human rights. Yet another wrong decision was inviting the human
rights activists, and requesting the UN Human Rights Commission to
send their non-descript agents to investigate violation of human
rights in Sri Lanka. Besides them there are their acolytes and torch
bearers who becomes a nuisance.
They will come enjoy our hospitality, and thereafter call you names,
and even try to read into your psychological make up. That is how the
IIGEP came to the conclusion that government of Sri Lanka has no
political will. The Indians were also colonised by the same race that
colonised us and the Indians also suffer from this same colonial
mentality. Therefore, you cannot expect an Indian among the
representatives of the International Community in the IIGEP, to say
any thing different from what those members representing the
International Community had suggested.
Therefore, the President Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse should be more cautious
in dealing with the International Community, without giving in too
much to their hubris, and pretentious pedagogy.
The International Community has an agenda, which they are following
slowly and steadily, to regain their lost political, economic ,and
cultural leader****p in the world. Their pseudo generosity is a trap to
keep the developing countries under their command, and dependant on
them. After the Russian Revolution and the setting up of the USSR, the
people of the countries under the boot of colonialism began to fight
for independence. That was an unexpected blow to the colonialists, who
lost their colonies and their uncontested leader****p in the world. The
sun was unfortunately set in the British Empire=85=85..
The countries, which won independence had a choice of choosing between
the capitalist West or the Socialist USSR. Many developing countries
followed into ,the Socialist Camp. The USSR which was constantly under
threat by the Capitalist West had to spend considerable amount of its
available richeses, men, and material for its defence. Despite that,
when the newly independent countries seeking Socialist development
projects turned to USSR for technical and financial aid, though it had
its own development , and defence projects, apart from feeding its own
people , generously helped the developing countries which saught its
help as much as it could.
The Western countries, the former colonialists, on the other hand
offered loans to developing countries for development project, which
resulted their being caught in the debt trap of foreign aid. The
International Community used aid, to keep the developing countries
dependent on them. Added to that the poor countries were not free to
follow any socialist programmes of their choice for development, as
the World Bank, through which the foreign aid was channelled, granted
loans on their own terms, and conditions of development.
However, the International Community had to compete with the USSR for
its leader****p. It over came that obstacle, by manoeuvring the Russian
leaders to open their frontiers. Finally with the break up of USSR the
International Community- the West, regained its political leader****p
in the world. However, the developing countries were not prepared to
accept its leader****p, even though they had to turn to it for
financial aid for development.
The experience of breaking up USSR gave new ideas to the West. It was
determined to see that there would be no blocks , that would challenge
the Western leader****p. Hence the break up of Yugoslavia., its effort
to break up China, by accusing China of violation of human rights in
Tibet, accusing Iran of having nuclear weapons, doing its best to
interfere into Myanmar, manipulating to keep the North and South Korea
apart, and so on. As colonialists- the West had already the experience
of dividing communities within a country for the convenience of
Governance. Now they go beyond that experience to break up countries
themselves, using the UN to intervene into countries on their doctrine
of violation of human rights..
The latest, means adopted by the International Community to interfere
into a sovereign state is through NGO's , with the theme of violation
of human rights. In Sri Lanka, a country which for nearly three
decades is fighting to rid itself of terrorism, which has become a
stumbling block for its development, the International Community
stands on the way of a successful military campaign to put an end to
terrorism, by menacing the government accusing it of violation of
human rights.
They withhold aid, and draw innumerable red tape to capitulate the
government to stop its determination to end terrorism. The
International Community, is openly sympathetic towards terrorists in
Sri Lanka, contradicting its sworn determination to fight terrorism
where ever it is found.
It is time that the Government of Sri Lanka stops dancing to the tune
of the International Community. The International Community seeking
political leader****p in the world, is not generous to give a hand to a
country in need of its help, but hampers the efforts of developing
countries to rise above their economic an technical backwardness. They
hold the developing countries to ransom, by withholding loans,
disqualifying for GSP+ concessions , by refusing development aid under
Millenium Challenge Cor****ation and so on.
There is far too much of interference into the internal affairs of Sri
Lanka by the West, without extending any positive assistance to end
terrorism which is the biggest problem the country is facing today.
This trend should be stopped by showing firm opposition. The West is
no more the economic leader that it was. There are countries like
China, Russia, Iran Vietnam and India which are fast developing as
rich nations in the world. They are much more generous, and have no
secret agendas. They understand us better and would be ready to extend
their hands of unconditional friend****p.
It is regrettable that India our close neighbour is bitten by a bug of
uncertainty, and unable to take firm decisions for one reason or
another. The time has come for India to assume responsibility to
assert her position of Asian leader****p thwarting the negative forces
within and without, casting away her imitation Western hubris.
In the mean time Sri Lanka should not adhere too much to diplomatic
niceties, and should not fear to tell the West, when ever it is
necessary, not to overstep the boundaries of tolerance.
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