(Madan Menon Thottasseri)
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President Rajapaksa holds the reins of a $40 billion economy that has enjoyed a partial peace dividend, and is on the path to recovery with big Chinese and Indian investments into infrastructure and plans to put $4 billion into development. At this time, it should welcome the Panel of U.N secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to present an on the spot assessment of the rehabilitation process. Sri Lanka should dispel unwarranted apprehensions as it is judiciously implementing the rehabilitation programmes. The appointment of a Panel will no way discount the image of the government as the world knows that it is to comply with a precedent followed everywhere after ethnic struggles and internal war for decades wherein there is any difference of opinions on the rehabilitation of the IDPs. By permitting a Panel from U.N and showing transparency, Sri Lanka will be actually going to win the confidence of the global community at large.
Obviously there were very staid international criticisms against Sri Lanka on this matter right from the end of war. Therefore promises to release Tamil refugees and detainees were cautiously welcomed by many international organizations and governments. At one stage in the British Minister for International Development Mike Foster who had been to Sri Lanka expressed disappointment on the slow pace of releasing detainees and even issued Press Statements warning for withdrawal of funding for refugee camps in Sri Lanka. The fact was that, unfortunately Sri Lankan regime didn’t share the details of plans for resettlement of detainees which prevented global organizations to assist or guide on this respect.
It may not be deliberate, but the process of in a slow pace while deciding on the status-quo to be maintained for the ongoing rehabilitation in mid 2009. Of course the government cannot be blamed, taking into account the volumn of the IDPs’ issue wherein lakhs of people are to be moved out of camps to their respective villages, facilitating the members of a family to join together when they are accommodated in different camps, removal of mines in villages, providing them with house-hold kits etc. This is an enormous and challenging task which can be accomplished with the support of one and all.
It was fine that U.S had sent Robert Blake, Assistant Secretary of State, and U.N had sent Maj Gen Patrick Cammaert as Special Envoy of the UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict to Sri Lanka. Robert Blake was in the island nation to assess on the rehabilitation of the war displaced people at a time when U.N declared to send Maj. Gen. Patrick Cammaert as Special Envoy. Trust that these envoys have delivered what they are expected to with a humanitarian approach to the real problems of the war displaced innocent people of Tamil origin who should be given the right support to live with pride while preserving their own esteemed culture. Many may be still to be rehabilitated and few among them leading sub-human life in camps.
Major Gen. Patrick Cammaert, the retired Dutch General would have surveyed on the recommendations of the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict on Lanka within the framework of Security Council Resolution 1612 (2005) and would have reported to the Security Council Working Group on return to New York. I didn’t see any news afterwards on this; whether he ascertained the situation of children adversely affected by the conflict in respect of ensuring child protection rules? What was his proposal for those displaced children who could not be integrated with families or civilian life? Could he identify any NGOs which can participate with the governmental agencies for the reintegration of children?
Let me remind on a news reports in end 2009 that there were some indifferent and abnormal response to the United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights Ms.Navaneetham Pillay’s request for international investigations into the alleged killing of civilians during the final phase of the war 2006-09 against rebels. She had declared that a similar request was made by the U.N.Secretary General then. As per reports released to press she had revealed that the Sri Lankan government would not let her visit in the nation. Why? Later on there was no news on this matter and not known whether she could come down or not?
At this time, it should have welcomed the Panel of U.N secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to present an on the spot assessment of the rehabilitation process. Sri Lanka should dispel unwarranted apprehensions as it is judiciously implementing the rehabilitation programmes. The appointment of a Panel will no way discount the image of the government as the world knows that it is to comply with a precedent followed everywhere after ethnic struggles and internal war for decades wherein there is any difference of opinions on the rehabilitation of the IDPs. By permitting a Panel from U.N and showing transparency, Sri Lanka will be actually going to become a beneficiary and will win the confidence of the global community at large.
It was quite surprising to read that the Sri Lankan government was reluctant to renew this concession from the EU community.
The GSP+ scheme is a preferential trade scheme granted to Sri Lanka by the EU. It allows Sri Lanka to export 7,200 items ‘duty free’ into the EU. It had boosted exports to EU by while domestic manufacturers remain competitive despite increasing costs. Actually the GSP+ scheme was to be reviewed towards the end of this year. Even though this scheme is a trade issue, it has a relevance in the socio-political issues of the country as compliance of international conventions on environmental standards, labour rights and more specifically Human Rights are mandatory to be eligible for concessions under the scheme. The Sri Lankan industries, especially in garments, agricultural and plantation produce sectors which are more labour-intensive in nature will be in doldrums without the GSP+ scheme.
The review would have enabled Sri Lanka to continue enjoying GSP+ concessions, of duty free exports, for another three years.
The European Commission office has so far maintained that the extension of the scheme depends on the implementation of 27 international conventions. These conventions apply to the areas of human rights, environmental standards and core labour rights. Sri Lanka was awarded the GSP+, among other things, on the basis of having ratified these conventions.
The Lankan government should not have let any nationalist movements in disguise which instigate people to dare for attacking the U.N office to show-off feelings of abhorrence aiming people of a particular creed or culture, whether in majority or minority societies. The Tamil ethnicity issue and the internal war must become a past in the island nation and any residual intrinsic factors connected with the same leading to indoctrination by responsible Minister or Officials at helms of affairs themselves, must be stubbornly handled; otherwise the very purpose of restoring unbiased democracy throughout the nation wherein the rehabilitation of IDPs are in progress will go off track.
Any nation may have to undergo certain compliances with U.N especially after internal disturbances or war and the restoration of normalcy there afterwards. The nation which was at the verge of crumbling could impede an ethnic war has to go through many internationally accepted modus operandi while moving ahead while moving ahead into a political democracy, though a Presidential election was over. It is the obligation of the government to facilitate for observance of these measures and to get the global recognition. If certain elements even if they are part of the government stands in way, the very integrity of the nation will be at stake. They should not be given any consideration as they deface the image of the nation wherein the world will suspect the integrity on rehabilitation of IDPs and offering the economic package to victims of war.
Obviously there were very staid international criticisms against Sri Lanka on this matter right from the end of war. Therefore promises to release Tamil refugees and detainees were cautiously welcomed by many international organizations and governments. At one stage in the British Minister for International Development Mike Foster who had been to Sri Lanka expressed disappointment on the slow pace of releasing detainees and even issued Press Statements warning for withdrawal of funding for refugee camps in Sri Lanka. The fact was that, unfortunately Sri Lankan regime didn’t share the details of plans for resettlement of detainees which prevented global organizations to assist or guide on this respect.
It may not be deliberate, but the process of in a slow pace while deciding on the status-quo to be maintained for the ongoing rehabilitation in mid 2009. Of course the government cannot be blamed, taking into account the volumn of the IDPs’ issue wherein lakhs of people are to be moved out of camps to their respective villages, facilitating the members of a family to join together when they are accommodated in different camps, removal of mines in villages, providing them with house-hold kits etc. This is an enormous and challenging task which can be accomplished with the support of one and all.
It was fine that U.S had sent Robert Blake, Assistant Secretary of State, and U.N had sent Maj Gen Patrick Cammaert as Special Envoy of the UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict to Sri Lanka. Robert Blake was in the island nation to assess on the rehabilitation of the war displaced people at a time when U.N declared to send Maj. Gen. Patrick Cammaert as Special Envoy. Trust that these envoys have delivered what they are expected to with a humanitarian approach to the real problems of the war displaced innocent people of Tamil origin who should be given the right support to live with pride while preserving their own esteemed culture. Many may be still to be rehabilitated and few among them leading sub-human life in camps.
Major Gen. Patrick Cammaert, the retired Dutch General would have surveyed on the recommendations of the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict on Lanka within the framework of Security Council Resolution 1612 (2005) and would have reported to the Security Council Working Group on return to New York. I didn’t see any news afterwards on this; whether he ascertained the situation of children adversely affected by the conflict in respect of ensuring child protection rules? What was his proposal for those displaced children who could not be integrated with families or civilian life? Could he identify any NGOs which can participate with the governmental agencies for the reintegration of children?
Let me remind on a news reports in end 2009 that there were some indifferent and abnormal response to the United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights Ms.Navaneetham Pillay’s request for international investigations into the alleged killing of civilians during the final phase of the war 2006-09 against rebels. She had declared that a similar request was made by the U.N.Secretary General then. As per reports released to press she had revealed that the Sri Lankan government would not let her visit in the nation. Why? Later on there was no news on this matter and not known whether she could come down or not?
At this time, it should have welcomed the Panel of U.N secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to present an on the spot assessment of the rehabilitation process. Sri Lanka should dispel unwarranted apprehensions as it is judiciously implementing the rehabilitation programmes. The appointment of a Panel will no way discount the image of the government as the world knows that it is to comply with a precedent followed everywhere after ethnic struggles and internal war for decades wherein there is any difference of opinions on the rehabilitation of the IDPs. By permitting a Panel from U.N and showing transparency, Sri Lanka will be actually going to become a beneficiary and will win the confidence of the global community at large.
It was quite surprising to read that the Sri Lankan government was reluctant to renew this concession from the EU community.
The GSP+ scheme is a preferential trade scheme granted to Sri Lanka by the EU. It allows Sri Lanka to export 7,200 items ‘duty free’ into the EU. It had boosted exports to EU by while domestic manufacturers remain competitive despite increasing costs. Actually the GSP+ scheme was to be reviewed towards the end of this year. Even though this scheme is a trade issue, it has a relevance in the socio-political issues of the country as compliance of international conventions on environmental standards, labour rights and more specifically Human Rights are mandatory to be eligible for concessions under the scheme. The Sri Lankan industries, especially in garments, agricultural and plantation produce sectors which are more labour-intensive in nature will be in doldrums without the GSP+ scheme.
The review would have enabled Sri Lanka to continue enjoying GSP+ concessions, of duty free exports, for another three years.
The European Commission office has so far maintained that the extension of the scheme depends on the implementation of 27 international conventions. These conventions apply to the areas of human rights, environmental standards and core labour rights. Sri Lanka was awarded the GSP+, among other things, on the basis of having ratified these conventions.
The Lankan government should not have let any nationalist movements in disguise which instigate people to dare for attacking the U.N office to show-off feelings of abhorrence aiming people of a particular creed or culture, whether in majority or minority societies. The Tamil ethnicity issue and the internal war must become a past in the island nation and any residual intrinsic factors connected with the same leading to indoctrination by responsible Minister or Officials at helms of affairs themselves, must be stubbornly handled; otherwise the very purpose of restoring unbiased democracy throughout the nation wherein the rehabilitation of IDPs are in progress will go off track.
Any nation may have to undergo certain compliances with U.N especially after internal disturbances or war and the restoration of normalcy there afterwards. The nation which was at the verge of crumbling could impede an ethnic war has to go through many internationally accepted modus operandi while moving ahead while moving ahead into a political democracy, though a Presidential election was over. It is the obligation of the government to facilitate for observance of these measures and to get the global recognition. If certain elements even if they are part of the government stands in way, the very integrity of the nation will be at stake. They should not be given any consideration as they deface the image of the nation wherein the world will suspect the integrity on rehabilitation of IDPs and offering the economic package to victims of war.
How could the Sri Lankan regime deviate from its commitments after winning a war against Tamil militia and embarked on a fresh nation building process by launching the requisite democratic processes plausibly appreciated by the global community. The government was in the right track on seriously putting forward a road map for the rehabilitation of the displaced people while simultaneously interacting and briefing the neighboring India on the package offered to protect the innocent people who became refugees, majority in their own nation and few in the India across the strait.
Sri Lanka has entered into the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with India and the island nation is going to be a beneficiary for the same. CEPA was a quite a win-win situation for both nations. The Free Trade Agreement between the nations will work out more advantageously for Sri Lanka. Let me recall Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s Lankan trip in the last year wherein he had solicited Sri Lankan regime to ensure that every stakeholder gains from the settlement irrespective of religion and ethnicity. He had reminded the duty of the nation which passes through a tough political weather and contemplating for seeking a political solution to the Tamil issue as a sequel to the victory over the militants.
A Minister dared to muster mobs under the pretext of fasting or peaceful protests but instigating people to attack the world forum which was very considerate to the nation and co-operated with the island’s unstable and depraved governments despite it maneuvered all sorts of dirty politics to create feelings of detestation in the minds of citizens including Buddhist monks against a particular sect of fellow countrymen all these years. The wicked demonstrators are not the true representatives of the educated mainstreams in the island nation and how long they will be the silent spectators to the government sponsored struggle against U.N?
President and his government showed an act of insolence to the nation itself by not taking the defiance seriously. Where is the Opposition front in Sri Lanka? Why the front was reluctant to come forward and stop the dramatic situations which moved from bad to worse. Were they part of the protest fearing not to displease the linguistic nationalist camp and have been waiting until Sri Lanka turns to become an Iran in the making, in the eyes of U.N?
Finally President Rajapaksa came to the ‘Fasting venue’ in front of the U.N office and wanted the Minister Wimal Weerawansa to stop his penance. He must know that he is still answerable to the world to save the face of his nation. The island nation’s regime must prove to be more transparent for not giving any suspicion to the world on its all endeavors to facilitate a fresh lease of peaceful and permanent settlement to war-displaced people in their own native villages.
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President and his government showed an act of insolence to the nation itself by not taking the defiance seriously. Where is the Opposition front in Sri Lanka? Why the front was reluctant to come forward and stop the dramatic situations which moved from bad to worse. Were they part of the protest fearing not to displease the linguistic nationalist camp and have been waiting until Sri Lanka turns to become an Iran in the making, in the eyes of U.N?
Finally President Rajapaksa came to the ‘Fasting venue’ in front of the U.N office and wanted the Minister Wimal Weerawansa to stop his penance. He must know that he is still answerable to the world to save the face of his nation. The island nation’s regime must prove to be more transparent for not giving any suspicion to the world on its all endeavors to facilitate a fresh lease of peaceful and permanent settlement to war-displaced people in their own native villages.
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