Letter to Kamlesh Sharma –
Secretary General for the Commonwealth (sent 16th March 2014)
Dear Mr Sharma
I view with trepidation the
comments attributed to you in the link below, which if true merely point to the
fact that the Commonwealth as interpreted by your statement does not wish to
uphold Commonwealth values. I am well aware that your hands are tied, and you
have limited scope to express your personal opinion, as compared with what you
can say in a diplomatic way. However it is ONLY you and no one else who can
quietly but FIRMLY tell the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) that you are most
unhappy with the deliberate stalling on ALL fronts in the quest for a solution
to the relatively minor issues of reconciliation required, as compared with
other more important matters in your area of concern.
Why you may ask is the GOSL being
so deaf to rational action? It is simple. It is in the best electoral interest
of their survival to behave in this manner, and antagonize especially the TNA.
It is called survival within. The only way that will achieve permanent survival
in power is by attacking TNA as LTTE in mufti!
There is NO such thing as gradual
coaxing of an intransigent GOSL. Their intention is quite clear, as giving into
the TNA demands is considered political suicide back home in SL! There is no
indication of the ruling elite in SL putting country before self, and the money
and power being amassed by them puts the previous Marcos regime to shame.
You fail to understand the
dynamics of Sri Lanka. They are a very passive but passionate set of people,
who cannot be coaxed out of their armchairs watching Govt. supplied TV
material, to go out and vote. The US$10B per annum free money the Country
receives from its overseas workers and the unlimited funds available from the
usurious Chinese Banks is keeping the Country in a state of Clover that will
ensure that a lot of corruption carries on, as anyone can be bought.
The only way that the issues can
be resolved is with the Opposition, who to win the next general election
scheduled for next year, will require the voters realization that they have
been had or to put it in simple colloquial words, taken for a ride!
That is easier said than done,
because the Tamil Diaspora with the TNA and their unreasonable stance, are part
and parcel of why this Govt. ensures its survival.
You are fully aware I am sure
that there is limited pressure that your office can put on such leaders, and
only something that will affect their pride is one they may understand in
relation to ensuring a change of behavior. One has to realize that to a degree
they just reflect criticism by merely returning to sender! The tried and tested
ways of saying if I did this what about you, speak for yourself!
It is therefore NOT criticism of
action or inaction that one must indulge in, but merely that of agreeing that
they fall into the same category of HR abusers as those they accuse, and by
comparing their abuse to that of the LTTE they have effectively sought to lump
them in the same mould as the odious LTTE, when it comes to crimes against
humanity, and it appears that they wish the same fate by their very words,
unless they act with statesmanship.
If they wish to aspire to one of
Governments with the proper Rule of Law being enforced, then the usual rules of
checks and balances in most democratic countries applies to them too, and the
Diaspora requests be relegated to one of terrorist demands. This will check
mate the GOSL to lose face, both externally and most importantly internally, so
that democratic change can take place.
The platform of all opposition
parties of, abolishing the executive presidency will go a long way in ensuring
a return to normalcy, however that can only take place when the firm vice like
grip exerted by the present regime, that goes against all norms of democratic
governance is removed, or at least loosened somewhat for the regime to
re-establish some of the checks and balances that they removed in their quest
for autocratic rule.
I am sure in your many years of
experience you must have come across similarly disposed regimes, that followed
the same formula, and who can initially be tantalizingly gracious with
Country’s resources, but are later upon realization turn to be no more than
common criminals out to loot the treasury. International law will eventually
bring them to task, but in the interim a whole rich and promising country is
held to ransom and possible break up owing to the actions of a few.
I trust my analysis goes towards
furthering your resources to make an effective contribution towards the well
being of Sri Lanka, which is divorced from the longevity of a regime in order
to bring about constructive change, without a destructive disturbance occurring
in between.
It is time to encourage all
stakeholders, especially the main opposition to participate in the collective
actions needed to bring about a just and enduring peace in Sri Lanka, one which
is the only barrier to the rise of a great nation, a senior member of the
Commonwealth and a very rich one at that.
Thank You.
1 comment:
as a sympathetic mind, i'm not convinced by your argument. you need facts and figures as well as real life stories of individual hardships that reflect the broader suffering of people. speaking in terms of 'rule of law' and 'good governance' is something only those in government relate to, while the masses prefer to watch their soap operas which they relate more to their own lives.
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