CLASSIFIED | POLITICS | TERRORISM | OPINION | VIEWS

"Namaste" India-"Ni Hao" China-"Konnichiwa" Japan-"Assalam Alekkum"-Pakistan "Anyam Hasip Nika" -Korea and "Ayubowan"-Sri Lanka

By Ramani D.Wickramaratne

When two people meet from the above named countries, they greet each other with a general salutation of "How are you?" in their own languages while Sri Lankans say "Ayubowan"- Wish you long life! That is the difference- we wish everyone long life and good health. Our culture has been a peaceful and harmonious life-style with consideration for the wellbeing of others. However, that culture has taken a different turn within the last three decades because of terrorism in Sri Lanka which projects "a division" in this island of ours. Today, Sri Lanka has become a battle ground for separatists locally with the LTTE terrorists and internationally with the INGOs and NGOs who wish to continue their survival through the misery of Sri Lankans!

All the above mentioned countries are independent and sovereign countries in the Asian region. Only The Koreas are divided as North and South due to the ever pressing interference of the USA who do not wish for North and South Korea to unite as one country- it is hoped that the two Koreas will have the determination to unite for the sake of their ancestors who come from the same blood lines and speak the same language. In this context, Taiwan is another issue with continuous interference from the USA who do not wish for Taiwan to unite with mainland China.

In the name of globalization and economic prosperity, no Asian country should be dictated to by western governments on how we should govern our countries. Globalization does not mean that the whole of Asia must become American or British or European! We need to stand on our own with pride and self-respect with the sovereignty of our individual countries uppermost in our minds. If the feelings are mutual, then we expect western countries to respect us, in the same manner that we respect them. We expect them to project the concept of "Live and Let Live" -may be we are asking too much from them?

India, Pakistan, China, Japan and The Koreas will all know how they have been manipulated through history, for the sole benefit of the survival of western supremacy and in this conspiracy, they expect us Asians, to sell our souls, culture, heritage, self-dignity and our religions. It is time, for the Asian countries to unite with understanding and consideration of the threats facing our nations. We need to forget petty differences between countries and we need to stretch out our hands in a gesture of "sincere friendship" as and when the need arises. If we are sincere then there is no case of "big brother" or "small brother" but "BROTHERS AND SISTERS"
on an equal footing irrespective of the size of our countries geographically or economically. Just as much as the peoples of these countries, so must the governments of these countries extend their friendship un-conditionally.

Sri Lanka a tiny island nation in the Indian Ocean, has been engulfed in a terrorist war orchestrated by the LTTE terrorists for three decades, who proclaim themselves to be " the sole representatives of Tamils in Sri Lanka" while they engage in kidnapping their own Tamil children, torturing their own civilians, depriving their own Tamil children of a sound education, confiscating the lands that belong to their own Tamil population, demanding " kappam" and forcible taxes from Tamil businesses etc in the North and East. They have brought about untold misery on the Muslims and Sinhalese in the entire country by conducting blood-thirsty revengeful vendettas against the government assets, officials, and the civilian population-all in the hope of establishing a "mythical homeland" for their people. The crimes, the distortions, the drug smuggling, credit card scams, human smuggling rackets and extortion rackets targeting expatriate Tamils are all well documented when foreign governments have resorted to legal action against the LTTE criminals. Those who have lived here long enough, know extremely well that "their people" have lived among the Muslims and Sinhalese without problems and have been conducting their business activities for which it is the Sinhalese who give them the income for their prosperity. Their LTTE terror is against the majority Hindu Tamils. If foreigners wish to truly understand the futility of the LTTE claims, they should try to excavate and see whether there is any archeological findings which give evidence of any "Tamil Homeland" within the boundaries of Sri Lanka? There is no point in believing heresay. A grievence is another matter and such matters need to be taken up, internally according to justified and impartial consideration with honesty.

When a democratically elected government is facing terrorism within its boundaries, it is nothing but decent and ethical that neighbouring countries take an impartial stand, offer assistance to the incumbent government when it is requested in the true sense of friendship. At such times, countries must not become cat's paws of western countries and interfere by dictating terms to us regarding our independent decisions to decide on how to combat the terrorism menace. Whether it is terrorism in your country or ours, the end result is the same-misery to the citizens of this country and the entire nation. A time of difficulty, is not the time for another country to lay down terms and conditions more so, when those terms and conditions are not conducive to the national interests of Sri Lanka!

Sri Lanka has continued to have extremely cordial relations with all our neighbouring countries as well as other Asian countries and this must continue in all sincerity. We understand that Mr. Yasushi Akashi is now visiting Sri Lanka and is hoping to visit Vakarai to see for himself the extent to which the terrorists have been harassing the civilians and it would be best for Mr. Akashi, to keep strictly to the mandate for which he has been sent in dealing with the government- his dealings must be with the sovereign government of this country and not with the terrorists! Similarly, the governments of India, Pakistan, Koreas and China must all deal with the democratic government of this country if they genuinely believe in helping us. What the GOSL purchases from which country, should not be a bone of contention because that, is our prerogative based on our singular requirement and we must have the freedom to decide on that without "arm twisting" and ill-feeling.

No doubt, in this whole issue there are many stakeholders who have exhibited their hidden agendas of not wanting the GOSL to succeed in their anti-terrorist objectives-why may we ask? The simple answer is that if the terrorist issue is curtailed and defeated, then the operations of those "stakeholders" in this country must cease! Their businesses must be terminated and "making hay while the sun shines" attitude will have to look elsewhere to harvest gold at the expense of another's misery!

Let us sincerely hope that all powerful countries in Asia will unite together and ensure that economic stability as well as political stability of the region is guaranteed with the interests of all democratically elected governments in mind, let true brotherhood be shown in every sense and most of all, let it be a stepping stone to Asian solidarity and prosperity. This is all what the citizens of this country have to ask of Asian governments and the western hypocrites. What is the earthly use of using sweet sounding slogans, when terrorism is permitted to go "Scot free" without punishment?

Let Asia open its eyes to see who our common enemy is? Let us join hands to withstand their pressures and let us build a long-term bond of friendship among the regional powers with all humility-that is the challenge of our times. We Sri Lankans would say " Ayubowan" to all our friends- wish you long life and good health.

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