H. L. D. Mahindapala

Highlighting the rise of Irish terrorism once again The Wall Street Journal reported that last Monday, in the dead of night, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-a 225-pound bomb went off in a car near the front security gates of the courthouse of Newry, a town near the border with the Republic of Ireland.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚

How did the Prime Minister of UK, Gordon BrownƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s office react? A spokesman from No: 10 Downing Street said: “Such acts are entirely unrepresentative of the views of the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland. We will not allow a tiny minority to turn the clock back.” (February 23, 2009 ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Wall Street Journal).

Now this principle of not allowing a minority to turn the clock back is also applicable to Sri Lanka. So why is UK trying to turn the clock back in Sri Lanka in favour of a tiny minority ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” particularly when the vast majority of Tamils are moving away from Tiger violence?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Why are David Milliband, the Foreign MinisterƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  and the Shadow Foreign Minister, William Hague, jointly participating in the pro-Tiger Global Tamil Forum (GTF) that is openly advocating separatism? Hague too is due to address the closing session.

According to the International Crisis Group the London-based GTFƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-strength is the support it has among well-heeled Tamils in the diaspora.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ (ICG ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Asia Report 186, 23^rd February 2009). It claims to represent 14 countries. The Tamil diaspora is divided between GTF and the New York-based Transnational GovernmentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) which is currently conducting referenda in the diaspora to claim legitimacy.

So the participation of Milliband and Hague means partly that GTF has scored a point over TGTE. But, more importantly, in the eyes of the Tamils, this is read as a British boost for their lost cause. In the eyes of the others it means that Britain is interfering to keep the pot boiling for it to step in and pursue it colonial policy of divide and rule. Prof. K.M. de Silva, Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s foremost historian, in his studies, have demonstrated how in the 20s the divide-and-rule policy of colonial Britain set the stage for separatism. The first major move was made by Governor William Manning by not only recognizing the Tamils ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” hold your breath! — as ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-a majority communityƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ but also by siding with them in formulating the new constitution.

Milliband is going down the same colonial track. These meddlesome foreigners had sowed enough seeds of dissension in their colonies. Afro-Asians are still struggling to recover from the debilitating and devastating evil legacies left behind by the British colonial masters. Whether it is the wars between India and Pakistan, or whether it is the Sino-Indian war over the controversial McMahon line drawn arbitrarily by that British administrator, or whether it is the Tamils and the Sinhalese it is the British who had originally laid the grounds for the present conflicts.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

It is the British settlers who massacred the natives of America, Australia, Asia and Africa. Remember how the British under martial law lined up our innocent patriots in 1918 and shot them on mere suspicion of inciting rebellion against British rule? Now their white descendants surface as if they alone own the monopoly of a higher morality which the natives must follow. We are paying for the sins of the British. Must we allow them to barge in any more to muck up our peace and our way of life?

Besides, if they are so smart how come they failed in Ireland all these years? How come they have failed to resolve their dispute with Argentina over the Falkland Islands? Why doesnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t Milliband apply the peace recipes he recommends to others to their conflict zones (like Falklands) before coming to poke his sticky fingers in our pie?

The whole of Latin America is ganging up against Britain on this issue of drilling oil in the Falklands. The last time when Thatcher went to war on this issue J. R. Jayewardene backed Britain to the hilt. If another war flares up again Sri Lanka has no business to back Britain. It must openly back the anti-imperialist forces of Latin America.

It is the stupidity of the West that is driving Sri Lanka into the arms of the other camp. Some NGOs and media lobbies in Australia are clamouring to throw Sri Lanka out of the Commonwealth. Australia tried earlier to throw Muthiah Muralidaran out of the cricket. But it boomeranged on them.

Besides, how can Australia point a finger at Sri Lanka on human rights when the UN has pointed a critical finger at AustraliaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s human rights record over the Aborigines. An AAP report says: ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-The United Nations has questioned whether the federal government’s proposed reforms to the Northern Territory intervention will ensure Australia meets its international human rights obligations.

ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Visiting Australia last August, UN special rapporteur on indigenous rights James Anaya labelled the intervention “overtly discriminatory”.

Now, in a report to the UN’s Human Rights Council, Prof Anaya says it’s “open to question” whether Labor’s proposed changes will comply with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚

In America Robert Blake is yelling that he is not happy with the way that the Government is handling the case of Gen. Sarath Fonseka. Blake should know that Fonseka is not in a torture camp likeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Guantanamo Bay. Nor has he been sent for rendition into some dump in Diego Garcia. Nor is he kept incommunicado.

Why doesnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t Blake put his own house in order before he pokes his unwanted nose in Sri Lankan affairs?. When have the fakes of America demonstrated any special skills in handling tricky conflict zones? Take, for instance, the case of Haiti. American Marines marched into in Haiti in 1915. The New York Review of Books states: ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-They stayed for nineteen years, declaring that the Haitian people were unfit to rule themselves. Americans seized land and created an army and police force that were supposed to prevent revolt and protect American capital. That was not the end. Papa Doc DuvalierƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  received US military assistance during his first bloodiest years. He got $40 million from Washington and the help of Marines to protect this regime from any popular movement that might threaten his rule.

ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚In 1994, President Clinton ordered American forces to intervene to restore the elected president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, to power after he was overthrown, protect American interests and stop the atrocities. Even sending twenty thousand US troops failed to later the fundamental dynamic.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ (NYRB ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” February 11, 2010).

This is an example of American imperialist history at itƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s best. They go in, occupy the place for nineteen years and leave it in ruins. In contrast, take the example of President Mahinda Rajapakse and his brother Gotabaya Rajapakse, the Defence Secretary who within three years ended the terrorist war which others, including the five co-chairs from the international community, failed to achieve.

Americans have achieved many great things. But they seemed to have excelled best in mucking up countries that could have done very well without their military and diplomatic interventions. The general belief, however, is that America is managed by bright sparks with outstanding IQs drawing the rich resources from high-powered think tanks. But when it comes to the crunch why is it that they act as if they have nothing between their ears? Why is it that Blake looks wiser when he keeps his trap shut than when he speaks?

Recently, newspapers had a field day over BlakeƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s boss, ageing Hillary Clinton, going ga-ga over the youthful charms of Milliband. Of course, MillibandƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s youthfulness is shown most in his immature politics. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ He is also playing up to his local constituencies in an election year. He knows that the Tamil diaspora in UK is well organized and is likely to produce the first Tamil MP to the House of Commons, Sen Kandiah. Kandiah is also the main collector of funds for the Labour Party. ICG report also states that the UK Tamils have a well-knit net work which no political party can ignore. This explains why both leading parties are wooing GTF.

But at what cost? Can the Foreign Minister the Shadow Minister of UK attend a function of political gatheringƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  that is openly backing the terrorist group committed to divide Sri Lanka? If so can Rohitha Bogollagama attend a public function of the IRA wing that is currently engaged in bombing parts of Ireland ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” a move that is threatening the fragile peace put in place by the leading actors, including the UK government?

Of course, when Bogollagama goes there he should imitate Milliband and condemn the violence of the IRA like the way Milliband condemned the violence of the Tamil Tigers. That should give the UK Foreign Office a taste of their own medicine. The underlying meaning of their blatant political acts is to take anti-Sri Lankan stand on an issue that needs no foreign intervention ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” not after the 33-year-old war.

This brash act of Milliband and Hague is provocative. But then with an election looming in the horizon, with the likely chance of seeing Milliband kicked out of office, politicians can be expected to perform like monkeys, dancing to the tune of their organ grinders in the electorates. Perhaps, Milliband is also playing childish games of tit-for-tat.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  He came rushing to Sri Lanka with Richard Kouchner, his French counterpart, to deliver imperiously orders to stop the war which was in its last stages. He lost. So is this his revenge attack? He moved to save the Tamil Tigers then. And he is moving now to give a heavy dose ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  oxygen to the remnants of the Tamil Tigers ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” something which was condemned by Margaret Thatcher when she was battling the IRA terrorists.

In hindsight Gotabaya Rajapakse has been proved right for sending him back empty handed. Milliband had no moral or political right to put pressure on Sri Lanka to stop its war when he and his American allies are waging a brutal war in Afghanistan with drones killing civilians.

Since imperialist interventions have failed repeatedly to douse the fires of the long-running battles in various corners of the globe Milliband and Blake should takeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  a serious look at their own past and learn new lessons on how to win and influence friends. He surely canƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t do that by confronting or provoking friendly nations. Nations are like individuals: they respond favourably to t.l.c.

Sri Lankans are not likely to fall at the feet of Milliband and worship him each time he takes a swing at Sri Lanka. The last election proved that the Sri Lankans are ready to defend their sovereign rights more than ever before. They are sick of foreign busybodies like Milliband. They want these types out of their hair. The best thing that can happen to Britain is to get Milliband out of the Foreign Office. Of course, Haig too may go along making similar noises. The Tamil diaspora too may believe that they can force Sri Lanka to follow the domestic policy dictated by them through the vague Haigs and silly Millibands.

But Sri Lanka too is facing an election and it looks as if Milliband and Hague have handed just the kind of gift President Rajapakse needs to sweep the polls. All what he has to tell the electorate is that he will not bow down to the old imperialist masters who are dreaming of coming back to impose their rule. Milliband has driven the last nail into Ranil WickremesingheƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s coffin. Three cheers for that!