by Dimuth Gunewardena

The current LTTE terrorist leader RudrakumaranƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s friend in Washington, Robert Blake has one again commented on something he knows very little about.

From time to time these American State Dept. Officials have called a wide spectrum of our body politic – Sinhalese nationalists, chauvinist, etc depending on the need of their hour.

ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-I think one of the noteworthy things about the recent elections was that hard line Sinhalese nationalistsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ parties took a severe beating in these electionsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ – Robert Blake – US Asst. Secretary of State for South Asia

This ranges from the UPFA led by Mahinda Rajapakse to the JVP or DNA and the constituent parties of the UPFA like the NFF and the JHU, all except their UNP. As usual Blake could not have been more off the target with his statement and thereby only ended up offending the govt. elect in Sri Lankan even before theythey are sworn in.
The election results of Sri Lanka make one unmistakable point; the people have overwhelmingly backed those who have articulated a strong nationalist position.

Even a cursory glance at the results for Colombo District will establish this point. If this is the case in the metropolitan area, there is no question as to its validity in the rural areas where even in so called ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-heartland of Eelam areasƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ like Digamadulla District nationalist topped the lists. The question then is why the people have voted so overwhelmingly in favour of a nationalist agenda in a context where the LTTE has ceased to exist.

A careful study of the percentages polled by mainstream parties like the UPFA in the Jaffna, Wanni, Batticloa and Digamadulla and by the representatives elected shows that the Muslim and the Tamil people too have begun to slowly but surely reject this destructive communal separatist federal politics of racist parties like the TNA and are beginning to unite with rest of the nation in this wave of nationalism.

It for sure will take more time but the trend is clear and visible. The same is indicated in the urban areas in districts like Colombo where Muslims and Tamils have not voted on communal lines.

The explanation appears to be obvious. This is the nationalism that stands not only in opposition to Tamil racist politics of the TNA and their separatist ideology but a form of nationalism that was the driving force behind the war effort and one that eventually led to the re-election of Mahinda Rajapaksa as president and the resounding win for his party at the Parliamentary Election. This is a nationalism that transcended the pettiness of racial, religious, or social differences.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Had the likes of Gunadasa Amerasekera, SL Gunesekara, and their organizations not openly challenged the ideologies of the opposition in these campaigns, their foreign stooges could have won the day or at least taken the shine off the nationalistsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ victory at the presidential election as well as on April 8th. However their leadership to a great extent gave the nationalistic minded people of Sri Lanka the boldness to use their vote to protect the sovereignty of the nation by bringing in a leadership that would protect Sri Lanka.

While the opposition was going from pillar to post or rather more like from Alimankada to Pamankada and Killinochchi to Madawachchiya with their Salvation Army dutifully following them and given the comprehensive nature of the victory over the LTTE, one might have wondered if nationalismƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s task was done and that if it had naturally slipped into the category called ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Non-factorƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢. The result clearly indicates otherwise. The nationalist surge that this election testifies to is of a different nature. It is on par with the nationalism that has manifested in Russia, China, Venezuela, and Bolivia in the recent past.

It is nationalism that asserts itself against the post imperial structures established in the aftermath of the 2nd World War in anticipation of the imminent dismantling of the colonial empires of the west. These structures are manifested in organizations such as the United Nations and extend to international treaties such as those birthed by the Bretton Woods system.

The intent of these structures was to perpetuate western control over small and medium size countries by including them in a pre-ordained rule based system which gave primacy to the western powers. An example is the United Nations which originated in the immediate aftermath of the World War 2 with 5 veto wielding members at its apex. Notwithstanding the expansion of the United Nations at least to a 120 more nation states the basic rule did not change. The founder members continued to exercise their dominance through their veto powers. At this point one must distinguish between USA, China, Russia on one hand and the UK and France on the other.

In the post 1945 era the economic and military might of the USA, China, and Russia justify that they be included in the global decision making process and perhaps concurrence of these powers are a geographical and a political reality.
However the pro-western bias of this structure is exposed by the fact that that the France and the UK, two countries of indisputably secondary significance in the new world order continue to retain and wield the same veto powers. Therefore the Security Council which is the driving force of all effective action by the United Nations continues to have a western majority. The Security Council decisions far from being a compromise between the main parties on the world stage (i.e. – China, Russia and USA) has become a vehicle for perpetuating western interest and western strategic objectives. Small and Medium sized countries who seek to resist manipulations of their internal affairs is protected only by the exercise of the veto powers of China and Russia.

It is this pro-western ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-world orderƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ of rules that masquerades as the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-International CommunityƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. It is this International Community which attempted to sabotage the successful completion of the war and save the lives of terrorist leaders. It is the same members of this International Community that uses human rights to weaken Sri LankanƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s standing amongst its fellow nations whilst applying an obviously different standard to Human Rights abuses by its own troops and citizens in places like Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan or in American camps like that in Guantanamo Bay.

It has become crystal clear to the vast majority of Sri Lankans that these pro-western rules do not do any favors for Sri Lanka.

The continued assault on Sri Lanka regarding her human rights record and other issues like media freedom and the outright lies like Hillary ClintonƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s statement on Sri Lanka using ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Rape as a weapon of warƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ have obvious and immediate impact on the economic well being of the Sri Lankan people.

Due to their acts over the years the main opposition party, their current leadership and their political followers with their tainted INGO clique around them are seen as active and treacherous supporters of this great betrayal against the nation and its people. This impression of the current opposition political leadership being guilty of such treason can never be erased in the minds of the people unless the entire leadership is changed or a complete overhaul performed. If at all this is the salient point that is reflect in the recently concluded elections and nothing else.

Even a camouflaged Blake sponsored challenger such as Sarath Fonseka will never succeed in his mission, as the people are smart enough to lift the veil of deceit and see for themselves the real forces behind such moves.
As we see from the latest results of the general election the current opposition leadership has installed supporters of the western political philosophy of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-FederalismƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ and ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-SeparatismƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ within their party and in parliament by sacrificing the political success of the party itself. Furthermore their key supporters who stood by the leadership in the most critical times of betrayal too have been sacrificed at the altar in this important endeavor.

This undoubtedly will lead to a further weakening of the current opposition as they are perceived not to be working in the interest of the country but pandering to the greater interest of the west against unity and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka.

No doubt we are bound to see a great battle in the new parliament between the Government which will have the interest of Sri Lanka very much at heart and the opposition who will once again be carrying out those agendaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s of Robert Blake and David Miliband on Sri Lanka.

Those MPƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s in the opposition with integrity and moral consciousness about dividing Sri Lanka into pieces to the whims and fancies of foreign powers will undoubtedly cross over to the Government side in due course.

Thereby giving the required two thirds and provide strength to fight these plots against the nation.
The Sri Lankan electorate, being literate and politically astute, are acutely aware that these unrelenting continued attacks on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka have a direct bearing on their own lives. For example, workers in the apparel industry, most of them young and skilled with high expectations feel that their jobs maybe under threat because of issues like the GSP plus or the campaign to boycott Sri Lankan garments. Such news also filters down to the numerous other export ventures that have begun to flourish over the last decade. The tourist trade suffered from the negative publicity orchestrated against the country, or the travel restrictions imposed by the western embassies and these facts are made known by the tourists who come here. Time and time again the American led western attempts to circumvent Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s peace time economic growth as was with case of the IMF loan, or the Iran style trade sanctions that are now been spoken about in the Capitals of the western world are well known to the populace.

The final objective of the west with their INGO stooges in Colombo and the LTTE Diaspora worldwide is to transform the image of Sri Lanka to one of intolerant, extremist, dictatorial govt. devoid of democracy or freedom for its people completely economically mismanaged like that of Myanmar, or Zimbabwe. Although nothing can be further from the truth such tactics have succeeded in other countries. The political instability and civil unrest can easily be manipulated by American led western forces leading the country into chaos like in parts of Pakistan or Afghanistan. Perhaps it will then be possible install a more pro western govt. and subvert the will of the Sri Lankan people and her democracy by breaking the country up into pieces.

A divided nation is by far an easier victim readily open for manipulations than a united country which is stronger and therefore difficult to manipulate as it has been the case all over the world.
It is clear therefore that the west is never Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s friend. This has clearly manifested itself in the general election result.

Fortunately for Sri Lanka it is a result that is consistent with her geopolitical interests.
From time immemorial Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s prosperity depended on our location being at the cross-roads of the worldƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s sea routes. This asset was denied to Sri Lanka by its colonial occupiers who stole the country because of its geographical importance.
After independence we have not been able to benefit from our natural advantage due to internal strife. Following the resurgence of nationalism over the 20 years or so, the events of the last four years have dramatically transformed Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s bargaining power on the world stage.
The country has been finally reunited vigorously, effectively, and finally entirely by indigenous forces.
This has been done in the teeth of opposition from the west. The rising tide of nationalism is an affirmation of this fact that Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s time has come as a free people in charge of their own destiny. Free one might ask from what? Free from the shackles imposed by the west.

Our future is with the emerging powers of the future like China, Russia, Japan, and India etc. in the Asian block and with those friends who have stood by us like Pakistan, Iran, and Libya in this Fareed ZakariaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-post-American worldƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.
Like in Iran to steer this rising tide of nationalism is then the duty of those who have got into parliament for that purpose.

For those ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-ColombianƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ worshipers of the West, they along with the native inhabitants ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-ChagossiansƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ can easily be shipped to the Indian Ocean atoll Diego Garcia to fulfil their dreams of setting up a separate federal state within the United Kingdom and ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-pledge their loyalty to the Queen of EnglandƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. Only 800 mils away however they will always be within striking distance of military forces of Sri Lanka and her allies if they were to ever step out of line and threaten security interests of Sri Lanka once more.

Or one day perhaps best would be to move the whole lot with the American and British bases to the AntarcticaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s and deservedly on to the Iceland, where such Western neo liberal and separatist tools of control truly belong.
And secure the Indian Ocean and South Asia to own her true people. Robert (Bob) Blake would do well to remember the words of Robert Kaplan writing to the magazine ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Foreign AffairsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ in March/ April 2009 in an essay titled ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Centre Stage for the 21st Century: Rivalry in the Indian Ocean.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚

Like a microcosm of the world at large, the greater Indian Ocean region is developing into an area of both ferociously guarded sovereignty (with fast-growing economies and militaries) and astonishing interdependence (with its pipelines and land and sea routes). And for the first time since the Portuguese onslaught in the region in the early sixteenth century, the westƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s power there is in decline, however subtly and relatively

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