Robert Blake’s visit to Sri Lanka !
Posted on September 15th, 2011
P.A.Samaraweera, Australia
Robert Blake, US Assistant Secretary of State had referred to the Prevention of Terrorism ActƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and proposed that it be terminated as the Emergency Regulations. In this connection, we wish to remind him about the US Security laws such as The Patriotic Act which grants sweeping powers to US authorities to act not only in the US but also anywhere in the world.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
He had also mentioned ‘international pressure’ from the international community if Sri Lanka does not toe their line. Sri Lanka experienced international pressure during the war and that was for peace talks with the LTTE. We like to ask him, what would have been the security situation in the country todayƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ if the Sri Lankan govt. paid any heed to their pressure? Most probably, Sri Lanka would have been another Mumbai or New Delhi!
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
Mr. Blake has added, “… It is important to deploy Tamil policemen in the North so that the military no longer needs to perform those functions…” The security of the North is a matter for the Sri Lankan govt and not for the US. Minister Karuna Muralidaran’s comment on this was that there are no Sinhalese, Tamil or Muslim policemen. All are ‘Sri Lankan’ policemen.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
Robert Blake’s interest in meeting university students had been a concern in some quarters. Because in the past he had not shown any interest in speaking to them, except meeting political leaders, civil society activists etc. University students are very sensitive and past experiences have shown that they could be manipulated by some groups to gain their own ends.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
He had also asked the govt to “… Address the need to end the ‘grease devil’ incidents which had given rise to new levels of insecurity…”
People wonder if he came all the way to Sri Lanka to look into police matters!
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
With regard to his concern about human rights, a Sri Lankan delegation led by Minister Samarasinghe is taking up it in Geneva. Therefore, Mr. Blake should visit Afghanistan, Iraq or Libya and sort out things thereƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ as Sri Lanka is on the road to reconstruction and reconciliation.
September 15th, 2011 at 8:37 pm
I agree with the writer that Robert Blake should first of all empathise with the unfortunate people of Afganistan, Iraq and Libya and try to restore at least, I repeat, at least 50% of the human rights, people of SriLanka are enjoying since the elimination of LTTE, and especially since these nations are forgotten by HRW, AI and ICJ as probably there is no monitory and other rewards for these NGOs to campaign for their rights.
Also, on the subject of Tamil Policemen, the best way to encourage Tamils to join the police force is to ensure the non-return of Tigers or a similar group, as it was the Tigers who demanded Tamils to leave the Police and security services and went on to kill them with their families, for failing to obey. Again Robert Blake could help the Tamil policemen by putting an end to Tiger terrorists reorganising their inhuman movement operating from countries like the USA, UK, Norway and EU.
September 16th, 2011 at 3:14 am
Dear Mr. Samarwera!
Thanks very much for your positive contribution. It is time our learned friends in Sri Lanka & abroad, respond in this manner to individuals, countries who have no business in meddling in other countries. They under guise of protecting HUMAN RIGHTS, not only the so called purest PURE are the most violators of things they PREACH & expect others to follow.
We all admire, & support our TROOPs, be it in the UN peace keeping in Haiti, or helping our own soldiers who suffered immensely UNDER TIGER TERRORISTS.. What happend to those do gooders, during 30 years of war, against a democratically elected GOVT. of the day. Where were they.. at that time even NOW. No criticism whatso ever.
Did these preachers ever stop to THINK, how Sinhalese & Muslims in Sri Lanka suffered. As much we support & look after our TROOPS, we must also HELP civiliams who suffered in IRAQ, AFGANISTAN & LIBYA, not to metion civilians in our own country, SRI LANKA.
Its about time we take stock & reply TERSELY how we react to uninformed DO GOODERS, coming & lecturing us Sri Lankans about HUMAN RIGHTS.. Do we have to re-visit Guanthana Bay, or other sites.. not prevy to general public??.
As one learned friend wrote in an article yesterday in Asian Tribune, it is time we focus on atrocities done, and continue even today in many parts of world. Its time to focus on their own conduct before pointing fingurs at others.
Thanks again, very much Sir, for your contribution and look fwd to more enlightening articles in the near future.
Sincerely, Gamunu Alahakkone. P.Eng Canada, C.Eng UK, Retired Professional Engineer- Canada
September 16th, 2011 at 10:03 am
I applaud the writers Mr P.A.Samaraweera – of Australia and Mr. Gamunu Alahakkone – of Canada for your ideas on this subject. I see that both of you gentleman are residing abroad and as such should publicise this information in your respective countries.
Sri Lanka won the war by listening to these Westerners and doing the opposite. If there were any people with brains in the Western World they should stay at home and advise their governments how to get out of the mess they are in instead of offering their two cents worth of advice to others from whom they can maybe learn a better lesson.
September 16th, 2011 at 3:02 pm
Since the 1950s Western imperialists have been in the business of regime change, assassinations and propping up client states to pillage the wealth of nations. In 1953, England and America overthrew the democratically elected government of Mohammad Mosaddegh of Iran. The coup was orchestrated by the intelligence apparatus of both countries after Mr. Mosaddegh nationalized the oil industry that was controlled by foreign interests. They set up Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi (the shah of Iran) as a puppet authoritarian ruler who relied heavily on U.S. support. In 1961, in the Congo, the CIA in collaboration with Belgium plotted the overthrow and subsequent murder of Patrice Lumumba—the country’s first post colonial prime minister—and installed Joseph Mobutu who served America for 32 years until his own demise at the hands of Clinton administration backed proxies, Rwanda and Uganda. The war caused the death of 6 million Congolese. In 1966, Ghanaian independence leader Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was deposed by the CIA using ambitious enemies from within Ghana while Dr. Nkrumah was abroad in China on a peace mission attempting to mediate the Vietnam conflict. Another gross example of U.S. meddling in the affairs of others was the September 11, 1973 ousting and assassination of the legitimate, elected government of President Salvador Allende of Chile. The coup d’état was organized by the Richard Nixon administration and Chilean military, ushering in the brutal dictator General Augusto Pinochet. These are only three examples out of many that can be named as examples of America’s pursuit of wicked foreign policy objectives. A dictator becomes a “dictator” abhorred by his countrymen when he has overused his authority & power. These are good lessons for such leaders overstepping their power because they have come to equate power as their right. Such have been the countries that the West have been quick to ear mark & target for overthrowing these countries has been an easy effort to enter & dislodge these leaders. It is these very citizens who end up helping the overthrow take place, thus the non-requirement for stretched military equipment or personnel & the use of their own to minimize the casualties to their own countrymen. Collateral damage is what the West would call this. The countries where these leaders become “dictators” are often rich in natural resources which are one reason why they end up misusing the mandate given to them & becoming power hungry & their stooges & families end up devastating the country to which they are supposed to function as custodians. It is the lack of answering this all important question that demands the West not to use these false clichés of “freedom from dictators” as an excuse. No sooner these “dictators” are overthrown the first thing the West ends up doing is to tap the natural resources, take over the economic hubs & privatize all channels that will supply their countries a steady flow of monetary returns & economic gain. All those who played an indirect role in aiding the West by providing support end up just turning their heads away. Therefore, when we all know Iraq was a mistake it is good to now ask whether Libya is going to be another – where the consequences to the future of the people of these countries were never part of the strategy or overall plan! It is not hard to deduce that all of the efforts to overthrow Governments whatever type of governance has taken place in these countries are done so purely on the basis of acquiring the wealth of these nations. The calls for removal of these “despots” or “dictators” are mere slogans helped greatly by the mass media that provides the visuals of sensationalism to justify the overthrowing by painting the perfect picture of saviors against despots. It took no time for Mubarak of Egypt, the one time darling of the West to be portrayed with so much hatred by the media with no reminder to the public that he was an agent of the West. This is what is likely to happen to all other political leaders who think they will remain the darlings of the West & continue corrupt leadership. In any democracy where people come to power on the strength of a vote it is natural that almost half the nation will not vote in favor of the overall winner. This is certainly not basis for any country to say that a leader is opposed & plans set to overthrow him. The countries that are currently earmarked for regime change will know from diplomatic statements where their countries are heading for & this alone should suffice to ensure the country is set in order & issues that are likely to be used as excuses are properly taken care of. Corruption being one excuse is a perfect area to ensure that politicians, their stooges & the corrupt public service immediately function as they should & not as they want to run for the repercussions are far more dangerous in the present context. If any country should be saved by the West it should be Palestinians suffering in Gaza for years as a result of Israeli. What does the US do instead – it vetoes Resolutions brought against Israel in the UN. – Nalliah Thayabharan
September 16th, 2011 at 7:01 pm
We should never forget that Robert Blake, the ambassador and his bosses in the US, and freaks of the so called International community and their allies had pulled many a string to prolong LTTE terrorism and frustrate Sri Lanka’s fight against terrorism. Remember, Obama told Rajapakse to let Velu surrender to a third party at the last lap. When he got his turn, Obama ordered his navy seals to shoot unarmed though not white flag carrying but fully white clad donned Bin Laden to death while seriously injuring a woman as well. Then again, they have being justifying many such killings at numerous places the world over. Isn’t it funny that these guys got their so-called amnesty and human rights cliques and a set of Sri Lankan traitors to set in Geneva these days to ask UNHCR to investigate whether Rajapakses ordered to kill terrorists who held people at gun point had white flags? We all know that our forces had only engage terrorists to free the sick, old and young that was held against their wish as a human shield. We should ignore the Blakes type of hypocritical buggers. Leela