Is fighting against Terrorism a violation of human rights ?
Posted on November 1st, 2011
By Charles.S.Perera
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Terrorism by itself had beenƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ againstƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ human existence.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ InƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ancient history they speak of the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ hordes of Genghis Khan spreading terror among the people, so were the Crusades,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the Catholic Inquisitions were inhuman massacres of humans and destruction of cultures , the Islamic conquest of India was a carnage, to mention a few.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ They burnt cities , massacred people and destroyed places of worship and study.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ These ancient marauders of human civilization valued more the treasures than human life. They were different in that some conqueredƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ countriesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ , othersƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ terrorized people forƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ treasure and valuables, yet others spread their religion destroying those of others.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ To-day ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ it is for political power, and still in the name of a God, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ more forƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ politicalƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ power orƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ world leadership with the least concern for human life
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ When you hear people like Hillary Clinton say to-day that all terrorism is not the sameƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and that there are different types of terrorism one really does not understand whether she is of this planet ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ or another .ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ We are not at the beginning of the civilization. But the civilizations of the world had been destroyed in different waysƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ by otherƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ civilizations, some barbaric and others semi barbaric. But what all of them did ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ was basically the same, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ though the means were different.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ To-day terrorism hasƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ become the mostƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ destructive form ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ political ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-agitationƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ within a country, or introduced from outside into a country.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ One countryƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s terrorists may not be another countryƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s terrorists, but that would not make the terrorists of the other country good terrorists for those countries that are not affected by their terrorism. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ If that were to be the norm then no one will be able to eliminate terrorism.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In defying that principle by countries not affected by the terrorists elsewhere, as is being doneƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ by Hillary ClintonƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the US Secretary of State ,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ UK, France, Canada and Germany the question of Human Rights ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of which the West makes a big issue, becomes meaningless rhetoric. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The terrorists of other countriesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ kill, maim, and massacre, men, women and children,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ if the West were to tolerate those terrorists as they do not directly affect them, West becomes a party to the crimes ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ committed by ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ those terrorists .
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ All terrorists ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ depend on ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the element of terror to achieve their object. The terrorists cannot be typified as terrorists of the North or South, East or West, the terrorists are terrorists.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Therefore there has to be a consensusƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ about who are terrorists and who are not terrorists.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Oxford Dictionary defines terrorism as: ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-the unofficial or unauthorized use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims:ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Hence the West has to invent a new definition for terrorism if itƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ accept ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…- unauthorized use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aimsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ in a country as ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-rebelsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The West cannot accuse a government as violating human rights if it gets its Armed Forces to quell an ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…- armed rebellionƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ by the use of arms.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ TheƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ West with its ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-infamousƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ NATO Force avoids the confusion by treating those terrorists who do not directly threaten their countries as ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…- rebels ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-. ThoseƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the WestƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ calls ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-rebelsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ are in reality terrorists, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ who have taken arms against the government in power. It helps the West to treat them as ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-rebelsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ as it would help themƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ for not onlyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to change governments, but also toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ strengthen its leadership in the world havingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ these countries as satellite states with puppet governments with their allegiance to the West.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It also helps the West to benefit by exploiting the riches of these country such as petrol as in the case of Libya,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and use the countryƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s strategic position to dominate over otherƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ rival nations for the domination of the world, as in the case of Sri Lanka
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ United States ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ has unfortunately miserably deceived us with the sense ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ justice and fair playƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ we expected after the election of the President Barrack Obama.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ USA is the greatest deception in the worldƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s hope of elimination of terrorism.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The President Barrack Obama on the other hand contributed to defending terrorists in other countries while seeking to fight terrorists capable ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ attacking USA and its Allies.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This is the result of Obama Administration depending on officials like Robert Blake the Junior State Secretary and Hillary Clinton who allows herself to be dragged by the nose by Robert Blake.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It is a shameless revelation that USA interferes into internal affairs of Sovereign states at the fall of a leaf.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It has been reported that the USA State Department isƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ seeking to punish governments whichƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ censure websitesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ which carryon destructive destabilisingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ publicity against the Government . ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Here is the beginning by USA to bring in Western influence even in the internal Administrative affairs of a Sovereign State.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The UNO should intervene to stop theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Western countries undue interference into the affairs of Sovereign States, byƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ more effective authority.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ USA has announced that it will withhold payment ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ its contribution to the budget of the UNESCO forƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ it accepting Palestine as a Member State.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The decision taken by the UNESCO to accept Palestine as a member is not only a courageous decision in the Climate that prevails, but also a very wise means to bring ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-warring ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…- factions together into one forum. It is seen that USA in this instance as well takes ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a wrong decision to impose its will.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In the meantime, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ it has been reported that David Cameron the Prime Minister of UKƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of all people urged Sri Lanka to make progress on human rights before hosting the next Common Wealth leaders meeting in 2013.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Neither the Prime Minister of UK ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ David Cameron nor the Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper have the right to impose rules on Sri Lanka as to what it should do or not do, as these two Prime Ministers have their hands smeared with blood of violation of human rights andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ crimes against the people of Libya, Afghanistan and Iraq on their hands.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Their intervention into affairs of Sri Lanka is an interference with the reconciliation process that is in progress.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Hillary Clinton the US Secretary of State in calling to have discussions with a terrorist proxi-political Party TNAƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ is hindering the communal unification of Sri Lanka after a thirty years of suffering under terrorism.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
The TNA is a political party, that had been organized and financed by the LTTE Terrorists.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It is a party that is being tolerated, as a poor uninformed Tamil people of the NorthƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ have votedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ for them for sentimental reasons and not because they are representative of those people.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Hillary Clinton the US State Secretary in inviting them for discussions areƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ giving this proxi-terrorist political party TNA an uncalled for respectability under their blind and foolishƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ policy of recognizing terrorists of other countries who are not aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ direct threat to West as ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-rebelsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This is again the work of Robert Blake whose sympathies with the terrorists of Sri Lanka are well known.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Violation of human rights has madeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ an excuse for the Western powers to interfere into other Sovereign States, leaving themselves outside it despite they being the worse violators ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ human rights.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This anomalous situation has to be rectified, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to allow the SovereignƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ States of theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ third world countries to progress and come out of their status of underdevelopment.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The developing countries should be allowed to settle their political, economic and social problems without the interference of the Western Countries who seek to work according to their own agenda without concern for the developing Nations of the world.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ To stop this aberration of the International Law, the Members states of theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ UNO, who are from East Europe, Asia, Middle East and Africa should form into a political block to stop the Western countries from interfering into their countries.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ So that any rebellious elements inside a Sovereign State will not be appeal to appeal to the West and settle their disputes in dialogue within the country, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ or through appeal to the UNO and not to a Western country or countries in particular.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ There should also be a mechanism within UNO to stop military intervention of any Nature by a Western Country or Countries into any Sovereign State among developing Nations.
November 1st, 2011 at 8:10 pm
People get jealous and start blaming us and letting us down when we did somethins that they were not capable of doing or they were not dare to do.
That is what we did by defeating the most ruthless terrorist organization in the world.
If we did a bad thing. how come western human right protectors use white flag convoy of Kadhafi to get rid of him. [news papers say, kadhafi was ready to leave the country and he left in a convoy with white flags on and the NATO libyan protectors bombed the convoy. something like that has happened.]
Don’t you think, that our last resort application they used in their day to day work ?
November 2nd, 2011 at 7:02 am
We must do everything possible to correct imbalances within Sri Lanka, and bring about a natural peace and well being within the country for all our citizens. To work toward this goal, we suggest that we identify the causes that lead to strife WITHIN the country and also correct imbalances, and find solutions to problems. If matters are alright within the country, foreign sources have no cause to interfere.
(a) I think that illegal migration into Lanka is one of the main causes of strife. Illegal migration has given ideas to low caste Tamils of Tamil Nadu to come to Sri Lanka and lose caste and Tamil leaders to form a separate state for Tamils. After some 1 1/2 M Tamils were brought in by the Dutch & the British as indentured labor causing ethnic imbalance in the country, illegal migrants from Tamil Nadu have come in large numbers from time to time, especially during the time of ltte rule of the N&E. All illegal migrants should be deported, not withstanding foreign adivice – (America has already deported over 400,000 Mexican illegals this year). Coastal areas must be guarded forever by reliable Coast Guards to stop illegal migrants coming in by boat.
(b) How is Lankan citizenship obtained ? Does a JP have authority to give citizenship ? Can someone please enlighten us on this topic.
(c) Aim for Full Employment within the country.
(d) Have an Education System geared for employment.
(e) Have one Law re religious sites & use of loudspeakers. Have one Law for use of State property.
(f) Sinhala the main language, always. All other languages must be secondary languages.
(g) People should be able to live in any area in Lanka, especially the North.
(h) Remove the political party system, or at least remove ethnic, religious based political parties (as per suggestion by Dr Sudath Gunasekara’s articles to Lankaweb). Democracy is possible without any political parties.
(i) Oath of Allegiance a must, especially for Parliamentarians, armed forces, school children etc.
I am sure there are more ideas – please add ……
November 2nd, 2011 at 2:18 pm
Fran Diaz
Well thought after points.
(a). Yes. This is the biggest problem. In addition, if you look at history, it was illegal immigrants who did most damage to the country at higher levels.
e.g. LTTE leader was a descendant of a Kerala illegal immigrant, Chelvanayagam was an illegal immigrant from Malaya (You must be born in Sri Lanka or be registered as a Sri Lankan upon birth to be a Sri Lankan citizen. Unfortunately the British invaders didn’t honour Sri Lanka’s territorial right. Had he attempted to come to Sri Lanka after Independence, he would have been deported.) MGR who provided moral, popular and financial support to LTTE was an illegal immigrant in Sri Lanka.
They introduced outsiders’ confrontational politics to peaceful Sri Lankan society.
(b). Any GS can essentially give citizenship to anyone.
(h). The political party system cannot be removed because it is deeply ingrained in the society. But certainly ethnicity based parties should be banned.
November 2nd, 2011 at 3:41 pm
Dilrook : thanks for answers. Shouldn’t point (b) be removed ? THIS IS THE GREATEST DANGER. I think Citizenship should be given by people specifically employed for that purpose, through the Ministry of Defence. It is absurd in the current context to have GS giving citizenship to illegal immigrants. It is like telling Tamil illegal migrants “come and get it” !!