By Charles.S.Perera

Ambassador Butenis says USA is not an enemy of Sri Lanka, but with friends like USA Sri Lanka need not have friends.

Ambassador Butenis has started something called ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…- effective developmentƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ which is described as ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-means empowering communities and countries toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ chart their own futureƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  An embassy of a foreign country is there to develop good relations between one country and another.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Therefore an AmbassadorƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  has to work with the Government to which he or she is accredited, but not directly with any community or other Associations.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  If a country is giving aid for a specific projectƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  such aid should be ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ given to the Government and discuss how that aid has to be applied with the government.

Therefore Ambassador Butenis has not right to make use of USAIDƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  to establish Public and Private alliance forums.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Further moreƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Butenis promotes USAID to Communities without understanding that USAID should be ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a global grant for all Communities.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Butenis atƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  a roundtableƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  attended by a public and private sector representativeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  at Galle Face Hotel last week had, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ according to ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the Island ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ report , ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-USAID wasƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ inking agreements that provided grants to partners whoƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ could match or exceed the funding received, forƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ investments in their own community.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚

This type of USAID should be controlled by the Government, as such aid also includes employing of NGOƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ And if with such aid to Communities are to made individually and separately to Communities , it would be ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ far from helping reconciliation of Communities in Sri Lanka which is trying to ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ change the idea that Communities are separate entities, but to accept each Community as a part of a whole thus paving the way to a National unity.

Therefore USAID if it is to empower Communities to Chart their own future, the idea had to be shunned as it is contrary to reconciliation process which the Government has begunƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  which is to ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ convince the Communities the necessity ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to merge inƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  to a nation of one people leaving aside the concept of communal separation.

According to theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  report of Zaki JabbarƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  in the Island of 29 February, 2012, Ambassador Butenis has said ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦.. Quoting President Barack Obama, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦.. US was renewing development as a key element of American foreign policy, not by lecturing and imposingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ its ideas, but by listening and working together, seeking more exchanges between students and experts, new collaborations among scientists to promote technological development, partnerships between businesses and entrepreneurs to advance prosperity and opportunities for people everywhere. ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚

In reality USA has no special interest in the people of Sri Lanka whether they be ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the Tamil Community or the Sinhala and Muslim Communities.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  But their pretended interest in the Tamil Community isƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  through the attachment the US Assistant Secretary of State for Central And South Asia Robert Blake has for the terrorists of Sri Lanka .ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  It is that connection that is now being usedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  by the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ USA to divide the nation thus breaking a Chinese link in the Indian ocean.

Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s present problem comes from the American NGOƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s who were asked to leave the terrorists controlled areas as the Military operations against the terrorists had commenced and the Armed Forces cannot provide security to them.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  These NGOs went back angry with the Government of Sri Lanka and its Armed Forces and began the anti Sri Lanka Government campaign, which took a greater proportion after the elimination of the terrorists, and now it has turned out to be an accusation for violation of human rights to take revenge from the Government of Sri Lanka and its Armed Forces for the elimination of those ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-friendly terroristsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ with whom they had worked.

In the light of this, Sri Lanka cannot again place its trust onƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  any Aid workers sent by USAID.

The USA and its Western allies were determine to do a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-LibyaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ in Syria to oust the President al-AssadƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s government . This attempt was foiled byƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Russia and China voting against intervention in Syria. USA and its allies the West Smarting under the wound of defeat in the intended ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-bombardingƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ Syria, seem toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  be contemplating other tactics which are of doubtful honesty.

It was said in Sky news that USA and the West wants the agreement of Russia and China to send Aid Workers to Syria.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  In the case of ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Libya the USA and the West havingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  got UN Security Council sanction to control the Air Space over Libya, commenced bombardments abusing the UN Sanction and later even air dropped arms an ammunitions to the rebels and even sent Italian Military advisers to help the rebels organise themselves against the Colonel GaddafiƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Forces.

Hence it would not be wrong to assume that if the USA and the West were to send Aid workers to Syria they may send CIA experts as aid workers and organise the rebels against the Armed Forces of Assad.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Russia and China had said that they will not allow the USA and the West to use the UN Security Council once again to attack militarily another country as they did to Libya.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Hence it is unlikely that Russia and China will be in agreement with USA and the West ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to send Aid Workers to Syria.

USA and the West if they want to could change their aggressive methods of changing regimes andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  become more friendly and start dialogues without assuming before hand that all Arab leaders are dictators.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The West have made them ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ what they are ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ because of their ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-fearƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ to trust the USA and the Western Governments.

Even in Sri Lanka USA has no special interest in the people other than using the people to organise ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ their political strategies. Immediately after the elimination of the terrorists the USA hastened to establish its influence in Jaffna. That is how USAID built the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ American Corner in Jaffna for JaffnaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  people to meet.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  It was declared open by Ambassador ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Patricia Butenis and USAID Director Jim Bednar in January, 2011.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

StrangelyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the report of the Opening of the CentreƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  had been written by Melissa Coulter who serves as the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Public Diplomacy Desk Officer in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs and Jeffrey Anderson Public Affairs Officer of the USA Embassy.

ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-StrangelyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ becauseƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Bureau of the South and Central Asian Affairs is Headed by non other than Robert O Blake the friend of the Sri Lanka terrorists.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  And the USA Corner may have been Robert O BlakeƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s idea.

USA had always helped the Tamils of the North even before the beginning of the terrorism. They were even then trying to make Jaffna a different place from the South.

Melissa CoulterƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  writes, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…- The United States has close historical ties with Jaffna. Arriving in Jaffna in 1813, American missionaries established the first printing press in Jaffna and the first medical centers, medical schools, and the first Tamil-language newspaper in Ceylon (present-day Sri Lanka). Harriet Winslow, the great grandmother of the late Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, also founded the Uduvil Girls School, the first all-girls boarding school in Asia.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚

To crown that past USA connection in Jaffna, USA has now built theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  American Corner in Jaffna.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Ambassador Butenis had said at the opening of the Centre, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦.we hope and expect that the American Corner in Jaffna will quickly become a vibrant community center, digitally connecting Jaffna with the rest of Sri Lanka and with the world and providing a space for dialogue between Sri Lankans and Americans.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

USA needsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  some ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-brain washingƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. It is time they instead of actingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  on an Assistant Secretary of State Robert O BlakeƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ intense desire to take revenge from Sri Lanka over the elimination of his friends the Sri Lanka terrorists, think clearly of the necessity of their ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ resolution against Sri LankaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  which they propose to move at the Human Rights Council in Geneva this month.

USA was against the Government of Sri Lanka for ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ having failedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  peace negotiations with the terrorists, resorted to a military solution toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  end terrorism.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The then AmbassadorƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  continued to speak againstƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  decision of the Sri Lanka Governments military operations against the terrorists. But USA never intervened to speak to the terrorists despite Robert O BlakeƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s good relationship with them to demand the terrorists to end terrorism and come to a political settlement with the government.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

When the Commander of the Armed Forces of Sri Lanka and the President of Sri Lanka were wounded by the terrorists the USA did not intervene with the terrorists to stop their further criminal activities.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  It was the same when the terrorists killed a Sri Lanka President and again the President of India , USA remained dumb, there was then no question of human rights or ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-war crimesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  mentioned relating to the terrorists.

Even when the Sri Lanka Minister of Foreign Affairs was killed by a terrorist sniper. USA and Robert Blake was not heard of.

But now the USA, EU and the different Western humanitarians are coming out in packs to condemn Sri Lanka and threatening to take her before a tribunal accused for war crimes, merely because Sri Lanka eliminated terrorism without their help.

After the elimination of the terrorists Sri Lanka developed the countryƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  in all fields and began reconciling the Communities.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Sri Lanka without the help of the USA and the EU appointed its own Commission of Investigation and is now preparing to implement the recommendations of its own Commission LLRC.

But now USA comes toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Geneva to attend the Human Rights Comission with an anti Sri Lanka resolution demanding the implementation of the recommendation of the LLRC.

We do not now want USA or European Union to tell us that we should implement the recommendations ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  our own LLRC.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Sri Lanka Government will implement those recommendations of the LLRC without any coaxing from the WestƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  same way asƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Sri Lanka eliminated the terrorists without any help of the USA and its allies.

Sri Lanka only wants it left alone without the interference of the West, as Sri Lanka knows what is best for the country and is doing what is necessary in an appropriate manner.