Muddying the waters, the Indian way
Posted on March 19th, 2012
The Island Editorial March 19, 2012, 12:00 pm
India continues to blow hot and cold about the US resolution against Sri Lanka in Geneva. Its gobbledygook defies comprehension, to say the least. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday told the Lok Sabha that India was inclined to vote for it if it covers ‘our objectives namely the achievement of a future for the Tamil community in Sri Lanka that is based on equality, dignity, justice and self respect’.
It was only the other day that the Indian government made it very clear that it was opposed to any country-specific resolution at the UNHRC. We thought India had taken a principled stand on the issue. What are India’s real ‘objectives’ that Prime Minister Singh says his government is trying to achieve through its support for the US resolution? He has specified only one of themƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…”ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…”a future for the Tamil community in Sri Lanka based on equality, dignity, justice and respect’. But, what are the other ‘OBJECTIVES’? He has left one none the wiser!
Meanwhile, Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna has said the central government will study the draft of the US resolution on Sri Lanka and consult Tamil MPs before taking a call. Are we to gather that Prime Minister Singh has expressed his government’s inclination to vote for a resolution that it has not yet studied?
Although PM Singh has left much unsaid in his statement to Parliament, what he barely said has presumably yielded dividends. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa has, at long last, given her government’s consent for the controversial Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, which she opposed tooth and nail, causing its construction to be stalled. You scratch my back and I will scratch yours, eh?
While the Indian government is prevaricating, obfuscating the main issue and running with the hare and hunting with the hounds, editor of the Tamil weekly, Thuglak and former Rajya Sabha member, Cho S. Ramaswamy, has had the courage to swim against the tide. In an interview with the Deccan Chronicle, he has said, while calling upon Sri Lanka to respect minority rightsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…”ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…”quite rightly soƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…”ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…”that terrorism is no solution and dismissed the Tamil Nadu campaign for the anti-Sri Lankan resolution in Geneva as uncalled for. His is a voice of sanity!
Ramaswamy has rightly pointed out that in moving the anti-Sri Lankan resolution, the US has not been driven by any love for human rights. He sees an ulterior motive for the US move. “What happened when the UNHCR spoke about [alleged violations by] Israel? The US attacked it and said that it was becoming politicalƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦. ‘You are doing this country-specific thing and that won’t do’, the US said. And that’s what India says. Perhaps, the US has come up with this resolution just to show that there are human rights violations elsewhere, too, in order to divert the world’s attention from Israel. Why should India be interested in it? Why should the Tamil champions be interested in it?”
The US has done just that! It has succeeded in distracting the attention of the UNHRC from its own war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan and the allegations of war crimes against Israel by means of its resolution on Sri Lanka. It has drawn a human rights red herring across its trail! Washington, it may be recalled, shot down a UN reportƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…”ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…”the Goldstone Report as it has come to be popularly knownƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…”ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…”on alleged crimes Israel committed against Palestinians. It has also turned a blind eye to blatant human rights violations in Bahrain and Libya, where people are being abducted, tortured, raped, robbed and butchered by the western-backed ‘liberators’ who ousted Gaddafi.
Ramaswamy poses a very pertinent question which India ought to take serious note of. “Suppose the US or some other country sponsors a similar resolution tomorrow on Kashmir. Are we going to honour it?” If the US resolution against Sri Lanka is ratified by the UNHRC, that will set a very bad precedent and no country, unless it is an ally of the US, will be safe. In such an eventuality, the US and its friends will be able to interfere in the affairs of any state via the UNHRC.
In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, President George W. Bush had the audacity to tell the world: “You are either with us or with the terrorists”. The Obama administration has apparently sent a different message to the countries affected by terrorism through its anti-Sri Lankan resolution: “If you are not with us, we will be with your terrorists!”
Any country that votes for the US resolution in Geneva will, in so doing, not only endorse the US double standards on human rights but also give the western bloc carte blanche to use human rights as a weapon against the nations that refuse to toe its line, while protecting the worst war criminals and human rights violators.
March 19th, 2012 at 4:51 pm
Singh says things without even studying the resolution. Worse than some SL politicians.
This is what happens when an Italian woman makes all the decisions and he is only a messenger. Nothing more.
Singh is called Sonia’s Ghand in India. Ghand in Hindi is backside.
India is run by Sonia Ghandi and Sonia’s Ghand.
What a tragedy!
March 19th, 2012 at 5:25 pm
The Congress government, and its’ Prime Minister are making a grave mistake, a big blunder in deciding to support the U.S. move in Geneva. There is a proverb in Tamil, “Thinai vithaithavan thinai aruppaan, vinai vithaithavan vinai aruppaan” ( Those who saw the seeds of millet will reap the grain, and those who spread evil will suffer the consequences). The smart(?) decision taken by India (in order to save the government by Congress) will soon have a boomerang effect on India itself. Never trust the West, do not support the idea of “might is right” The U.S. and Britain along with France, of all the countries in the world, have no moral rights at all to preach about human rights.
March 19th, 2012 at 7:13 pm
If India go ahead and support the resolution, Sri Lanka should boycott Indian goods and should block any Indian companies coming to SL.
March 19th, 2012 at 8:35 pm
Sirih,
I fully agree. Why this is not happening ? Why so many Bajaajs in Sri Lanka destroying our identity as a clean nation ?
Why so many Ashok Leylands( horrible lorrys making huge noice and zero technology.) ? Why IOC Indians running petrol distribution ?
We must open our gates to China and openly support them. Let them open thier Naval bases at Hambantota. Sell it to them with a profit for Naval Activities.
Loose to Bangladesh in cricket and get the Indians out of the final.
We must do all these.
March 19th, 2012 at 8:37 pm
It appears Indians are finding hard to decide what is true and false; just and unjust; right and wrong; and good and bad. Choice is very simple. For ten thousand years we are neighbours, friends and family. We are neighbours for another ten thousand years. Indian actions have done great harm to Sri Lanka. Will they continue to do so? Or will they stand against Super power terrorism and support Sri Lanka? Will India stand by a brother nation when it matters? Or will it kneel before a Western Superpower?
In the past, many Western Empires like USA sprang up and then disappeared fast. They all died from inside. Sri Lanka will be there for a long time to come. Will India act like a future superpower? Will it tell Americans they have a independent foreign policy?Or will they squat when Americans tell them to …..
In 1960s, 15 million Indians died of starvation. This was a time Americans were destroying excess food stocks to maintain prices. Then India was perceived to be a socialist nation, in Soviet orbit. Nehru begged Americans to sell food stocks. Americans refused and millions of Indians died of starvation. I hoped Indians never forgot that lesson.
Remember history repeats. History is not dead. It is in our minds and bodies.
March 20th, 2012 at 12:47 am
I like to see the reaction of the GoSL when the filthy Indians vote against SL. I am quite certain that the spineless GoSL will hide the tail between the legs and playdown the action to play deplomacy. Housing construction and development projects to the Tamils only is not with sincere feelings.That is only paying peanuts to the made in India Terrorist’s damages compensation.
March 20th, 2012 at 4:28 am
Dham
We must open our gates to China – Not aggred !
All outsiders always have hiden agenda !
This our own problm as a family We shoud short out ourself ! give & take policy !
unit in diversity !
1 ) Fully implement 13A & LLCR
2) Legaly band all rasict political parties ( similar to 16a in India) – Eg: No more TNA , MC ,SJUM
Eventualy We will only have SLFP, UNP & LSSP !
March 20th, 2012 at 4:46 am
The people of India will answer all that in the next general election, regardless of what the Tamilnadu wants, or India is heading for internal clashes on the outset.
At the inset, India is ruled by Vatican so there is nothing to get surprised of their decision to back the US resolution.
US forcing India to subjugate Sri Lanka to US hegemony and UNHRC resolution is not the last, but the start only. More to come. US cannot stop China becoming the next super power as well as Sri Lanka will be their foot hold, that is an important location in the future war between East-West as well as when Indo-China breaks out India will get vacked from both sides (east and west of it) and India’s borders will have to be re drawn.
On the other side Putin is very critical of US and West is planning silently. History is repeating, its 100 years almost from the 1917 October revolution. Roman Empire’s decline also started after it faught with Persia. This time its the US-Israel alliance in place of Romans and IRAN. Russia and China are on both sides as well.
India should have thought about what a foolish decision to align with USA the declining empire and bankruptcy at large.
India is asking for it, and USA has always driven fools in to hells! not to heaven!
US will tighten our nose by sanctions, but Cuba survived over 65 years and we will survive. It gives ample leverage for China to champion here and once done the H (hambantota) factor is no longer a dream of USA or India.
Napolean said ‘ Dont go to fight with Cathay.
March 20th, 2012 at 4:57 am
Sangha should appeal all Buddhist India pilgrims to stop.
Hold major rally exposing Indian murderers.
Don’t buy anything from Indian business.
Time to reject India and welcome China.
March 20th, 2012 at 5:14 am
Indian imperialist has come out in the open.
Navi Pillai is an Indian colonial parasite from South Africa.
Obama regime’s Attorney is an Indian and did he draft this resolution.
India has vested interests in India with around 2 million Indian colonial parasites in Sri Lanka.
Let us demand that Indian colonial parasites in Indian colonies either integrate or go back to their mother land India.
March 20th, 2012 at 5:18 am
Lorenzo
Ghand in Hindi is backside !
Lorenzo excellant , You are clever in many languages & knowdlege about SL & India – How do you manage to learn all – I am not joking , I alway read you comments very carefuly you have very good fundamendal knowly about our problm !
Lorenzo seriously You should organise forward thing SL people to solve our diversity for ever !
March 20th, 2012 at 5:56 am
We now beginning to have a hunch that India may abstain from voting on the Sri Lanka issue at the UNHRC on 23rd March.
March 20th, 2012 at 6:02 am
We are now beginning to have a hunch that India may abstain from voting on the Sri Lanka issue at the UNHRC on 23rd March.
India did reject the US deal on opening 500 Walmarts in India. In the long run, India will do all to protect herself, irrespective of the needs of her neighbors. That is no great surprise.
Lanka should be as self sufficient as possible, in any ways possible. There is no other way.
March 20th, 2012 at 7:23 am
Fran Diaz
We both Community know last 2500 years How India used than abatain us !
Eg: India trained All Tamil arms group than india fully support SL forces to wiped out them
end of the day losted our life We both!
Now They will repead again ……………. again…. again…..
Is any point in blaming others for our foolishnesh !
There is no other way- NO, We have way, like Lord Bhuddha said Happies is with us ! we do not want outsider to solve our problm!