GL Summons UK High Commissioner – May 29,2012
Posted on May 31st, 2012
Ira De Silva London, Canada
The Editor
The Island
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Dear Sir:
It is encouraging to note that the Foreign Minister has made note of the rank interference by the British H.C. and summoned him to express his “displeasure”. Sri Lankans can only hope that Mr. Peiris was able to explain in diplomatic jargon that Sri Lanka is not a British colony and that statements such as made by Mr. Rankin are not only undiplomatic but are considered as interference in the domestic affairs of Sri Lanka.
Since the spokesperson for the British High Commission has said that the H.C. had further comments on this issue, perhaps he could clarify the basis and assumptions on which Mr. Rankin believes that:
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ He has the right to interfere in the internal matters of Sri Lanka.
Why he is concerned about where the military is stationed in a country that is not Britain.
Why he is not aware that the LTTE still continues to pose a threat to Sri Lanka when the LTTE was and is headquartered in London, U.K.
Why does he not explain why LTTE fund raising continues in Britain and that these funds are being used to influence politicians in Britain (some of them were lobbying against Sri Lanka in Geneva together with the leaders of the LTTE organizations).
Why does he not explain whyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the Global Tamil Forum and The Transnational Government of the LTTE had a joint conference in California just two weeks back and that their stated goal is the establishment of Eelam with the aid of politicians in the west.
Has Mr. Rankin got an explanation for actions by Britain such as the stationing of British troops in Diego Garcia after ethnically cleansing the entire population to make way for an American base in the India Ocean? Is it becauseƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that is what Britain does it believes that other countries would do the same.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ If it is acceptable for Britain to protect its interest in various parts of the world by stationing troops why is it is not legitimate for Sri Lanka to protect its interests on its own soil given that the country is still being threatened with division by the leaders of the LTTE in various parts of the world including Britain.
The LTTE continues to pose a threat to Sri Lanka with the support of their representatives in Sri Lanka who are still advocating for a separate Tamil state and Tamil Nadu is promoting an Indian invasion to establish this Tamil state.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Mr. Rankin seems to be oblivious to the actions of the LTTE overseas as he claims that the LTTE is no longer engaged in terrorist activity and it follows that the security forces should be removed from the north. Can Mr. Rankin explain why Britain maintains a military presence in places such as Ascension Island, Balkans, Belize, Brunei, Cyprus, Diego Garcia, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Kenya, Oman, Saudi Arabia to name a few? If Britain can deploy forces thousands of miles away from Britain what is his problem in Sri Lankan forces being stationed in areas of Sri Lanka that are of strategic importance to Sri Lanka to stop the re-emergence of LTTE terrorism funded from western countries.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Let us hope that the further comments from the HC will provide an answer to these double standards from Britain.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Mr. Rankin’s opinions were expressed in a public relations exercise supposedly to make British diplomacy look transparent . What it has exposed is the lack of British diplomacy and an attitude of colonial dictatorship. After the episode of the Australian High Commissioner aiding and abetting an Australian national to break the law in Sri Lanka and now Mr. Rankin’s rant on military bases in Sri Lanka, which is none of his business, it is the hope of Sri Lankans that Mr. Rankin will be dealt with in the same manner as Mr. Gladstone when he attempted to interfere in Sri Lanka. It is high time that foreign diplomats behaved as diplomats and not as viceroys.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Yours truly,
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Ira de Silva
London, Canada
May 31st, 2012 at 1:28 pm
GLP’s good deeds are appreciated.
Please continue along this approach of ZERO TOLERANCE of interference.
May 31st, 2012 at 8:25 pm
Lorenzo, RANKIN MUST GO, if not every comedy actor visits SL, will reapeat the same story. Next week a set of British MPs are visiting Jaffna. GLP must carefully monitor these MPs after they leave SL and then make false staements about what they saw. GLP is doing lot of good, but with RANKIN he is NOT!
May 31st, 2012 at 10:48 pm
සැබෑ කොටි සංවිධානයේ මූලස්ථානය වන බ්රිතාන්ය මහා කොමසාරිස් කාර්යාලයෙන් මෙවන් ප්රකාශ නිකුත් වීම සම්බන්ධව අප කලබල විය යුතු නැත. කලබලවිය යුත්තේ අපට පක්ෂ පාතීව ඔවුන් හඩක් නගන්නේ නම් පමණි.
June 1st, 2012 at 3:52 am
If a diplomat doesn’t know what is diplomacy what else he if for? Interfering to internal matters is none of his duty. Many more Anton Balasinghams in his Colombo MI 6 branch must guide him for another disaster in Sri Lanka. These diplomats encourage tamil racism and terrorism and never allow us to live peacefully in our country.
In 1990 era Indian diplomat Dick Shit (dixit) made blunders and we still cannot solve the headache he did. Now this man Rankin tries some other game. Should give him the Gladstones treatment.
June 1st, 2012 at 4:03 am
These white dogs must be severly dealt with and should not allow to interfere in our affairs once and for all. He should be kicked out period. Be like Gota and Mahinda two lions who fear none. We cannot tolerate such kind of behaviour from any diplomat of any country. We dont interfere in others and they should not interfere on us at any circumstances.We are a sovereign and a free nation with a democratic Government where no other country can dictate us on anything.
The Government must monitor every single foreigner who goes to the East and North without giving any chance to poison the minds of any individual who was involved in terrorism in the past. Anyone involved in espionage should be brought to justice and punished according to our laws. The art show which was shown in Oslo should be shown to every country in the world and explained to the public of the cruelty of L.T.T.E terrorists who kept our country in the dark for thirty long years. Those who help to destroy my country and my people are guilty as the terrorists L.T.T.E itself. We cannot forgive those easily although we are free from terror. India and those white powers were responsible for every individual Sri Lankan who died from L.T.T.E terror in my homeland. So do not take away our freedom again Mr.Rankin just get lost.
June 1st, 2012 at 5:33 am
Maoists take cue from Tamil Tigers
The Maoists are now using their women cadres to ‘trap’ security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region — a strategy earlier employed by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka.
Citing several instances encountered by security personnel recently, a senior officer said the latest strategy adopted by the Reds was aimed at ‘weakening’ the forces psychologically.
The same tactics were employed by the LTTE against the Sri Lankan forces during insurgency. The police officer, requesting anonymity, narrated how a contingent of security personnel from the CRPF and district force of Chhattisgarh police had walked into the trap of the rebels at Risgaon in Kanker district when they ventured into the nearby forest after hearing cries of women.
The troopers were soon greeted by intense firing by the Naxals, hiding in the jungle, leading to an encounter. Fortunately, the personnel somehow managed to escape unhurt.
In another incident, two months ago security forces surrounded a Naxal hideout in Narayanpur district. But, the rebels then pushed the unarmed women cadres to the front, leaving the jawans in an ‘ethical’ dilemma as to whether to open fire on them. Amid the confusion, the Maoists, including the women cadres, managed to flee.
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/nation/north/maoists-take-cue-tamil-tigers-458
June 1st, 2012 at 3:27 pm
Kit,
“RANKIN MUST GO”
I agree. But the ground reality is govt will NOT tell him to f* off.
Also agree GLP’s action is INSUFFICIENT. Once again, within what is practically possible, this is a LITTLE good move than political packages and calling Anton Balla your excellency.