Why All the Fuss about Militarisation in Sri Lanka When Singapore is the Second Most Militarised Nation on Earth
Posted on April 4th, 2013
Dilrook Kannangara
Old and new colonials in the west, India and the NGO cabal are up in arms over what they call militarisation of Sri Lanka and parts thereof. There is no logical reason for their nonsensical concerns. Sri Lanka ranks low (rank 41) in global militarisation ranking. Global Militarization Index and rankings are conducted by the Bonn International Centre for Conversion.
http://www.bicc.de/old-site/index.php?page=ranking-table?year=2011&sort=rank_asc
Quoted from the Bonn International Centre for Conversion declaration on the Global Militarization Index; ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-the GMI compares, for example, a countryƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s military expenditure with its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and its health expenditure. It contrasts the total number of military and paramilitary forces in a country with the number of physicians. Finally, it studies the number of heavy weapons available to a countryƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s armed forces. These and other indicators are used to determine a countryƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s ranking, which in turn makes it possible to measure the respective level of militarization in comparison to other countries.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
As such it is a reliable measure of the level of militarisation of a nation. In the absence of any other objective yardstick, there cannot be any challenge to its accuracy in comparing nations.
Israel is the most militarised nation in the world.
Singapore ranks 2 (second) in militarisation. Singapore is a very prosperous, stable, peaceful and clean nation that can be a fine role model for Sri Lanka. Compared to Singapore which never had a war, Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s level of militarisation is insignificant. Surely in every country militarisation across its regions cannot be compared. Border regions, regions with a history of security challenges and regions with potential security issues have higher rates of militarisation. However,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ regional distribution of militarisationƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ is purely a domestic matter. Therefore militarisation is not a problem in any way in Sri Lanka. Consequently, the Sri Lankan government must resist all calls to de-militarise parts of the country.
USA that sponsored the UNHRC resolution against Sri Lanka which calls for the demilitarisation of parts of the country is ranked 29, way above Sri Lanka. How can USA demand Sri Lanka to de-militarise?
Norway; another country harping on demilitarisation; ranks just below Sri Lanka at rank 44. In other words even Norway has no moral right to call for de-militarisation of Sri Lanka or any part, province or region. Chile (ranked 31), Estonia (ranked 35), Libya (ranked 15) and Republic of Korea (ranked 18) are also party to the demilitarization demand. They need a dose of their own medicine.
It is obvious their real intention is not human rights or peace in the island nation as militarisation is not a major concern in Lanka. Their real intention seems to be a game plan to convert peaceful Sri Lanka into a lawless and rowdy nation akin to India where the Tamil Nadu state displayed total lawlessness for weeks while IndiaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s global reputation has been greatly tarnished by how the worldƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s largest democracy treats women.
Government of Sri Lanka must unconditionally reject the call to demilitarise any part of the country as the level of militarisation is insignificant compared to the physicians who try to heal Sri Lanka. No military camp should be moved, changed or downsized in the north and east. A large military presence in north and east is essential for long lasting peace.
April 4th, 2013 at 2:26 pm
Well said Dilrook. The US, India and allies seem to want a lawless situation in the country where they can pit people against each other based on ethnicity, religion and political affiliation and use the associated human rights “concen” as a pretext for military intervention by THEIR foreign military thugs. It would be like watching a “cockfight” between different groups of Sri Lankans by Obama and his henchmen. Once they build up their militaries in foreign countries to oppress the people and carry out capricious acts, the calls for “demilitarization” will evaporate instantly! Every effort should be made to educate and inform the Northern Tamil people that if they silently go along with this call for demilitarization, what’s in store for them is a permanent “peacekeeping” army consisting of Illiterate, bigotted, Indian gang rapists and thieves. Our Northern Tamils must be not spared any details of everyday lawlessness and thuggery in India.. The younger generation of Northern Tamils should be reminded of how the IPKF treated their people and if they know whats good for them, they would demonstrate VOCIFEROUSLY in front of foreign embassies, the media and force the hand of the LTTE diaspora to withdraw this suicidal request. Even the average westerner is starting to see through the “demilitarization” gimmick of their governments. The SL military has the organisational ability to provide many civilian services to the population and should be encouraged.
April 4th, 2013 at 8:43 pm
It is important for SL Government to develop and set in place a compulsory military training program for all its youth (both girls and boys) when they reach the age of 18 years (after they complete high school) before they venture into higher education or join the job market.
This is what small countries have developed (Singapore, Israel, Switzerland to name three).
This produces strong and disciplined youth force free of all the bullshit that seem to affect the growing youngsters in Sri Lanka, JVP, Bodu Bala Sena, revolutions to change the country while still in diapers, asking for a bribe before carrying out a simple task – as is prevalent today. In order for Sri Lanka to build and develop a strong and healthy work force while keeping it free from traitors both inside and outside, this is a must.
Automatically the Diaspora Tamils, The Gordon Weisses, Frances Harrisons will shut the f— up when
the whole country is developed with a strong militaristically disciplined youth base.
JP – USA
April 5th, 2013 at 4:12 pm
Military a must for Sri Lanka. Any strong nation has to have a military. Otherwise, we are back to square one – before the 1983 times.
Also, S’pore is a predominantly Buddhist country, but that does not deter them from having a strong military. Even Switzerland has a standing army of all its citizens who are trained to protect the country if needed.
Small countries have to think big in terms of security.
April 5th, 2013 at 4:19 pm
Sri Lanka should increase its militarisation. It is only then that the powers that be will recognise Sri Lanka as a force to reckon with. What they want is a gutless, guttersnipe nation out of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka should not loose the momentum it gained by bringing armageddon to the world’s deadliest terrorists. Sri Lankan military should diversify its role so that it can sustain itself by taking up military relevant industries – armament manufacture, counter espionage, IT etc etc. Countries like Singapore, Pakistan, India, US, UK etc etc have military related business enterprises. This is something that should be actively looked at by the Hon Defence Minister.
April 6th, 2013 at 12:47 am
May it be Singapore or America.. what matters to Sri lanka is to safe guard the territories that was invaded by LTTE through Tamilanadu backup should never occur in the future. for the same reason the military in the north and East specially should be very strong and ongoing. the US or UNHRC will try all the tactics to reestablish LTTE in those areas with the great interest by the India under the pressure from Tamilnadu. our leaders must be smart enough to understand the logic and establish the good relationship with the civilians of north and east and the army should help more in their daily tasks until the fear and anger disappear. we should not reduce or remove the military in the those area untill India declare the Eelam in Tamilnadu.