{"id":127662,"date":"2022-08-05T17:23:05","date_gmt":"2022-08-06T00:23:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=127662"},"modified":"2022-08-05T17:23:05","modified_gmt":"2022-08-06T00:23:05","slug":"lessons-for-sri-lanka-what-us-means-when-it-delivers-democracy-via-ned-to-china","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2022\/08\/05\/lessons-for-sri-lanka-what-us-means-when-it-delivers-democracy-via-ned-to-china\/","title":{"rendered":"Lessons for Sri Lanka: What US means when it delivers \u201cDemocracy\u201d via NED to China"},"content":{"rendered":"

Shenali D Waduge<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n
\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

US Govt delivers democracy through National Endowment for Democracy NED. Foreign aid & programs associated with the aid were to determine the manner of democracy\u201d to be delivered. That democracy\u201d meant helping friendly regimes, toppling unfriendly regimes, propping puppets, assisting dictators \u2013 all in the name of \u2018democracy\u2019. Democracy became intertwined with political and economic assistance that soon became insisted. The task was outsourced to USAID and US Peace Corps who initially targeted Latin America, Africa, Middle East & Asia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1960s<\/strong> \u2013 John F Kennedy modernized democracy<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1970s <\/strong>\u2013 Richard Nixon superpower relations foreign policy \/ Jimmy Carter human rights foreign policy<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1980s & 1990s<\/strong> \u2013 Ronald Reagan Cold War foreign policy & anti-communism & a \u2018crusade for freedom\u2019 aiding \u2018reformers\u2019 using 1) \u2018Project Democracy\u2019 (coordinated by US Information Agency-USIA) then 2) Promoting Democracy & free markets via quasi-governmental agency- creating NED.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1990s<\/strong> \u2013 under President Bush & President Clinton \u2018democracy\u2019 & \u2018free markets\u2019 expanded. Underlying rhetoric was that democracies do not fight each other & are economically interdependent creating democratic peace\/liberal peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NED\u2019s \u2018reformers\u2019 initially became Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia & eventually Soviet Union which became balkanized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

US Govt channels aid through National Endowment for Democracy (NED) & this aid is used to promote democracy & economic freedom. Details about NED\u2019s activities are not made public beyond what it claims to do. The objectives behind the program initiatives are kept secret. Thus NED\u2019s real initiatives from 1983 remains known only to the US Govt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

National Endowment for Democracy \u2013 NED<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originated \u2013 1984<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Funded by US Congress<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mission \u2013 assist \u2018development of democratic institutions, procedures and values\u2019 in other countries<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NED definition of democracy \u2013 right of foreign people to freely determine their own destiny, via a system that guarantees freedom of expression, belief & association, free & competitive elections, respect for inalienable rights of individuals & minorities, free communications, media & rule of law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Help develop political institutions needed for democracy with special focus on developing political parties (political & ideological assistance)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Help prepare, conduct & monitor elections<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Help strengthen civil society by assisting \u2018independent\u2019 organizations \u2013 invariably implying dependent on West & its values<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NED\u2019s Journal of Democracy is the Bible of its programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NED\u2019s Democracy Resource Centre is for its contacts & information<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  • NED is directly funded by US Congress<\/li>
  • NED offers indirect grants to<\/li>
  • National Democratic Institute for International Affairs \u2013 NDI<\/li>
  • International Republican Institute \u2013 IRI<\/li>
  • American Centre for International Labor Solidarity \u2013 ACILS (formerly Free Trade Union Institute)<\/li>
  • Centre for International Private Enterprise \u2013 CIPE<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    These 4 entities represent 2 political parties in US, labor unions & US businesses)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    NED & CIA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Many perceive NED to be doing overtly what CIA formerly did covertly<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    CIA image was exposed by 3 Commissions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Church Committee<\/li>
    2. Pike Committee<\/li>
    3. Rockefeller Commission<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      NED Projects <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      1984 Iran-Contra<\/strong> \u2013 Project Democracy\u201d covert attempt to restrict aid to Nicaraguas Contras via Lt. Col. Oliver North violating Congress orders channeling funding through arms sales to Iran resulted in CIA creating within itself a secret government. VP Walter Mondale & Republican Frank Fahrenkopf had strong links to NED serving on its board & did utmost to not link NED to the Iran-Contras affair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Funding extremist groups in France<\/strong> \u2013 revealed on 28 Nov 1985 by New York Times that National Inter-University Union (student organization founded in 1969) received $575,000 from NED & Force Ouvriere given $830,000 by NED as grants because they opposed French President Mitterands policies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      1988 Chilean Plebiscite<\/strong> \u2013 citizens voting whether to retain government of Gen. Augusto Pinochet. US became involved through NED giving $600,000 to opposition groups. US Congress gave NED another $1m to distribute in Chile to get voters to come & vote for the Opposition (NED Chile was a success)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      1989 Nicaraguan election<\/strong> (2 years after Iran-Contras scandal) \u2013 Project Democracy\u201d covert attempt to oust Sandinista. NED funded Presidential candidate Violetta Chamorro \u2013 widow of Pedro Joaquin owner of La Prensa pro-US newspaper who was murdered in 1978 for his CIA links. NED provided $15m in overt political assistance in Nicaragua. In 1989 NED provided $12.5m to promote democracy (Sharkey)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      1994 Congressional authorization fight <\/strong>\u2013 In the first year of operations Congress authorized $18m. in 1994 it increased to $48m but later reduced to $35m<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      If NED doesn\u2019t give money to anything conflicting with US interests, it invariably implies NED only gives money to those entities that compliment US interests (whether they promote freedom or not). Operative word is \u2018interests\u2019. Therefore, anyone known to be a recipient of NED funding is definitely aligned to US interests & have its \u2018democracy \u2018tailored to local needs\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Critics of NED claim it is only duplicating what USAID & USIA already performs which is why members of Congress are calling to cut international funding for \u2018democracy\u2019 overseas. The 1995 General Accounting Office report recommended the continuance of NED only if it proved it was more effective than USAID or USIA. As per GAO, NED was still less effective than USAID.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      NED operates in countries in secret & with groups that are meant to operate in secret. This is what raises doubts in people. If the programs are genuine, why the secrecy? It is obvious that within the fancy terms and names used for the programs is a bigger program kept undisclosed possibly even from the groups. How ironic for people claiming to be \u2018democratic\u2019 but doing things in secret. Even the American public are questioning the NED secrecy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      US Congress grants NED \u2013 NED grants local groups to promote American \u2018democracy\u2019 & free markets (implying open to US trade)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      NED grants often means increase in US military personnel in the country, more US interference in internal affairs of a country. NED always fishes in troubled economies which implies it succeeds better where countries are weak when countries are vulnerable. The next question is \u2013 do they help to make the country weak & vulnerable with their programs?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      NED claims success for<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      • breaking up the Warsaw Pact<\/li>
      • freedom\u201d in Chile<\/li>
      • freedom\u201d in Haiti<\/li>
      • Supporting democracy\u201d in Soviet Union & China<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        NED grants for education<\/strong> to countries means that the curricula is designed as per US wishes. Essentially, the aim is to denationalize children and steer them towards the \u2018values\u2019 that US wishes to promote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        NED grants for small & medium business<\/strong> means encouraging them to lobby for open markets & liberalizations to US and West\u2019s advantage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        NED grants to media & publishing<\/strong> means promoting media as per US agenda. There are so many ways to present a fact or even a lie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        NED grants promoting women\u2019s issues<\/strong> aims at steering women away from cultural roots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Thus when NED grants to youth, rule of law, judiciary, military relations, civil society \u2014 we do not need to make second guesses as to what the ulterior aims are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        NED grants to China in 1990s \u2013 MEDIA & PUBLISHING <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        In 1990s NED awarded $4.9m in 9 grants to DEMOCRATIC CHINA<\/strong> to support media & publishing in China. DEMOCRATIC CHINA is a Chinese magazine containing articles promoting democracy in mainland China & democratization in Taiwan, Hong Kong & Macau.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        CHINA PERSPECTIVE INC<\/strong> was also recipient of NED 7 grants under media & publishing to promote democratic values via THE CHINESE INTELLECTUAL<\/strong> a Chinese language quarterly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        PRESS FREEDOM GUARDIAN<\/strong> \u2013 a bi-weekly Chinese language newspaper also received NED 8 media & publishing grants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        CHINESE ECONOMISTS SOCIETY<\/strong> \u2013 received 4 NED media & publishing grants to prepare educational books on benefits of market economy<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        THE NEW ERA<\/strong> \u2013 received 4 NED media & publishing grants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        CHINA STRATEGIC INSTITUTE<\/strong> received $300,000 & $130,000 in 1996 and $170,000 in 1997 for research & to write for constitutional reforms in China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        CENTRE FOR MODERN CHINA<\/strong> received $265,000 NED media & publishing funding to create 2 journals \u2013 MODERN CHINA STUDIES<\/strong> & JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY CHINA<\/strong> \u2013 the focus was on rule of law in China & was to be promoted to use in Chinese law schools. The aim was to overhaul Chinese legal system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        PRINCETON CHINA INITIATIVE<\/strong> \u2013 received 5 NED grants totaling $234,000. This group comprised dissident Chinese intellectuals & was to create 2 journals \u2013 THE ROAD \/ CHINA FOCUS.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        FOUNDATION FOR CHINA<\/strong> was given $150,000 NED grant to publish 2 books on Tibet & Taiwan. NED also helped create Chinese literary magazine TODAY<\/strong> which peddle wester human rights and pro-democratic values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        NED grants to China in 1990s \u2013 LABOUR ($4.1m) <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        $2.5m given to Asian-American Free Labour Institute<\/strong> (1993-1998) to fund labor activists in China & Hong Kong & Taiwan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        $1.6m given to LAOGAI RESEARCH FOUNDATION<\/strong> via NED\u2019s core grantee American Centre for International Labour Solidarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        NED grants to China in 1990s \u2013 ELECTIONS ($3.3m) <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        NED via International Republican Institute<\/strong> awarded 2 grants in 1995 & 1999 to support electoral reform in China, to educate public on election procedures & to lobby Chinese government to change election laws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        ASSOCIATION OF TOWNS & TOWNSHIPS<\/strong> received $875,000 in 1998 to support electoral reforms at village level by training local election administrators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        ASSOCIATION FOR GRASSROOTS GOVERNANCE<\/strong> & INSTITUTE FOR ASIA-PACIFIC STUDIES<\/strong> received $600,000 each in 1996 to hold workshops to train provincial & local elected officials in China<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        NED funding was given to NDI (National Democratic Institute)<\/strong> to award CHINA STRATEGIC INSTITUTE<\/strong>to analyze Hong Kong\u2019s election process & publish research papers on China\u2019s failure of human rights & electoral system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        NED grants to China in 1990s \u2013 HUMAN RIGHTS ($2.7m) <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        $1.1m given to Human Rights in China Inc (1993-1999) to provide legal services to political prisoners, appraise Chinese citizens of their rights, document human rights abuses, human rights issues related to women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        LAOGAI RESEARCH FOUNDATION<\/strong> awarded $752,400 from 1992-1999 for human rights activities, creating & maintaining a human rights database on China\u2019s forced labor prison camps, publicizing China\u2019s prisons internationally, detention of political prisoners without trial, producing documentaries on public executions in China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        NED grants to China in 1990s \u2013 PUBLIC POLICY ($1.8m) <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        $1.1m to ASSOCIATION OF TOWNS & TOWNSHIPS<\/strong> to conduct surveys & determine training needs of local governments in China, reform election practices at village level & legal reform at provincial level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY<\/strong> \u2013 NED grant to support public policy in China<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        CHINA CENTRE FOR ECONOMIC RESEARCH<\/strong> \u2013 NED grant for lecture series for government officials and economists promoting new university textbooks for economic reform in China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        CENTRE FOR MODERN CHINA<\/strong> \u2013 NED grant to aid public policy<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR TIBET \/ FOUNDATION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA \/ CHINA STRATEGIC INSTITUTE \/ FUTURE OF CHINA SOCIETY <\/strong>all have received NED funding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        NED grants to China in 1990s \u2013 EDUCATION ($1.3m) <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        NATIONAL LEAGURE FOR DEMOCRACY<\/strong> received $305,125 from 1991-1996 to train leaders in strategic planning techniques & train citizens to oppose government through non-violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA INC<\/strong> was given NED grant to support human rights education<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        FOUNDATION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS & DEMOCRACY IN CHINA <\/strong>received NED grant to promote education in China & fund research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        NED also gave grants to<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        • ALBERT EINSTEIN INSTITUTE<\/li>
        • CENTRE FOR MODERN CHINA<\/li>
        • CENTRE FOR STUDY OF HUMAN RIGHTS<\/li>
        • INDEPENDENT FEDERATION OF CHINESE STUDENTS & SCHOLARS<\/li>
        • INTERNATIONAL FUND for DEVELOPMENT OF TIBET FUND<\/li>
        • TIBET MULTI-MEDIA CENTRE<\/li>
        • TIBETAN YOUNG BUDDHIST ASSOCIATION<\/li>
        • POLITICAL DEFINANCE COMMITTEE<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

          NED grants to China in 1990s \u2013 BUSINESS & ECONOMY ($1.2m) <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

          CHINESE ECONOMISTS SOCIETY<\/strong> given NED grants to conduct conference on China\u2019s transition to a market economy & showcase problems with state-run industries in China & to encourage privatization of financial sector in Guangdong Province and to establish a Private Enterprise Management Training Centre\u201d to train young Chinese entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          CHINA CENTRE FOR ECONOMIC RESEARCH<\/strong> was given NED grant to establish China Economic Network & an economic-training program for young faculty at China\u2019s colleges & universities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          UNIRULE INSTITUTE OF ECONOMICS<\/strong> given NED grants to hold bi-weekly forums & debates on economic reform issues for entrepreneurs, academics, government officials & journalists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          CENTRE FOR MODERN CHINA<\/strong> given NED grants to fund publication & distribution of a series of academic papers focusing on solutions offered for a free market to China\u2019s economic problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          CENTRE FOR INTERNATIONAL PRIVATE ENTERPRISE & BEIJING SIYUAN MERGER & BANKRUPTCY CONSULTANCY <\/strong>also given NED grants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          According to the dissertation research by Eric T. Hale, NED has not been successful at promoting democracy & economic freedom in the 1990s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          If NED had been so active in China in the 1990s, it is not difficult to imagine the inroads beyond 21st<\/sup>century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          NED financed<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          • Oct 2000 Velvet Revolution in Serbia overthrowing Milosevic Govt<\/li>
          • 1999-2000 NED funded Serbian opposition $41m & secretly trained college students before they were used for rioting by Otpori. US-funded advisors were behind the scenes tracking polls, training opposition activists & organizing surveys (Washington Post)<\/li>
          • 2003 Rose Revolution in Georgia, forcing President Shevardnadze to step down with NED \u2018selecting\u2019 opposition leaders, training & funding them. Over $600,000 given to 12 NGOs.<\/li>
          • 2004 Orange Revolution in Ukraine \u2013 NED gives $65m to Ukrainian Opposition.<\/li>
          • 2013 Ukraine \u2013 NED funded 65 NGOs to organize massive anti-government demonstrations & even \u2018paid\u2019 protestors.<\/li>
          • 2014 \u2013 Ria Novosti reported NED funded $14m to overthrow Yanukovych govt<\/li>
          • 2011 Arab Spring in Egypt, Yemen, Jordan, Algeria, Syria, Libya \u2013 NED supported pro-American youth, brainwashed their minds with anti-govt ideas, incited hated & created social unrest & economic recession.<\/li>
          • Jan 2011 \u2013 Egypt anti-govt demonstrations leading to 11 Feb resignation of President Hosni Mubarak (a close ally of US) NED worked with NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR CHANGE & the APRIL 6 YOUTH MOVEMENT.<\/strong><\/li>
          • Libya \u2013 NED funded LIBYA FORUM FOR HUMAN & POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT, LIBYAN TRANSPARENCY ASSOCIATION.<\/li>
          • Yemen \u2013 NED worked with WOMEN JOURNALISTS WITHOUT CHAINS<\/strong> to organize rallies against Saleh Govt<\/li>
          • Algeria \u2013 NED funded ALGERIAN LEAGUE FOR THE DEFENSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS<\/li>
          • Bolivia \u2013 NED worked to force President Evo Morales to resign & go into exile using \u2018street movements\u2019. NED & USAID funded $70m anti-Morales movements<\/li>
          • NED funded Xianjian independence\u2019 Uyghurs\u201d Tibet independence\u201d Hong Kong Independence\u201d & now Pelosi visit to Taiwan shows heavy involvement of US-NED-USAID in China.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

            NED is active in Sri Lanka. NED has funded Sri Lankan NGOs to the tune of $1m in 2021 alone. If NED has funded street movements, paid demonstrators, funded riots, paid NGOs to train youth elsewhere to overthrow elected leaders, destabilize countries \u2014 do you think NED will not be replicating the same programs in Sri Lanka? Now merge that with the NGOs \u2013 youth \u2013 women & other players active in the recent protests\u201d and begin asking yourself questions and seeking answers for yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Shenali D Waduge<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            Shenali D Waduge US Govt delivers democracy through National Endowment for Democracy NED. Foreign aid & programs associated with the aid were to determine the manner of democracy\u201d to be delivered. That democracy\u201d meant helping friendly regimes, toppling unfriendly regimes, propping puppets, assisting dictators \u2013 all in the name of \u2018democracy\u2019. Democracy became intertwined with […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-127662","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-shenali-waduge"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127662","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=127662"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127662\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=127662"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=127662"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=127662"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}