Muse - More and More

UN Resolution on War Crimes:

The recently passed UN Human Rights Council Resolution on human rights violations in Sri Lanka was backed by 25 votes and 13 votes against and 8 countries absenting themselves from voting. This is the second time that the UNHRC had passed such a resolution against Sri Lanka.

It is a fact that UN Panel in 2011 found that 40,000 Tamil civilians died in the final stages of fighting which is the indicator of Sri Lankan’s violation of human rights.

It is a tragic truth that the resolution passed now has requested Colombo to conduct an independent and credible investigation of crimes allegedly committed by government forces against the minority Tamil community in the final 5 months of its quarter century old war against LTTE which ended in 2009. This is something like asking criminals to investigate their own actions and also to sit in judgment. Because of this strange situation created by one of the greatest apex international body, Amnesty International criticized the said resolution saying it failed to establish an independent and international investigation into alleged crimes under international law. 

Already it is a historical fact that Sri Lankan Government commissioned its own investigation into the war in 2011 under its Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) which cleared the military of allegations that it deliberately attacked civilians. It said that there had been some violations by troops, although only at an individual level!

Again it is also another fact that in November 2012 an internal UN report said that the UN had failed in its mandate to protect civilians in those final months of the civil war. But, still, UN had not learnt any lessons from its own mistake and had passed a resolution to investigate war crimes by Sri Lankan government itself even though they were the perpetrators of those crimes.

Then what made US to sponsor this UN resolution against Sri Lankan’s Government? Political pundits say that it is only to jeopardize Sri Lanka’s reliance on China and that it is nothing to do with human rights.

There is no statesmanship even in these world bodies which are being pulled and pushed by all sorts of forces having no vision of political wisdom or of diplomatic dignified decisive decision or of timely action oriented approach. 

The Great political Masters are good at feeding us with classic reasons couched in flowery language and ultimately the sufferings of poor Eelam Tamilans at Sri Lanka’s Southern tip were still continued to be unabated.

It is also another fact worth noting. China, Russia and Cuba - all communist countries had backed Sri Lanka in this human rights issue. Our local comrades - particularly Tamil communists - are tight lipped on this count. 

It is an economical fact that China has displaced Japan as Sri Lanka’s major aid donor with an annual aid package of $ 1 billion. Interest free loans and preferential loans at subsidized rates for the development of infrastructure are flowing into Sri Lanka and to cap it all, China is the first foreign country to have an exclusive economic zone in Sri Lanka. China is involved in a range of infrastructure development project in Sri Lanka - constructing power plants, modernizing Sri Lankan railways, providing financial and technical assistance in launching of communication satellites. Hambantota Development Zone with more than 85% funding by China is one of the biggest venture in Sri Lanka. It is feared that when this zone is completed, it will serve China in the area of monitoring and intelligence gathering capabilities vis-à-vis India.

I am afraid India is surrounded by unfriendly neighbors in all sides - China in the North, Pakistan in the West, Bangladesh in the East and now unfortunately Sri Lanka in the South. Common factor in all these is that China has its foot hold in all these countries. 

In this back ground, we have to tackle Sri Lankan Tamil issue. But, it is very difficult to put forth even well-meaning proposals.

Emotions unleashed on account of Umbilical Relationships of Sri Lankan  Tamilians have reached the highest pitch in Tamil Nadu politics. Hence any practical and immediate solutions will not be considered. So much so, the sufferings of Sri Lankan Tamilians are not going to be mitigated, as their fates are to be decided by Sri Lankan Government at least for the present.

Present Indian Government has mishandled the situation to the hilt - internally and internationally. 

Providing proper food, shelter, sanitation, education, health care, safety to the people in the erstwhile areas of so-called Eelam are to be ensured and these should be taken priority over the UNHRC resolution.

For this to happen, we should connect with Sinhala people who, most of them being the followers of Buddha, can be easily won over to extend their helping hand in rehabilitation of many Tamilians suffered and uprooted from their homes due to the war.  

 

Unless we know our position and objective in clear terms, we will only be playing to the gallery which will not give any solace to the millions sufferings Tamilians in Sri Lanka.

Whatever we say or do should bring immediate good to the Tamil people still in the war like camps at Sri Lanka.