Ambassador Blake's Remarks at the University of Madras " U.S. Perspectives on Sri Lanka"
Related: Report on "The Hindu" ~ re: U of Madars Event: 'Military solution in Sri Lanka very difficult'
Full Text of Speech by Ambassador Robert Blake
Good afternoon. It is wonderful to be back in Chennai and have the opportunity to visit this prestigious University. I visited Chennai several times while I was Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Delhi from 2003 to 2006 and developed a great fondness for your city and its people.
Today I address you in a new hat as the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives. I thought I would use the occasion to talk about the US perspective on Sri Lanka and then give you a chance to ask any questions you might have.
[Ambassador Robert Blake - file pic: By Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai]
I will talk first about our support for a political solution, the situation in northern Sri Lanka, our policy on terrorism in Sri Lanka, and conclude with our assessment of Sri Lanka’s promise if fighting can be stopped.
Need for a Political Solution
America’s experience in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere has taught us that terrorism cannot be defeated by law enforcement and military measures alone. That is why President Bush has made the promotion of democracy one of the centerpieces of American foreign policy. And that is why the U.S. and other Co-Chair countries have urged the Government of Sri Lanka to adopt now a political solution to the conflict within the framework of a united Sri Lanka that meets the aspirations of all of Sri Lanka’s communities. One way forward is for Sri Lanka to complete the work of the All Parties Representative Committee which has reached agreement on 90% of a blueprint for constitutional reform that most Sri Lankans believe offers great promise. It remains for the country’s two main Sinhalese parties to agree on the document, which has proved a significant hurdle thus far.
One reason for the lack of recent progress on a consensus APRC document, is that some in Sri Lanka believe that the Government should first defeat the LTTE and then proceed with a political solution. The U.S. view is that the Government could further isolate and weaken the LTTE if it articulates now its vision for a political solution. This would help reassure the more than 200,000 IDPs now in the Vanni that they can move south and aspire to a better future. It would also disprove the LTTE’s claim that they are the sole representative of Sri Lanka’s Tamils and the only ones who care about Sri Lanka’s Tamils. Finally it would help to persuade Tamils in Canada, the US and other parts of the diaspora to stop funding the LTTE which in turn would hasten an end to the conflict. The U.S. also believes that an improvement in the human rights situation -- that has disproportionately affected Tamils -- would help to hasten reconciliation and give Tamils a greater sense that they will enjoy a future of hope and dignity within a united Sri Lanka.
US Assistance
To help lay the basis for peace, America has long been a partner in Sri Lanka’s development and its quest to realize its tremendous potential. U.S. assistance has totaled more than $1.63 billion since Sri Lanka's independence in 1948. Through the U.S. Agency for International Development, the United States has contributed to Sri Lanka's economic growth with projects designed to reduce unemployment, improve housing, develop the Colombo Stock Exchange, modernize the judicial system, and improve competitiveness.
US assistance now is focused on helping to stabilize and develop eastern Sri Lanka and on providing humanitarian assistance to those displaced in northern Sri Lanka by fighting. Let me first discuss our efforts in the east. Following the Government of Sri Lanka’s successful efforts to defeat and expel the LTTE from eastern Sri Lanka in 2007, the U.S. believes there is now an important opportunity to stabilize the east by encouraging democratic, multi-ethnic governance, and development and growth that will benefit equally the Tamil, Muslim and Sinhalese communities. We have emphasized the imperative of establishing security and demobilizing paramilitaries to help lay the basis for private sector-led investment and growth. A successful and participatory stabilization and reconstruction effort in the east could serve as a powerful template and confidence builder for a future solution in the north.
To support development and growth, the US has initiated two programs. First, our regional governance program aims to: 1) develop capacity for increased citizen participation and engagement in regional and local government, 2) strengthen inter-community reconciliation; and 3) support the development of civil society in East, including human rights organizations, independent media to improve reporting on regional news
Our economic growth program seeks to establish growth and livelihoods to reduce the chance of the East sliding back to terrorism and violence. This program will support establishment of small businesses that can participate in value-chain development activities, thereby improving access to new markets. It will strengthen local private sector organizations that can help establish and strengthen marketing and development links between the eastern and western province. It will also facilitate access to finance, strengthen financial service providers, provide business and agricultural services, promote access to capital equipment and small infrastructure, and enhance utilization of information and communications technology.
Already we have made progress in spearheading important new private sector projects. To promote the dairy industry, USAID partnered with the international NGO World Concern and Milco Private Ltd. USAID constructed 40 cattle sheds, a milk chilling center, and five milk collection points, provided 300 milk cans and trained 160 farmers in feeding technologies, animal health and business planning. In all, nearly 2,000 households in the area have benefited.
To promote agricultural exports, we partnered with an indigenous Sri Lankan company, Hayley’s Sunfrost, on a pilot project with 170 farmers in eastern and Uva provinces to increase production of high value pineapple, jalapeno peppers and gherkins through training, agricultural inputs and buy-back agreements. And we hope to do much more by establishing a private sector challenge fund to develop new public-private partnerships and private investment.
Humanitarian Assistance
The United States also is playing a leading role in providing food, and other humanitarian assistance to the more than 200,000 people displaced by fighting in northern Sri Lanka. Already this year, the U.S. has contributed $21.7 million worth of food and other commodities through our Food for Peace program. Another $11 million worth of commodities are on the seas bound for Sri Lanka to help these same needy people.
The U.S. shares the concern of India and other countries about the plight of civilians who are caught in the middle of hostilities in the Vanni. We have urged both sides in the conflict to allow the UN and ICRC continued access so they can continue to deliver the food, shelter and other supplies in a secure manner to those IDPs need, particularly now that the monsoon rains have started. We have also urged both sides to exercise maximum restraint to ensure civilians are not injured in the fighting. We have also urged the LTTE to allow freedom of movement so the IDPs can move away from the fighting, including into areas controlled by the Government should the IDPs wish to do so.
The Fight Against Terrorism
One of the great threats facing the world today is the threat of terrorism. The United States is committed to helping Sri Lanka fight terrorism and we have demonstrated this in a number of ways. We were among the first to declare the LTTE a Foreign Terrorist Organization in 1997. Since then, it has been a felony under U.S. law to provide material support or resources to the LTTE.
In August 2006 and April 2007, the FBI arrested a total of 9 people who the U.S. Department of Justice subsequently charged with various crimes, including conspiracy to provide material support and resources to the LTTE.
Those arrests also led to discovery of operational and financial links between the Tamils Rehabilitation Organization and the LTTE. The TRO is a charitable organization with offices in Sri Lanka and in a number of countries abroad.
In November 2007, the U.S. Government concluded that, in the United States, the TRO had raised funds on behalf of the LTTE through a network of individual representatives. The TRO also facilitated LTTE procurement operations in the United States. Those operations included the purchase of munitions, equipment, communication devices, and other technology for the LTTE.
It was on the basis of these links that the U.S. Department of the Treasury in Washington DC last year designated the TRO under Executive Order 13224, thereby freezing the TRO’s assets in the US and prohibiting Americans from dealing with them.
In addition to law enforcement measures, the US has taken several steps to help the Sri Lankan military defend itself against terrorism. The most important was our decision to provide maritime radar system and 10 rigid hull inflatable boats to help the Sri Lankan navy detect and interdict LTTE vessels carrying arms and other illegal cargo for the LTTE.
Sri Lanka’s Promise
I’d like to conclude with some brief thoughts on Sri Lanka’s future. The Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu once said: “Those who have knowledge, don’t predict. Those who predict, don’t have knowledge.” So I will not show my ignorance by attempting any predictions.
I do believe, however, that Sri Lanka’s is a country of great promise and opportunity if the fighting can stop and a political solution can be agreed on that satisfies Tamil, Sinhalese and Muslim aspirations. Sri Lanka is a country blessed with a well educated population; a diversified economy; plentiful water, and other resources; and good opportunities to expand food production and reduce dependence on foreign energy. The country also has a President with many political gifts who enjoys the trust and support of the Sinhalese majority that he can use to gain their support for a political solution and national reconciliation.
An end to the fighting would bring a quick end to the humanitarian challenges the country now faces, and would significantly diminish human rights problems. It would also allow the Government to reduce defense spending, bring down inflation, and raise spending for infrastructure, education and development. Perhaps most important it would help reverse Sri Lanka’s brain drain. The World Bank has estimated that more than one million Sri Lankan professionals live and work overseas. Just as the return of Indian-Americans to India has had a major impact in India, the return of these Sri Lankan professionals would have an equally positive result.
Let me take this opportunity to thank the University of Madras for this opportunity to join you today. I would be pleased to take your questions.
8 Comments
There are a number of aspects that the Ambassador attempts to ignore, though aware of it.
Firstly, the Tamils have made all attempts for twenty years - from the early fifties to negotiate with the Sinhalese and reach agreements - very peacefully. Each time an agreement was reached the opposition party opposes and the treaty was torn apart - at least three times with both the main political parties.
Historically, it is because these failed that the LTTE was formed and started the fight.
Negotiations reached with the respective SL governments were not ratified - as again evidenced in the peace talks, though the blame was simply placed on the LTTE. Non-compliance of the 2002(?) agreement is a typical example.
What is terrorism - elected governments can simply bomb and kill thousands of civilians and destroy all their properties? However a single killing by the LTTE is called terrorism.
Can the poor civilians be evicted from their land and houses in thousands and asked to live in camps eternally - now more than thirty years? Is this not terrorism?
Look at the government terrorism on the poor Tamil civilians now living in Colombo - everyday a few are arrested or killed.
Who helps to stop this? Any attempts by the international community - except to provide more arms and ammunition.
Why are the international community remaining quite on these aspects.
On whom do the Tamils depend?
Who are terrorists in the island called Srilanka??
Srilankan military, police and Srilankan aided SInhala, Muslim and Tamil paramilitaries are responsible for more that 250,000 Tamil civilians alone not to mention the deaths of Muslims and Sinhalese at the hands of same Srilankan sponsored Terrorist Military and terrorists since 1948 to date.
As you rightly pointed out Sri Lanka has a wealth of resources not utilised properly, mainly owing to corruption and inefficiency. The reason I believe Sri Lanka is in such a parlous state is because of the war mentality of the Sinhala Political Establishment, which obscures 'political thinking' that should underpin the polity as a whole. As you may have gathered by now, it is supremacists’ menace that is controlling the polity and have been for a long time. Recall, it was Richard Boucher who had to tell Sinhalese and the Tamil sycophants of the Sinhala supremacists that Tamils do have a homeland and have an inalienable right of self-determination.
Until the government runs out of funds Sinhala supremacists would force President Rajapaksa's hands to continue with the war. What you are witnessing now is an attempt to militarily implement Chechnya type of solution. Tamil Tigers anticipated this and are fighting hard as they can to repulse the Sinhala Army from Tamil homelands. What business do they have in the Tamil homeland in the first place? Until the Sinhala government runs out of funds to continue with the war this war is likely to continue. When the funds run out a Kosovo type of solution would emerge, hopefully very soon!
The supremacists are not just a menace for the Tamils. They have driven the Sinhala polity right down in to the ground. Poverty level runnig at anything between 40-60 percent of the overall population. No one cares for anything anymore. An eleven year old child falls through the floor-board of a school van packed like sardines and dies. The bus operator gets away with it because he has money to buy political influence. Sakvithi types of swindle is a regular occurrence in Sri Lanka, with the connivance of high ranking public servants. A week or so ago a 25 year old mother of two returning from a religious ceremony at her employer's residence in Kuliapitiya, which lies between Kurunagala and Chilaw, just north of Colombo, was picked up just like that and taken to secluded place and gang raped. For ten animals who call themselves men to gang rape a woman is a clear indication of the level to which popular culture deteriorated. Does anyone care? Absolutely none!
All we hear about is how the Sinhala supremacists and his army are trying to reach Kilinochchi. Then we hear about how Vijaya mated with a lion and fathered an entire nation of Sinhala Buddhists. What about our own mythology? We Sri Lankan Tamils are the true descendents of Ravana the ten-headed ruler of Sri Lanka. Master of Sama Veda (Vedic Music). Abductor of Rama’s wife Sita. No woman is purer than Sita, although some supremacists think their wives are, because they get their wives to fire bathe every Divali day once a year – obviously exercising more rigor than Rama himself. What these supremacists don’t understand is that we Tamils – at least most of us – are on our last head and are not about to lose them – certainly not to the Sinhala supremacists. If it helps, Agamemnon knew all along that Helen was a slut, never entertained any romantic notions about her – never once put her through fire-bathing – yet unleashed the Peloponnesian war on her behalf. If this isn’t fantastical enough someone should let me know.
May peace and prosperity return to the island of Sri Lanka, soon!
LTTE are the only one fighting TERRORISM in the island called Srilanka.
Terrorism, in Srilanka, carried out by the state forces since 1948 to date, that is 30 years before the LTTE even created by Tamils to fight the Srilankan terrorism, Srilankan terrorism claims lives of innocent Tamils, Muslims and Christians in the name of democracy and Buddhism.
LTTE is the symptom not the cause, even if LTTE defeted militarily, there will be another organisation will continue to fight the TERRRORISM by the State because the CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM SRILANKAN NAKED RACISM and HATRED against minorities and still the Sinhala NAZI racists rule and control each and every institution in the island.
Who are the terrorists in terms of number of killings of civilians?????????
Srilankan security forces and Srilankan funded armed Paramilitaries and death squads like While Vans and Mahasohan Brigade, etc responsible for at least 250,000 killings of innocent Tamils, Mulsims and Christians since 1948 to date. NOT EVEN ONE PUNISHED yet for the MASS KILLINGS of minorities by the state.
LTTE was responsible for killing more than 50,000 Srilankan TERRORIST troops, NAZI Police and Terrorists of Paramilitaries and rightly so because the State forces occupy our Land and Ethnically Cleanse our traditional lands and also colonise sinhalese into those Tamil and Muslim areas.
SRILANKAN CENSUS REPORTS- the REAL ROAD MAP OF THE SRILANKAN ETHNIC CLEANSING of MINORITIES since 1948 to date.
the GULIBLE USA Ambassidor Mr. O Blake will go OH NO, I made an utter fool of myself by supporting a NAZI Srilanka if he look at the SRILANKAN CENSUS since 1948 or since 1937 because in 1937, THERE WERE JUST 18 SINHALESE lived in the ENTIRE NORTH and EASt called Eelam and JUST 286 Sinhalese lived in Eelam in 1948 according to SRILANKAN CENSUS REPORTS.
Or is the USA' foeign policy that IF USA like one state, like Israel or srilanka, who can massacre any amount of civilians against all the UN charter and moral values but if the USA hate the states, like IRAN, NORTH KOREA, etc, they cannot even kill one civilians.
Ambassador Robert Blake: "The Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu once said: “Those who have knowledge, don’t predict. Those who predict, don’t have knowledge.” So I will not show my ignorance by attempting any predictions."
N2: "... and those who do not have knowledge also pretend that they have knowledge by not predicting (after all they can hide behind the saying of Lao Tzu). But those who do have some knowldge also know what to predict under the circumstances."
So N2 predicts that there will be further violence and deaths and abductions and toture unless the IC (including the US) takes a firm and moral stand against these things that are now deeply entrenched in the psyche of the governing politicians as a way conducting business.
Blake: "... a country of great promise and opportunity if the fighting can stop and a political solution can be agreed ..."
That is a very very significant IF. If the culture of violence and impunity and shamelessness on the part of the politicians can be removed, then maybe reasonable political solutions can be discussed.
Also Blake has got himself muddled or is being deliberately misleading. He should have said (and if he had knowledge) that '...if a political solution can be agreed and the fighting can stop...".
The order is important.
Carts do not pull horses!
And blaming the LTTE for every evil in Lanka does not help either.
Anyway, Amb. Blake never said what the real US interest is in all this.
In an attempt to derive maximum leverage to the nation he represents, the ambassador brags about US assistance provided to Sri Lanka, despite the fact that the real disbursements to the island has only been a drop in the bucket. For example, consider the aggregate $1.47 billion spent on Sri Lanka over 60 years to the $700 billion spent by the US on the Iraq war over mere six years! While the good ambassador talks about the various economic, humanitarian, defense and LTTE-containment efforts in the US, he remains silent about the superpower’s total impotency in promoting a political solution in the island – one he acknowledges as the most critical to solve the nagging conflict and get the nation moving. I respectfully ask you Mr. Ambassador, “what have you done to pressure the Rajapaksa administration to evolve a political solution? And how do you rate your own success in this endeavor?” The impotency of the international community is evident in the defiance of President Rajapaksa who in effect has pointed a rather erect middle finger at the mighty powers in his march towards Killinochchi. Though I do not agree with the president’s overall strategy, he is to be much admired for standing up to the mighty regional and international powers.
The focus here is not so much about what Sri Lanka should do, rather an assessment about the driving forces behind US foreign policy. Since her noble efforts in post-war reconstruction efforts in Europe and Japan, America’s foreign policy seems to have been based more on self interests than principles. Since then, America seems to have made a habit of consistently supporting the wrong side and later paying a dear price for their mis-judgments. Contrary to the flowery talk about “instilling democracy”, US foreign policy seems to be based on the exclusive notion: we will engage in the affairs of another nation with full commitment only when our strategic interests are at stake. In all other situations, absolutely yes, we will dish out the most convincing sales-pitch about democracy, human rights and whatever else that sounds good, but decidedly not put our monies where our mouths are, and we are even willing to look the other-way even in extreme cases of mass loss of life as we demonstrated in the case with Rwanda. Former ambassador to Sri Lanka, Jeffrey Lundstad in an article to Asia Foundation confirms similar assertion, since US strategic interests in Sri Lanka are marginal to non-existent, it is not incentivized to get involved in the messy ethnic conflict – it shows!
And it is this fundamental flaw in misplaced priorities that has caused the Americans and in particular the Bush Administration to be viewed as completely out-of-sync with the real global challenges to which the sole superpower is expected to provide leadership. She has either turned a blind eye, resorted to ineffective gibberish like Ambassador Blake’s statement, “… that is why the U.S. and other Co-Chair countries have urged the Government of Sri Lanka to adopt now a political solution…”, or passed the buck to someone else (such as a “regional power”) thereby conveniently evading her duty and responsibility. Is it a wonder that America has lost its leadership clout?
What is needed is fundamental change in America’s core foreign policy. Under principled leadership of a future President Barack Obama and veteran foreign policy expert Joe Biden as Vice President possibly complimented with another veteran, Republican Senator Richard Luger at the helm in the State Department, “change” indeed is coming and coming fast. When it does come, a new Obama administration will demand a sound political package from President Rajapaksa, and unlike the Bush administration will take a keen interest in the Sri Lanka matter ensuring final and fair resolution of this dragging conflict. It will be good for Sri Lanka, South Asia and the whole world. - Dias
Ambassador Blake is a good man with rational thinking behind him. When he rejected Rajapakse's nonsense "we will settle the Tamil issue only after wiping out the LTTE" he was speaking sense - though almost everyone wants Prabakaran dead and the LTTE finished. Like his former neighbour the British HC
the mistake he(Blake) made was giving too much of importance
to that group of jerks called the JVP. Both made the mistake of going to the office of the JVP and bestowing
unncessary importance on this racist Party.These degrades sent out the message to their hordes both the British and American envoys came and genuflected before them. The Indian HC just laughed the suggestion away when these Johnny-come-lately's invited him to Battaramulla. Now Blake has to suffer for his mistake. This bunch of jokers are now asking Blake to be thrown out of Sri Lanka for his Chennai address. Soon they will get the yellow robed Rasputins to join them and the wimpish Rajapakse will yield.
Blake may have to hightail it to the US and regret his error. Personally I will be sorry if he is forced to go. He sounded so sincere and wished all Lankans well when he came to address CIMOG at the OPA HQ.
If Sri Lanka is to get their peace together with the LTTE we must also get rid of the JVP (both wings) and the JHU.
The politicians think that by fighting the oppression of politicians round the world one should be classed as a terrorist. Mr Blake I have news for you. The world populations are then terrorists because they are doing just that. You are only protecting your jobs we are fighting for our lives against your corruption. Since the Holocaust, how many have died from racial genocide instigated by the national leaders? And how many politicians hve been made to answer for these atrocities? VERY FEW. Most of them are languishing in other countries with fat bank accounts looted from their respective treasuries. The world has at this moment no politician who is honest enough to admit that they are the root cause of all the acts of Genocide worldwide. When will the politicians realise that the 'ordinary person' has matured politically past their mealy-mouthed lies and can see the politicians for what they are: a self-seeking bunch of inept egotists. There is not one world leader who can be classed as having WISDOM.