Kosovo Countdown: Lessons for Sri Lanka
February 17th, 2008
by Dayan Jayatilleke
Kosovo is set to declare its independence from Serbia this Sunday. In his four hour long valedictory media conference, outgoing Russian President Vladimir Putin has denounced the move as “illegal and immoral”. Serbia and Russia have called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. Russia , China , India and South Africa are among the countries which have opposed Kosovo’s declaration of independence.
[Kosovars celebrated in central Pristina, Kosovo, on Saturday night ahead of the region’s declaration of independence from Serbia, expected to come on Sunday-Photo Courtesy of NYTimes.com]
The open secession of Kosovo and its imminent recognition by powerful Western states takes place notwithstanding UN Resolution 1244 of 1999 which recognises Kosovo as part of Serbia . As the Russian Federation ’s charismatic Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (who stunned me by a burst of fluent Sinhala upon introduction) warned in his Gunnar Myrdal Lecture in Geneva a few days back, the recognition of Kosovo’s independence runs contrary to the very basis of international law and is fraught with consequences for Europe and other parts of the world.
The Russian position has consistently been that any solution should be agreed upon in negotiations between Serbia and Kosovo. This was abandoned as impossible by Marti Ahtissari, who recommended de facto independence for Kosovo. Incidentally he was brought to Sri Lanka as a possible negotiator or facilitator by the Ethnic Affairs Advisor of President Kumaratunga, but luckily for Sri Lanka was objected to by Hon Lakshman Kadirgamar and, it must be admitted, the JVP.
There were options other than secession for Kosovo. One was for the fullest autonomy within Serbia . The other was the carving out of the Serbian majority portion of Kosovo and its annexation with Serbia . However, all options were aborted by the obduracy of the Kosovo leadership, which insists on independence. It must be noted that the current leader of Kosovo is a former leader of the separatist army which practised terrorism, the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). The majority of people of Kosovo had become accustomed to the idea of independence during the several years of administration by a UN High Commissioner (later nominated as an IIGEP member for Sri Lanka by the EU). The hardening of the position of Kosovo was also due to open pledges of recognition of independence by several key Western powers.
Of course the breakaway of Kosovo merely completes the unravelling of the former Yugoslavia . There were many reasons for this: the abandonment by majority Serbian ultra-nationalists, in the new context of electoral competition, of the enlightened compact forged by the unorthodox Communist Joseph Broz Tito, a founder leader of the Non-Aligned Movement (and friend of Sri Lanka); the exacerbation of ethnic tensions by the adoption of an IMF package; the rollback by Serb nationalism of Kosovo’s autonomous status as a province; recognition by certain Western European states of the breakaway Yugoslav republics setting off a centrifugal chain reaction; the excessive brutality against civilians of the Serbian army and Serb militia in the breakaway republics; the partiality of the Western media which focussed only on Serb excesses but not those committed by anti-Serb forces.
In the final instance however, the secession of Kosovo is traceable to a single mistake: the decision by President Milosevic to follow the advice of President Yeltsin (who had already been lobbied by the US), and withdraw the Yugoslav army from Kosovo, notwithstanding the fact that in its heavily camouflaged and dug-in positions, it had withstood US/NATO bombing and was well positioned to inflict, with its tradition and training in partisan warfare, unacceptable casualties on any invading ground forces. Cuban leader Fidel Castro reveals that at this crucial moment he had written to Milosevic and urged him, in the final words of his missive, to “Resist! Resist! Resist!”, but the Belgrade leadership failed to do so. In short, the impending independence of Kosovo is the result of the failure of political will on the part of the ex-Yugoslav leadership. Instead of resisting, the Yugoslav army withdrew and was replaced by an international presence on the ground in Kosovo. After a period of tutelage, Kosovo was encouraged with a nod and a wink, to secede completely.
These then are the lessons for Sri Lanka : never withdraw the armed forces from any part of our territory in which they are challenged, and never permit a foreign presence on our soil. After 450 years of colonial presence, and especially after the experience of the Kandyan Convention, we Sri Lankan should have these lessons engraved in our historical memory and our collective identity. The Western imperialists who failed to capture our island militarily were able to take control of it only because we double crossed our leader, trusted the West, signed an agreement and allowed the foreign presence into our heartland.
[The family of Valon Nuhiu, 9, had been squatting in a house belonging to Serbs who fled in 1999. They were evicted in Feb 2008-Photo Courtesy of NYTimes.com]
The Western war against Yugoslavia was waged not by the Bush administration but by a liberal one. It was waged under the doctrine of liberal internationalism, and humanitarian interventionism. These doctrines were updated to “preventive humanitarian interventionism” in the case of the invasion of Iraq . Today, the buzzword is the “Responsibility to Protect”, and I refer not to the UN World Leaders summit of 2005 which requires the endorsement of the Security Council, but the original 1998 version of the Canadian government sponsored International Commission on State Sovereignty, which had a far more elastic interpretation! The co-chairman of that Commission was former Australian Foreign Minister Gareth Evans (whom Hon Lakshman Kadirgamar was determined, should not play a role in Lanka’s peace process despite his offers to do so in 1995).
We may find a newer version arising with UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband’s Aung San Suu Kyi lecture delivered at Oxford University a few days back. In it, he says that notwithstanding some mistakes in Iraq and Afghanistan , the West must not forget, and must take up once again, its moral imperative to expand democracy throughout the world (including, interestingly enough in “established democracies”). He identifies and rejects three objections to that project: the “Asian values” school which in its 1993 variant of a statement by 34 countries, recognises democracy but resist the imposition of western values as neo-colonial; the Realpolitik school which stresses “interests” rather than values and morality; and even the pragmatic school which points out that democracy is the product of internal historical processes. Foreign Secretary Miliband makes several pointedly critical references to China , (which he will be visiting shortly) in his speech on the need of the West to extend democracy worldwide.
The patterns of world politics appear kaleidoscopic, with coalitions forming over one issue, only to break up over another. At first glance this would make long term alliances or affiliations almost impossible. However, certain issues are revelatory of underlying dynamics which are of a defining character. Kosovo is certainly one such issue.
The Kosovo crisis sheds light on a dynamic in world politics which is of central importance to Sri Lanka . This is the matter of state sovereignty. As a country which is grappling with a challenge to its territorial integrity and unity, all tendencies towards the break-up of established states are against the basic interests of Sri Lanka .
The issue of Kosovo not only illustrates the phenomenon of secessionism. It reveals a more fundamental contradiction within world politics, namely that between state sovereignty on the one hand and those tendencies which act to undermine states. Such tendencies are twofold: secessionism from within and hegemonism from without. The tendency towards hegemonism manifests itself most starkly in the phenomenon of interventionism.
Kosovo and earlier Chechnya disprove the identification that some make between Western interventionism and particular religions. While it is true that on a global scale, the West perceives itself as besieged by and struggling against what it calls Islamist terrorism or Islamic radicalism/extremism (some hard-line ideologues even talk of Islamo-fascism) attention must be drawn to the fact that Serbs are Christian, while Kosovo Albanians are Islamic. The Chechen separatists, some of whom were headquartered in the West, were also Islamic, while Russia is mainly Christian. Western interventionism is not tied to any particular ethnic or religious group. The name of the game seems the old one of divide and rule, and whichever group or struggle weakens the target state appears to be the one that is afforded patronage.
[Two women walked past the ruins of a burnt-out house in the Serb enclave of Mitrovica, northern Kosovo. Most Serbs insist they will never accept an independent Kosovo and see it as the dismemberment of their homeland-NY Times.com Multimedia]
All tendencies in world politics which weaken, fragment and destabilise states, undermining their sovereignty and making them vulnerable to hegemony and intervention, are inimical to Sri Lanka . All tendencies which strengthen and defend state sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, are friendly and helpful towards Sri Lanka . By extension, all state and non-state actors which work towards the weakening of state sovereignty in the non metropolitan areas of the world, i.e. the global South and East, cannot be regarded as the strategic friends, allies and partners of Sri Lanka . All state and non–state actors which support, defend and work towards the preservation and strengthening of the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of states, are objectively the friends, allies and partners of Sri Lanka.
Entry Filed under: Federalidea
51 Comments Add your own
1. Subra S.Massey | February 17th, 2008 at 11:23 am
Dr.Jayatilake,
I simply cannot understand your obdurateness. Why are you in living in the military era when we have gone into an era of prosperity?. Doctor it is about food on the table.
When are you going to change your mind? Why don’t you resign and look for a real job, then you will realise what I am taliking about?
You should come to either Canada or USA and see the wave of transformation. Russia ,China and India has become America in the way they put food on the table. Even the Middle east is changing! The phoenix, the mythical bird has risen all over the world. The people who think of the demise of America, Think again! We have united the world, what have you done?
If as an educated man you cannot change how can we change the people of Sri Lanka? Doctor, be a leader not a leggard! I hope you are not one of those people who don’t want to listen. Doctor, God gave us one mouth to speak, one hand only to right but two eyes to see and two ears to listen. Why are you denying you the benifit of these faculties?
I hope you change or some disaster is going to change you. As a man who lived through hard times I beg you to change your way of thinking, at least in the name of your children Remember I am on my 3rd cycle of living and there is at least a tiny fraction of truth in my saying.
2. Ramesh Sinniah | February 17th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Dayan,
Please find listed below, what GOSL can learn from Serbia’s errors and the unique similarities.
1) Yugoslav Constitution laid down Kosovo’s Status as an “autonomous Province” in 1974, late Slobodan Milosevic tried to strip this in 1989, hence initiating the “Independence” call.
Isn’t it similar to our situation by M.R.’s somersault re: 1987 India/Sri-Lanka peace accord N.E. merger and de-merger of 2006?
2)In 1990’s, The Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe, uncovered a grim catalogue of Murder, Mutilation, rape and ethnic cleansing of Albanian’s by the brutal Serb forces.
Sound familiar at the home front? Indulging in disproportionate use of punitive force against N.E Tamils through heavy barrage of “Artillery” and “Air Strikes” in the name of it’s battle against LTTE; causing major humanitarian catastrophe and property destruction.
3)Serbians are living in separate areas watched by NATO peace keepers.
“WoW’ they got their own Weli Oya’s and Gal Oya’s, except ours are manned by the Sri-Lankan armed forces.
4)The Kosovo Province is one of the poorest and under developed regions of Europe.
Similar to North and the East. Most probably, it was never developed so, that, GOSL can colonize the majority race to alter it’s demography.
These were the errors GOS shouldn’t be committing but, unfortunately, our own “Slobodan” and his Cohorts doing exactly what they shouldn’t.
3. ratna | February 17th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
What if, Ceylon was left as part of India when British gave independence?
I am sure DJ will be fighting Indians for the liberation of Ceylon!! and all these nations like Palestine, Kosova, Timor, Eriteria are his friendly nations.
Is that right Mr. DJ?
4. sma | February 17th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Eelam is the next the new country in the UN list. DJ your pathetic cry won’t be heard in many ears as your President already lost the golden opportunity to come up with the federal solution.
Only thing left is a peaceful referendum to be held in Northeast part of whether they remain with South and West or go on our own. Anything else is uncivilised and bloody.
5. sma | February 17th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Look at those countries who oppose the UDI. INDIA, RUSSIA and SRILANKA and PAKISTAN will join so does Malaysia. SOuth Africa oppose not just because they oppose but they believe in mediation as ANC was successfull in their negotiation.
6. sma | February 17th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
DJ, last time you put your foot in your mouth and now you shot your other foot.
7. R.S.Ganeshan | February 17th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
DJ, is at it as usual and as always his examples are faulty because he simply refuses to see facts and has a natural mental block when it comes to Sri Lanka because he is paid to do the job as MR wants otherwise he will not be in his post
.
What he says may be OK for Scotland or Wales in UK,or the Basq Province in Spain or for the various states of India,but in the case of SL it is different for all the good reasons enumerated in comment #2 above.
8. Nirmana | February 17th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
DJ,
Two Questions for you.
Are you seeking a ministerial post from the Rajapakse government?
and
Is your position as head of UN anti-racism panel is in jeopardy, due to racism from western countries white folks?
9. Tulius | February 17th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
DJ,
Whats the mad rush in Sri Lanka ‘rejecting’ the state of Kosovo? Is this all you idea/advise to MR?
10. Karupiah | February 17th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
How many democratically elected leaders have the KLA killed ?
11. Suresh M | February 17th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
Dr. Dayan Jayatilleke, not even mighty Russian Bear can not prevent Kosovoans separating from Serbia.
In twenty-first century, no one deserves to be treated as second class citizen. This is a real wake up call for our Sinhala brethren. West always stood for freedom and democracy.
I don’t want separation, but I also don’t want to live as a second class citizen.
12. Devinda Fernando | February 18th, 2008 at 12:04 am
***Dr. Dayan Jayatilleke, not even mighty Russian Bear can not prevent Kosovoans separating from Serbia. ***
Jumping the gun,… Russia has opposed the Move, who knows where the chips will fall and where the dust will settle on this one…
but one thing is for sure,..Kosovo and its situation is not Sri Lanka and the situation there…. We will see how things unfold in Kosovo. In the mean time I guess we’ll have to continue as usual, seeing the LTTE get destroyed and then rebuilding the mess they have left from their 25 year legacy.
Fingers crossed everyone. Lets hope the Destruction of the LTTE is swift.
13. kurudan1 | February 18th, 2008 at 12:11 am
Dr Dayan,
I think Srilanka can offer military assistance to Serbia to “liberate” Kosovo from “KLA terrorists” and “NATO peacenicks”.
” Liberating” Kosovo Albanians from the “KLA terrorists” could be done as a “humanitarian operation”.
The “celebrations” going in Pristina is “organized” by “KLA terrorists”. People of Kosovo were “forced” to participate in those rallies.
“Flying” Kosovo “flag” is violation of UN resolution 1244.
14. S.S.Aachi | February 18th, 2008 at 12:15 am
Why Sri Lanka rejecting Kosovo freedom? Mahinda & Co may want to take a world map and see which countries freedom they want to approve.
15. Thiru.m | February 18th, 2008 at 12:58 am
Dayan Jayatilleke did not state clearly what consistent foreign policies his GOSL have and practice except concluding his write up saying ” All state and non–state actors which support, defend and work towards the preservation and strengthening of the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of states, are objectively the friends, allies and partners of Sri Lanka. ”
What are his definitions for sovereignty, independnece, unity and territorial integrity ? What exactly he means by preservation and strengthening of sovereignty ?
“These then are the lessons for Sri Lanka : never withdraw the armed forces from any part of our territory in which they are challenged, and never permit a foreign presence on our soil. After 450 years of colonial presence, and especially after the experience of the Kandyan Convention, we Sri Lankan should have these lessons engraved in our historical memory and our collective identity. The Western imperialists who failed to capture our island militarily were able to take control of it only because we double crossed our leader, trusted the West, signed an agreement and allowed the foreign presence into our heartland. ”
Earlier in the above paragraph he has defined the above questions I posed very well and giving a strong message to the minorities to accept what is his employers’ ” Ape rata, Ape anduwa ” they got it in 1948 and he wants to go back to Kandyan Kigndom time. Dayan says no one can challenge the SL’s Sinhala army and make them withdrew from occupied territories.
Further Sri Lanka now says Kosovo independence a threat to world peace (Feb 17 (AFP) COLOMBO ), but tomorrow India, China, Pakistan, Russia and others start diplomatic relations with Kosovo Srilanka will follow them. It wont be a surprise Dr. Kohana covertly signs an arms deal with Kosovo to kill more Tamil civilians particularly the Tamil youths.
In another front, Bernard Gunatilleke is kneeling and begging the US to support the Mahinda Regime . At the same time Dr. Palitha Kohena is using his old boys net work (earlier from Australia and) now from US to support the war against Tamils at any cost and to preserve and consolidate what Sinhala Nation has achieved through majoritarian rule and various constitutions they introduced since 1948 at the expense of minorities progress and welfare.
By the way any one knows what citizenships or residency status Gunatilleke and Kohena family have ? Why the GOSL has so many mercenaries type holding important positions.
16. Arun Senathirajah | February 18th, 2008 at 1:23 am
Tamils long traditional area NorthEast region should be separated, but Sri Lanka shoud be a one country? What a beseless arguments for Sinhala Budhists?
Sri Lanka itself has already created a precedence by separating tamils land. So, Tamils can walk on that path and form another country called Tami Eelam separating it from Sri Lanka. Kosova need not be an example. Sri Lanka itself is the example approved by the Supreme Courts of Sri Lanka to separate and form Tamil Eelam following the precedence of de-merger of NorthEast.
One cannot imagine for holding a high position looking after human rights with the qualifications of racial bias.
17. Murugan | February 18th, 2008 at 1:56 am
The lesson to take away from Kosovo is this:
If the creation of Tamil Eelam is in the interest of the US-UK-Japan Bloc and the Indian Union,
Then these external powers will see to it that Tamil Eelam is created.
Nothing you can do about it Dr. Jayatilleke
The international climate is constantly changing, and the situation of near anarchy prevailing in the Northeast makes Sri Lanka ripe for a humanitarian intervention under the Right to Protect (R2P) doctrine.
What should the Sri Lankan Tamils take from this?
The Sri Lankan Tamils probably will never have the support of New Delhi because the Tigers made the blunder of assassinating Rajiv. And the Sri Lankan Tamils will never have the support of the Delhi because the North Indians fear that Tamil Eelam will fan secessionist emotions in Tamil Nadu.
Moreover Colombo has secured Delhi’s support by
-Giving them some of the exploration rights in Mannar Oil Basin
-Allowing them to build a Thermal Energy plant in Trincomalee! (it could have easily been built elsewhere, but no…India wants Trincomalee, I wonder why…)
-And a joint defense agreement between Delhi and Colombo
-Recently Delhi even held a conference which was inexplicitly about denying the Tigers use of the Bengal Bay.
Given this, the Sri Lankan Tamils should try to woo the support of the US bloc
The Sri Lankan Tamils are very capable of giving Ilmenite to Japan, a Subic Bay like port to the US in Trincomalee, and we are capable of holding our own in global capitalism. I honestly think that we should create the conditions such that Tamil Eelam will be in the interest of the United States.
Dr. Jayatilleke don’t worry. You can just change your stance to pro Tamil self determination.
You used to be that way before anyways weren’t you?
You can even lead the way towards a 2 state solution and lasting peace. You can be the De Klerke of Sri Lanka. You can even get a Nobel Peace prize.
I am serious. You really could attain some lasting glory and fame by bringing peace to this island.
For the Sinhalese, the message is that you should play all the powers off one another, and make it so that it is in the interest of all these world powers that Tamil Eelam is not created.
This could entail parceling off the assets of Sri Lanka to external powers. But anything (even selling off the country) is worth it, in order to preserve Sinhala Buddhist hegemony… right?
18. Estavez | February 18th, 2008 at 3:06 am
The disintegration of the former WARSAW states was the work of US and their western European allies. Kosovo is the last nail in the coffin.
Russia can protest and shout from their roof-tops as long as they like. NATO forces are already there and that Serbia or Russia cannot move in with force to stop the UDI.
There’s no record of Dayan’s claims that China, India, South Africa and a host of other nations registered their displeasure over Kosovans declaring independence.
If Easy Timor can become a separate state, so can Kosovo. And so can Tamil Eelam.
Everything has a time and a place. Dayan and I are going to witness Tamils declare UDI in the near future.
I agree with Sinnahia’s comments.!!
Is Dayan pretending to be dumb or is he writing crap like these in these forums bacause he got nothing to do all day at the UN?????
The quickness in which SL protested over Kosovan UDI speaks volumes about their own predicament in few year time.
19. harshana somapriya | February 18th, 2008 at 4:22 am
Kosovo is a good lesson for Sri lanka. There should only be a unitary solution to the problem in Sri lanka. Otherwise oneday external forces will use it and seperate Sri Lanka as well.
One must not forget that military groups in North were trained by India for it’s own interest. Kosovo got independance as part of US/ EU agenda againt Russia.
If referendoms can decide the sovereignity of states, there will not be an India today. One suggestion is to hold a referendum in NE. In that case Muslims & Sinhalese in NE must have the right to hold referendums within their localities & obtain independance. However small these entities maybe they must have the right to do so. In that case a small isolated village in Welioya must have the right to become an independant state because the majority of that village feels happy about it!
Kosovo is a thing of past now. What left us to do is not to shout about it, but to take it as a lesson. Taking it seriously will put you in the trap of Tiger propaganda.
Ealamist can enjoy the independance of Kosovo. But they will NEVER, EVER have that joy for themselves.
If they goon to insist on Ealam or Federal solutions, they will oneday find themselves a devastated/barren land in the Vanni to which they donot like to return.
20. harshana somapriya | February 18th, 2008 at 4:32 am
Kosovo is a good lesson for Sri lanka. There should only be a unitary solution to the problem in Sri lanka. Otherwise oneday external forces will use it and seperate Sri Lanka as well.
One must not forget that military groups in North were trained by India for it’s own interest. Kosovo got independance as part of US/ EU agenda againt Russia.
If referendoms can decide the sovereignity of states, there will not be an India today. One suggestion is to hold a referendum in NE. In that case Muslims & Sinhalese in NE must have the right to hold referendums within their localities & obtain independance. However small these entities maybe they must have the right to do so. In that case a small isolated village in Welioya must have the right to become an independant state because the majority of that village feels happy about it!
Funny thing about Kosovo is although they got independance they are not allowed to get attached to another country. (most probably Albania) This is the democracy the western countries want. As long as the things are going in their favor, it is democracy. But they undermine the democracy of Iran & Venezuella, while applauding the undemocratic governments of Saudi Arabia & other Gulf states.
Kosovo is a thing of past now. What left us to do is not to shout about it, but to take it as a lesson. Taking it too seriously will put you in the trap of Tiger propaganda.
Ealamist can enjoy the independance of Kosovo. But they will NEVER, EVER have that joy for themselves.
If they goon to insist on Ealam or Federal solutions, they will oneday find themselves a devastated/barren land in the Vanni to which they donot like to return. And they will loose their socalled superiority to other Tamil groups & infact become most destitute of all Tamils in the world.
21. harshana somapriya | February 18th, 2008 at 4:35 am
Moderator,
Please ignore my initial comment.
22. brahmin | February 18th, 2008 at 5:36 am
Kosovars have no other homeland… Tamils do… Tamil Nadu…
Declare your Eelam and see what happens… The whoe world is laughing at Tamils now… When you declare UDI, you will be pariahs… For all the diarsepora, please hang on to your adopted citizenship… just a little longer. Yes, Eelam will happen circa 2200 A.D.
Long Live Sri Lanka.
23. lingam | February 18th, 2008 at 6:35 am
never withdraw the armed forces from any part of our territory in which they are challenged,
DJ
What you will do when we declare Repulic of Tamil Eelam?
Will you withdraw or You want us to send our ocipied forigen in body bags?
24. Devinda Fernando | February 18th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
*** but I also don’t want to live as a second class citizen. ***
Suresh, please provide examples of this you have experienced…
LOL!
25. kalisinghe | February 18th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
How many democratically elected TNA members and innocent tamils has the GOSL killed?
26. m.thiru | February 18th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Count down is over. Many power full countries are recognising Kosovo. SriLanka opposes Ksovo’s independenece. Why because Srilanka is worried that Kosovo situation of suppressing the minorities through state terror has been prevailing in Srilanka for long and unable to crush the Tamil struggle. Is it too late for Srilanka’s Mahinda family & co regime to stop the war and seek UN help immediately. Perhaps Dayan could instruct Mahinda to let the Ban Kee moon’s UN rep meet the Tamil civilians without para military and army inteeligence following him in the NE. Clinton & Kofi Annan were prevented from meeting the real people in the NE.
27. Lester | February 19th, 2008 at 12:19 am
A lot of peopel support the Tamils , none support the LTTE especially the people who matter in US, UK, EU, India, China, get the message.
Sri Lanka is doing everyone a great service if it managesd to eliminate these killers.
28. Nalan, Trincomalee | February 19th, 2008 at 12:49 am
#22 Brahmin.
Kosovans are ethnic Albanians and Albania is home to the Albanians.
Please get your record straight before commenting. Tamil Nadu is home to Tamilians? which Tamilians? I trust you meant the Indian Born tamils.
When did you become a Brahmin?
29. Dias | February 19th, 2008 at 1:42 am
Dayan,
The Kosovo game is over - you, Russia and whoever else that don’t agree with Kosovo’s independence can scream as much as you want, but it’s a done deal. My country, the USA and our friends in Europe have ensured that fundamental decency and justice prevails. If it is muscle flexing, so be it - because its the ‘right thing’ to do.
Also, let me warn you. You and your government, since the last 12 months have been making all the wrong moves. You distanced yourself from the more just Majority Expert Report in December 2006; you introduced a asinine districts-based devolution package that was immediate reject by the IC; you got emboldened by the militay victories in the East and unwisely changed your emphasis from discovering solutions to crushing the Tigers; you completely side-lined Dr. Vitharana’ efforts using it as a charade to hoodwink the IC; you and your govt. refused the setup of a UN monitoring mission despite State department to do so; last Winter senator Joe Biden wrote to Prez Rajapaksa requesting him to re-instate the security removed from Aquabal Athas; next, despite American requests not to embrace the Iraq leader, Prez. Rajapaksa went ahead with his planned trip; on January 2, you canned the CFA; next, you kicked out the Norwegians, and then the SLMM; in the 3rd week of January you submiited a dismal 13th Amendment as a solution to the national problem and finally you began your military operations in the Northern theatre - against the wishes of the Americans, EU and the rest in the IC.
If you believe you are not digging your own grave to hand over Eelam to the separatists, my friend, you must be living in la-la land. I am in close contact with over 70 US legislators of both houses, not one of them supports the governments move and the Rajapaksa administration has already lost all credibility with these offices.
Keep-on doing what you are doing - and I will personally hold you responsible for the bifurcation of my motherland.
Wake-uo Dayan, you guys better table an egalatarian solution that gives space to all communities within the island and stop this asinine policy of militarism.
p.s. Mostly exceptional comments - especially #1, #2, and #19. #12 Devinda my friend, don’t be too sure that what happened to Kosovo would not happen to Sri Lanka - if the givt. is unable to table a just solution what options will the IC have? In conclusion, a solution that is based on separation will be the beginning of the end of the island. Therefore, all of must work on a solution where we can all live in harmony and digninty while enjoying life. This government has miserably failed to table a solution framework that comes close to these human aspirations. Dayan … your time would be better spent working on one!
30. dingiri | February 19th, 2008 at 7:25 am
“…These then are the lessons for Sri Lanka : never withdraw the armed forces from any part of our territory in which they are challenged, and never permit a foreign presence on our soil….”
Its time these Unitarists who put Territorial Integrity above the well being of the people realise that there is nothing wrong with a Tamil man ruling the Tamils and a Sinhalese man ruling a Sinhalese.
The only thing to guard against is a grossly inequitable division of the country. I agree Federalism could ultimately lead to full separation. However there is nothing wrong with that as long as nobody is robbed of their right to an equal share of the country.
A merged Northern and Eastern Province is tantamount to a Tamil Lebensraum and tramples on Sinhalese and Moslem land rights. So redefine the borders equitably so everyone gets an equal amount of land per-capita and a Kosovo style unilateral declaration of independence would not be an issue. Rather than be mean spirited Sri Lanka should welcome it and then be the first to recognise the new Eelam!
31. Devinda Fernando | February 19th, 2008 at 11:52 am
*** Devinda my friend, don’t be too sure that what happened to Kosovo would not happen to Sri Lanka - if the givt. is unable to table a just solution what options will the IC have? In conclusion, a solution that is based on separation will be the beginning of the end of the island. ***
Difference between Kosovo and the LTTE (Eelam) Other countries are willing to recognize Kosovo, you try find ONE SINGLE Country willing to Recognize Eelam with the LTTE as the Governing body…? Who would go for that? What country like India would ever allow it?
There is no Strategic interest for any Major Western power to want to cause a conflict with Sri Lanka considering that Sri Lanka is a Democracy and has good diplomatic ties with most Western countries.
Oh did you hear…. Australia is close to Banning the LTTE too …I guess that’s another step backwards for Eelam….
Boo Hoo!
32. Expatriate | February 19th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Mr.Dias, you say, “…This is the biggest mistake that most do - Sinhalese thinks (sic) exclusively about their interests and the Tamils, exclusively about heir (sic) interests….”
What you say might have been a valid argument in the late 1950’s.
But in recent decades, Tamils as a community have been at the receiving end of brutal and unrelenting state terror. Progressives among the Sinhalese society have not been able to stop it; though some of them openly spoke against it and many may have privately wanted to protest, such protests never reached a critical mass to be able to stop atrocities.
As such, your “advice” that Tamils should not be focusing on their own problems is laughably ridiculous. Do you want a person to worry about other people when a gun is pointed at his head and his wife and children are in the process of being murdered?
Given all that has happened, any solution will have to allow Tamils the space to conduct their own affairs in full security.
If the South can live in a state of permanent war for the last 25 years with the loss of so many lives, why can’t it experiment with a confederal solution for the next 25 years without losing anything?
And if the claim that the Sinhalese want to ‘free’ Tamils from the ‘clutches’ of the LTTE is true, why can’t the Sinhalese allow the Tamils to go free in a confederal setup and then help them in creating a democratic system, challenging the LTTE to transform itself; of course if the LTTE refuses and seeks to continue to be totalitarian, then this will involve an internal Tamil struggle. But that is something the Tamils will be prepared to wage with the help of the international community as well as India, and possibly a (friendly) Sri Lanka. In such a situation, the Tamil Diaspora will no longer have a cause to support the LTTE and neither will the international community.
During that time, people like you on both sides can work toward grass roots change –good governance, protection of individual rights, secular constitution, independent judiciary, reform and accountability of armed forces, linguistic fairness, equitable development, etc.
If and when that happens, people will stop thinking of only their own problems and think about being ‘Sri Lankans’. Until then, you will be laughed out.
33. dias | February 19th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
/* you try find ONE SINGLE Country willing to Recognize Eelam with the LTTE as the Governing body? */
If you listened to PM Gordon Brown’s inaugural address or speak with US legislators in the House as well as the Senate, and listen to the comments of Presidential candidates Obama and Clinton… you will note a sharp desire to ensure justice throughout the world. Congressman Brad Sherman of California compares Prahabakaran to George Washington! And he is not a lonely voice, at least not in the American political establishment. A Sri Lankan born American who has livedin the US for well over 3 decades, I am in touch with a large numbers of US legislators - and their view of the SL govt. is abysmal. Their primary concern is, “where’s the political solution?”. And furthermore, if the next President is either Obama or Clinton, expect things to get even worse. But, why all of this? Why not table a long-term solution contingent upon a wide array of conditions? Why risk?
Don’t be too sure about your assessment.
34. Suresh M | February 20th, 2008 at 12:32 am
# 24.
Devinda Fernando,
I think you may aware of a Sinhala saying goes…’modagamadda beath na…machang’
There is a rumor that Rajapakses brother have sent a battalion to Kosovo to forcefully re-unit them with Serbia! It is a done deal brother, even mighty Russia can’t lift a finger against the West, and you think your ‘friendly’ neighbor is going to even make any noise when our turn comes along?
35. Sri | February 20th, 2008 at 6:28 am
Dayan,
Your writings always surprise me. We consider you as an intellectual with a Marxist background who will fight for the rights of the oppressed people of the world and be a humanist and will have progressive enlightened views on any matter irrespective of race, religion ,caste or gender. but we are deeply disappointed on the stand you take on any issue.
Your hatred of minorities in Sri Lanka blinds you and you are compelled to take a intransigent view not only on Sri Lankan but even on global issues.
Why you are not happy about what has happened in Kosova.As a human being which one you prefer-compromising with the oppression, indignities, bowing down for crumbs! or fighting against oppression, ready to make any sacrifices in the name of self respect and dignity! Which one you prefer Dayan?
.
We salute the heroic people of Kosova and are very happy about Kosova. The people are now free to determine their own destiny. They are no longer a second class citizen.is it not beautiful.
We extend our solidarity. with the oppressed people of the world. Or is it reserved only to the past! Heroic people of Vietnam!
Please don’t be a hypocrite! be a human being first!
36. ilaya seran senguttuvan | February 20th, 2008 at 9:37 am
Dear Dayan:
I am told you are part of President Mahinda Rajapakse’s brains-trust. Good for you. Now I am taking you on your own
words and the counselling you gave in this piece
“(Para 4) ‘There were other options other than secession. One was for THE FULLEST AUTONOMY within Serbia” I think you ought to give this gem of an advise not merely to the President but to his 2 brothers, the JHU/JVP and the Mahanayake’s and the assortment of Buddhist priests who really control power in the land - and in the process the settlement of our continuing national anguish. If “the fullest autonomy” you advise in the Kosovan issue - so similar to ours - is given to the Tamils in the North-East almost all our problems will be over in no time.
And your perennial obsession - the LTTE - also will, like old soldiers - ideally fade way.
37. Devinda Fernando | February 20th, 2008 at 10:40 am
*** If you listened to PM Gordon Brown’s inaugural address or speak with US legislators in the House as well as the Senate, and listen to the comments of Presidential candidates Obama and Clinton… you will note a sharp desire to ensure justice throughout the world. ***
Don’t delude yourself Dias, Nobody (Country) does something that is because they desire ‘Freedom’, ‘Justice’, or ‘Democracy’ for all, countries act in their own self interests: Strategic, Militaristic, and Economic. FULL STOP.
You see, India may have at one point supported Eelam if it was not for the Thank you Garland Surpirse sent by Velu and Pottu.
Hillary Clinton who, by the way, has recently rejected Ram Ranjan’s Donations and US lobbyist money from LTTE activists.
She even said her ‘Nuanced Approach’ was merely to illustrate to the world that they (USA) needed to talk with their enemies, but you think when it comes down to the Nitty Gritty they would sit down with the LTTE? How many other countries have tried and failed? Uncle Velu has always wanted Eelam or Nothing, I doubt the USA would want to upset a country they have good diplomatic ties with and that is a Democracy over a Fascist Dictator with a 3rd Grade Mentality and approach to Diplomacy.
Obama will be the same too.
*** Congressman Brad Sherman of California compares Prahabakaran to George Washington! ***
Congressman Sherman is being paid off to say those things, on the other hand if he truly believes that he is a Deluded Moron.
The wonderful thing about people like you Dias, is you just ‘Parrot’ the phrases of someone else, and as long as the person sounds credible you then take that person at his word. You fail to examine the validity of that person’s statement. So let me ask you this, could you please site some Similarities between Prabhakaran and George Washington to justify why you AGREE with the good Congressman?
I would be most interested in your analysis
38. Sinhalese | February 20th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Western Double standards are sickening. Any country that deserves statehood is Palestine and it’s people who were being robbed of their homeland. USA looks otherway with EU. Kosova was part of Serbia from Medival times and Albanians happen to occupy the place afterTurkish Empire. Who deserves ststa erecognision more than Palestenians? Typical western style Justice delivered. Simply because Serbia not areselicking west and palesteninas are more independent in Soul than Albanians.
39. Expatriate | February 20th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
My earlier comments to Mr. Dias should have gone under the speech by Justice Wigneswaran. Sorry about that..
Sinhalese,
Western Society has double standards, no doubt. But how about third world countries like Sri Lanka and India? They have multiple standards?
Should I remind you that Kosovo is in Europe’s doorstep? The EU, US and NATO had an obligation to ensure the kind of genocide and ethnic cleansing practiced by Slobodan Milosevic could not be tolerated.
Clinton did the right thing to intervene. Tony Blair eloquently laid out the case for “R2P” intervention. Chile’s Pinochet was appropriately hounded in the UK.
It is true that Palestine and Israel are different issues where the West has not been fair, but those who hold Kosovo’s independence against the West are the same people who ignore genocide by their ‘comrades’ who happen to be mass murderers –whether Milosevic or Rajapakse.
According to these self-proclaimed pundits, war crimes, genocide, torture and rape are not against international law, but the sovereignty of a country populated and ruled by mass murdering racists is sacrosanct in international law!
40. dias | February 20th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Devinda,
I think prince Siddhartha too left his princess and little prince Rahula in search of enlightenment - also for the same selfish motivation, “self interest”. So, what’s wrong if the US, EU or for that matter Sri Lanka’s does the same?
And that is exactly the point - the Americans and others are finding that the SL matter is intractable and if it continues on, it could destabilize the S. Indian region - where India is a close ally with tons of US investments there. Furthermore, there is also some concern about Tigers trail blazing of terrorist technology, though among most legislators, it is at best a minor concern. And at least a few have joked about Tiger ingenuity - especially the outfit’s air force. US, Canadian and British legislators all want an end to what they consider the biggest headache of S. Asia.
They well know that a military victory by the govt. will strengthen the Sinhalese nationalist sentiments thereby making a political solution impossible - conceivably dragging the conflict for many more decades. While they wish that the headache would just vanish, they know that even if the LTTE leadership is eliminated the Tamil Diaspora will never give-up the struggle. With 2 million of their cousins back home, absent a solution at least acceptable to moderate Tamils, they believe the mayhem will continue unabated. Let me assure you, the next US president will not let it drag - especially if it is Obama or Clinton.
While they know that separation would lead to destabilization - if pushed to a corner, the Americans will be forced to make the decision: which of the two options would be more destabilizing - (a) A Kosovo style separation or (b) a never ending conflict. And don’t count-out (a).
And don’t believe that sentiments don’t play a role either. In this area, the Sinhalese govt. is in the American dog house as amply demonstrated by the Americans brush-off of President Rajapaksa during his last visit to NY. The Rajapaksa administration is not only pushing them to a corner but has made ‘em mad with its asinine foreign policies. My contacts are not at an official level but at a friendly personal level - and the jokes they and their staffs make about Sri Lankan diplomats and politicians cannot be published.
My dear friend, you seem to believe that all US legislators can be bought - and all have a price. If you are an American or have lived here a long time and associated with them - then you would know better. The next thing you are going to tell is that Bill Gates gives billions to charity to advance his company. Right? Don’t be so cynical. Of course, while all of us like money (I hope you do too), I certainly find most Americans to be lot more righteous than most Sri Lankans - and among Americans, the affluent to be more righteous than the less affluent. In my associations, the highly successful ones (CEOs, top politicians etc.) are some of the finest people with the highest integrity that I have had the honor to associate and work with.
Despite your cocksuredeness about others motivations, world governments will not continue to tolerate an unreasonable Sinhalese system. Expect determined American involvement in the Sri Lanka matter after January 20, 2009. [Why do you think Obama brought-up Sri Lanka from no-where during his Google chat in November to illustrate the challenge of the 21st century as the “one of the other”. Do you think he was paid too?] By 2009, even if the SL govt. has won the war and eliminated the LTTE leadership - expect concerted international pressure driven by a new US administration to bring-about a just political solution. If you haven’t won the war but only eliminated the LTTE leadership, expect the Indians to move-in, with the blessings of the Americans and force a solution installing a more moderate Tamil leader in the NE.
So, why wait till the outside enforces a solution? Why not table one now (but, not implement) and peg implementation to the condition of decommissioning of LTTE arms? Why not save 1000’s of innocent young lives? Is this alone not sufficient reason? Why drag the misery? Why take the nation to the abyss?
I’ll tell you why - because the so-called presidential advisors have no clue on how to go about structuring a long-term, collaborative, holistic solution - that would bring everlasting peace to the nation. Sri Lankans are paying a heavy price simply because of one reason: the cerebral incapacities of their leaders and the leaders’ advisors. Devinda, may be you should pass some of these ideas to your friends in government.
In conclusion my friend, if I were you I wouldn’t try to convince myself that Sri Lanka will never go the Kosovo way. You are over-estimating your assessments and under estimating American’s sense-of-fairness. Chow!
41. Indian Tamil | February 20th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
#37
India never supported Eelam.India stands for unity and Integrity of SL then &now.
In December 1971,India invaded East Pakistan in support of the East Pakistani people. The Pakistani army surrendered at Dhaka and its army of more than 90,000 became Indian prisoners of war.
In 1987,Mr.Rajiv exhibited statesmanship by signing an accord ,to fulfill the aspirations of tamils without having to invade and create another Bangladesh.Though he violated SL airspace for tamils,he signed the accord to create much stronger SL.
42. Murugan | February 21st, 2008 at 5:33 am
Devinda,
You are correct in saying that Tamil Eelam would not be recognized by anybody if a UDI was declared today.
But the Tiger’s idea that Tamil Eelam is the only way to liberate the so-called Sri Lankan Tamil nation hinges upon the notion that Sinhalese and Tamils don’t get along and that the Sinhalese who have a monopoly on power don’t treat the Tamils properly.
(I am not saying this is true, but I am just laying out the argument of the Tigers)
So basically Mahinda Rajapakse’s actions are providing the LTTE with more legitimacy for their claim that Tamil Eelam is the only political solution.
When Rajapakse:
1. Fails to produce a credible solution
2. Supports the TMVP in the east, and allows them to bare guns in the ‘elections’
3. allows the army to do whatever they like in Jaffna (including killing a few innocent people on a daily basis in Jaffna through the EPDP)
4. Then there are things like the Tamil humanitarian aid workers killed in Muttur, with a shabby investigation
5. Then there are Murders of Tamil Journalists, and MPs like Raviraj and Maheswaran.
6. The list goes on…
The LTTE also commits atrocities so this will definitely detract from their goal to get Tamil Eelam.
But then again the KLA was a ‘terrorist’ group so I mean the Western Media can focus on the atrocities of one side while neglecting to show those of the other.
The point is that Rajapakse’s actions provide evidence for the LTTE’s claim that the Sinhalese do not treat the Tamils fairly.
So yes, nobody is going to create or recognize Tamil Eelam today. But if these abuses by Rajapakse continue, then Hypothetically a Tipping point could be reached and international players will believe the LTTE’s claim that there must be a 2 state solution. And then all the LTTE has to do is play its politics right and enter into dialogue with an external power to secure that it is in the interest of a foreign power to recognize Tamil Eelam.
This is All very very hypothetical and very very unlikely. But it is worth recognizing that the actions of Rajapakse could in the Long term lead to the bifurcation of SL.
The correct way to defeat the LTTE is to conduct a war against the LTTE and not to collectively punish the Tamil people. Just respecting the rights of every citizen. Conduct the war against the LTTE while minimizing collateral damage. And offering a decent political solution will also erode the claims of the LTTE.
But in the short term, Rajapakse thinks it is best to unleash the war effort in full, and not to offer a credible political solution. Rajapakse is doing this in the short term, in a sort of gamble to greatly weaken or completely defeat the LTTE.
But if the LTTE survives, then in the long term the manner in which Rajapakse is conducting the war, could actually play into the hands of VP.
You see the hard line approach of Rajapakse actually legitimizes the claims made by the Tigers.
I hope I am making sense. Because this is important. The actions of Rajapakse are actually playing into the hands of the LTTE (In terms of the political war)
It is true the LTTE is losing the Actual War.
But as the LTTE retains the will to fight and still has its military assets intact, then it has not been defeated. Retaking the East, and even hypothetically retaking Kilinochchi before 2010 will make Rajapakse look good, but unless you totally defeat the LTTE -you have not defeated the LTTE.
So this short term gamble to gain the upper hand in the real War, actually plays into the hands of the LTTE in terms of the political war. And War is just politics by other means. So Rajapakse’s actions could actually lead to the eventual split of Sri Lanka. Not Today. But if things continue this way… and abuses keep occuring then Tamil Eelam could actually happen. I know it is crazy but there really is a slight risk that if Rajapakse keeps on conducting the war in the way he is without defeating the LTTE, then it could happen.
43. Gee Sampanthan | February 21st, 2008 at 9:56 am
I guess it is easy to have this arm chair “July 1983″ without real can of gasoline,fire, killings and plundering. What the on line forums are good at is in opening up these “July 1983″ syndrome. Those Sinhalese balking here should go back and join their military if they want to hold the country together and the same must be true for the Tamils wanting separation with or without other’s help.
People like Dyan are capable of writing non-sense without limit…and if one read what JVP leaders are talking and writing back home , it is the same thing.
At the end of the day India is a huge problem for not only the Eelam Tamils, but also for the Sinhalese. So, Sinhalese and Tamils should both keep the Indians at arms distance.. like in the early days .. nationalize Indian assets and send the beggars back to India.. but now what is happening is they are coming to Sri-Lanka. Look around Indian boarders , can any one tell me if they have friends ?. Ambani can build a billion dollar “Home”, yet India is a humongous trash can…and in the middle Ambani can sit and pick out worms like a crow.
44. Devinda Fernando | February 21st, 2008 at 4:37 pm
*** So basically Mahinda Rajapakse’s actions are providing the LTTE with more legitimacy for their claim that Tamil Eelam is the only political solution. ***
Not really,…in fact, Not at all….
The LTTE have wanted war from the very start. The “Percieved Legitimacy” you speak of above is merely the SPIN and PROPAGANDA you ingest on a daily basis from their News sources. If they (LTTE) wanted anything Federal or any sort of Devolution they should have simply adhered to the CFA in 2002 in the first place and allowed Tamils to vote (for Ranil) in 2005. They did neither. The fact you dont recognize the CFA as a Ruse and a Smokescreen for the LTTE to regain their strength is why you continue to think the GoSL is at fault.
Most Tamils live peacefully in the South, it is going to be an uphill battle trying to convince the World Body that a Democratic, Pluralistic country with a Constitution that represents every Race and Ethnic group fairly, while allowing for Minority culture, language, and religions to operate needs to be sectioned off and divided into two Mono-Ethnic separate states. The 1.5 to 2 Million Tamils not living in the North and East are not just going to Up and leave all their wealth and possesions and jobs and families to go to the North because some Expat Displaced Tamil populations try to lobby Foreign governments to recognize their Pipe-Dream Fantasy.
You need to read up on your news, the East is in the process of being redeveloped, the North will follow ONCE THE WAR IS OVER…………………
I wish you morons could give it a chance to work. Mahinda is 2 years in his presidency and you have condemned any and all his proposals and solutions without even giving them Realistic time frames to be implemented. This basically proves to me you people really dont want it to work because that would mean 25 years of Shouting would all be for nothing….Tamils and Sinhalese liveing together in Prosperity and Peace!
Oh NO! We cant have that can we? …as you Communalists love to shout! Give your fingers a rest people. Let the government finish what it promised, if they don’t deliver, then start your Barking and Shouting again.
45. Devinda Fernando | February 21st, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Dias,
Response to #40
“There is many a slip between a Cup and a Lip”
I could argue Ad Infinitum with you about possible outcomes of the USA presidential race,… many factors can affect and debunk your certainty that Obama will be taking the White house; the biggest one being the fact that a Black man as President does not sit well with America’s Majority Voter-Base of Xenophobic Crackers; not to mention the change in attitude and Ra-Ra Patriotism that always seems to materialize in the American public should War with Iran mysterious materialize before Bush leaves the White House…… Long and Short, just dont assume a Democratic President in 2009,,…. so lets just leave it at that?
I will however say that your hopes in a Democratic candidate turning around and making it a Policy Priority of his administration to “Liberate” Tamil Eelam is Fantasy. You ask the average American where Sri Lanka is on the Map and you will get the Blank Stare Reaction of a Dog that’s just been shown a Card Trick.
The USA will be busy with Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Proliferation of Nuclear weapons into Terrorist hands. You would be lucky if they could find more than the 1Ten already stationed Marine Corp personnel standing guard at the US embassy in Colombo in the foreseeable future… Not to mention China and Russia are opposing Kosovo now, so if they see the trend emerge in the UN with Sri Lanka they would surely use their Veto powers to prevent a NATO force pulling another Balkans Style intervention. But hey I speculate… I doubt we would even have to come to that since I’m sure these Tiger Terrorists will be a foot note in History in the year to come…. God Willing.
***Why do you think Obama brought-up Sri Lanka from no-where during his Google chat in November to illustrate the challenge of the 21st century as the “one of the other”.***
LOL! Good question! Don’t you think he brought it up just as soon as the Tamil (LTTE) Lobby in New Jersey wrote him a check for his campaign? That would seem a more likely and logical conclusion. If it was such a priority why has it only been mentioned once in his campaign and no more? You’re deluding yourself to believe what you want to beleive. Obama, like most US politicians, wouldn’t know Sri Lanka if they were Bombing it!
You tell me “Don’t be so Cynical?” I tell you: Don’t be so Naive…! Bill Gates is no Politician, he is a Philanthropist, Ultra Liberal, and the Extreme Exception to the rule. Don’t assume this about the entire popualtion of Americans. Only in America is ‘Greed’ a way of Life that is encouraged in thier society.
46. Indian Tamil | February 21st, 2008 at 5:45 pm
#43
Mr.Gee Sampanthan
Donot panic!!.Ambani’s,Birla’s,Mahindra’s and Tata’s are bone-tired in India having exhausted with Indian worms.
They now need fresh ,sumptuous Srilankan worms like….
According to experts, the share of the US in world GDP is expected to fall (from 21 per cent to 18 per cent) and that of India GDP to rise (from 6 per cent to 11 per cent in 2025), and hence the latter will emerge as the third pole in the global economy after the US and China.
Indian Economy experienced a GDP growth of 9.0 percent during 2005-06 to 9.4 percent during 2006-07. By 2025 the India’s economy is projected to be about 60 per cent the size of the US economy. The transformation into a tri-polar economy will be complete by 2035, with the Indian economy only a little smaller than the US economy but larger than that of Western Europe. By 2035, India is likely to be a larger growth driver than the six largest countries in the EU, though its impact will be a little over half that of the US.
India, which is now the fourth largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity, will overtake Japan and become third major economic power within 10 years.
Despite your derogatory remarks,we still wish you peace and a robust economic growth.Even if you keep us at arms length,your friend has different views.He is resolved to get Indians to invest,improve educational institutions,defence ties,….
As a matter of fact,we have a friend in Mahinda.Do you have any friends?
47. Indian Tamil | February 21st, 2008 at 5:51 pm
#42
Mr.Murugan,
Superb analysis and a rational approach towards the ethnic issue.
48. Murugan | February 22nd, 2008 at 5:19 am
Devinda,
There is truth in much of what you say. And I respect your opinion.
Some minor issues though
I think that you shouldn’t believe everything in the news. Just because the paper (possibly state controlled or influenced) paints a happy picture of the ‘liberated’ East doesn’t mean that this is true on the ground. In fact most of the news on both sides- Tamil Media and Sinhala media- is filled with spin and half truths that create a circle of hate where our hateful views are reinforced by the spun news we read. Didn’t somebody say that ‘Truth is the first casualty of war’
You say you wish people would give Mahinda’s policies a chance to work. But you see everybody can see the trajectory of his policies already. His policy is basically War first, Solution after. I don’t want to wait until the war re-escalates to 1997 1998 levels to condemn the policy of war. I will condemn the policy of war today, in hopes of supporting the view that there is no military solution.
For your second to last point. No. I want Sinhalese and Tamils to live together in peace and prosperity just like you do. But the War policy of MR spreads the seeds enmity and hate between the Tamils and Sinhalese. We need to be healing the wounds of war instead of spreading more hate.
You say you want me to wait until after the government fails in its promise of defeating the LTTE, to criticize their militaristic approach?
Why should we wait? We all know that it is very unlikely that the government will actually recapture the entire Vanni. The LTTE can be bled slowly and weakened, but I doubt very much that the SLA will march all the way to Mullaithivu and Puthukudiyiruppu.
Many innocent people already have and will continue to die as collateral damage in Eelam War IV. Many people will lose their homes and be displaced living in tents. They are mostly Tamils. But the Sinhalese will also suffer from terrorist attacks on Buses and other civilian / economic targets in the South. So what is the point of fighting and destroying each other if it is just going to lead to another stalemate?
I really don’t think it is wise for Rajapakse to try and impose a military solution. I could be wrong. Anything could happen in terms of the war. But I think there is a low probability of defeating the LTTE. I repeat from my previous post, that the hard-line attitude of Rajapakse is playing into the hands of the LTTE in terms of the political war.
In regards to your last point- I will take your advice and Give my fingers some rest from typing on these forums.
49. Devinda Fernando | February 22nd, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Murugan,
I for one, have no “Rosy Picture” in my head of the East. I have actually been there (last April) and it is not great - Many IDPs still need to be resettled (I think 50% left), but it is also NOT the ‘Genocidal Nightmare’ the Anti-Government forces are trying to portray it as to the International Community.
I don’t see the Government portraying it to be ‘Better’ than it is, do you? Whenever there are Development initiatives (like the foreign Deals with India , or the hiring and training of Tamil & Tamil speaking Police, they do say so; when there aren’t they dont go saying that there are,…do they? I don’t know what government sources you are reading….?
You ask me what the point of fighting is,… when obviously there will be more civilian deaths? …I ask you what is the point of Negotiating with these Terrorists? And don’t get me wrong, I am not jumping on the Post Sept 11th Bandwagon in the ‘Terrorist’ Name calling and Branding but I am confident that the LTTE fit the very definition unlike some other organizations around the world that are being labeled as such to fit a political agenda. The LTTE WERE freedom fighters, somewhere along the way they lost their honor and their souls, so now they no longer fight for what they claim to fight for.
You have a very valid concern about Civilian Deaths, however you are basing your conclusion of the Negative outcome on the premise that the LTTE CANNOT be defeated. This is the problem. No one can fight forever. You say they Cannot be defeated, I say they can. It is all in how you see history on this one,…..25 years of fighting the LTTE have never been defeated,…true! But the minute they are defeated then your conclusion is no longer valid. You’re a Winner till you are no longer one… Am I making sense here? The fact is if you look at the past and say the LTTE cannot be defeated because they have not been defeated before is not a Valid argument. I will say that that does not necessarily mean they WILL be defeated but I do say they CAN be defeated. And the reason I say they CAN and WILL MOST LIKELY be defeated is that they are severely weak now, they don’t have the Freshness of the fight in them anymore…. several factors are against them that were not the case when they were at the Height of their power (circa 1991).
This war was inevitable, the LTTE wanted it. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that just because Mahinda met Force with Force that all of a sudden he bears the responsibility for the Mayhem that ensued. The government, and most Sri Lankans see the Military solution to first rid the country of the Tigers as the most viable solution in a situation full of Bad Solutions. We don’t have the sort of Choices the IC would like to see us exercise. They don’t look at the big picture in terms of the History of this conflict, or the possible circumstances and political outcomes. Most of the time they see one or two over exaggerated aspects (like the Civilian Casualties or the Lawlessness of Paramilitaries) and fail to put it into any context and begin condemning Sri Lanka in terms of those individual issues. Their solutions to our government and the conflict are merely ‘CEASE and DESIST’ orders that lack any Utilitarian or Realistic approaches to lasting peace. ‘STOP the KILLING!’ they shout… well, the killing has been going on for 25 years…it will stop when we Decisively End this battle.
My money is on the Sri Lankan Government… where is yours?
50. S.H.A.Mohamed | February 25th, 2008 at 8:04 am
Dear Dayan,
I am glad to see you continue writing and occupying a strategic position that very few can fit in!. I still keep a close tab on your articles. Keep up your good work. I hope you can still remember me! shamohamed2001@yahoo.com
S.H.A.Mohamed, Colombo
51. bluerose799 | March 25th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
It’s about time to recognize the historical right of Kosova (Dardania) to have its destiny fulfilled-That is full independence. Kosova never was a Serbian province. It was there, since the times of birth of European civilization, a very distinct Dardanian/llyrian identity. Always populated by Dardanias who, although under constant pressure of forcefully migration by Serbian shovinism, Tito’s Yugoslavia & Milloshevic’s Serbia, still make up 92% of the population. They speak ilirian language with the dialect GEGE. Serbs always have been a minority there. We know that Serbs appeared in Balkans (then llyria) only by the 6th Century AD, and they speak a language more similar to Ukrainian then Russian. They have always been a minority and ‘the story’ of Kosova being the Heartland of Serbia is just a pure Serbian nationalist fantasy. Facts Speak Louder Than Words and Serbian’s Lies Will Collapse by Themselves. Serbs always have been considered as oppressors there, not just by Albanian majority, but also by other ethnic groups too. Serbs just occupied Kosova during the rise of the Serbian nationalism early 20th century from Ottomans, who by then were loosing the Balkans after 500 years of occupation. The borders of Kosova are well established and recognized. Now Kosova should be Free!
I can’t comprehend how a minority of 7% of the population, pretend to take off the land, the language, culture and the life of the rest of Kosova. Kosovars have the right to live free and independent in their land where they are born, generation after generation, live and will die.
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