The harm that good men can do

by Gamini Weerakoon

(August 17, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The ‘international community’ — implying Western nations — helping to build the popularity of President Mahinda Rajapakse may seem ludicrous but unwittingly these nations may be doing so.

These nations by opposing military operations against the LTTE and calling for a negotiated settlement with the LTTE have incurred the wrath of a vast proportion of Sinhalese, particularly those identified as hardliners. Western opposition to the military effort against this terrorist organisation has led to the allegations that these nations are favouring the LTTE and are against Sri Lanka and the Sinhalese.

In addition to these nations there is also the hatred and venom directed against Western funded NGOs — called traitors — who are also opposed to military action. In the context of this foreign opposition to the ‘war effort’ Mahinda Rajapakse is being projected as the guiding light and saviour of Sri Lanka and the Sinhalese. Thus the paradox is that Western nations may be building up the political base of Rajapakse who is now being projected by some as a kind of folk hero although it is far from their intentions.

Rights violations

Rajapakse is now riding the ‘crush the LTTE’ wave with his military offensive as is evident from political speeches made at the provincial council hustings. As the military advances into the Wanni, more people are being displaced from their homes and forced to evacuate. Rajapakse while making ritual commitments to human rights carries on regardless for this ‘victory wave’ keeps his popularity going particularly in the south despite the unbearable increases in the cost of living.

Thus the second paradox is that Western concerns for human rights could be contributing to greater violations of these rights.

The third paradox is that these nations take great pains to stress on their neutrality in this Sri Lankan conflict but this even handedness is ignored. When Western governments make statements on the Sri Lankan conflict they try to show their evenhandedness condemning both sides for violation of human rights. But the government, their supporters and even other Sinhalese not supportive of the Rajapakse government focuses on criticism of the government military actions and virtually ignore criticism of LTTE violations.

Even the strong actions particularly in recent times taken in the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia against LTTE organisations — fund collection and attempts at arms procurement — go unnoticed. What stings is the criticism against the Sri Lanka government.

Bonanza

Politically it’s a bonanza for Rajapakse and his clique who now do not seem to be much affected by Western criticism or even threats of financial reprisals. This foreign criticism fuels the government propaganda machine. ‘Let the West go to hell, we have China and Iran’ seems to be the mood. This is of course forgetting that our biggest markets are in the United States and Europe.

The LTTE behaves in more pragmatic and mature ways. Being a terrorist organisation it is impervious to criticisms on human rights and do not usually respond. However much is made of criticism of the government’s violations and they are delighted about the demand for stationing of a UN human rights monitoring body in Sri Lanka and withdrawal of export subsidies to the European Union. The stars apparently are not shining benignly on Velupillai and perhaps he is waiting for a better planetary conjunction to stage a Dien Bien Phu in the Wanni.

Of course unwitting contributions by the West to Rajapakse’s fame and fortune are only complementary. He had decided on military action or bust even as he threw out Chandrika Kumaratunga from the leadership of the SLFP and took on the liberal Ranil Wickremesinghe for presidency. It is on the promise of waging war that he was elected and keeps going on it. Listen to his speeches on ‘victory against terrorism.’

Key factor

In the dynamics of the conflict that had evolved for a quarter century a factor not often reckoned with is the Indian involvement. And where foreign interference is concerned India is the key factor. The West though it has involved itself with the Sri Lankan problem takes in advice from New Delhi. Even our generous benefactors, the Japanese call on New Delhi before and after visiting Sri Lanka to take the advice of the Brahmins.

So should the Rajapakse faithful and Sinhala hardliners take on the Big Brother across the Palk Strait instead of the West?

Meanwhile what can the do-gooders of the West do? Keep up the pressure on Rajapakse on human rights and boost his popularity at home? They can’t ignore human rights violations even though others say that their hands are not clean pointing to Iraq and Afghanistan. They have caught a tiger’s tail.

The harm that good men can do is illustrated in an essay titled the same by British philosopher Bertrand Russell.
- Sri Lanka Guardian