India’s silence a dent in Sri Lanka's position before UN ?
by Upul Joseph Fernando
It has come to light that India has not supported the letter of the Non Aligned Movement (NAM) aimed at opposing the decision of the General secretary of the United Nations (UN) Organization, Ban ki-Moon, to appoint the panel of experts to advise him in regard to Sri Lanka (SL). It is evident from this that Sri Lanka’s efforts to repulse the war crime charges brought against it by the UN Organization is weakening. UN Organization French representative recently said, China and India are working against war crime charges being tried against Sri Lanka.
After his announcement however, it has become known that India has not supported the letter originated by NAM against the appointment of a panel of experts by the UN Gen. Secretary Ban Ki-Moon. It is possible that India decided not to support the NAM letter after the Western countries pressurized it . Some say ,in case even if India is to oppose the appointment of the panel of experts, it has decided to remain impartial due to the pressure brought to bear on it by the Western countries.
Even today India is a country which can exert immense pressure on the Non Aligned Movement (NAM) countries . If India is honestly in favour of the appointment of the panel of experts , India is possessed of the capacity to stop the NAM letter expressing opposition to the UN decision. Yet , India possibly could prefer not to displease Sri Lanka while also winning over the favour of the Western countries . From this it is deducible that India while opposing the war crime charges being tried against Sri Lanka from behind the scenes , it is also apparent India is cautious not to offend the Western countries All in all, it is becoming increasingly clear that the new stance of India has led to the undermining of Sri Lanka’s battle in the face of the war crime charges.
If China too like India decides to follow a middle path policy with regard to the war crime charges which are being mounted against Sri Lanka, the latter will be plunged into deep trouble. Sri Lanka nurses the belief that China will not let Sri Lanka down . When the Western countries had the necessity to bring a resolution against Sri Lanka at the UN security Council , China and Russia took measures to oppose it..
Whenever Western countries were desirous of bringing a proposal to impose sanctions against Iran via the UN security Council , China on many occasions had objected to them. However finally, when the UN Security Council brought forward three proposals against Iran , China assented to them, yielding to the pressure applied on it by the Western bloc..
To China , Iran is very important unlike Sri Lanka . When compared with Iran , from China’s standpoint of its international interests, Sri Lanka is a small country. China’s ties with Iran pertaining to the military, economy and political affairs are tremendous viz a viz Sri Lanka . Despite this , when the Western countries brought proposals against Iran , China yielded to the pressures of the Western countries to support those proposals. In like manner , in regard to Sri Lanka too, if Western countries pressurize China , there is immense possibility for it to bow to those pressures .
As regards the war crime charges against Sri Lanka , Ban Ki -Moon, the UN Gen. Secretary, had from the very outset followed a lenient policy . When China and India trod the path of opposing the war crime charges being tried against Sri Lanka , Ban ki Moon’s chances of pursuing this policy was facilitated . However, in the face of mounting pressure from the Western countries , Ban Ki-Moon was invariably compelled to change that policy. He then decided to appoint a panel of experts to advise him in relation to Sri Lanka. India which pressurized Moon to preclude the war crime charges being brought against Sri Lanka, however ,when the UN Organization took steps to appoint a panel of experts , has now relented and is silent, giving in to the pressures mounted by the Western bloc .
For the Western countries which have subdued Ban ki Moon and India , subjugating China is no big task. Sri Lanka must blame itself for pushing the Western countries to take this tough stand against Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan Govt. provoked the Western countries via the NAM letter designed against the appointment of the panel of experts.
If the panel of experts are appointed owing to the pressures of the Western countries , even if Ban Ki- Moon harbours the secret desire to follow a soft policy in favour of Sri Lanka , because of the emergence of the NAM letter he too is pushed to the edge.
Libya which is against the war crime charges being levelled against Sri Lanka and expresses support to Sri Lanka , is the spokesman for the President of the UN General Assembly this year. When the media questioned Libyan Spokesman Ali Treki whether he is in favour of the NAM letter , he dodged the question by requesting them to ask that from Ban Ki-Moon or Sri Lanka. It can be inferred from this, even the countries that stood by the NAM letter in support of Sri Lanka are slinking and slipping away on this issue today. The International media too have confirmed that most countries which are members of NAM have not signed the letter.
The Sri Lankan Govt. by trying to use NAM against the UN organization or the Western countries had driven itself into a grave quagmire . India dissociating itself from the NAM letter , alone is proof that Sri Lanka is not on the right track. It is not impossible that the Western bloc can take into its fold more friends in the future to defeat the challenges posed by Sri Lanka. For the Western bloc which has been successful in subjugating China and turning it around against a powerful country like Iran , a close friend of China ; influencing the latter against Sri Lanka and pressurizing it to align with them is no big deal. ~ courtesy: Daily Mirror.lk ~
10 Comments
Upul's wishfull thinking is that MR and Gota will be hauled up before a war crimes tribunal so that dirty, incompetant,unpatriotic, undemocratic who has killed off UNP, Ranil will have a shot at the presidency. Way off the mark, Upul. Way off.
China will not pawn its international might to rescue a bunch of thugs. Our dreams for a free country are slowly vanishing. We have to tolerate daily violence unleashed by President's crminal pet dogs like Mervyn. There is no law in the country. We thought there will be peace after LTTE. But everyday we hear of Police killings, attacks on media and massive curruptions with the full backing of government. Why Ranil is not resigning and give a chance to Sajith or somebody to reform UNP to stand against this dictatorship. Upul Joseph can tell this to Ranil.
When it comes to dealing with the USELESS and POINTLESS United Nations ...we don't need India. They have no VETO POWER and basically no real say in the UN. Our Allies when dealing with this MEDDLESOME ARM of WHITE WESTERN GLOBAL DOMINANCE is to turn to China and Russia.
Let India be a Trading Partner and Military Ally, they have many other countries to Kowtow to so lets not worry when they stay silent on issues to which they have no control of in the UN.
... And as for this Author's foolish assumption that Sri lanka is a Small "Insignificant" country... well then why do we get so much attention from the West... to the point that Millions of US DOLLARS funded directly by the Obama Administration itself to try and topple Mahinda Rajapakse in favor of a COLONIAL LACKEY government with Puppet President FONSEKA? China and Russia agreed to sanctions by the US of A towards Iran because they know that USA is weakening itself ECONOMICALLY and MILITARILY trying to make Iran HEEL on the Nuclear Program. Like Iraq, the USA is crippling themselves in matters that they cannot win. Bad Economy for USA is GOOD for Russia and China and ASIA in general. Nothing will happen to Iran in the UN, and Nothing will happen to Sri Lanka either.
so what do you suggest, just do nothing and wait for the West to do as they wish with Sri Lanka.
Pessimistic people like you are a curse to the country. Thank god the President is not a pessimistic
Upul Joseph Fernando says Sri lanka is not important to China than Iran,because Sri lanka is a little country.This is a very stupid remark any one can make like "My Parents loves very much my elder brother than me".When NAM sends a letter to UN India doesn't want to act separately .Because India is a NAM member.
Mr Upul Joseph Fernando is always afraid of Western world's pressure as he was born to be like that.
How can pressurize India and China by west.They need (West)India and China as well to sell their sophisticated machinery where Indians and Chinese can sell the things not only west but whole Asia and Africa.
"Sri lanka must be blamed to be provoked by West" is a real stupid remark by the writer. It is not correct to compare the stand of China on war crime charges against Sri lanka and nuclear buld up in Iran as same.For that China did this and for Sri lank China will do the same ? NO,My dear Sir, you are wrong.
Don't be pessimist as you are always. Be optimist.
Still waiting for my comment to appear.
It's not abusive, it's just pointing out facts. If such a comment is not posted what's the point of requesting readers to leave comments.
Authors merely write their opinion and the readers have every right to criticise whatever is written, hoping that would help the author to learn something.
India will wait on the side lines and make a deal with the west and show the SL government without them the SL government cannot do any thing
Nathen
India appears to have second thoughts buttressing the untenable position adopted by GOSL with regard to the installation of a panel of experts by the UN to investigate violations.
The silence clearly indicates the reluctance on the part of India to go the extra mile overtly in support of the Sri Lankan resistance against the stance taken by the UN.
As to whether the Indian silence is a feint or a forthright disapproval cannot remain as a secret for too long and the real picture will begin to unravel as the preliminary UN formalities progress.
India will have to come out of the closet sooner or later.
As of now, it is reasonable to conclude India has got cold feet.
Will it be possible for India to please all the people all the time? Perpetual dithering does not seem to be an available option.
I suppose the decision to appoint a panel of experts was on the understanding that Nambiar would arrange it! So India has accepted it on that understanding. Is this not obvious to anyone???
India has got its own strategy to deal with this matter. If war crime charges brought against Sri Lanka, India's involvement from the start to end will come to light.
What we should remember, China supplied the gun powder for the war, India not only primed the guns but also ponted the guns to the target for Sri Lanka to pull the trigger.
India has no choice but to work discreetly.