The Globe and Mail: Sri Lanka discredits itself
Turning away Liberal Foreign Affairs Critic Bob Rae is more than an insult to a distinguished Canadian, it is an affront to Canada itself
Editorial, From Globe and Mail, Thursday, Jun. 11, 2009:
The decision by Sri Lanka to turn away Liberal Foreign Affairs Critic Bob Rae is more than an insult to a distinguished Canadian who has worked at some personal risk to end violence in that country, but is an affront to Canada itself, a Commonwealth friend that has supported Sri Lankan peace efforts and which in 2006 strengthened the Sri Lankan government's hand by listing, correctly if belatedly, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam as a terrorist organization.
[Editorial page cartoon on Globe and Mail, June 11, 2009]
Mr. Rae was refused entry on Tuesday at the airport in Colombo, and yesterday was placed on a flight out of the country. This, though he had a valid visa and had consulted with Sri Lanka's High Commissioner in Ottawa before making the trip. The actions of Sri Lankan authorities are worrying evidence of a weakening of the country's civil infrastructure and its government's determined and continuing failure to reach out to the Tamil minority.
Canada lodged a formal protest with Sri Lanka, expressing “dismay and displeasure” over Mr. Rae's “unacceptable treatment.” It needs to go further, and heed the call of those who are asking this country to step up pressure on Sri Lanka, which moved yesterday to extend a state of emergency giving the police and army sweeping powers to arrest and detain suspects indefinitely without charge. Sri Lanka has been an example of democracy in the developing world, but the militarization of the country continues, despite the crushing of the Tamil Tigers.
Some Liberal MPs in the past attended functions at which the LTTE were prominent, and Liberal governments resisted efforts to designate the Tigers a terrorist organization. Historically, Sri Lanka had cause to be frustrated by the actions of certain Canadian politicians. But Mr. Rae's involvement in Sri Lanka has been benevolent. He has briefed government and rebel negotiators on Canadian federalism and helped oversee constitutional discussions, and he has consistently opposed violence by either side. In 2008, writing in The Globe, he called the LTTE “a merciless armed group ... engaged in brutal attacks against civilians as well as assassinations of their opponents.”
Mr. Rae is no threat to Sri Lanka's security, and he is manifestly not, as an army spokesman reportedly claimed, “an LTTE supporter.” The authorities plainly fear that he will draw attention to a humanitarian and human-rights crisis, and to the failure of Sri Lanka's government to pursue reconciliation with its Tamil minority.
It is estimated that more than a quarter of a million displaced Sri Lankans are being confined in internment camps by the military. Efforts by international human-rights groups to monitor conditions facing Tamils, and to probe allegations of serious violations of international human-rights and humanitarian law by Sri Lankan forces (as well as by the defeated LTTE) have also been stymied. Amnesty International says it has received reports of “enforced disappearance, extrajudicial executions, torture and other ill-treatment, forced recruitment by paramilitary groups and sexual violence.”
Sri Lanka needs Mr. Rae, and distinguished voices like his, as much now as at any time in its recent history of conflict. It should have rolled out the red carpet for him, and thanked him for his interest in its peace and long-term stability. [courtesy: The Globe and Mail]
15 Comments
If he was not a Tiger supporter and considered LTTE a terrorist organization, how come he was never a part of the effort in proscribing LTTE as a terror network? However he volunteered to give free speeches favorable to LTTE at functions organized by the LTTE terror front organizations. We understand that you Canadians are smarting because we kicked out a Canadian Terror Sympathizer out of our country. You do not care he was a terrorist sympathizer. You are offended because a black third world country kicked out one of your white guy’s ass. You are smarting. You have to remember that there are two sides to a coin. If you were in our shoes, may be you would have jailed him as a terrorist instead of booting him out. Is this the guy you Conservatives want Canada to lead yourselves into the next century? Canadian Tamil Terrorists are working hard to get this dummy into a place where they can use him like a toilet paper. To wipe the Tamil Terrorist Asses.
Can I tell you a little secret. Tami Elam is not going to be in Sri Lanka. But soon it is going to be some where in Ontario Canada. Enjoy Tamil Elam with all our blessing!
I think this is the best response from SL for Canada tolerating LTTE demonstrations against SL in their soil. They seem NOT to understand that they are playing with a sovereign country's national interest. Now, they should know that SL also can give them a proper response in kind. I think SL can do without countries like Canada. Hey, what good is Canada to us anyway other than the LTTE? The next they can do is stop diplomatic relations. unfortunately only LTTE and their backers will suffer...
you dont need any inteligence reports to figure out his intentions. you were working against GOSL for cheap minority votes & other financial gains. If Bob was so distraught about civilians killed in SL. where was he when 500000 were bombed in Iraq called "SHOCK AND AWE" ?. it's a pitty that so called human rights champions work only against poor nations.
Canada did the same to a British MP, George Galloway who had the temerity to criticize the West for its illegal war of destruction of Iraq based on a pack of lies. Rae's comments re. Sri Lanka and his TTT supporting activities are well known to Sri Lankans. There are 20,000,000 Sri Lankans who are happy that he was kicked out. We have no use for such "friends".
Anonymous,
I wonder if you know what the term "terrorist" means. It involves violence, bombs, killings of innocent people. It is not a term to use loosely on people. The Tigers and the SL government are terrorists. The Tamil diaspora are not terrorists for the simple reason that they are unarmed. Neither is Bob Rae. If two people want the same thing (for eg, equal rights for Tamils) and one uses guns to get it and the other uses diplomacy, only the first one is a terrorist. Bob Rae may want minority rights for Tamils, just as the Tigers wanted, but he used diplomacy. Diplomacy is never terrorist, no matter what your goals may be.
Maybe you are only able to see through your chauvinistic eyes, and therefore you project racist motives on Bob Rae, seeing him as a white man wanting to save black people. But Bob Rae is a liberal, and liberals are colour-blind. What evidence do you have that he is motivated by a sense of racial superiority and not by human compassion to help displaced people? If you can't give this evidence, do not make personal attacks on people.
It is fashionable to speak the anti-white, anti-colonial rhetoric. But Canada was never a coloniser but is, like Sri Lanka, and India, a former colony too. It was colonised by the British, remember? Anti-colonial rhetoric should be used to save coloured people. Instead, you are using it to justify the killing of coloured people, ie, the Tamils. As an Asian myself, I would rather trust a kind white man than an Asian who is happy to see other Asians killed.
"Sri Lanka discredits itself"
But only because it insulted Bob Rae and Canada.
Nothing to do with the war crimes and the vengeful internment of 300,000 Tamils!!!!!!!
What a morally sick world!
I agree with Globe & Mail editorial in its entirety. Sri Lanka's refusal to permit Hon. Bob Rae, P.C., M.P. to enter for meaningful dialogue is disgraceful This action clearly shows that the people who govern Sri Lanka have no idea of international politics and respect for world leaders. They live in a small world of their own and depend on voices from the Sri Lanka overseas diaspora to make their decisions. Does the present regime know that Bob Rae has met with former Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar and Prof. G.L. Peiris who valued his input in the many discussion they have had in the past. Probably not, because the government is so bull headed they do not see beyong the box.
I think Globe's article is balanced.
It is dissappointing to see the response by Anonymous. Show how deep routed racist exist in thet small island where every one look the same and the difference is only language.
Hope he will see the ligt one day for the sake of our mother land SL.
Dear anonymus, isham, and gunapalas,
You along with the SL govt is trying to put all your sins under the carpet. If he was really a threat to the security how was the visa issued to him?
The real security threat is the some sinhala elements in the govt and defence establishment. When Mr.Sarath Fonseka told in Canada that the SL belongs to sinhalese what govt did, accepted it by its silence. So the army commander is and hads been working with that idea in mind. Then who is the real threat to the unity of the coyuntry?
Since independence the successive govts treated the tamils as second class citizens and try to be their masters than equal partners.
If you all remember until around mid 70s tamils have been fighting for their rights peacefully. But how the sinhala govts responded. They answered with violence. LTTE and other armed groups were the off springs of this violent attitude of the sinhala govts and forces. Tamils had no other way: either they had to fight or be political slaves.
In the name of Buddhism the priests and govts unleasghed atrocities against tamils. Whats the govts trick now is to brand every one as LTTE ( or Tiger) if someone speak for tamils rights or against the govts mis doings. .
Just take india in their flag is their any discrimination against any race or religion. All were given equal status. india has 80% hindus, but it still anon secular country. But SL has 73% buddhist and branded as buddhist country. In india if you take last 20 years most prime ministers and presidents are from minoritiesYou must realise its not sinhalese country. . Can it happen in srilanka?Tamils has been living atleast as long as so called sinhalese. So if they do not give due rights to the minorities this problem will never be solved. So now its upto sinhala govt whether they want tom strike a fair deal and let everybody be happy, or otherwise.
I wish a genuine leader appear in SL and solve this problem.
Vithiya
The Sri Lankan Government annihilated the entire Tigers leadership but inherited the political legacy from them including the intolerance to other political views. If the Sri Lankan Government choose to go in that path by yielding to the militaristic chavunistc pressure, sooner or later they too will meet the same destiny. Bringing the violaters of International humanitarian laws and those commited war crimes to trial should be the top priority for the peace loving international community now. The Sri Lankan Government is highly intoxicated with war successes and fails to see reason. The questionable means adopted to achive that war is to be fully investicated by the civilized society now. Sri Lankan Sociery is free of one set of mafia now but must get rid of the other family mafia to become free.
It is shame on Sri Lanka that the very same Bandaranaike International Airport, where Bob Rae was held for 12 hours and turned back, was built with Canadian aid in 1967. This is how Sri Lanka repays the donor countries. I think that what happened to Winston Churchill after the 2nd world war will happen to Mahinda Rajapaksa. He was good to defeat the Tigers but worst to govern the country. I hope that Sri Lankan will elect Ranil in the next election to take them to a new future.
VITHIYA, As I know from India's population about 50% are Hindus and 40% Muslims.Anyway I don't know recently it changed dramatically.
We need to know what are the discrimination you[tamils} received from Sinhalese.In SL tamil language is accepted as a state language.Where about 5 million tamils living in India,tamil language not accepted as a government language.
You and your diaspora still trying to misguided world by using words like,genocide,discrimination...etc.. I don't know how many days you can do it.We know that these words have no meaning and it is only help you guys to protect your immigration status wherever you live.But sooner or later international community understand the truth.
In SRILANKA we have one problem equal to both race. It is poverty and unemployment.
It is shame on Sri Lanka that the very same Bandaranaike International Airport, where Bob Rae was held for 12 hours and turned back, was built with Canadian aid in 1967. This is how Sri Lanka repays the donor countries. I think that what happened to Winston Churchill after the 2nd world war will happen to Mahinda Rajapaksa. He was good to defeat the Tigers but worst to govern the country. I hope that Sri Lankan will elect Ranil in the next election to take them to a new future.
Bob Rae is a Sri Lankan(SL)expert and there is no surprise if he shows more interest in SL affairs. In fact he was present in Oslo if I am correct when the so called 'Oslo Declaration' came into effect as an 'Advisor'. One wonders why SL govt. should feel shy to allow a Canadian M.P. to enter S.L or even S.L. Parlimentarians from visiting the Internment camps in Vavuniya, or should have dispelled UN agencies and INGOs from Vanni long before their military offensive if they had nothing to hide. As far as India is concerned Hindus are not 50% but 80% of the population is correct and anybody can check it. Manmohan Singh is a minority Sikh (Manmohan Singh), former President Abul Kalam is a minority Muslim (they are not 40%), a Tamil(Venkatraman),a Malayalee(Giri)and a Malayalee Dhalit (Narayanan)had been Presidents and above all the lady behind Indian Cogress government Sonia Ghandhi is a Roman Catholic of Italian origin. Can you think of such a thing happening in Sri Lanka. As for Tamil 'also being an official language' (in fact since 1987) it is only on paper.Walk into even the Police station in Jaffna, you can not gete your complaint recorded in Tamil.All the charge sheets, indictment, further reports and summons are only in Sinhalese in the Courts in Trinco.Now they are going to recruit 50000 more Sinhala Policemen for the Vanni area.The committee appointed by the President to oversee the development of North , all 17 of them are non Tamils and there is only one Muslim.The Northern and Eastern Province Governors are Sinhalese and former Armed Forces men for that matter. These are facts my dear Sinhalese friends which you can not refute. Please try to change these factors and we can all live in peace as equals in a united Sri Lanka. In fact if even 50% of the articles in the 1978 constitution even has been implemented during the last decades the conflict could have been prevented from reaching such proportions. 13th Amendment is 22 years old now and it has not been implemented properly as the poweres enshrined therein has not been implemented. Do you neeed another 22 years again to implement it. My dear friends 'Res ipso loquitor'
All that the sinhalese wants from other countries money or anything free!! Once they get what ever they want to get, they ask the donors to shut up and go!!