U.S. Representative Jack Kingston (R-GA) recently submitted a bipartisan letter to President Barack Obama. Cosigned by eleven other members of Congress, it effusively praises the Sri Lankan government for all of its accomplishments since end of the country’s twenty-six-year civil war.
The short note is heavy on rhetoric and light on reality. It talks about the enormous potential for a strengthening of US-Sri Lankan relations, going on to use words like “post-conflict,” while congratulating Rajapaksa’s semi-authoritarian regime for doing such a good job of resettling IDPs, among other misperceptions. Perhaps the most absurd part of the letter is the following:
“In addition, we are encouraged by the ongoing negotiations with minority political parties and the strengthening of the democratic process. We welcome Sri Lanka’s willingness to preemptively report on its civil conflict by establishing a politically diverse and independent Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission. As Sri Lanka pursues these positive steps, it should know it has a friend in the United States.”
I seriously doubt Congressman Kingston (or any of his colleagues) is conversant in Sri Lankan politics. If he were, he would know that “ongoing negotiations” with minority parties are not really happening.
Are the Congressmen even aware of the composition of the LLRC? Or how deeply flawed both the commission itself and the overall process were?
More importantly, they would know that Sri Lanka has obviously become less democratic over the past few years.
Simply put, this misguided letter is in defense of free trade, stronger economic ties, jobs and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
Most discouragingly, Mr. Kingston actually travelled to Sri Lanka last fall. Doesn’t the Congressman know that there a far fewer military personnel on the streets when foreign diplomats are visiting? Do the Congressman and his colleagues really think Sri Lanka is smoothly moving towards genuine national reconciliation?
That seems unlikely.
Sri Lanka was recently ranked 163 (out of 179) on the 2011-2012 Press Freedom Index, published by the widely respected Reporters Without Borders. When it comes to media freedom, Sri Lanka is behind Saudi Arabia and only four spots ahead of Cuba. This is not what democracy looks like. Sri Lanka is better described as a pseudo-democracy still brimming with ethnic tension nearly three years after the civil war.
Yet this group of legislators seems to measure Sri Lanka’s democratic credentials based almost exclusively on the fact that the country holds regular elections.
There are two plausible scenarios worth considering. Maybe Congressman Kingston and a few of his colleagues really do think Sri Lanka has made discernible progress towards national reconciliation.
Or, more likely, the missive is an unequivocal political calculation.
Contradictions when it comes to US foreign policy and international human rights are well-known. But, when it comes to Sri Lanka, it appears that President Obama, Secretary of State Clinton and others are on the right side of history—pushing for accountability. The US has already announced that it will bring a resolution against Sri Lanka at the next session of UN’s Human Rights Council, which will begin in Geneva later this month.
The case for an international investigation into what transpired during the final phase of the conflict is as clear as it is convincing. Widespread violations of international human rights and international human law were committed by both government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Unfortunately, President Rajapaksa is hostile to even a cursory glance at what transpired during the final phase of the conflict.
Most importantly, Sri Lanka’s perennial lack of accountability for past human rights violations have done nothing but encourage further abuses. As The Economist and other publications have recently noted, disappearances, militarization, media freedom, sexual violence, land issues, corruption and impunity are all significant challenges.
With the 19th session of the UN’s Human Rights Council coming imminently, Sri Lanka is coming under fire for good reason. The Rajapaksa administration still shows no real interest in a political solution or even touching the recommendations of its own LLRC report.
Foreign policy, post-war Sri Lanka and international human rights norms are not particularly hot topics in Georgia, or anywhere else in the US. That is understandable, but that does not mean that shameless acts of hollow diplomacy should be tolerated. Congressman Kingston, a solid conservative, is unlikely to receive much of a challenge in this November’s election.
Nevertheless, this flagrant display of opportunism is reprehensible.
Geopolitically, it is true that the US does not want to “lose” Sri Lanka to China.
However, promoting tyranny abroad tends to have consequences which are usually negative for the US at home. Now is not the time for sycophantic gestures and platitudinous remarks on behalf of Washington’s special interests.
Of course, whether the Congressman Kingston actually believes what he has recently written is anybody’s guess.
But one thing is hard to deny: it is irresponsible, unwise and pathetic for US Congressmen to support a rising autocrat like Mr. Rajapaksa.
This article was originally published in The Morningside Post.
I have been to Sri Lanka and its a wonderful country that was detroyed by tamil tigers. Hope peace will come back to that country
lets have a independent international investigation to end this on going argument and contra argument .
as sugested by British PM
http://youtu.be/y9qRA847Tn8
We must have an International investigation into millions of Pounds raised on British soil by Tamil Tigers over 30 years. That fueled the LTTE war on poeple of Sri Lanka. UK establsihment turned a blind eye all this time. LTTE fronts are free to run propaganda fom UK. LTTE rump lobby vote hungry UK MPs even today openly. LTTE cannot terrorise Sri Lanka anymore. You are unhappy?
The writer is an ignorant one. I am in SL since last week, and the change is unbelievable. Country has become much better overall including north. Kids in north now go to schools, unlike their dark past of forced recruitement by tamil terrorists. Economy in north is booming. True there are few issues (dah! just 3 years after a brutal long war). Give them credit you doomers and gloomers!
Lakhdar Brahimi, former Algerian Foreign Minister and former UN envoy said:
“Sri Lanka has played a key role among countries of the Third World in their common stand against colonial domination, violent repression and denial of human rights. All those friends of Sri Lanka are duty-bound today to help this country consolidate peace and ensure that the causes of its terrible 30-year civil war are not allowed to lay the foundations for another conflict.
“Speaking out is neither unfriendly to the people of Sri Lanka, nor an interference in the internal affairs of its government. Quite the opposite: it is a strong manifestation of support for justice, peace and progress for all the people of Sri Lanka.”
The Rajapakse regime is one of the worst regimes on earth and it knows how to corrupt people using sex and money!
Please review the link below for the leaders position:
http://theelders.org/article/sri-lankas-disturbing-actions-met-deafening-global-silence
..
In other words, you would go to Syria at the invitation of President Assad’s private agency and say Assad is doing right thing in killing his own people calling them armed thugs.
You are a part of despicable team in the 21st century.
Please get the money and run…
….
Mr. Williamson Silva,
In other words, you would go to Syria at the invitation of President Assad’s private agency and say Assad is doing right thing in killing his own people calling them armed thugs.
You are a part of despicable team in the 21st century.
Please get the money and run…
Dear Kingston,
The responsible persons like you must bring those responsible for war crimes to justice.
You steadfastly refused to accept that the Sri Lankan Government could be so brutal and merciless especially given their consistent denials.Criminal responsibility for atrocities is conveniently deflected from those in power. The UN Panel Report however has begun to remove the scales from your eyes as Sri Lankan denials begin to look desperate.The UN and the international community like you failed to act and protect the civilians from being massacred now the responsible persons like you must bring those responsible for war crimes to justice.
The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil; but by those who watch them without doing anything. – Albert Einstein
lets have a independent international investigation to end this on going argument and contra argument .
as sugested by British PM
http://youtu.be/y9qRA847Tn8
Sri Lanka has hired mercenaries to do its propaganda work. Did the Senator say that nobody died in the war. That is what President Rajapakse told the world. If he has not he is not being faithful to his friends , paymasters,or employers. We had many of this kind in many countries. The Fox saga which was brought to light in UK is one of such. This looks like and American Fox.
Thank you Mr. Gibson Bateman for telling the truth to the world and specially to the American public.
An excellent piece by Mr bateman.
I am sure Mr Kingston and his associates have some business interest in Sri Lanka. They can’t be blind to what is happening in the country but chose to ignore the grave human rights violations and continued alienation of the tamil minority by the Sri Lankan government when they wrote this letter. Sucking up to the dictatorial regime in Sri Lanka is not going to endear the US to people who value human rights and freedoms in the world. I am sure president Obama will ignore this shameful and pathetic plea of these few self-serving congressmen.
Thank you for clearing another smoke screen of SL and revealing the realities post war after the unsuccessful media smoke screen of a war without witness that was not to be, as SL realised belatedly with growing evidence.
It is the order of nature that politicians come in different hues.Some become statesmen in their own right, others build duck houses in their back yard with public money and others even prepared to pronounce bare faced deliberate untruth.
The world today is becoming more and more violent because of actions or inactions of those mortals elected to quell it, keep adding fuel.
Out of interest why is Sri Lanka so important??? LTTE Regardless of what it meant to be and what eventually turned out to be is the worlds ruthless terrorist organization and the only organization to even have its own Air Force. The methods used by the Sri Lanka is not different from any other country which fights terrorism.
The US a wadge a war of lies on Iraq and Support by the British, which to this day is still held responsible by Muslims for the crises in Palestine!!!
Why don’t you see killing of over a million civilians (mostly Muslim) during last 15 years by USA, UK led NATO in Iraq…
Are you guys blind ? or
Purposely ignorant? or
Are those civilian less valuable, because they were Muslims? or was it o.k. since it was done by big & powerful USA?
Do US or West have any moral right to talk about any human rights ( true or false) in Sri Lanka when USA & West have millions of skeletons in their own cupboards?
Where were you when LTTE terrorists killed tens of thousands of civilians by exploding bombs all over Sri Lanka in Buses, Trains, Temples,public gatherings & hacking to death children & women in their sleeping mats in remote villages?
Where was this so called human rights organizations and channel 4 and the NGOs ????? Did the US or for that matter the British Government stop the funding and cracked down and froze assets of LTTE Funding organizations???
In your opinion were those killings justified?
If you still wish to bring accountability then not only the Sri Lankan government but also the pro LTTE People who supported and funded the LTTE also should be investigated, the TYO, its finances its overseas sleeper agents etc… all of them should be investigated and brought to account !!! even today LTTE Flag is carried freely and used in protest in front of parliament!!! has anything been done of that??? ex LTTE commanders and wing leaders reside freely in the UK!!! has anything been done??? Should that also be included in Human Rights Accountability????
Yes indeed, where were YOU when one of the world’s most racist state terrorists were killing, murdering,raping and destroying ethnic and religious minorities on the island mainly Tamils for decades from long before the LTTE were even born? At least 160,000 Tamils were mass murdered, the north and east aerially bombed and shelled from 1983 to 2009 ending in the final holocaust that year.The LTTE killed about 5000 Sinhala people mainly in responsive suicide attacks shown on TV and news but the mass slaughtering in the north and east was carried out behind a wall of silence without any reportage. Marie Colvin the well known investigative Reporter wanted to know the truth and lost her eye to a grenade tossed at her by a SL soldier but she survived to to tell the truth. Alas she died in Homs in Syria where a similar onslaught against its own citizens is ongoing. SL is known to dine and wine and even pay for all expenses holiday at state expense. It has happened before. Is this letter possibly what SL state terrorists get in return?
Corrupt, incompetent and mockery politicians are everywhere including in the US. Its no surprise that they can be in the Congress too. These guys have no respect for human rights and mankind!
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, chair of The Elders said:
“The government of Sri Lanka needs to show a much greater commitment to achieving meaningful reconciliation. The ongoing persecution and disappearances of human rights activists, journalists and government opponents is truly terrifying.
“Unfortunately, previous internal commissions have done little to reveal the truth behind human rights abuses. It is doubtful that the President’s ‘Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission’ will help Sri Lankans to work towards lasting peace and reconciliation.”
tutu is bribed by tamils,he is not more than a shameless old a-hole looking for a pension plan
SRI LANKA: New wave of abductions and dead bodies in Sri Lanka
http://www.humanrights.asia/news/forwarded-news/AHRC-FAT-007-2012
Srilankan government use boys and girls and gems to bribe.
Republican politicians such as Kingston should have moral responsibility. In the last phase of the eelam war Sri lankan army carpet bombed, used WMD brought from Russia and killed 40000 (actual count some say may be 70000) innocent Tamil civilians in a 2-day period. Mr. Kingston can view US’s satellite imagery if he wants proof.
There are also proof that SL army starved the Tamils to death and we are living in 21st century after witnessing the Jewish holocaust in 20th century.
Let me give one instance of the suffering of a child after that 2-day massacre on May 19, 2009. This child went to her Mother’s dead body lying along a pile of other dead bodies and sucked her nipples for milk. If this picture does not run chill in Mr. Kingston’s blood, i dont know what else will.
Have you ever been to Sri Lanka?. Or are you just one of those people who look at satellite photos and talk?
Please look at some of these websites about the LTTE heroes and there achievements!.
http://www.spur.asn.au/ltteatrp.htm
http://lankadailynews.com/ltte-atrocities/
Moral eh MariaSoosai? Where was your moral responsibility when your tamil terror goons were killing your own moderate politicians such as Kadir, Thiru and Amir? Where was it when your tamil terrorrists were shooting on back of kids as young as 8 years after forced recruitements? Where was it when your tamil suicide bombers blasted innocent tamil people who were fledding to liberated areas? Tamil terrirists and their supporters (who has tamil blood on their hands and toungs) are human-garbage and a cancer to the decent society. Luckily after a brutal rule of decades by tamil terrorists, they are now living peacefully. Kudos to SL government!
Irresponsible is right. A “politically diverse and independent” LLRC? The statement would be funny if it wasn’t describing a commission tasked with studying issues of war crimes.
The board of the LLRC consisted of a team biased in their make-up, with ties to the Sri Lankan forces. At no point was their report likely to be credible, factual or in any way meaningful.
To support this flawed and skewed commission, which modern Sri Lankan history has shown is more likely to lead to further conflict then lay the foundations of peace, is beyond irresponsible when coming from the respected office of a politician from a western democracy.
It is a downright cold and calculating manoeuvre which gives credibility to a regime that continues to dodge all attempts by the international community to establish justice, peace and accountability on the island.
For Shame.
Hey LTTE Diaporians
Long and short of it is Sri Lankan Government crushed the most brutal terrorist organistion at fraction of cost of lives when compared to US sponsored wars in Iran,afganistan etc. These diasporians are strandard where they are and cant come back as they now have to face investigations.
Mr Kingston is right. They should look forward. SL has been a US friendly country for a long time and current administration has spoiled it for whatever reason. If US need presence in the region they need tohelp SL in the rebuilding process and help the country’s development. By heckling or trying to meddle in politcs theywill not achieve anything.
Gajaba,
US helped eliminate LTTE thinking Sinhalese are saints. Little they knew truth is otherwise. Carpet bombing and using WMD are the same reason US invaded Iraq. If proven, SL will stand the same fate. No wonder the sinhalese are defending themselves with childish zeal. Tamils dont care what US does to Iran or Afghanistan but we care what is done to Tamils. Until justice is done, Tamils will seek anyone’s help to drag sinhalese leaders to Hague!
Hay maria,
We Sinhalese also don’t care how we associate with as long as we eradicate ltte scum like you all over the work. Be it American, Chinese, Indians, ect.
Defeating terrorists comes with price. Well doneSri Lanka. Well said congressman.
When some one in the senate write some positive thing about the LTTE (a listed terrorist outfit) or some thing on war crimes about Sri Lanka it is good for these so called experts. I guess that is good journalism!!.
This writer is trying to redicule the congressman who visited the country and seen for him self of what he is talking about. where as the writer only has second hand information picked up from here and there. It has all the hall marks of a “tamilnet” writeup.
“Doesn’t the Congressman know that there a far fewer military personnel on the streets when foreign diplomats are visiting”
This stament alone shows how childish the writers arguments are. There are droves of foreign diplomats and officials coming to sri lanka everyday. Especially US officails.So,if the military personel are out of the streets as the writer suggests they will be confined to the barracks for good!
What an absurd claim. I live in Sri Lanka, frequently travel to the North for work and can guarantee that military personnel are told to be “less visible” when diplomats visit the Northern Province.
NAK- you really do sound stupid. Your reference to “Tamilnet” is garbage and any knowledgeable reader knows that what you are saying is ridiculous.
Tamil people are asking for Justice, which was denied by Sri Lankan government. People, who lost their loved ones in war, do not believe that local mechanism will bring justice for them. So, they ask for International Independent Investigation to find out who was responsible for war crimes committed during the war.
Congratulations Cogressman Kingston and the delegation for not kneeling down to share the illgotten wealth of the LTTE. Mr Gibson Bateman’s irresponsible article to discredit you must be worth a fortune for himself. Shame on yoy Mr Bateman.
LTTE scum inside SriLanka has been disempowered but the LTTE scum overseas are up in arms to paint a distorted picture of SriLanka, so that they could continue to receive all the available social benefits meant for genuine refugees in their host countries.
Yes, it is a smokescreen of a letter to hide the mass murder and gross crimes against humanity carried out by a racist religious bigotted so-called majoritarian Sinhala Only Buddhist state aginst ethnic minoirty Tamil people of Sri Lanka over 63 years, the worst under the present and previous regimes.It amounts to genocide. Those who help/hide and protect such a failed rogue state to commit such crimes aginst humanity are doing a great injustice. Both sides of these mass crimes by the state and the LTTE need to be flsuhed out by an independent UN body like the UNHCR to get to know the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. This is owed to ALL Sri Lankan citizens who deserve good governance and real democracy. History of post independent Sri Lanka has seen enough blodshed and destruction by the state against not only Tamils but also Sinhala citizens from JVP days. Now is the chance to cleanse the state of mass crimes against humanity through sick governance. Let not the rest of the world aid and abet in sick cover-ups.