David Cameron’s burden - EDITORIAL

10 March 2015 07:31 pm - 3 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

David Cameron has spoken. He’s said a lot about Sri Lanka. It is not the first time that the British Prime Minister has taken time off his busy job of taking care of his country to address matters pertaining to a country at the other end of the world. There’s a difference, though.

Whereas his earlier speeches were full of despair and foreboding, laced with dismay and criticism and marked by veiled threats to move or support moves in certain influential quarters in the international community against Sri Lanka, this time around Cameron’s words were warm and hopeful.

Cameron’s thoughts on Sri Lanka coincided, unsurprisingly, with President Maithripala Sirisena’s visit to the UK. He has indulged, naturally, in a compare and contrast exercise. Now there was no love lost between Cameron and the former president. So when he says President Sirisena is progressive and open and says this is in ‘dramatic contrast’ to his (Sirisena’s predecessor), he is essentially vilifying Mahinda Rajapaksa.

He has cited ‘encouraging steps’ taken by President Sirisena after assuming office. The release of military land, appointment of civilian governors and a visit to the Northern Province are all positive moves. As or even more positive, one could argue, was ridding the country of the terrorist menace, the freeing of some 300,000 hostages and securing a future for countless Tamil children who otherwise were seen as cannon fodder by the LTTE. That Cameron doesn’t dwell on all that doesn’t sit well with the rhetoric of demanding re-visitation of the past for purposes of reconciliation and based on it the building of a better tomorrow.

But Cameron betrays a patently colonial attitude when he concedes that in 2013 he went to Jaffna ‘to shine a light on the lack of progress and help bring about international pressure for reform’. That’s White Man’s Burden all over again. Whose notions of ‘progress’ are we talking about here? ‘Reform’ as per whose notions of Utopia? If he came to ‘shine a light’ it implies that he is a busybody, nothing more. It is not his job.

However, he can claim a love for humanity that is so great that it cannot be contained by the British Isles and therefore justify such ‘light shedding’. That’s a good thing. On the other hand, there is the vexed question of double standards and selectivity. Cameron talks of ‘strengthening respect for human rights, improving political accountability and ensuring the freedom of the press’.

Human rights cannot be talked of without mentioning Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay. If accountability is a concern there is his deputy’s well known confession that the invasion of Iraq was illegal. Freedom of the press? Yes. Then how about Snowden?

We need to mention all that before we applaud Cameron for being concerned. We have to say ‘thank you for saying you won’t forget victims and survivors, even though you seem to think only Tamils suffered in Sri Lanka’. We must also say, in the name of morality and civilization, ‘start remembering the victims of your own foreign policy prerogatives’.

This country is ready to deal with its past, the good and the bad. This is what President Sirisena has pledged. He has not pledged, however, to go along with any old thing that the likes of David Cameron dreams up. Cameron wishes the international spotlight to fall on a different Sri Lanka come September 2015.
We hope so too. We yearn for better and more democratic political structures. We yearn for a leadership that has humility as well as backbone, the civility to shake hands even the Camerons of this world and also to say, politely, ‘we can think for ourselves, thank you very much’.

When David Cameron last visited, his media antics were not applauded. We are waiting on the claps. Still. That’s something Cameron would do well to reflect on.

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 3

Dr Punchihewa Wednesday, 11 March 2015 01:08 PM

Nice and balanced. We need to say to our foreign friends thus far and no further.

piyal Wednesday, 11 March 2015 03:39 PM

Who is Cameron?

Nanda Thursday, 12 March 2015 08:29 AM

Marvelous piece of work by the writer, Excellent.

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

David Cameron’s burden - EDITORIAL

Comments - 3

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Western purple-faced langurs see blue!

Most Viewed in News

SL on alert on possible genocide allegations by Canada

A US “Kaputa”, a Lankan “Nariya” and a Presidential “Feast”

Confusion remains if April 15 is a bank holiday

Belgian traveller scammed in Kalutara

Complaint lodged over Piumi Hansamali's possession of Gota’s Range Rover

New Visa procedure implemented

MIRROR CRICKET

Chamari Athapaththu sets big goal for T20 World Cup

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

Chamodi, Dewmi spins Sri Lanka U19 Women to big win

TODAY'S HEADLINES

Debt Restructuring Talks: Bondholders Fear Regime Change Impact

Don’t be deceived by NPP and Cardinal Ranjith: UNP

Emirates halts check-in for connections, UL cancels flights to Dubai

Plans afoot to obtain “Blue Flag Beaches” certification for SL beaches

Hardik fined Rs 12 lakh for violating IPL code of conduct after win over Punjab Kings

Chamari Athapaththu sets big goal for T20 World Cup

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings