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MISCUED GENEVA

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17 April 2013 06:30 pm - 0     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Naive live in bliss: after acting silly at Geneva 2013. Mileage gained by LLRC report abbreviated into an Action Plan, was placed on a mock timetable and fawningly delivered to Hillary Clinton, needlessly.

Now Americans complain of a failure to deliver. Without prattling gibberish nonsense: attend to the priorities; provide potent results, as when overcoming terrorists. Clip the lip and do the homework. Show results and walk upright. Instead we wobble blindly on bluff.

Action Plan is a revised LLRC report disarranged and disshevelled - jettisoning the cozy caveats that cut comfort corners. LLRC report was lethargically placed in the sin bin and fell into deep slumber by doing little else- weakened our position for the asking. Gone gaga with none daring to enlighten on the ongoing folly?

After the knot is tied for better or worse, Action Plan requires a doing to enable friendly nations to wield a cane at those trying to penalize us. Make our friends strong - rather than presenting feeble defences. China suggested cruising with the US Resolution at Geneva 2013, which the President courageously declined. Purely relying on friends, places, diplomatic expediency and avoidance of international tangles- ahead. If Action Plan is progressed USA is placed on a defensive mode.

A weak mind frame has set in to respond with lame defences, while possessed of potent material from which the initiative can be wrested by leading from the front. Pick on the positives and not waste energy countering the next rendering of Channel 4’s twittering periodic discharges? The moment of glory is in the rescue operation saving innocent civilians held in captivity by notorious terrorists in the last days of the war. Now down for lashes. They were rescued at the cost of heavy military losses amidst fire directed at escaping civilians to prevent the crossing. Due to a default mindset the prized 5 days of the operations is shamed instead of hyped. What should have been an award might become a charge.

Americans would have colour washed it as a prized moment for democracy. Instead our military is painted as fall guys. They fought the war on the concept of a ‘zero causalty’ rule, making the minimum casualty figure a reality-a perception that succeeded: yet we are disgraced for disregard for human life with an unsubstantiated number of casualties. No such allegations were lodged against the Indian Forces (IPKF) when operating in the same backyard.

Where a human shield is created by live fodder to safeguard terrorists can it be pierced with the wave of a magic wand? It was not catapults and water pistols that were encountered. LLRC report accepts there was no intentional targeting of civilians. There are no reported disproportionate excesses of substance that have surfaced. Domestically can face any encounter successfully. Internationalise it- prejudices will set in - creation by our maker through a regime of cold feet of doing sweet nothing.
We are comfortably home since the law of war deems the focal moment as the commanding officers state of mind, at the relevant time of action. No other avenue was available in saving the innocent held hostage? Stand and stare and do nothing or fall at the feet of terrorists?




Extermination of terrorism is possible only by its elimination especially where civilians are held bound as a bargaining chip. Didn’t President Carter attempt to free the American hostages and lose the Presidential Re-Election with his helicopter invasion in operation Eagle Claw in Iran? We freed over 162,000 civilians from the terrorists hold.

Undisputable are the facts of restored democracy, tolerant to dissent and diverse opinion, the rule of law prevailing though abridged, rehabilitation, transferring child soldiers to their lawful custodians and integrating LTTE fighting cadres to civil society. Aren’t the wielders of axes compelled to say, times are much better for civilians than under the terrorists they supported? Compel them to say next time – it is getting still better after having done the housework. The error is in the method of marketing with a Minister having a ball, girdling the globe, seeing the world at public expense. Foreign Affairs are a sad reflection with embassies stuffed with sycophants. Strategizing died with Lakshman Kadirgamar.

As New Delhi becomes weaker, Chennai comes stronger holding a large contingent of elected representatives that sit in the Lok Sabha. The Center seeks a stable government and needs a helping hand from Tamil Nadu. BJP’s shift is ominous as its the first major party to bend to pressures of the South. A weakened India needs peripheral support and will use the whip for her survival- however stout is our support: India two-timed in many a crisis.

America’s domestic front does not impact Sri Lanka unlike India’s, which perennially faults at the urging of Tamil Nadu. It is to American we need turn; it sure will infuriate India, the only Asian country that is exploited under the pretext of being a friend.

India has a weird psyche and can never be trusted. Indian assistance is to give a little and take more. India will learn a lesson when it finds orphaned in South Asia with no genuine friends around. Unnecessary to be offensive to India- realistically maintain a distance and move closer to nations that have lent a helping hand. India will get the message. We need to court America with the Action Plan – a nutshell of the LLRC report.

Japan and Malaysia should be looked upon as our guides. Importance lies in wooing African and South American non- aligned nations after studying the likely lineup at Geneva 2014. Avoid confrontation with the Islamic world that has stood solidly notwithstanding western pressures. We presented India with a whip to lash in enlarging the 13th amendment from its limited scope of a bi-lateral (Indo-Sri Lanka) agreement granting a multi lateral status by the contents of our short-sighted 2009 Geneva resolution by assuring to adhere to the 13th amendment. It was a hollow victory that launched a cursed albatross above the Palk Strait that now requires a diplomatic sniper. India will express anguish if we overturn the 13th amendment but out of their security concerns we can overcome it. India has no choice since it is an internal matter but for sure RAW will be make mischief: it often runs missions unsanctioned until gated. There are no if and buts, the 13th amendment needs tinkering if we are to remain secure.





To convert a few that abstained to vote for us and prod a few floating votes against us to move to the abstention column should be our approach next time. We cannot expect to win with the might of the west ganging against but improving the record is next to winning. African and the South American liberal votes cannot be solicited without doing the necessary groundwork undertaken at home. Our Government is shoddy in failing to take curable corrective measures.

If the abstention list grows long, India will join it or if America thinks of opting out, India will wish to lead it. India may be compelled not to permit either to happen in the interest of its local politics. There lies the danger of an uncertain future of a cagey neighbour.

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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

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