Sri Lanka continues to suffer as a pawn in regional geopolitics

21 February 2012 06:36 am - 0 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Sri Lanka as a collective is at times regarded by some as a pawn of India, China, the USA, and at times as having been of the USSR as well. This situation has prevailed for a long time. Today, it appears it is a high stakes pawn of India and the USA because of China’s interest in Sri Lanka. If it had been China of some three decades earlier, there would not have been this high stakes game as China then was not considered a rising super power.
Sri Lanka is accused regularly of war crimes, human rights violations and undemocratic rule. It is made out as if the rest of the world has no such problems and Sri Lanka is unique in being the odd country out.

While no one should condone human rights violations, but surely, is Sri Lanka alone in human rights violations; if indeed there have been violations of the magnitude the country is being accused of? What about violations in the countries who are accusing Sri Lanka of violations?
Inter community conflicts; again, is Sri Lanka alone with such conflicts? Is Sri Lanka also alone with some communities pushing for independent Statehood? Why are some countries preoccupied with these and other issues that are and have been festering in some countries for decades if not centuries?
Sri Lanka is also accused of having an undemocratic, one man (or family) rule.
Again, even if it were so, is Sri Lanka the only country where this might be the case? Contrary to what might be happening in other countries, Sri Lanka has had several elections at all levels, and has not acted in violation of its constitution.
Despite this, it has had the misfortune of being shunned by some Western countries, which ironically have the dubious record, not long ago, of partnering with dictators and despots in their “national” interest.
So, why is Sri Lanka special for all these do gooders? It cannot be because they are fighting for what is good, because they have chosen to ignore what is bad in a majority of countries in the world at some point or another.

It cannot be because they are concerned about Tamils in Sri Lanka, because they have not supported minorities in a majority of countries in the world, who might in fact envy the position of minorities in Sri Lanka compared to their lot in their countries
It cannot be because of human rights violations because they have ignored violations in a majority of other countries and had them as their friends.
It cannot be because of family rule or lack of democracy because some of their best chums have been dictators and despots.
So why are they so concerned about Sri Lanka?
They are concerned, and increasingly getting even more concerned, because of regional geopolitics. China’s rise as a global super power house has got everything to do with this micro interest in Sri Lanka.
The West, directly and through India, is laying down the terms for a rapprochement and an undertaking to lift the bear off Sri Lanka’s back at the UN Human Rights Council meeting in February/March, and beyond. What is the reason for this deal? Again, China because for India, anyone who is an enemy of their enemy is their friend.
Why is the west hell bent on having Sarath Fonseka released from prison?
Whatever the politics of his detention, it cannot be denied that he has been tried and convicted by the legal system in the country, not by any Kangaroo court. So, why is this interest in him? Again, it’s because of China. The West wants instability in Sri Lanka with Fonseka becoming the anti-Rajapaksa pivotal point, and as that could, in their opinion, lead to a regime change and install a more pro-western government in the country.
In conclusion, if the West and India were of the opinion that their tactics were destabilizing the government, the opposite has happened. If the West thought they can wean Sri Lanka away from China’s influence, the opposite has happened. A majority of countries in the West are dependent on borrowings from the one source in the world that has money to lend, China. Yet, they are intent on attacking China through various proxies and on various pretexts.
Asian Tribune

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Sri Lanka continues to suffer as a pawn in regional geopolitics

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