LOAN, PEACE AND LOTTERIES
Why are so many people interested in giving a loan to Sri Lanka? The loan that amounts to three billion US dollars is to be given over three years. Few weeks ago it was reported that the most kind international community had decided to give us aid to the tune of three billion US dollars. However later it was revealed that it was only a loan and not aid as such. Now we are told by so many ambassadors, high commissioners, and others the loan would be decided in Tokyo in early June. However, it appears that the loan would be given only if the fascist murderer Prabhakaran send his man Anton Balasingham to Tokyo on the 9th of June.
One Mr. John Cushnahan, a senior member of the European Parliament, (senior or junior anybody from the so called international community is supposed to know more than the Sinhalas, except of course the pseudo intellectuals in the foreign funded NGOs and the Universities who are supposed to be experts on conflict resolution, "ethnic problem" and what not, on matters connected with Sri Lanka) according to a weekend newspaper, "has described the exclusion of the LTTE from the Washington preparatory conference as unacceptable and said that the LTTE were justified in being annoyed over the inconsiderate decisions of responsible authorities". He had also said that it would be a mistake by the LTTE to boycott the donor meeting in Tokyo. Akashi our new "friend" from Japan had urged both the government and the LTTE not to miss the donor conference in Japan. Then the old "friend" Solheim had made it compulsory for the LTTE to attend the conference.
Why are all these gentlemen so keen to get the LTTE at the Loan Conference. Some of them could even say that it is the presence of the LTTE that is absolutely necessary and not of the government of Sri Lanka. It is clear that the major portion of the loan is to be given to the LTTE for so called development of the northern and the eastern provinces. However, the loan would be officially given to Sri Lanka and it is the government of Sri Lanka and not the LTTE that would be called upon to pay back the money. Even if an Eelam is established with the support of the "international community", Prabhakaran and his gang of terrorists would not be asked to pay back a cent of the three billion dollars. In any event the Sinhala people who constitute more than seventy five percent of the population, and who pay more than their share of the indirect taxes would be paying back the money to the so called donor countries, even if Prabhakaran in the name of development were to buy arms to kill the Sinhala people. Is this a way of funding the LTTE to kill the Sinhalas, establish an Eelam and then to ask the Sinhala people to pay back the loan. During the whole process the Sinhala people would be kept under the impression that they are given aid.
If the international community is interested in developing Sri Lanka they should not impose as a condition that the LTTE should take part in the "loan talks". What has "loan talks" got to do with the "peace talks". The LTTE according to the script written by the state department of the USA has temporarily withdrawn from the "peace talks". According to the same script funds are to be raised for the so called development of the northern and the eastern provinces and the LTTE should be a party to the "loan talks". The LTTE now demands so many other things including withdrawal of the army from the high security zones on humanitarian grounds, (We know that the Bishop Kenneth Fernando had described Prabhakaran as a humane person but apart from that nobody has heard anything about any humanitarian work by the LTTE. In any event the LTTE has not withdrawn their terrorists from the "high security zones" that they have created and they do not seem to have any considerations humanitarian or otherwise for the Tamils living in the vicinity of those areas.) recognition for the sea tigers in order to take part in the "loan talks". It should be noted that they have not said anything on the resumption of the "peace talks". People in Sri Lanka are confused and most probably they do not see any difference between the "loan talks" and the "peace talks".
The USA having got Japan involved in "peace talks" as well as "loan talks" is now trying to get India also involved. Armitage, in India, would have definitely taken up the Sri Lankan issue and the BJP government trying to make a deal with the USA would have agreed to some of the proposals from the state department. If we were to think that Nambiars and Jacobs are mere individuals then we are mistaken. They may not be representatives of the Indian government at present, but very soon they would be. The earth does not rotate about its axis and go round the Sun according to the gravitational laws formulated by Newton or Einstein. It is the state department of the USA that formulates the relevant laws. We do not know how long it will continue to be so but at present Newtons and Einsteins have been displaced by Armitages. In a sense, when it comes to western colonialism, there is not much of a difference between Newtons, Einsteins and Armitages but we will ignore that for the time being.
What has India got to do with the "peace talks" and the "peace process"? It is an exercise in legitimising the LTTE, and gradually and peacefully the USA is getting implemented what it wants. In Iraq and some other countries the USA dictates terms through the gun. In Sri Lanka the state department does not have to use the mighty armed forces of the west to get things done. A mere telephone call to a minister such as Milinda Moragoda would be enough. When Japan was drawn into the "peace talks" and the "peace process", India did not utter a word, though it undermined its position as a regional power. Now Indian government itself is being gradually drawn into the "process". As it is the SLMM that has lost any credibility it had in the eyes of the public other than the pseudo intellectuals who are agents of western colonialism, the state department is determined to make it more credible. If India becomes a member of the SLMM then not only the mission gets a good name but the LTTE is also more recognised.
The irony is that it is the opposition and some members of the "Jathika Vyaparaya" who campaign for the inclusion of India in the SLMM. These people do not know that gradually they are being manoeuvred to accept all the proposals of the so called international community. If one is against the "MoU" drafted by the international community and signed by Prabhakaran and Ranil Wickremesinghe then one has to consistently oppose it as a matter of principle. How can one oppose the MoU, the establishment of the SLMM and then campaign for the inclusion of India in the very same SLMM. The SLMM was established under the MoU and these people who want India as a member of the SLMM are now, in effect, accept the MoU. What else does the state department want from the opposition?
Nambiars and Jacobs are only paving the way for India to get involved in the "peace process". The opposition and the "Jathika Vyaparaya" should continue to oppose the MoU and the SLMM and should request India not to take part in any of these betrayals planned by the international community headed by the USA. India could be forced by the USA to get involved but that is a different matter altogether, and the opposition should not allow itself to be an agent of the state department. Even if India is forced to become a member of the SLMM, the opposition and the "Jathika Vyaparaya" should not give any credibility to the MoU and the SLMM.
There is some kind of dual power in the country. The UNF directly represents the interests of the non national powers. They are being supported by the Liberals and the Marxists and the other pseudo intellectuals, the most ardent supporters being the "Trotskyte twins" Vickramabahu Karunarathne and Vasudeva Nanayakkara. The national forces are not directly represented but the SLFP, the JVP, the MEP and few other political parties take up the issues raised by them. The President is a reluctant passenger in this camp and we have to be very careful in interpreting some of her actions. Nobody knows for sure why the President decided to take over the Development Lotteries Board. It may be that President took this step in order to prevent the Development Lotteries Board, which is the main source of revenue as far as the Presidential fund is concerned, being privatised. We do not know whether the President herself, being the great actress as she claims to be, is acting according to the script of the state department.
We all know that there is a popular demand from certain quarters in the opposition and the "Jathika Vyaparaya" for the President to take over certain vital ministries that are important in matters of the defence and internal security of the country. The President has never made any categorical statement on this demand and we do not know where she stands in connection with the demand. She may be standing on both camps as she is very capable of engaging in such acrobatics.
Whatever her stand may be on these issues the Government press in Borella and not the posh hotels in Tokyo where the "loan talks" would be held has attracted the attention of the people. The battle lines have been drawn, may be according the script, and already Vickramabahu Karunarathne has been given time by the non national Rupavahini to air his views supporting Milinda Moragoda, the boy who rushes to the American Embassy the moment he hears the telephone ringing. Moragoda and Karunarathne have so much in common and we could expect more joint acts from this duo. The President may be testing water but we do not know what she wants to do after the testing is over. In any event she should not be given any opportunity to capitulate and the opposition and the "Jathika Vyaparaya" will have to be careful in formulating a strategy in respect of the Development Lottery Board Issue.
The President, according to the constitution has to consult the Prime Minister in these matters only when she considers such consultation is necessary and in the present case she has acted constitutionally. It is not a government of cohabitation that we have but as I said earlier a kind of a dual power situation, though the President seems to be on both sides. The constitution gives power to the President to take over ministries without consulting the Prime Minister and it is that fact that has to be established beyond any doubt at this stage.
Professor Nalin de Silva
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