By Malinda Seneviratne and Chamara Sumanapala –
Malinda Seneviratne
Recently some media reports from Kenya claimed that the African nation was planning to canvass support for a boycott of the Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting (CHOGM 2013) in Colombo. The Nairobi government denied this and the story faded away.
The story is interesting. It had nothing to do with the venue and the kinds of objections raised by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. It was about chiding the Commonwealth for its silence with respect to Kenya’s battle against the International Criminal Court (ICC). At a recent African Union meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Kenyans garnered substantial support in its battle with the ICC. African countries charge that the ICC is biased as all cases currently probed involve African countries. Since one third of the member states of the Commonwealth of Nations are from Africa, any call for boycott would not go unheeded in the continent. That was the logic of the boycott call reported.
Boycott or not, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has a valid argument. He is correct in his assessment that the Commonwealth has done absolutely nothing to protect African leaders from being prosecuted by the ICC. The ICC might be having a valid case against the Kenyan leaders including the President and the Vice President, but if this is the case, the ICC could have and should have much better cases against some other nations for crimes committed against Commonwealth members. The USA continues to launch drone attacks in Pakistani territory ignoring the Pakistani government’s protests. India is repeatedly accusing Pakistan of harboring terrorists and encouraging secessionist groups inside India. Meanwhile, during the 1980s India trained and armed secessionist rebel movements in Sri Lanka. In 1987, India violated Sri Lankan airspace to drop ‘humanitarian aid.’ It is hard to recall if any of these acts solicited even a murmur of protest from the Commonwealth. Under such circumstances, Uhuru Kenyatta cannot expect treatment any better.
All this raises some interesting and important questions. Let’s start at home.
Recently, former Liberian President Charles Taylor was sent to prison by the Special Tribunal for Sierra Leone. He was declared guilty for aiding a terrorist movement which committed grievous crimes. The presiding judge Richard Lussick, emphasized that the world was “entering a new era of accountability” with this verdict. True. Now we can talk about states that subvert other states. This was a non-Commonwealth nation stepping on a Commonwealth nation. The Commonwealth didn’t feel constrained to object as a collective. If Taylor had erred, so too did Indira Gandhi and her son Rajiv, for Sri Lanka was India’s Sierra Leone. Still is, some might claim. The lady and her son are long dead, both assassinated with the latter by the very outfit bottle-fed by his mother and fattened by him, but what is relevant here is that it was a home vs. home affair, within the Commonwealth. Others in the household did nothing, not even whimper a protest. Perhaps it is because the Commonwealth is a product of worse kinds of transgressions that these border-crossings if you will do not warrant comment forget about loud objection. Or is it that the Commonwealth is only there for former rogue-nations to scoop up some feel-goodness now and then, with leaders such as David Cameron occasionally being possessed by the demon spirits of forefathers to say things like ‘I am going to talk tough to Sri Lanka (read ‘talk down’)’?
If Taylor was ‘outsider’ invading a fraternal member of the Commonwealth, the bloody US adventures using drones on territories of the Commonwealth (Pakistan) are a thousand times worse. Britain didn’t support Taylor, but are thick in complicity with crimes against humanity perpetrated by the USA. Will the Commonwealth drop its coyness and for once say ‘Elizabeth’s country is helping murder citizens of the Commonwealth’? Will David Cameron be required to answer ‘tough questions’ about Britain’s friendship with the USA?
*Malinda Seneviratne is the Chief Editor of ‘The Nation’ and his articles can be found at www.malindawords.blogspot.com
Ben Dover / November 13, 2013
Our precious scribe Malinda seems to be having bad dreams about the ICC. Why? I don’t believe that many people will see a (any) correlation between drone strikes in Afghanistan/Pakistan, the Gandhi parrippu drop or the Taylor crimes on the one hand, and the path to justice for those accused of war crimes/crimes against humanity in Sri Lanka, on the other.
Surely you can do better, old chap?
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Sidney / November 13, 2013
Malinda, fools rush in where angels fear to tread. This is a silly argument – remember “a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Drink deep or taste not of that Pirean Sping”.
In the Context, clearly the time has come for a comprehensive, measured and results-based EVALUATION of the Commonwealth of Nations performance in the past 2 decades.
No organization is above EVALUATION and results measurement. Given the track record of this outfit a TRANSPARENT EVALUATION of the organization and its RESULTS is required. The same criteria of development project results measurement and evaluation is applicable to this outfit and its programs and projects.
If it is proved as it no doubt would be, that this British Colonial old boys club for third world Dictators really promotes the “Common Poverty of Nations” and inequality and leaves a massive CARBON FOOTPRINT with NO measurable benefits to the peoples of these countries with regard to promoting EQUITABLE growth, development and democracy this WHITE ELEPHANT British Colonial Outfit should be SHUT DOWN.
All Sri Lankans know that the CHOGM circus to celebrate Prince Charles 65th Birthday party in his post-colony, for which the Rajapakse military dictatorship has purchased fleets of Mercedes Benz cars and super luxury buses with massive kick backs will further beggar and indebt this already highly indebted country. The CHOGM circus will also boost the Rajapakse DEEP STATE and military dictatorship with its FACADE OF DEMOCRACY and further damage democracy and the Rule of Law in Sri Lanka.
It is also clear to Sri Lankans that the Common Poverty of Nations is the more appropriate name for the Commonwealth Circus – a British Colonial relic. At this time in Sri Lanka it is clear that the Commonwealth is not just irrelevant and obsolete, it is positively DANGEROUS to the PUBLIC GOOD in the Global South. DEMOCRACY, GOOD GOVERNANCE AND RULE OF LAW which it claims to be its “core values” are constantly and consistently violated and undermined by this British colonial outfit’s support for third world dictators.
The Common Poverty of Nations is an organization that promotes MILITARIZATION covertly, while boosting Asian and African Military Dictators (like Mahinda Rajapakse whose regime is accused of war crimes), to whom Britain sells arms and intelligence technologies during CHOGM Business Forums, while preaching human rights and rule of law!
2. The fact is, all the SPIN generated at the Common Poverty of Nations (CHOGM) will not fool foreign investors – as indicated by the miniscule FDI figures for Sri Lanka. Foreign investors look for good governance, honest regulators and regulatory institutions and economic stability to invest in the REAL ECONOMY that produces real as opposed to fictional growth. Foreign investors except for Casino Kings are not even looking at Sri Lanka because the CORRUPT and UNEDUCATED Rajapakese brothers are a bunch of looters of public and private wealth and they know it. Rajapassa is running desperately behind the likes of Packer.
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Dilhara / November 13, 2013
MS, Sri Lanka is the first Asian country in 24 years to host this WHITE ELEPHANT CHOGM show because most Asian leaders are intelligent and know that the Commonwealth of Clowns merely promotes poverty, INEQUALITY and third world dictators, and is a useless British colonial relic organization, and hence could not be bothered to host it and waste huge amounts of cash on a non-starter!
Last time CHOGM circus was hosted by the racist Aussi govt. which is paying Rajapassa’s Navy to stop boat people from Asia and Africa and refugees going to WHITE AUSTRALIA- this is also one of the uses of the Common Poverty of Nations – and before that Uganda’s dictator Museveni hosted it!
Only solution is to SHUT DOWN the Common poverty of Nation asap.
Rajapassa has embraced a WHITE ELEPHANT, never mind the WHITE MAN’S BURDEN – before more funds are wasted on this useless outfit by the Sri Lankan Emperor who wants to be its head, and have Charles and Cameron “under” him (Ha, Ha, Ha,) this Commonwealth of Clowns should be shut down- N’est pas?!
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Sophia / November 14, 2013
Why did not India want to hold that ?
They are the superpower in the region.
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Sophia / November 14, 2013
May be it is all about the INFERIORITY COMPLEX that Rajapskhes have.
See the entire approach is far from understanding.
Since the bugger is in office, external affairs have been montessori like. As no previous regimes, they did not allow foreign missions to enter the country. Nor have they appointed qualified ones to represent the country outside.
Best example is MR^s cousin – as a former tea taster/businessman turn to a high commissioner to the US ( relationship is above all CARRIER life experience)
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JULAMPITIYE AMARAYA / November 14, 2013
MALINDAAAAAAAAAAA;
Listen.
Within FRIENDS like you and Jarapassas, Do [they / We] need any ENEMIES??????.
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Sukirihami / November 14, 2013
I wonder how these buggers would face in case they will be caught by deeds. They will have no places to leave and hide.
Rajapakshes brothers continue with their crimes against humanity. So silent masses seem to be growing. MS will have to leave the country soon. I wonder why these buggers with skills seem to fail do the job properly.
Yesterday, I heard president of a german soccer club admitting his great failures and asking people to decide whether or not he could continue. .. See, these are the great values in human life. Our buggers – regardless of their own heart feelings, continuously stay covering all abusive acts for their personal gains.
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Kiri Yakka / November 13, 2013
So Malinda,
Finally the Job of the CommonWealth is to protect Criminal Governments ? because they form Governments as in Africa ? Do you expect the CommonWealth to follow your pattern ?
Perhaps they worry about their reputation ? Something you do not have to worry about.
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RAM / November 13, 2013
What is relevant here is the selective application of the law. The ICC has a very enthusiastic supporter in the US, and it points out at various times WHO should be prosecuted. Yet it’s own citizens are immune, because the US never signed up to it. The UK and the rest of the followers also seem to be immune even though they have signed up.
It is claimed elsewhere today that the abhorent practice of selective application of the law is all too common in Sri Lanka. Let me assure you that that is true of the UK too. Laws that apply to the little man don’t if you happen to be amongst the great and the good. Criminality in the Financial district of London is also often shielded from the law, because it BRINGS IN taxes. After all the various shenanigans that came to light post-2008 economic fiasco, NOT one bank(s)ter has gone to jail. The companies / banks are quite prepared to pay 10% of their ill-gotten gains in fines if it protects the ‘criminals’ from prosecution. Various politicians in the pockets of these companies ask for more and more ‘deregulation’ in order to further these fraudulent practices.
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Safa / November 13, 2013
With MR in the chair you dont have to worry. Charles Taylor is like mothers milk to him.
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PalmSquirrell / November 13, 2013
Pakistan aided and abetted Al Qaeda and the Taleban and still continues to aid the Afghan Taleban. So Pakistan is responsible for 9-11 along with the Afghan Taleban they created. In this scenario the Pakistanis are an enemy fighting the Coalition forces who only attacked Afghanistan because of 9-11.
Pakistan is anything but innocent, and they deserve much more than drone attacks for all the things they do, from creating and aiding the Afghan Taleban to ethnic cleansing of Pakistani minorities to genocide of Bangladeshis during the later’s war of independence.
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Candidly / November 13, 2013
The next time president Rajapakse visits the UK he should consider announcing that he is going to visit Scotland to found out from the Scots more about the cruel treatment they have received from the English and why so many of them want an independent state.
I’m sure Rajapakse is too well versed in diplomatic protocol to do such a thing, yet the foolish David Cameron feels he has the right to announce to Tamil separatists now resident in the UK exactly what he thinks he is going to do when he gets to Sri Lanka without first discussing it with the Sri Lankan government. Cameron looks as though as though he’s following in the footsteps of Gordon Brown and David Miliband in thinking that the British Empire still exists. He deserves to be put firmly in his place.
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Palayang yako! / November 13, 2013
“Boycott or not, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has a valid argument. He is correct in his assessment that the Commonwealth has done absolutely nothing to protect African leaders from being prosecuted by the ICC. The ICC might be having a valid case against the Kenyan leaders including the President and the Vice President,….”
So one of the roles of the Commonwealth is protecting the likes of Uhuru Kenyatta from war crimes/crimes against humanity prosecution? I can hardly wait for the next chapter in this Rajapaksa lackey’s efforts to earn some more bread from his lokka!
Anyone want to guess what that is going to be?
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MNZ / November 13, 2013
MS
What drivel!!
And you have added the naive Chamara Sumanapala to your silly piece.
We all know that USA/UK are equally guilty of war crimes. Nothing new there.
Your smoke and mirrors strategy talking about Kenyatta and Taylor does not fool anyone.
Your actual worry is about the possibility of your patrons being hauled before the ICC.
Simply because nobody is questioning the USA/UK on war crimes, should Sri Lanka be let off the hook?
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JULAMPITIYE AMARAYA / November 13, 2013
Malinda;
I Hate U S education ?.
I hate the Methods of the U S handling Terrorist Issues?
I Hate the U S sending Drones to eliminate Islamism Taleban?.
I Hate The U S Educated Intellectuals?,
[ Some are so called educated Morons].
I Hate U S passport Holders?. [Oh I forgot White vans and Cleaning GOONS].
BUT I LOVE $$$$$$$$$$$$$ from Commissions.
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nimal p.dunuhinga / November 13, 2013
some birds fly to flamboyant trees
without knowing the bitter fruits?
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Spring Koha / November 14, 2013
Bugger it Malinda! Like a dog, you are just going back to smell the same old vomit. Forget the foreigners; we want to decide how we sort out our own internal affirs.
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Sophia / November 14, 2013
Birds of a feather flock together – says me everything.
They always shoot the messenger – but why MS should join them, it is all because of the perks he enjoys being the chief editor of that NATION ?
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Sukirihami / November 14, 2013
You are dead right KOHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA… you really are.
This idiot with skills does the job against his conscience. As i know it myself, any academic would become very thoughtful before being gone wrong.
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Sukirihami / November 14, 2013
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXRJ5Ynk1ms
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ron / November 14, 2013
Malinda, another Hambantota water buffalo, following the chief Meeharaka to neverland !
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Sukirihami / November 14, 2013
Dont disgrace our water buffaloes. By nature, our wild animals are innocent. Not only us, our animals are being targeted by Raja rule today. How many of them have been destroyed, since the Raja^s work started in that Hambantota area where unique flora and fauna existed centuries.
In the context of MS, he is appointed agent to be apologetic. So he the innocent boy should performs his duties. That is it :( – not only smelling the old vomit but also trying lick it if he can.. :(
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The Penetrator / November 14, 2013
Great comments guys, and from the comments I think I dont need to read Malindas garbage. There’s a saying Don’t bother wrestling with a pig, you both get dirty but the pig likes it.
Malinda I have no idea how you can be a chief idiot of a newspaper. Any way I can just picture you walking into the office passing other journalist, thinking how proud you are to be chief idiot..
I suggest you give up writing, or maybe start writing for the kiddies.. Bah bah black sheep stuff.. Or maybe your pearly whites can be used in some kind toothpaste add.. Anyway mate just giving you a few pointers to get your mind ticking. Good luck with finding something you are good at..
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