By Mano Ratwatte –
The headlines in recent days , carried an account by an opposition politician about a purported visit to Sri Lanka by the current Director Head of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), America’s foreign intelligence service. In existence since 1946 after OSS was dissolved; the CIA which has time and again been a controversial but crucial agency and a vital arm of America’s writ abroad.
The reputed Indian newspaper Indian Express had the following report. Excerpt here(full link provided below it)
Excerpt:
In a rare move, the Nepal government last week withheld permission for a visit to the country by CIA Director William J Burns, ostensibly on the grounds that the timing of the trip was “not so conducive”.
It is learnt Burns returned home from Sri Lanka, the first leg of his South Asia trip, after the Nepal government conveyed to the US Embassy in Kathmandu that given the political developments, including the impending Presidential election, permission for the visit was being withheld.(Article: Timing not suitable: Nepal barred visit by CIA chief William J Burns last week | World News,The Indian Express)
End Excerpt
Sri Lanka is currently on the US radar because of the post Cold war ‘pivot to Asia’ by the US, their fears of Xi Jing Pin’s ambitions for China and the “trade rival vs enemies” duality of their relationship between the superpowers. Unlike during the Cold War, when relations between India and USA were riddled with differences and sometimes even open hostility, the two nations have now coalesced towards a partnership of convenience because of the threat that China poses. But kudos to India that it is not a puppet dancing to US diktats when its interests are different. One good example is the delicately balanced stance India has maintained over the war in Ukraine.
Historically though, relations between India and China have never fully recovered from the humiliating defeat in 1962 when Communist China launched a limited invasion of Ladakh in the North East Frontier region, also known as Aksai Chin. But that was during the cold war where there were distinct ideological camps backing different countries from the Non-Aligned block of nations. India’s defense strategy was focused on its borders with Pakistan (Bangladesh was then East Pakistan) and was poorly prepared for a conflict in the high-altitude northern border with China. It is now an economic and military powerhouse with nuclear weapons and far more capable of defending itself.
During the cold war, Sri Lanka made critical strategic mistakes by antagonizing India after the seminal election of 1977. The newly elected President JR Jayewardene made a big mistake by being hostile towards India, Sri Lanka’s most important partner in every sense of geographic, economic, and politicalrelations. President Jayewardene surmised that Sri Lanka was a very important nation for the US as India was at the time firmly in the Soviet sphere of influence. The US was permitted to established a listening post (under cover of a VOA station) in the northwest of the island. Sri Lanka requested to join the pro-western Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) but was rebuffed. India had to develop a Southern military defense strategy as a result as well.
Sri Lanka was only important to the US then, in the sense of being a window into India, with whom they did not have a positive relationship at the time. One result of this was India, arming, training and financing separatist Tamil movements to destabilize Sri Lanka. Matters were made worse after the terrible Black July of 1983 which saw an influx of refugees to India and political imperatives at the Centre in New Delhi, which relied on support by Tamil Nadu for the Congress-I led government. There were of course obvious humanitarian issues too.
Anyone who recalls how strong relations with India previously will recall how fast India came to help Sri Lanka during the 1971 JVP insurgency. Indian warships were anchored off Galle Face and India provided Helicopters (I still remember the model because my late father rode in one of those: an Indian version of a French Alouette III; known as the Chetak) to drop leaflets offering amnesty to surrendering JVP cadre in the thick forests.
Enough about the past. We need to fast forward to 2023, and the realities of life post the economic collapse of Sri Lanka. The US is preparing for a conflict in the South China sea area and a possible war with China over Taiwan. It is using “right of passage”, (the right to navigate in international waters) rationales for making a case. They are also joined by jittery nations like Philippines, a traditional US ally with a heavy US presence and even Vietnam, a historic foe of China. China’s assertions of sovereignty over large tracts of the South China sea has caused lots of concerns about trade interruptions in the case of war.
But honestly, the fear mongering to align Sri Lanka with US strategic goals is a bit of hyperbole. The constant tweets by the US mission are part of that strategy. But there are also benefits of good military relations with the US. Some of those being the gift of retired but re-fitted US Coast guard ships, and training for Sri Lanka’s Navy Seals etc. Those are not done out of altruistic nature but to build good relations for the benefit of both nations.
However, Sri Lanka is not an enemy of China nor of the US. In fact, it has always been a very good friend to both the US and China. Sri Lankan shipping is not going to be threatened by China’s military assertiveness. There is speculation that the Trincomalee Harbour, reputed to be the 4th largest natural harbour in the world, is the prize, the US covets. It was where some of British Fleet anchored after their humiliating rout in Singapore, during World War II). However, the US has a large base in Diego Garcia, an isolated atoll in the Indian Ocean, that is unassailable due to its isolated geographic position and probably has no strategic need to use Trincomalee. Yet, the increased frequency of friendly visits of US warships, and constant harping of how it is to enhance Sri Lanka’s security(latest being the USS Charleston on March 11th) suggest otherwise.
If there are economic benefits of a partnership with an Indo-US alliance, perhaps Sri Lanka should examine it and look at all the costs and benefits. US envoys regularly put out veiled threats by reminding and tweeting about the fact that the USA is Sri Lanka’s biggest export market. This is indeed true. Most recent estimates (USTR.GOV) shows Sri Lanka exporting over $2.7 Billion dollars worth of goods to the US (mostly garments) and only importing $390 million dollars worth of goods from the US. This is a healthy trade balance in Sri Lanka’s favour. Any overt hostile efforts against the US will result in tariffs and other measures to put pressure on Sri Lanka.
Should Sri Lanka’s garment industry lose access to the US market, there are so many eager competitors waiting to fill the void, including Vietnam and Bangladesh. Weigh these numbers before becoming hostile towards the nation that has sometimes invaded other nations based on lies and falsehoods from the CIA (Iraq is one example: George Tenet, the then Director of the CIA admitted they got it all wrong about the ‘WMD’s canard to satisfy political leadership).
Sri Lanka prided itself as being neutral even though the concept of Non-Alignment is no longer as strong as it was during the cold war. But Sri Lanka should always consult India on major foreign policy decisions. Because any foolishness like what happened during the UNP government of 1977 will be disastrous to Sri Lanka’s interests.
If the Director of the CIA visited Sri Lanka, it could mean some heavy pressure is being put on Sri Lanka. The current President of Sri Lanka, is probably the most pro-western Head of State in South Asia. Whatever measures Sri Lanka needs to take to get out of the current economic morass will have to go via the US because of their obvious dominance and control of IMF and World Bank policies, despite protestations to the contrary.
During the cold war, the US was arming and training all sorts of unsavoury, murderous dictators and overthrowing regimes whimsically (Iran 1953, Guatemala via the United Fruit Company in 1952, Chile 1973 etc., etc., and even arming the military dictatorships in Pakistan).
I end this with a quote attributed (but has been challenged to be hearsay) to one of the more controversial Directors of the CIA, William H Casey during the Reagan administration:.
We’ll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false.”-William J. Casey, CIA Director
This quote was originally supposed to have been made by Casey sometime in early February of 1981, at a meeting in the Roosevelt Room in the West Wing of the White House.
Whether this is true or not, in the social media era of Twitter and Facebook and TikTok there is a lot more misinformation and disinformation that is peddled by very powerful nations including the USA, Russia and China. Sri Lanka must resist becoming a pawn in the hands of these players with extremely successful propaganda machines and agendas if it does not want to be inevitably and witlessly dragged into a potential war between US and China over Taiwan. The proxy war in Ukraine will look like a village cricket match if the world were to be so unfortunate as to see such calamity because of gamesmanship by ideological rivals.
Therefore, whatever steps Sri Lanka takes to satisfy US needs, should first be vetted and approved by India. China, Sri Lanka’s largest bilateral debtor, must also be appeased. We must strive to be neutral and not get dragged into an unnecessary conflict with an unpredictable end.
Consider the humiliating withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 and Vietnam in 1975 to realize, when it comes to geo-political chess games, only self-preservation matters to those who come bearing Trojan Horses. During recent hearings on the embarrassing withdrawal from Afghanistan(after Secretary of State Blinken said it will not be like Vietnam) may throw some light to the history of US military interventions. The U.S. left behind an estimated 78,000 Afghan allies who had worked for the U.S. government and applied for special visas, according to a report last year from the Association of Wartime Allies, a nonprofit nongovernmental organization. Time and again, it has abandoned its allies from the Montagnards to the Kurds and now Afghans.
Thus the question is, To be or Not to be a party between two giants and risk being trampled or abandoned again? Perhaps the only reason to taking a side in this coming conflict is and only if the benefits outweigh the costs over at least a 100 year period. But does Sri Lanka have the vision to see that far ahead? And check in with India please before anything else.
Gus / March 14, 2023
Me thinks the choices are USA military base and massive prostitution (may be mitigated somewhat with some limitations), OR Chinese Military base and massive Slavery (Chinks rae ruthless the CLP considers humans expendable machines!
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srikrish / March 14, 2023
After the end of the cold war and the collapse of Soviet Union, almost all East European countries had joined with NATO and EU and USA and her allies in Europe are encouraging expansion of NATO and EU throughout Europe despite the fact that Russia is not as formidable as Soviet union economically or militarily.
But China is different it is emerging as a serious power militarily and economically and ready to face mighty USA anywhere in the countries in the region are waiting to do so.!
All of them -Australia, New Zeeland, India and Japan has decided to align with a powerful country economically and militarily–USA.
Other countries are waiting to do. None of them are willing to remain neutral or non- aligned.
The time has come to Sri Lanka to take a firm decision and to align with one or the other with sufficient and adequate guarantees for her own defense.
I believe Sri Lanka should align with India because of proximity and cultural affinity.
Non alignment is an outdated concept and better to throw it to the dustbin !
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Mahila / March 15, 2023
Not sure what the majority thinking on this matter is???
But to go by past rumblings and noises, they prefer the Chinese to the Indians!!!
They feel, Indians are selfish and not the Chinese!!?? I disagree after the Organic Fertiliser Fiasco and payment of 6.9 million dollars!!!?? Act of a friend??? Or even an acquaintance!!?? Or what??
Majority thinking is what matters, definitely not mine as I believe, and cannot overwhelm Majority!!??
None will know, until one tries out and have a reality check on the matter!!
Whether, by that time to change the course of events is possible or not is another matter!!!
GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS!
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SJ / March 15, 2023
That non-alignment is somewhat outdated after there was only one global power is true. But the choice is not falling at the feet of US imperialism.
*
Wonder why India, a QUAD partner, had second thoughts about joining the US to isolate Russia!
What signal is Saudi Arabia, another long time client of the US sending with its reopening of relations with Iran?
Why are more and more countries lining up to join BRICS?
*
It is not easy to keep abreast of global developments, I suppose.
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Agnos / March 16, 2023
SJ: “Wonder why India, a QUAD partner, had second thoughts about joining the US to isolate Russia!”
Simple. Indian military uses mainly Russian weapons, and Russia has to service those; without that, their military is nothing. Second, in the event of a conflict with China, India wants Russia not to join/support China. Third, Indians fear that as U.S. interests change, they may abandon India; in other words, the U.S. has not been a steadfast ally. Fourth, they want to benefit from low oil prices, arguing that not being rich, they don’t have to kowtow to the viewpoints and values of rich countries. But Modi and the EAM have made clear they don’t support Russian aggression in Ukraine. After more than a year of Russian imperialism’s failures and their 200,000 casualties, you keep harping on ‘US imperialism.’
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Native Vedda / March 16, 2023
Agnos
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Fifth Russia (former Soviet Union) has been a reliable friend, when Pakistan was committing genocide in former East Pakistan Soviet Union stood by India even when US 7th fleet was seen in Bay of Bengal. By the way SJ’s crush Siri Mao aided and abetted Pakistani dictators.
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SJ believes it was Siri Mao’s finest hour.
The significance of this relation is that it is believed Pakistan could help Sri Lanka during its most difficult time however it was Bangladesh which helped Sri Lanka with a loan yet Lankies are proud of their all weather friendship with Pakistan.
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chiv / March 16, 2023
Agnos , India is the only country receiving large amount of oil from Russia (during conflict) at a steep discount. Will anyone say no to such deal ?? Russian Imperialism (in the name of Communism) was such many of the previous Warsaw allies are determined to keep Putin’s Russia, at a distance. Some went to the extent of getting NATO’s support and arms. BRICS is more of a trade treaty and not defence. I haven’t heard countries lining up to join BRICS. Living in India, I haven’t officially heard any second thoughts to join QUAD. These are just hype from a person who use to dramatize insignificant events, taking place in Lanka.(Covid control, prosperity and splendor, democrazy, constipation, INdependence, family kleptocracy, SriMao’s socialism).
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SJ / March 17, 2023
Even China is getting it at the discount price.
“I haven’t officially heard any second thoughts to join QUAD.”
Go for the long overdue language lessons.
India is in QUAD for some years now.
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SJ / March 17, 2023
A
“Simple. Indian military uses mainly Russian weapons, “
as simple as that!
Have you heard the Indian foreign minister telling off one US media person after another to fob off, and not try to tell what India should do?
*
Russian imperialism? Where is it? Russia just about recovered from US domination early this century. Had the US not tried to corner it by expanding NATO, in breach of its pledges, the Us will at least have a neutral force if not an ally in fighting its main foe, China.
Thanks to Biden for bringing the two closer.
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SJ / March 17, 2023
A
Any interesting theories about the Saudi-Iranian rapprochement?
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Native Vedda / March 18, 2023
“Any interesting theories about the Saudi-Iranian rapprochement?”
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China’s Man In Lanka would not make any critical comment as we know Anything China ….is considered decent …
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Agnos / March 18, 2023
SJ,
Jaishankar may mouth off something when he is put on the spot to justify the decisions India has already made. But he is well aware that the Indian economy will fail without access to Western IT markets, and he knows that on a per capita basis, India remains a poor country, and he knows the threat from China.
Your muddled Marxist mind is a one-trick pony; it cannot conceive of anything other than U.S. imperialism; even when a cobra stings you at home, you will keep blaming the U.S.
Have you looked at how many Russians have become cannon fodder for Putin’s greed and vanity? How many critics have been poisoned and disappeared? NATO is a defensive alliance, and the Eastern European countries sought membership because of their past experiences with Russian aggression and imperialism. There was no guarantee or agreement with Russia on NATO expansion, despite any vague conversations James Baker might have had with Gorbachev. Putin is a megalomaniac and you are just pathetic, unable to see anything beyond your Marxist mantras.
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SJ / March 19, 2023
Jaishankar has got into your bad books it appears.
But stick to the subject please.
The point is that he dared to say what he said.
Your rattling off abusive terms and going at a tangent may soothe frayed nerves, while making you look pathetic.
Does it offer a sensible answer to the point that I raised?
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Agnos / March 19, 2023
SJ,
Mike Pompeo, the Secretary of State for Trump, has recently come out with a book, saying he admired Jaishankar’s fierce loyalty and defense of Modi, just like his own defense of Trump. That is very revealing. And Jaishankar had badmouthed his predecessor, the late Sushma Swaraj, to Pompeo, but then now claims to be angered by Pompeo’s disparaging remarks about her. He often plays for his RSS gallery back home, but knows that the US-Indian relationship is a delicate dance.
There is palpable anger among many in the West about India trying to play both sides in the Russia-Ukraine war; I think India’s failure to take a firm stand against large-scale Russian war crimes will return to haunt them at a later time, even though at the moment the U.S., needing the Quad as a counterweight to China, has not imposed any punitive sanctions on India.
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SJ / March 17, 2023
Are not the bidders for a military base the US and India?
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Native Vedda / March 18, 2023
“Are not the bidders for a military base the US and India?”
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Hindia is not a bidder, no need to bid as Hindians believe they are true owners of Lanka, part ofAkhand Bharat.
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China on the other hand now claims to be a friendly neigbour to Sri Lanka. When and where did China acquire taste for such luxuries no one knows.
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China’s Man in Lanka wouldn’t mind as long as US could keep Hindian away from the shores of this island. On the other hand he is confident China is capable of annexing Sri Lanka as part of peacefully rising Middle Kingdom.
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SJ / March 18, 2023
Oh dear!
You and your ever evasive doctor!
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Champa / March 17, 2023
There is a new development in the Ukraine conflict. A US spy aircraft which invaded Russia’s newly acquired aerospace over Black Sea was “downed by itself”. A blunt statement. But, isn’t that what happened? US officials maintain that their remote-controlled spy aircraft, MQ-9 Reaper was in “international aerospace” at the time it was intercepted by two Russian fighter jets. Though I cannot provide GPS coordinates to support my point, I think the US officials are wrong. The US spy aircraft was intercepted in an area just 72 km southwest of the Crimea which has been Russia’s territory since 2014. In addition, the United Nations sponsored Grain Initiative recognizes Russia’s wider jurisdiction over the Black Sea.
Since February 24, 2022, Russia controls the majority of Black Sea coastal borders. Originally, the Black Sea coast was shared by six countries, namely; Ukraine – 2,782 km, Turkey – 1,329 km, Russia – 800 km, Bulgaria – 354 km, Georgia – 310 km and Romania – 225 km. As per the “new reality” which is already recognized by the United Nations, Turkey, Ukraine, the US and NATO, Russia now controls 3,582 km (800 + 2,782 km) in the Black Sea coast (and the aerospace over it). I believe my assertion is correct.
Contd’……
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Champa / March 17, 2023
US officials provide us a vivid picture about the downed spy aircraft, MQ-9 Reaper, blaming Russia for intentionally colliding it, which resulted in its crash into the Black Sea. Russia has denied the allegation. I watched the US military footage of the incident. There is no proof of a collison, although the viewers can see the slow spinning of the aircraft’s propeller which forced the US to bring it down.
The MQ-9 Reaper is a large spy aircraft remote controlled by a pilot and a crew member. Apparently, before it crashed into the Black Sea, its sensitive software was deleted (Source: CNN). It is possible that the propeller of the aircraft was also remotely disabled before bringing it down. Just a thought. The video doesn’t provide any proof of a collision with the Russian jet.
Russia was accused of “unsafe and unprofessional” interception of the US spy aircraft. Well, gathering intelligence on Russia close to its border is risky in any case. Not a long ago, the US military shot down a foreign weather balloon accusing it of spying on the US! In this scenario, Russia, too, exercised the right to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Contd’…..
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Champa / March 17, 2023
Is there any justification for Russia’s interception of US spy aircraft? Yes.
1) As reported by Reuters and undenied by the Pentagon, the US has been gathering intelligence on Russia on behalf of Ukraine. Many times, Ukraine bragged about assassinating an X number of Russian Generals at the beginning of Russia’s special military operation. Obviously, the assassinations were carried out by the “unknown” with the help of intelligence provided by the US. There was an assassination attempt on Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff and the Overall Commander of the combined Russian forces in Ukraine, too. Then, Russia’s Defence Minister makes frequent visits to the battlefield and newly annexed Russian territories. (I think he should postpone any further visits for the time being.) Therefore, it is natural for Russia to obstruct US intelligence gathering missions near the former’s territorial borders.
Contd’…..
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Champa / March 17, 2023
2) The US is directly involved in three major explosions that impacted Russia.
a. Sinking of Russia’s flagship Moskva. At the time, I said “The fate of the Moskva warship is a mystery to me. If it was done by a missile attack, I highly doubt it was done by Ukraine”. How did I suspect? From John Kirby’s reply and his body language at one of his press conferences when he was asked about Moskva.
b. Nord Stream pipeline explosion. Pipeline Technology Journal has reported a similar incident in 2015.
https://www.pipeline-journal.net/news/explosive-laden-drone-found-near-nord-stream-pipeline.
c. Kerch bridge explosion. This is what I said. “When I first read about the attack on the Kerch Bridge, I thought it was a gift from the US to whining Zelensky”. Common sense.
.
3) The crashed spy aircraft, MQ-9 Reaper can carry eight laser-guided missiles, Hellfire missiles and other sophisticated munitions. It has carried out surveillance and air strikes in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. (Source: AP News) Therefore, Russia’s unceremonious response towards the US MQ-9 Reaper near the Russian border was natural.
Contd’…..
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Champa / March 17, 2023
4) The spy aircraft incident is a preview of what to expect in the coming days in Ukraine. The US led NATO may have now realized that Russia is not Iraq, Syria or Afghanistan. China, at least issue a warning before acting. Russia acts first and then issues a warning.
5) There is media hype over providing F-16 fighter jets, Abrams tanks, Leopard tanks and Challenger tanks to Ukraine. One might say Ukraine deserves support from NATO. Yep. Ukraine is not a NATO country. But, the amount of weapons, funds, troops and intel it received from over 50 countries (including unnamed countries that sent weapons through the US) for its counter-offensive against Russia is unprecedented which actually justifies Russia’s right to defend its territories.
6) Why did this spy aircraft incident happen now? I think it is related to the Chinese President’s proposed visit to Russia. The US may want to derail China’s plan to mediate between Russia and Ukraine for a peaceful resolution. As expected, Ukraine’s suggestion to change Russia’s country name triggered an angry response from Russia, too. China may try. But, Ukraine is not free to make a decision at the moment as “the show” is run by US officials.
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leelagemalli / March 17, 2023
Champa is back with her fairytales about Ukraine- Russia conflict. This nut case would never see it right ☹☹
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chiv / March 17, 2023
LM , wait for Dinuk to follow through .
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SJ / March 17, 2023
For fairytales it is the US intelligence that takes the cake these days..
If a person claims to believe that a band of trigger happy Ukrainian bandits could organise the blast of tough under-water pipelines lying 80-100 m below water surface, the person is either utterly gullible or a mediocre hypocrite.
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chiv / March 18, 2023
OMG , Is fairytale the reason ICC issued an arrest warrant on Putin for committing serious “WAR CRIMES.” . Chimpa, with that troves of war materials you had been presenting here , it’s time you with your sidekick appear in ICC and save President Putin.
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SJ / March 18, 2023
Mr Not-a-hypocrite, any progress with US intelligence investigation of the the pipe blasting Ukrainian bandits?
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chiv / March 18, 2023
LM, looks like official conspiracy theorist is on a break and some one else is doing double duty. For fairy tales, read ” China cutting the deep sea internet cables of Taiwan”.
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chiv / March 18, 2023
LM , looks like Dinuk is already in ICC ( international criminal courts) to save President Putin. If true we may miss Chimpa too, for same reasons.
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Champa / March 18, 2023
chiv
An arrest order. What can we say? Assassination attempts didn’t work. Regime change attempts didn’t work. Now, an arrest order.
I am not aware of the background of the issue related to ICC’s arrest order. But, even at a glance, ICC’S arrest order looks false and baseless. Did the ICC make reference to relevant clauses in the International Law under which the arrest order was made? This is my observation on the matter.
1. First of all, who made the complaint to the ICC about Ukrainian children? I have no doubt that it must be a country/countries that had never killed children or deliberately starved them to death, right?
2. I understand the arrest order is for “abducting” and “adopting” children from orphanages and childcare homes in a conflict zone. This is news to me.
a. Since when adopting orphaned children has become a war crime?
b. Since when evacuating children from a dangerous conflict zone becomes a war crime?
c. And, since when providing education to children who have been evacuated from a conflict zone becomes a war crime?
Contd’……….
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Champa / March 18, 2023
3. The “allegation of abducting children” from orphanages has no basis as the Ukraine (government) itself acknowledged that 308 children were reunited with their Ukrainian parents. How did they do that? Because, there is an official tracking system in place to locate the children evacuated from the Ukrainian conflict zone, right?
4. The 308 Ukrainian children who were in the care of Russian authorities and later reunited with their parents is proof that the evacuation of children from a dangerous conflict zone was temporary, and that Russia maintains all channels open for the evacuee children and their parents to communicate with each other and also with Russian authorities which eventually led to their reunification with the parents.
5. My point 4. above convincingly disprove the basis of the ICC’s allegation against Russia’s President and his Commissioner of “abducting” Ukrainian children. It is clear that ICC’s arrest order was based on “a war crime” that doesn’t exist. The ICC seems to be acting under duress and therefore it should revisit the case and revoke its arrest orders as it is blatantly obvious that ICC’s investigation pertaining to Ukrainian children in question is partial and incomplete.
Contd’……
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Champa / March 18, 2023
6. US National Security Council Spokesperson, John Kirby (the only American I respect) says Russia’s President traveling to the US is “very, very unlikely,” (and therefore the question of his arrest in the US does not arise – my words). Well, we never know. He may visit, if there is a “regime change” in the US.
7. On a separate matter, but relevant to this topic, where was the ICC when the Trump government separated 5000 refugee children from their parents without a tracking system, a deliberate act to block their reunification? Those refugee children who were with parents have been physically grabbed by their hands and taken away while both children and parents were protesting and crying, and later put them in facilities/cells. Tears well in my eyes even now when I remember the photos of children who were standing behind barbed wires, crying. How does the ICC define the US family separation policy which is still in place and the fact that there are refugee children still separated from their parents under that policy?
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chiv / March 18, 2023
You mean, it was just another Lankan humanitarian mission. What were the Russian troops carrying, pocket book of Marx ?? ” I ‘m not aware of the back ground of the issue related to ICC arrest order. But as a Silly Lankan even at a glance ICC arrest order looks faulty and baseless” . What can we say ??? Haven’t you said enough already. By the way who is we ?? That imaginary person you see and talk daily.
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SJ / March 19, 2023
Carry on dreaming of the day that the ICC will arrest, try and execute Putin.
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I wonder how the mass murderers and torturers in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria and those who gave the orders escaped the scrutiny of the ICC!
Can one call them a bunch of h********s?
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Champa / March 19, 2023
chiv
Of course, it is important to know the background of the issue. I have rephrased my questions.
I would like to know since when International Law recognized, a. adopting children from orphanages in a conflict zone, b. evacuating children from a conflict zone, and c. providing education to children who have been evacuated from a conflict zone as war crimes?
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