Foreign policy: Powers within and outside

There are NGOs and many activists to defame and criticise Sri Lanka and not to defend when necessary. This is the time to defend and look after as any adverse findings and steps may affect our economy and the future, which is already battered by COVID-19 and fast recovering

Power revolves round foreign policy

Power revolves around a nation’s foreign policy and how you conduct it with the rest of the world. Nations have given top priority to economic diplomacy and foreign relations and policy is based on your economies and political conduct and how you conduct and manage your economics, and in politics, as much as your goodwill friendship, they need to verify your balance sheet and any economic benefits one could derive from you. 

The era is gone when the goodwill is maintained by sipping a glass of wine and socialising with the diplomats. Ambassadors are given result-oriented targets to initiate and perform. You can imagine how busy the foreign diplomats in Sri Lanka are, trying to get contracts and businesses unlike our Ambassadors dozing about looking for perks like cars, houses and future benefits. 

Ambassadors are front liners on the front lines to represent their country, interests and image, giving priority to economics and business based on the concepts of economic diplomacy for which they are adequately paid with all the relevant perks generated by the taxpayers’ money. 

An ambassador should be a patient listener, educated, well-versed on the country and with versatile knowledge on all the areas of the country they represent. How many of our representatives live up to the expectations is a million dollar issue and it is time to at least learn from our immediate neighbour India; how beautifully and professionally they conduct foreign policy and the Foreign Ministry. In India governments may change – the policy and conduct is not changed!

Are we in trouble on the Geneva issue? Definitely not! This year will be the year we are laying the foundation for proper interaction with the UN with proper diplomatic vision in the new world order after having learnt on COVID-19 pandemic with no signs of permanent solution, and we have to live with it as much as we have to live with nations and the system within.

Joe Biden

Joe Biden immediately on assumption of duties as the President lay his hands on foreign policy by reactivating air strikes to the Middle East contrary to the policies of Donald Trump with a different vision and strategy on foreign policy in the USA when the Russian Federation, China and all world powers are making adjustments accordingly. 

Powers, whether big or small, the foreign policy is directly interconnected to economy and economic policy also in relation to the rest of the world. What is happening in Geneva these days? The USA is trying to come back to the Human Rights Commission as an active member and is currently working on proxies. What is happening in Geneva is also an extension of domestic policies and intersections and interfering with internal matters of sovereign countries mainly for economic and political benefits. 

Core group members are targeting Sri Lanka to be dealt with at the forthcoming sessions of the Human Rights Commission consisting of 13 members from African States, 13 members from Asian Pacific, six members from Eastern Europe, eight members from Latin American and Caribbean and seven members from Western Europe (in all 47) deciding on the alleged human right violations in the forum headed by the High Commissioner of Human Rights who is in the limelight today in the human rights arena. We are now in business again and a lot of hard work is ahead of us. It is not too late for us to change them with our diplomatic skills.

Defenders of Sri Lanka/Human Rights Commission in Sri Lanka? Ongoing periodic reviews in Geneva

It is a serious issue and the duty of every concerned Sri Lankan is to contribute to the defence within their capacity for image defence and future of Sri Lanka. It appears that the Minister of Foreign Affairs is in the forefront and has responded to the allegations made planning to take drastic steps against Sri Lanka to be implemented via the UN and the member states led by the Core Group and some countries are working hard canvassing against us round the clock. If we work hard we can shake the core group. 

Sri Lankans worldwide led by London Initiative, and Geneva and Europe based Sri Lankan groups are working hard with professionals and academics worldwide defending the motherland. 

Book on Geneva crisis

The Ambassadors’ Forum in Sri Lanka has published a quality book (The Geneva Crisis – The Way Forward) to be used as a handbook for the future with top academics to be distributed world over including all the embassies worldwide physically, net and as soft copies to reach them before the deliberations. 

The contributors include (1) Foreign Minister, (2) Secretary to the Ministry Professor Jayanath Colombage, (3) Ambassador Laksiri Mendis, UN Expert, (4) Ambassador Sarath Wijesinghe, President’s Counsel, (5) Dr. Palitha Kohona, Sri Lankan Ambassador to China, (6) Ambassador Tamara Kunanayakam, a former Ambassador to Geneva and UN expert, (7) Prasantha Lal de Alwis, President’s Counsel, (8) Professor Sudarashan Senaviratna, Ambassador to Bangladesh, (9) Dr. Ivan Amarasinghe based in UK, (10) Dr. Laksiri Fernando, a world-renowned top academic, (11) Shenali Waduge, a writer, (12) Michel Roberts, a Sri Lankan activist based in Australia, (13) Dr. Jehan Perera, a well-known international writer, (14) Professor Prathiba Mahanamahewa, (15) Minister of Media Keheliya Rambukwella, (16) Jayaraj Palihawadena, Janath Wimala, top Sri Lankan activists based in UK and Geneva, livewires on London Initiative conducted webinar series in Geneva deliberations, (17) Dr. Kalinga Seneveiratne, a top academic based in Australia, (18) Francis Bulathsinghala, a senior journalist, (19) Ranjive Karunaratne, top activist who conducted number on international webinars with Jayaraj and the active group in UK, (20) Shamindra Ferdinando, Deputy Editor, Island, are among the 28 contributors of well-researched articles aiming at the Geneva issue to be distributed world over canvassing for the motherland. 

This book will go world over reaching all governments and embassies physically, via net, via soft copies and by the Sri Lankan activist groups.

Human Rights Commission in Sri Lanka and other human rights defenders

There are NGOs and many activists to defame and criticise Sri Lanka and not to defend when necessary. This is the time to defend and look after as any adverse findings and steps may affect our economy and the future, which is already battered by COVID-19 and fast recovering. 

Where is Human Rights Commission in Sri Lanka – the main defender of human rights in Sri Lanka –headed by a former Minister and well-funded by the State and foreign funding, who should be in the forefront when we the Ambassadors’ Forum is finding it difficult to raise funds for this most difficult and arduous task fighting against the powerful and rich diaspora with millions of funds?

It is time for the concerned citizens in Sri Lanka and abroad to come forward to make your contribution as the adverse results on the Geneva process will adversely affect our economy, image, and the future once battered by COVID-19 and on the verge of recovery. Therefore let us defend our motherland as a group of activists at this juncture in need of assistance to the country.

Foreign policy an extension of domestic policy

State of foreign policy which is an extension of domestic policies is protected under Article 2(7) sovereign state within the domestic jurisdiction except when taken under Article (V11) where Geneva process has crept in. Nations rich or poor were going through difficulties economically even before the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic which has no signs of immediate permanent recovery when the world as a whole will have to be ready to be full downturn on economic and all fronts, where small countries such as Sri Lanka will be mostly hit. 

The USA, Russia, China, Japan, EU, UK, and rich and powerful counters have accumulated wealth and reserves needing small nations for distribution of goods, exchange of economic power house, as a source of raw materials and a platform for resources and distribution also as a satellite countries in the orbit. In the process small nations with less resources are the hardest hit.

What should be the strength and strategy of a country like Sri Lanka?

In the midst of the serious COVID-19 and downturn of the economy the world over, as a result Sri Lanka is bound to be one of the most hit and needing an innovative and ferocious upward trends in all sectors using the goodwill and the diplomacy it is good at with the able, educated and vibrant battery of Sri Lankan ambassadors appointed recently and the able and efficient Foreign Office officials as the leaders of the campaign with the Chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka who is a former Minister and highly connected personality. It is time for them to canvass and start activism by articles, webinars, meetings and personal representations. 

With issues within and outside pressure, the world over all are willing to exploit other members to their advantage, especially the West and unprepared small nations. It is time for small to show small is powerful as vibrant nations such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Israel which have withstood the pressure of big and powerful. Small should show power tied to hard work, strategy and determination. After all Israel went through 181 and further 50 resolutions and still emerged victorious as a nuclear power!

BIMSTEC, SAARC, NAM and ASEAN

These are small groupings with tiger and vibrant economics fighting hard against exploration and world economic powers. It is our strategy to be with the groups using diplomatic skills and economic strategies, giving priority to economic diplomacy. 

SAARC is an international organisation groomed aiming to be as EU but failed due to infighting among member nations. It consists of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka, a subgrouping very close to Sri Lanka. BIMSTEC is on the Bay of Bengal with 17.5 trading goods and 235 of total imports, with members Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan, India, Myanmar and Nepal. 

ASEAN consists of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore Thailand and Vietnam. It is to our advantage to be grouped together in the diplomatic community to work and act together economically and politically.

Questions raised on Geneva issue

Why should Sri Lanka reject the resolution? What else to do, do you want us to share the resolution we have already rejected (30/1) with admissions which are incorrect? We must not only reject the resolution but ferociously attack with facts, figures and diplomatic manoeuvring against the allegations by the core group working tirelessly against Sri Lanka having misguided on baseless and erroneous facts provided by the diaspora. 

What about Adele Balasingham, pioneer on terrorism and a women LTTE leader in grooming child soldier in Sri Lanka’s LTTE? What about the facts and figures of alleged death toll described in the book ‘Geneva Crisis – The Way Forward’ distributed worldwide by the Ambassadors’ Forum when the book will be launched in due course at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Lord Naseby from UK and Robert from Australia have given an excellent narration of figures.

How do we diplomatically manage the situation?

We have a strong case to present. Some are supportive and some not. Unfortunately it is inefficiency on the part of our diplomats and the activism. How many ambassadors have canvassed based on studies on facts and figures and using not by infighting or arguments? Many countries are comparing our issue as Bosnian or South African issue which is a wrong notion. 

Ambassadors must get the academics and likeminded patriots to work together. How many articles have they published? How many webinars have they conducted? Ask what has been done by patriotic citizens for the love of the country? It is not too late; Israel fought back with 181 and 50 and there were nine against us, so what? Let us learn and correct ourselves. It is an ongoing exercise and we must have a start at least now.

How do we best counter?

Of course diplomatic means and educating the international community ambassadors as front liners. The Government must select and elect top ambassadors, who can speak and write and who are competent to acquire diplomatic skills fast.

What have we done for reconciliation?

A completely different picture is given to the world on Sri Lanka on reconciliation. Is the world aware that 60% of the Tamil population is living out of the north and east and the majority population in Colombo is Tamils and economic power in the nation is in the hands of Tamils and Muslims which is tolerated by the Sinhala majority with intermarriages and shared businesses countrywide? 

Constitutional safeguards and rights as more powerful for minorities than in any other part of the world – even more secure than in USA and the UK. What about the developments in the NE and the investments on education and economic benefits?

Some say it is a losing battle; is it?

We have many friends and we must win others over diplomatically; we must have a proper, good and coherent foreign policy. We have lot to learn and improvements must be made in the diplomatic missions and new work of ambassadors. Let us correct it in due course. It is not impossible to win the battle and let this be a lesson for the world for the future. We have to live with it as has been done for the last 73 years.

What is the view regarding the resolution tabled?

It is a sorry state that it is based on facts provided by the activist diaspora and NGOs against Sri Lanka and a part of a political battle as there is a lot of politics in the UN. We must be smart and outsmart them with our diplomats and patriotic world community.

(The writer is a President’s Counsel, former Ambassador to UAE and Israel, President Ambassador’s Forum and can be reached via  [email protected])