Stick to pragmatic strategies

Thursday, 15 March 2012 00:23 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

CONCERN over the controversial Channel 4 documentary has reached a fever pitch. In fact it is so high that it is causing some politicians to talk deliriously and call for local consumers to boycott US products such as Pepsi and Coca Cola or return to the days of snail mail by forgoing Gmail.

Even though the Cabinet Minister making this demand is confident that Sri Lankans ceasing to drink Coca Cola and eat KFC will have a crippling effect on the US economy, those who live in reality would adopt a far more pragmatic view. The US is a significant trading partner of Sri Lanka and 60% of our apparel exports travel to America and Europe. Last year alone Sri Lanka earned over US$ 4 billion in much-needed foreign exchange from this industry and given the depleting reserves, a rapidly depreciating rupee and a potential fuel crisis looming on the horizon in the shape of US sanctions on Iran, it would be folly indeed to pit the Lankan economy against the global superpower.

Similarly, JVP MP Vijitha Herath calling on the Government to end all defence cooperation with the US and put in place an export embargo strains credulity as well. How would suggestions of this nature really help Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)? The resolution is on human rights and it is there that Sri Lanka needs to vindicate itself and make a realistic show on progress. Real reconciliation is not yearned for by the international community, but the very people who lived through three decades of war.

As the Channel 4 video has the power to tilt the balance against Sri Lanka, there have been early and strong efforts to discredit it. One of the more progressive statements actually came from the US itself when State Department Spokesperson, Victoria Nuland remarked that they do not authenticate the video allegedly showing the death of LTTE Leader V. Prabhakaran’s 12-year-old son. She has reiterated the US Government’s concern over the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, but has made no comment on whether the latest documentary will have an impact on their actions.

Nuland also noted that the US Government is keen to see exactly what steps the Government is planning on taking to implement the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Committee (LLRC) recommendations in Sri Lanka, giving a clear sign that the battle can still be won if intentions are clear and time-bound.

Meanwhile, India is engrossed in a struggle of its own as the Tamil parties attempt to push the centre to vote against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC. For two days the controversy has raged and despite a balanced statement from the Indian External Affairs Minister, stronger pressure can be expected in the days to come. India’s pragmatic statement of having to consider the implications of voting against Sri Lanka will hold little water for Tamil Nadu politicians and the Channel 4 video is likely to feed that fire.

On the positive side, there is no reason for Sri Lanka to throw in the towel. It is fighting tooth and nail to get the US resolution defeated, but the odds are piling up. There is a need to get back to the drawing board and come up with time-bound and clear implementation procedures for the LLRC recommendations to bolster Sri Lanka’s stance as well as give confidence to the Sri Lankans who desire peace.