Get ready for fasting
Alea jacta est. As we have pointed out in our earlier editorials, it is rather saddening that a certain “image” had been formed about everything of Sri Lanka in the eyes of the world.
When the ICC Cricket World Cup started former Sri Lankan cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga made an appeal requesting the Elections Commissioner to postpone Local Government elections in districts where World Cup venues had been located.
We said that it was a shame on our society that a social aberration of election violence had become a norm.
Likewise whenever there is a crime committed President asks the Police Chief to look into the matter.
Whenever there is a crisis, a politician instructs the authorities to expedite or look into the matter.
In fact, isn’t it routine responsibility of the IGP or people in responsible positions to respond to these issues. Isn’t it their job?
Now, the UN, over and above the “UN report” has publicly asked (Warned) the Foreign Affairs Ministry to “Protect its staff members”.
In fact it’s a damning statement in itself!
The newswire report goes like this:
“The United Nations on Monday warned the Sri Lankan government that it must protect UN staff, after the country's President called for protests against a UN war crimes report.
“We have made it very, very clear to the government of Sri Lanka that we take it very seriously that they ensure the security and safety of UN staff in Sri Lanka,” UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said.
“We have underscored that again and we want to make sure that regardless of what their positions are on the report that they abide by their obligations to the security of our staff,” Haq told a news briefing.(AFP)”
It is pathetic.
In short the UN says it knows that state sponsored violence could be unleashed against the UN members in the country. The UN can’t make forward looking statements like these. But going by our track record we can’t blame the UN either.
Does the government realize that this is exactly how the World sees Sri Lanka?
That, election campaigns invariably are violent.
That, the authorities do not do their job, so that political leaders and the President have to instruct them to investigate and take action.
That, fraud and corruption are accepted social norms and could not be eliminated. Hence many International Volunteer Organisations prefer to grant material than money in aid programmes (That way they bypass some leakage!).
Now, the UN has, by a ‘warning’ or by a request had made a damning statement on Sri Lankan society.
We are not talking about the expert panel findings, but will those in power see how we have built up an image of unruly, chaotic and violent society in the eyes of the International Community?
True enough, the International Community has no moral right to pass judgment on Sri Lanka, still shouldn’t we be ashamed of how we behave?
This is a direct result of what happened in July 2010 in front of the UN building here when an unruly politician staged a protest in front of the UN office in Colombo.
The state did not take any credible action against the leader despite his inflammatory speeches inciting violence against the UN staff.
So much for personal security.
Despite so much of pressure, there have been no such incidents in China.
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