By Ira de Silva,London, Canada.
It has been reported that Maj. Gen. Shavendra Silva who was nominated by the Asia Group to be a member of a UN committee was snubbed when he attended the first meeting, was ostracised and not allowed to participate by Madame Louise Frechette, Chair of the Senior Advisory Group. In other words Madam Frechette has found the Major Gen. “guilty” – she has acted as prosecutor, judge and jury. She is the Canadian representative, coming from a country that is supposed to be a democracy, talks much and lectures the world about rights, law and order and democracy but acts in this high-handed manner which is reflection of the attitude to Asia by the “white west”. Does she represent the real “Canadian values”?
This dictatorial attitude is the basis for much of the decisions made at the UN where a few of the colonial powers, their colonies that are white and the current so-called leader of the world band together to force their views and rules on other countries. It could not be said that Mme Frechette is unaware of the workings of the UN because she was a senior member of the UN. She has adopted this superior attitude forgetting that she is subject to the rules of conduct and etiquette of the UN. Her attitude to the Asian Group is “you may make a nomination but I am the one who will decide”. She has adopted this outrageous and high handed attitude forgetting that the United Nations is an Organization of Member-States and that all members are supposed to be equal and her personal grudges have no place and should not be tolerated. When is Ban ki Moon going to set her straight regarding how she behaves or if she is not willing to work within the rules of the UN, dismiss her immediately and nominate someone who does not bring disrepute to the UN by arrogance, vindictiveness and plainly racist attitudes.
Further, it is imperative that the GOSL make representations to the UN and the Asia Group to ask for an apology from Mme. Frechette and permit Maj. General Silva to represent the Asia Group as it is they who have nominated him and not allow one person working for the UN to behave as a dictator. Whether in this instance or as is happening in Geneva, it is obvious that Sri Lanka has to take a stand and not be dominated and dictated to by biased, arrogant, dictators who believe that they can behave like colonial masters.
This is why I advocate for a long period that Sri Lanka must strengthen it ties with emerging Asian powers like China, and distance herself from the hegemonic west. Once you identify your enemy from the friend, we should do everything to strengthen the hands of the friend. We should give a permanent naval and airbases to China in Hambantota. That is what we should have done long time ago. West is upset as it will not have any chance to get a foothold in that region. Pakistan is in China’s camp, and now Iran is developing its nuclear power, the west is trying its usual coercive tactics, which will not work this time. MR is a village man and he fights, when the fight is worth fighting.
By: Henry on February 25, 2012
at 3:10 am