Rajiva Wijesinha

“ The Birnbaums of this world can go on to wreak destruction, their allegations will be reported sensationalistically in the international and the local press, there will be no similar coverage when they are proved both wrong and amoral, and only terrorism will in the long run benefit. ”

“ In particular the European Union, or rather some of its members who may be under pressure from elements in the diaspora opposed to the elected Sri Lankan government, are anxious to undermine the government by suggesting that international interference is now essential. ”

“ But fire fighting too is essential in a context in which those opposed to democracy, whether in the LTTE or in the Sri Lankan opposition, make use of outsiders to undermine the government, its determined opposition to terrorism, and the sterling work being done by the leadership of the APRC in trying to produce a widely accepted package of reforms that will promote pluralism. ”

“ But by and large I believe that concerted action to promote reforms and rehabilitation will meet with the whole-hearted support of the main agencies.
Deliberate distortion
What is more worrying is the emergence of deliberate distortion on the part of some elements in the international community, to denigrate the government, in pursuit of some undefined yet not especially elusive agenda of their own. ”

“ After all, if the international community criticized the government, several Sri Lankans would be delighted, and probably a majority of those in Colombo who were the people who interacted most with internationals. ”

“ In some cases some of their younger colleagues have a more excitable approach, fuelled by the elite Sri Lankans they interact with, and based on their genuine awareness of what Tamils suffered in the past. ”

“ If those who wish to interfere succeed, we will be back to the bad old days of 2002, when the LTTE was able to strengthen its control over areas it controlled, extend its controls elsewhere, bring in weapons of enormous potency, and decimate other Tamil groups. ”