Rajiva Wijesinha

“ The last few weeks have shown that the far more sensitive and principled approach of India, giving no quarter to terrorisim but consistently urging concern for the Tamils and political reform, has borne better fruit. Conversely, attempting to bludgeon Sri Lanka into submission will only lead to a strengthening of forces opposed to reform, since in defending the government against threats they will naturally expect a greater role for themselves. ”

“ The soft instability rationale is based on the assumption that a world looked after by the West is better than a world in which the West looks after only itself. Since stable countries do not need looking after, some instability in areas other than the West becomes not only desirable, but something to precipitate if it will not come of itself. ”

“ The first reason then for Western aggression is that it will help the Tamils, either through bringing our obligations before us or else through threatening us with dire consequences if we do not behave. The second reason is that the West can look after our country as a whole better than we can, and they must therefore point out all our flaws to make sure that they get to do the corrections, not Sinhalese and Tamils working together. As noted, that rationale too has soft and hard versions, one that they simply do it better, the second that they must be formally in charge to call the shots. ”

“ After all pure altruism has never been a basis for foreign policy, certainly not amongst countries with long histories of exploitation. Adverse consequences for those still seen as alien will be seen as of minimal concern, as compared with the expansion of power and influence through whatever means lie at hand. ”

“ In short then, what might be termed the soft and kindly reasons for the current aggressive policies of the west can be seen as misguided, certainly not likely to achieve the stated motive of a better deal for the Tamils. Sadly, since one has to assume that Western policymakers are not stupid, the chances are that we have to look more seriously at the other possible motivations. ”

“ Now, with the Tigers destroyed within Sri Lanka, the chances of those other parties playing a prominent role are high, and continuing attacks on the Sri Lankan government, with whom they are working, can only weaken them. ”

“ That was when the international NGOs really stepped in, finding that they did not have to bring funds of their own, because the international community, as they called themselves, having tugged at the heartstrings of their taxpayers, did not know what to do with the largesse they had to bestow. ”