By DR M D P DISSANAYAKE

Sri Lankans inherit tolerance from Buddhist philosophy.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  At times the tolerance is interpreted as a sign of weakness.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  When President Mahinda Rajapakse assumed the presidency, his objective wasƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  to bring about a negotiated settlement with Prabhakaran. During 2004 Presidential Elections, Prabha prevented tamils inƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  north and east of participating in the elections.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  As Prabha has already madeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  a deal with Ranil Wickremasinghe by signing a Cease Fire Agreement, PrabhaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  preferred MR to be the President than RW, thinking MR is a weak leader whereby he could achieve his ultimate aim of setting up Eelam.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ President MR initially worked extremely hard to conduct series of negotiations with the LTTE top brass. After protracted delays by the LTTE and late Anton Balasingham,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Prabha finally agreed for negotiations provided that they are conducted in overseas destinations.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The President agreed.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Then Prabha wanted Erik Solheim of Norway as their Chief Negotiator.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The President agreed.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Then Prabha requested that LTTE negotiating team will attend talks if the overseas destination is Geneva and not Thailand.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The President agreed.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Then Prabha wanted his team to fly to Geneva, but will fly from Vanni to the capital of Maldives, Male, by seaplane and get a connecting regular flight from Male to Geneva. The President agreed and provided logistic support.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ As the negotiations were about to commence, LTTE carried out massive terrorists attacks in key locations, killing innocent civilians and destroying properties.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Yet the President still wanted to continueƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  negotiations process. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The general public was extremely angry with the President MR at that time for not showing courage and leadership.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ When the negotiations were resumed, LTTE objected to the composition of government negotiating team and left the meeting abruptly and returned to Vanni.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  President MR changed the composition of the team to satisfy LTTE andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  still wantedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  to negotiate despite continued breach of CFA by LTTE.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  LTTE repeatedly postponed several meetings with utmost disrespect to the government of Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Then President MR suddenly revoked the CFA, sending shock waves, but signaling the end of tolerance. From there onwards, the President fought the war to the end, giving a stunning victory against worldƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s worst terrorist outfit.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Our President has achieved what George Bush, Tony Blair, JohnƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Howard, Obama, Gordon Brown, Kevin Rudd could not achieve thus far.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  President MR has shown in very clear terms that he is not a weak leader, in fact he has nowƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  placedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  himself in a strong position as one of the best andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  strongest leaders of the world.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The PresidentƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s next challenger is Dr Ban Ki Moon (BKM), the UN Secretary General.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Compared with the President MR,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  BKMƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  is a very weak leader. He went to Burma to get the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, but the military government showed him the exit gate and BKM returned empty handed.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  He campaignedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  for Climate Change at the Copenhagen, but succumbed to his masterƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s resistance for any meaningful legally binding action. His negotiation efforts with Iran, Iraq, IsraelƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  are in shambles.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  He gave blessings to AmericanƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  resolution at the UN Human Rights commission against Sri Lanka, which failed miserably.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ On 13 October 2006 when BMK became the new UNSG, taking over from Kofi Annan, BMK made a very colourful speech to the assembly.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  In his final note he said: ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-In too many places could I feel the dismay over the inaction of the UN, or action that was too little or came too late.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  I am determined to dispel the disillusionmentƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ If BMK wish make his mark and keep to the commitments he made during the inaugural speech, there is no other place better than Iraq War.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  In September 2004, UN Secretary General at that time Mr Kofi Annan said ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-from our point of view and the United Nations Charter point of view, the Iraq war was illegal.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  DrƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Ban Ki Moon, what have you done so far to take actions against those culprits who illegally invaded a foreign country and killed its leader, innocent people, destroyed revenue earning major oil wells and infrastructure?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Is this the way you keep your commitment of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-I feel the dismay over the inaction of the UN, or action that was too little or came too late.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  I am determined to dispel the disillusionmentƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚?.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Kofi Annan was a courageous Secretary General, not a gutless, spineless American Puppet, to make that statement at an extremely heated moment.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The United Nations charter has authority to expel a member nation, but it has no provision for a member nation to voluntarily withdraw from its membership.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Despite its governing rules, in 1965, courageous first President Sukarno of Indonesia withdrew its membership from the UN, protesting MalaysiaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s membership in the UN, and thus became the first country to leave UN even for a brief period. UN learnt its first lesson from an Asian leader.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ As a consequence ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  BKMƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢sƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  repeated interference into the internal affairs of Sri Lanka, it is probableƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  thatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  His Excellency President Mahinda RajapakseƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢sƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  tolerance hasƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  almost reached its limits.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ By and large, the President Mahinda Rajapakse will be in power for the next 6 years.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  United Nations or other western enemies of Sri Lanka have no option but to come to termsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  with this courageous new leader and his 21 million strongƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  patriotic people,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  even beyond next 6 years.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Sri Lankans inherit tolerance from Buddhist philosophy.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  At times the tolerance is interpreted as a sign of weakness.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  When President Mahinda Rajapakse assumed the presidency, his objective wasƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  to bring about a negotiated settlement with Prabhakaran. During 2004 Presidential Elections, Prabha prevented tamils inƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  north and east of participating in the elections.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  As Prabha has already madeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  a deal with Ranil Wickremasinghe by signing a Cease Fire Agreement, PrabhaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  preferred MR to be the President than RW, thinking MR is a weak leader whereby he could achieve his ultimate aim of setting up Eelam.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

President MR initially worked extremely hard to conduct series of negotiations with the LTTE top brass. After protracted delays by the LTTE and late Anton Balasingham,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Prabha finally agreed for negotiations provided that they are conducted in overseas destinations.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The President agreed.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Then Prabha wanted Erik Solheim of Norway as their Chief Negotiator.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The President agreed.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Then Prabha requested that LTTE negotiating team will attend talks if the overseas destination is Geneva and not Thailand.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The President agreed.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Then Prabha wanted his team to fly to Geneva, but will fly from Vanni to the capital of Maldives, Male, by seaplane and get a connecting regular flight from Male to Geneva. The President agreed and provided logistic support.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

As the negotiations were about to commence, LTTE carried out massive terrorists attacks in key locations, killing innocent civilians and destroying properties.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Yet the President still wanted to continueƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  negotiations process. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The general public was extremely angry with the President MR at that time for not showing courage and leadership.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

When the negotiations were resumed, LTTE objected to the composition of government negotiating team and left the meeting abruptly and returned to Vanni.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  President MR changed the composition of the team to satisfy LTTE andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  still wantedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  to negotiate despite continued breach of CFA by LTTE.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  LTTE repeatedly postponed several meetings with utmost disrespect to the government of Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Then President MR suddenly revoked the CFA, sending shock waves, but signaling the end of tolerance. From there onwards, the President fought the war to the end, giving a stunning victory against worldƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s worst terrorist outfit.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Our President has achieved what George Bush, Tony Blair, JohnƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Howard, Obama, Gordon Brown, Kevin Rudd could not achieve thus far.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  President MR has shown in very clear terms that he is not a weak leader, in fact he has nowƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  placedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  himself in a strong position as one of the best andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  strongest leaders of the world.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

The PresidentƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s next challenger is Dr Ban Ki Moon (BKM), the UN Secretary General.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Compared with the President MR,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  BKMƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  is a very weak leader. He went to Burma to get the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, but the military government showed him the exit gate and BKM returned empty handed.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  He campaignedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  for Climate Change at the Copenhagen, but succumbed to his masterƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s resistance for any meaningful legally binding action. His negotiation efforts with Iran, Iraq, IsraelƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  are in shambles.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  He gave blessings to AmericanƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  resolution at the UN Human Rights commission against Sri Lanka, which failed miserably.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

On 13 October 2006 when BMK became the new UNSG, taking over from Kofi Annan, BMK made a very colourful speech to the assembly.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  In his final note he said: ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-In too many places could I feel the dismay over the inaction of the UN, or action that was too little or came too late.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  I am determined to dispel the disillusionmentƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

If BMK wish make his mark and keep to the commitments he made during the inaugural speech, there is no other place better than Iraq War.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  In September 2004, UN Secretary General at that time Mr Kofi Annan said ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-from our point of view and the United Nations Charter point of view, the Iraq war was illegal.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  DrƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Ban Ki Moon, what have you done so far to take actions against those culprits who illegally invaded a foreign country and killed its leader, innocent people, destroyed revenue earning major oil wells and infrastructure?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Is this the way you keep your commitment of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-I feel the dismay over the inaction of the UN, or action that was too little or came too late.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  I am determined to dispel the disillusionmentƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚?.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Kofi Annan was a courageous Secretary General, not a gutless, spineless American Puppet, to make that statement at an extremely heated moment.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

The United Nations charter has authority to expel a member nation, but it has no provision for a member nation to voluntarily withdraw from its membership.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Despite its governing rules, in 1965, courageous first President Sukarno of Indonesia withdrew its membership from the UN, protesting MalaysiaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s membership in the UN, and thus became the first country to leave UN even for a brief period. UN learnt its first lesson from an Asian leader.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

As a consequence ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  BKMƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢sƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  repeated interference into the internal affairs of Sri Lanka, it is probableƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  thatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  His Excellency President Mahinda RajapakseƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢sƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  tolerance hasƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  almost reached its limits.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

By and large, the President Mahinda Rajapakse will be in power for the next 6 years.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  United Nations or other western enemies of Sri Lanka have no option but to come to termsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  with this courageous new leader and his 21 million strongƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  patriotic people,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  even beyond next 6 years.