Movement to ‘STOP USA’ wants SOFA and ACSA stopped in their tracks
Posted on June 25th, 2019
Ranmini Gunasekara Courtesy Ceylon Today
If Sri Lanka does not take a stand against the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) and the Acquisition and Cross Services Agreement (ACSA) immediately, there will be no turning back, claimed Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa today (25).
He was speaking at a Media conference organised by the STOP United States of America (USA) organisation.
As we speak, the United States Military ship and Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis is anchored near the Trincomalee harbour. This vessel belongs to the US Indo-Pacific Command. This Indo-Pacific Command is responsible for Military operations in an area which encompasses 52 per cent of the Earth’s surface. We know that 26,000 of the soldiers of the Indo-Pacific Command are stationed in Japan whilst 24,000 are stationed in South Korea. Currently, Task Force 73, a US Navy task force of the US Seventh Fleet is stationed in this vessel off the Trincomalee harbour,” he claimed.
He further alleged that this Military task force was biding its time until the Sri Lankan Government signs the SOFA and the ACSA.
They’re all waiting for us to sign those Agreements. But none of these agreements have even been presented to the Parliament nor has the Government made the citizens aware of it. Even Ministers haven’t been given a proper briefing as to what these two entail,” he further claimed.
Weerawansa also said the US Government has aided in the construction of four buildings that can house up to 4,000 people in Batticaloa.
We don’t know whether this is to house people who are displaced from a disaster. But what is this disaster that only affects Batticaloa that only the US knows about?”
He also alleged that the US Company Trimble has now taken over the Survey Department of Sri Lanka, and that even the American Bar Association has asked to set up office in Sri Lanka.
China hasn’t asked us to open up an office here for their Bar Association, neither has India, so why does America want one so badly? This is to make sure that their contractors, officials and Military officers, receive immunity from Sri Lankan law. Even if they were to assault a Sri Lankan woman, they will not be taken to Court. On the one off chance that they are arrested, the American Bar Association will intervene,” claimed Weerawansa.
Meanwhile, also speaking at the Media conference, MP Udaya Gammanpila said that the time has arrived for Sri Lanka to find friends in countries that will not intervene in Sri Lanka’s internal affairs.
The time has come for us to find allies that will not intervene in our internal affairs. Even if this agreement was for a certain time period, what happens when the time period is over and if the US refuses to leave? If this was the Maldives, Bangladesh or Nepal coming into our country and refusing to leave, we can chase them out. But are we strong enough to do the same with the US?”, he said.
He further said if these Agreements are signed, even a change in Government at the next Elections will not stop the US.
If we are to stop this, we need to do it now. This is not something that can be accomplished by just politicians. All of us need to lay aside our religious or racial biases and stand together to support the movement to ‘STOP USA’,” he added.
June 25th, 2019 at 4:12 pm
This is the biggest problem Mother Lanka faces now.
4/21 had been planned and implemented to make room for signing of these agreement and for American forces to move into the Island. Luckily our people were patient and did not fall into the trap of the government to make riots against Muslims which was the plan of the US and to move in and relocate all of them to these four accommodation units.
Now that their plan is exposed, we have to stand against it as a nation. But don’t know their plan B is. People have to be very mindful of it.
June 25th, 2019 at 6:12 pm
Strange no major political clan or major political party is in this initiative!
UNP, SLFP, SLPP, TNA, SLMC, ACMC, CWC are not opposed to it.
Only small political parties – JVP, NFF, PJHU, LSSP, etc. – are opposed to SOFA and ACSA (already signed in 2007 and extended in 2018).
No matter who wins the next presidential election, he/she will uphold ACSA and sign SOFA and MCC.
Though hardly patriotic, UNP refused to sign ACSA (2002 to 2004) and SOFA.
UNP wants to sign MCC but Sirisena opposed it.
I appeal the impossible from the readers – look beyond political clans and parties and see Sri Lanka’s national interest.
There are 2 types of politicians – those who oppose ACSA, SOFA and MCC (patriots) and those who don’t (traitors).
Their surname, past, political party, etc. are not relevent.
We signed a 10-page ACSA, they signed a 83-page ACSA is an internal battle among traitors for treason ranking.
For patriots any ACSA is an act of treason.