CLASSIFIED | POLITICS | TERRORISM | OPINION | VIEWS

Sri Lanka – Do not be bullied. The goal should be self-reliance

Ben Silva

We all know, it is the weak that gets bullied. It is time to educate and empower the masses, develop our own defence technology so that we can stand up to the bullies. We get nothing, other than the boot, by licking the boots of powerful countries. It is possible to back up our words with deeds, only if we have a self reliant defence capability. Otherwise our protests would hardly be heard. The threat to Sri Lanka has to be converted to an opportunity, to benefit Sri Lanka. Dilrook, in his recent article said people are crying for jobs. At least some could be employed in the defence industry. Asoka S, indicated that officials were putting spanners in the works.

It could be corruption and incompetent, selfish officials that is preventing Sri Lanka from being self reliant on defence. Our young are the future of the country and they need to be given all the help they need , so that they can stand on their own two feet and live with dignity.

We need people to influence those in power, to get the machine on self reliance rolling.

We have to put religion to the back ground until we can defend ourselves and stand up to the bullies. Our priority now should be defence and economy. Remember Buddhism did not help to defend us against invaders, who had no principles , values or morality. When under economic or military threats, we have to be pragmatic and should have tactics and strategies to deal with military and economic threats.

Over the centuries, the Sinhalese have been weakened and marginalised and we have lost our pride, self belief and self respect. We see instances where our brothers and sisters abroad are ill-treated. We need to develop a sense of belonging and care and respect all Sri Lankans.

Over the Centuries, the Sinhalese have been ethnically cleansed and we should not allow any one to legitimise ethnic cleansing that has been carried out in the past.

Government should not make the mistake of leaving the job of defeating the LTTE militarily, half-done. This would be like, leaving behind cancer cells, in an operation. This is dangerous as cancer cells will grow back. The masses and the world need to be given the reasons to eradicate terrorism completely.

If western countries think that it is safe for Sri Lanka to allow terrorists to linger freely in Wanni, why did the Western countries attack Iraq and Afganistan ?

Is it double standards and hypocrisy of Western countries that allow fund raising ?

We need to now start our recovery and get our self confidence and dignity back. LTTE has given us an opportunity to wake up and we should make use of this opportunity (Ack AnuD). Sri Lanka has Engineers and scientists to match any in the world, and it is time they are given the opportunity to develop themselves and to serve mother Lanka. This message is also aimed at IESL members and I sincerely hope that the members discuss the issues with those that has the authority to take decisions.

If RW continued, the Sinhalese would have lost their motherland, as the Sinhalese are a minority in Global terms. President Mahinda Rajapakse and his brothers have already served mother lanka by liberating the east and reversing the gains of LTTE. They are leaders who are capable of seeing the hard realities that threaten the sovereignty of the Sri-Lanka. The Rajapakse brothers is a real blessing for the ordinary Sri-Lankans and Sri Lanka and we have to be grateful to them.

We have to defend our country and our people ourselves, at the same time maintain highest standards of morality, respect for others, ethics and conduct. We must make sure we do not practice racism but simply defend ourselves against racists and colonialists.

The HR groups appear to do nothing about terrorism, Tamil racism, and fund raising by terrorists, but simply blame Sri Lanka, that is trying to defend from terrorists that practice every trick in the book to carry out their evil acts. There appears to organised hounding of Sri Lanka and anti Sinhala racism by bogus HR organisations that get a lot of funding from various foreign Governments and businesses. These organisations appear to do nothing in Iraq and Afganistan where most of HR violations take place. They appear to take on Sri Lanka as an easy target to justify their existence.

If we have the correct leadership, as we have now, and the people get off their back sides and act, develop our own defence capability, then we should be in a position to take on the bullies. There is no such thing as a free lunch. We have to work at it. I am doing my tiny contribution. The massive contributions made by volunteers at SPUR and Lankaweb has to be acknowledged.

For self reliance to take place, empowerment of the masses has to take place and the masses should engage their brains and act.

We must not be that naive to think that some one will defend our country for us. We have to form self help groups, communicate, network, create a sense of community, create a sense belonging and get on with it. I know that many Tamil and Christian groups have self help groups, which are very useful to help each other in times of need. The Government could help by providing accommodation The local temple or school could be used as a meeting place or even some ones house. Important thing is to communicate, form a network and develop community spirit and a sense of belonging. These groups can be of mixed ethnicity as we want to eradicate Tamil racism and promote community spirit and integration. Tamils and others must understand and consider themselves not as a separate community but a part of the whole Nation.

There is a lot to learn from Jews and Israel as to how they survived and faced external threats.

As Charles Perera pointed out many Tamils are active in disinformation and false propaganda. We have to counter such threats and it cannot be just done by a few people. More people should get involved in countering disinformation by Tamils and HR groups. More people should get involved in promoting self reliance on defence and take action, as nothing happens automatically. The secret of LTTE success is networking. We need to apply their techniques to beat them at false propaganda. There is a definite need at village level to form self help groups for socialising as well as help each other at times of need. The masses must stand up and be counted. Some help may be needed to produce a constitution and how to run meetings. Even informal groupings may be very beneficial.

As emedia reports indicate Western countries practice double standards (AT),

bogus refugees exert political pressure and some NGO’s carry out disinformation.

So it becomes absolutely essential we take pragmatic and sustainable methods to defend our country, dignity and self respect. So self reliance is not a luxury, but an essential means to safeguard the independence of Sri Lanka.

If Sri Lanka is to be truly independent and maintain its sovereign status, then we must have our own Sri Lankan defence capability. The news that Sri Lanka has its own defence academy is excellent news. It could now perhaps conduct defence related research and development. Better late than never.

We need many to think of self reliance on defence, promote the idea and act to influence those with authority to take decisions. Are there any Engineers from IESL, who think they can make a useful contribution ? A local defence industry will give local engineers a way of earning respect and also means of developing skills needed in the modern globalized economy.

Why are we waiting to start our own defence industry and technology with our foreign friends?

When the Sri Lankan government is fighting a most barbaric and dangerous terrorist organization, their supporters complain to the United Nations and other international organizations to intervene. It is clear that in addition to the military war that is going on, there is a propaganda war as well. Also what is worrying is, that our masses and some of our leaders such as RW failed to understand the LTTE strategic plans for both military and propaganda wars. Whilst many Sri Lankans were in deep sleep, LTTE went ahead with their strategic plans. Number of Sri Lankans appear to project the voice of foreign paymasters. Some NGO’s who get paid handsomely try to justify their existence by generating unjustifiable propaganda against Sri Lanka. If there is firm evidence that some NGO’s have been acting against Sri Lanka, then there is simply no point in allowing them to operate in Sri Lanka.

The solution to Sri Lanka’s conflict is in reach. But it will require Sri Lanka’s government and parties to work together to put the national interest first. ie The Government should strengthen the armed forces to be able to wipe out terrorism from the North and take action to wipe out terrorism from the North.

It has to be made clear that I am not against our peace loving Tamil brothers and sisters, that have contributed to Sri Lanka. Our Tamil brothers and sisters should throw away the attitudes of racism, that corrupts the mind, and work together, with genuine friendship, with all communities. Whilst saying a firm no to racism, there has to be a mechanism to protect the Sinhalese from being wiped out or being ethnically cleansed, as has happened in the past.

Anyone with a little bit of brain would know that MR is the best president we ever had. RW is also known to be a fool, that has surrendered part of Sri Lanka to LTTE, under the guise of CFA. We should support President MR to finish off LTTE and liberate rest of the country from terrorism. There is a massive propaganda war going on and all patriots should write to UN and world leaders, exposing bogus propaganda by LTTE (as nothing happens automatically).

There was a good bit of advice from tenne on Sun (AT)

“Think of the impossible and take precautions. “ This is where war games and brain storming all help to understand the enemy’s mind. It may be good to get some guidance from our US and Israeli friends.

The laid-back attitude to foreign interference is detrimental to national self-respect and could prove deadly for us. The latest news of a proposed UDI underscores the need for action on all fronts (Ack Foxwatch).

We know well how the Europeans won the West. They won it through mass genocide of the native populations in North and South America. In South America, hundreds and thousands of natives who resisted conversion were garrotted (Ack. Sesha Samarajiwa ).

We want the Sinhalese to wake up from their deep slumber, LTTE have given us a wake up call.

The Philippines has a Government Arsenal, abbreviated as GA, under the Department of National Defence, responsible for producing basic weapons, ammunition, and other munitions for the Armed Forces of the Philippines [2]. We could team up with Philippines and do joint ventures. The Philippines has realized that self-reliance particularly in the area of defence matters is necessary for the Philippines to ensure its security [3],[4].

India is developing its space technology [7], missiles [6] and nuclear submarines [8].

Even a small, underdeveloped African Country, Zimbabwe has its own defence Industry [9]. It is generally known that military materials Sri Lanka purchased from ZDI vanished into thin air.

Why can’t we in Sri Lanka have our own defence industry?

Why are we still in the dark ages, when it comes to technology ? Is it our Engineers at fault or corrupt and incompetent officials ?

What can be done

It is becoming clear that Sri Lanka need the following:

a) A competent group of researchers and communicators capable of writing crisp clear reports and make excellent oral presentations. There must be a mechanism for Sri Lankans living abroad to support this group. At the moment, it has to be acknowledged that vast amount of work is done by unpaid volunteers in SPUR and Lankaweb. The oral presentations should be supported by Multi media technology, to create a good impact on the audience. Presentations could be held in various places in the globe to present Sri Lanka’s views, to counter LTTE propaganda. This sort of activity is not a luxury but essential. Presentations could be handled by embassy staff, but need to be trained appropriately.

b) Develop a self reliant defence system, and strategies. Again not a luxury, but essential. Tie up with Philippines is a good possibility as they want to be self reliant as well.

c) Lobbying by Patriots for a) and b) above, so that persons that have the authority to make things happen are aware of the need and take action.

d) Need to explain the truth, in crisp clear non aggressive, factual language the true situation in Sri Lanka to politicians that matter, such as Mr Patric healey of USA.

A specialist group may be needed to produce presentation material, but the actual communication could be done by embassy staff in various countries.

e) A permanent think tank to assess future internal and external threats to Sri Lanka and

to determine counter measures.

f) Poverty faced by masses to be eradicated. This could be assisted if the have’s help

the have nots.

References

1. http://ccrweb.ccr.uct.ac.za/archive/defencedigest/defdigest02.html#intro

2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_Arsenal_(Philippines)

3. http://www.arsenal.mil.ph/dir.html

4. http://www.stii.dost.gov.ph/sntpost/frames/julytosept04/pg17.htm

5. http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/uu04te/uu04te0k.htm

6. http://bdl.ap.nic.in/

7. http://www.isro.org/

8. http://www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=124552&catID=4&category=Technology&rtFlg=rtFlg

9. http://ccrweb.ccr.uct.ac.za/archive/defencedigest/defdigest02.html

Disclaimer: The comments contained within this website are personal reflection only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the LankaWeb. LankaWeb.com offers the contents of this website without charge, but does not necessarily endorse the views and opinions expressed within. Neither the LankaWeb nor the individual authors of any material on this Web site accept responsibility for any loss or damage, however caused (including through negligence), which you may directly or indirectly suffer arising out of your use of or reliance on information contained on or accessed through this Web site.
All views and opinions presented in this article are solely those of the surfer and do not necessarily represent those of LankaWeb.com. .

BACK TO LATEST NEWS

DISCLAIMER