- Sunday, 23 December 2012 00:00
The
average Sri Lankan, if questioned about Sri Lanka-Australia ties last week
would have alluded to the on-going, closely fought Test cricket series between
the two countries. Most of them would have heard of Australian cricket captain
Michael Clarke, but not of Bob Carr.
Carr,
the Australian Foreign Minister visited Colombo last week but he hardly
captured the imagination of the media engrossed in the drama surrounding the
impeachment of Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake. However, his visit was an
extremely significant event.
Since
the conclusion of the Eelam war in 2009, it has almost become a tradition for
western nations led by the United States and the United Kingdom to castigate
Sri Lanka for alleged human rights violations during the final stages of the
conflict.
This
campaign reached a climax early this year when the United States sponsored a
resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva against
Sri Lanka. While most western countries indulged in this practice of Sri Lanka
bashing, Australia didn’t.
The
reason for most western nations to campaign against Sri Lanka was that these
countries have formidable Eelamist lobbies which wield considerable influence
on the powers that be in those countries to take up causes related to Tamil
separatism.
It
is not that Australia does not possess such groups. That country’s main cities,
Sydney and Melbourne provide a safe haven for many Eelamists who are not shy to
voice their sentiments supporting the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
However,
the government in Canberra headed by Prime Minister Julia Gillard has been keen
to maintain cordial relations with Colombo, even when Australia’s allies in the
western world and the Commonwealth took up positions against Sri Lanka.
A
case in point is when the last Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)
was held in Perth last year. With the next CHOGM due to be held in Hambantota
in 2013, there were widespread calls for Australia to endorse a proposed
boycott of the next summit.
That did not happen. Instead, when President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited Perth, instructions went out to provide maximum security to him to prevent embarrassing incidents he had to endure such as the cancellation of a scheduled speech while visiting Britain.
That did not happen. Instead, when President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited Perth, instructions went out to provide maximum security to him to prevent embarrassing incidents he had to endure such as the cancellation of a scheduled speech while visiting Britain.
Another
incident which could have strained relations with Australia was the alleged
‘abduction’ of Kumar Gunaratnam, the leader of the Frontline Socialist Party in
April. Sri Lanka allowed Gunaratnam, an Australian citizen, to return to Sydney
without pressing charges against him.
Diplomatic
relations between the two countries may have been helped by such events, but
this is not the main reason why Australia is keen to treat Sri Lanka as a
friend and an ally rather than an adversary. In recent years, thousands of Sri
Lankans have been arriving in Australia’s shores as refugees smuggled in boats.
Thereafter they seek refuge in that country as ‘asylum seekers’. Until
recently, they stayed in Australia for years until their ‘asylum’ claims were
processed.
This
is a major political issue in Australia. Prime Minister Gillard, scoring low on
the popularity stakes, has been accused of being ‘soft’ on asylum policies.
Now, Gillard has ordered such asylum seekers to be sent to other countries
until their claims are assessed.
Because
of this, Australian authorities are keen to stop boatloads of asylum seekers
arriving there. Significantly, Canberra has realized that most such Lankan
asylum seekers are not refugees fleeing ethnic persecution, but bounty hunters
seeking better economic prospects.
Most
of Bob Carr’s time in Sri Lanka last week was spent on discussing with Lankan
authorities the measures that can be jointly undertaken to curb the flow of
refugees from Sri Lanka -and this included assistance to the Sri Lankan Navy to
patrol and monitor the seas.
This
issue presents Colombo with an opportunity to forge close diplomatic ties with
Australia just as much as the CHOGM scheduled to be held in Hambantota is a
chance to showcase Sri Lanka to the world not only as tourist destination but
also as a vibrant democracy. While Australia remains friendly, the same cannot
be said of the CHOGM summit. Canadian Prime Stephen Harper has threatened to
boycott the summit. There are reports that the British government may request
Queen Elizabeth, the head of the Commonwealth, not to attend.
Thus
Sri Lanka’s status as host of the CHOGM is a double edged sword. While it
provides Colombo a chance to redeem itself, it must be aware that the Eelam
lobby based in the West will be keen to exploit the summit to tarnish the
country’s image.
Recent
developments including the impeachment saga can only help them. It is a reality
that Colombo must accept and act accordingly. If not, the CHOGM may become a
diplomatic disaster for Sri Lanka and its reputation could be in tatters by
this time, next year.
