President Chandrika Kumaratunga has banned her government ministers from foreign travel and having negotiations with foreign organisations unless they obtain prior Foreign Ministry clearance, it has been reported. She is even enforcing the old rule on attendance of diplomatic parties by minister—only one cabinet minister to represent the government at national day receptions.
It is apparent that she is attempting to have control over the dealings of members and ministers of her coalition party, the JVP, striking out foreign deals on their own and bypassing her and the cabinet of ministers. This is an old rule that has been in existence for a long time but observed mainly in the breach. It is essential that any government should have firm control in foreign relations and be aware of any foreign deals that are attempted to be made outside the Foreign Ministry.
But apart from her government ministers, a new development has been the involvement of the LTTE and Members of the TNA with diplomatic missions in Colombo and their relations with foreign organisations. While the government cannot control the activities of the LTTE, even if it wished to and those of the TNA, if laws of the country are not violated, the government can well tell the foreign embassies and diplomats accredited to represent their countries here to abide by those rules of protocol they are expected to observe.
The Island has been made to understand by very reliable and highly placed sources that a particular embassy has approached a government institution with the proposal-a non working paper—- to establish a LTTE office in Colombo. A non-working paper means simply that it is an oral communication made and not put down in writing. Obviously the embassy is fronting for the LTTE, which it has no right to do, and is violating the diplomatic privileges extended to it.
Since the UNF government signed the Memorandum of Understanding with the LTTE and deproscribed it from being regarded as a terrorist organisation, some foreign missions here are considering that they have a right to communicate and deal with the LTTE as and when they please disregarding the existence of a sovereign Sri Lankan government. These diplomats roam the Northern and Eastern Provinces, communicate freely with the terrorists and meet their leaders. Since some of them are the proposed ‘ donor’ nations they appear to be under the impression that this is a colony of theirs and the government has surrendered all its rights.
It is basically the fault of the previous government as well as the present one for giving a free run to foreign embassies to interfere in what is strictly an internal affair of this country. Since we have brought in the Norwegians as the Peace Facilitators - for reasons good or bad—- whatever dealings that any foreign embassy wants to do with the LTTE has to be channelled through these facilitators with the permission of the Foreign Ministry.
What the government has now granted is the freedom of the wild ass and many embassies are considering themselves as facilitators and doing what they want.
While free travel is permissible for all citizens, the government should also be alert on the purposes of the visits of much-publicised LTTE and TNA delegations to foreign countries at their invitation. Earlier we were told that some of these delegations went to Europe to study ‘ federalism’ but ‘ federalism is no longer being talked about. The government for security reasons should keep a tab on such visits and inquire the nature of the foreign organisations that are inviting these delegations at great expense to these host countries. Some government sources say that the LTTE wants to open consulates in some European countries but since this will not be possible, they want to open up such consulates under the cover of ISGA proposals! It is rumoured that Switzerland is one such country that is being eyed by the terrorists.
President Kumaratunga should alert her security services to keep track of the moves made by the LTTE in conjunction with the TNA and some foreign embassies. The government may be waiting with hat in hand and be scared to displease donors but the people of this country will not let it be sold even for the promised billions of dollars.
Declare private buses an
Essential Service
The Private Bus Owners’ Association has decided to launch a continuous strike commencing today, demanding hikes in bus fares in consequence of the price of diesel being increased.
With heavy rains prevailing in most parts of country, the travelling public will be put to great inconvenience by the callous action of these bus mudalalies.
The price of diesel was increased on Friday and the mudalalies are demanding their pound of flesh immediately, having no regard to the immense suffering they are bound to inflict on the public.
It has to be pointed out that this is not a strike of employees. It is one of owners who have come into the business on their own volition knowing the risks involved. If they cannot tide over at least for a few days till this issue is sorted out, then it is a prime reason why these private bus owners should not be left in charge of a prime utility service.
We have pointed out time and again that although privatising of the bus services was a good move the present system of individual operators plying their own buses is extremely unsatisfactory. Some kind of reorganisation should be undertaken immediately where these buccaneers of bus transport should ne brought to their senses.
Tbis is not the first time the mudalalies have demanded their instant pound of flesh. If their persist in their action for more than a day the government should declare it an Essential Service and not hesitate to use the military to run the services.
(http://www.island.lk/2004/09/28/editorial.html)
