That O’ Blake Statement

The JVP has been very critical of the statement on the national question in Sri Lanka made by the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Robert O Blake at Madras University in Chennai on October 24. Issuing a communique‚ regarding O Blake’s statement, the politbureau of the JVP states that he has interfered in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka by his statement.

“We vehemently oppose this act of interfering in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka. He had further said that the strategic relationship reached between the USA and India could be used for the benefit of Sri Lanka. We see this as an outrageous Robert O'Blake

statement made against not only Sri Lanka but against all other countries in the region. As the strategic understanding and relationship reached between the USA and India is intended to spread the US-Indian domination in the Asian region, all countries including Sri Lanka should vehemently oppose such statements and unite to prevent such a manoeuvre in the region. The JVP emphasises that the USA, India or any other country has no right to pressurise the government of Sri Lanka regarding the solution for the national question in the country.

If anyone objects to the military measures taken by the government of Sri Lanka to defeat terrorism it could be considered as an act of support to terrorists... Mr O Blake further states that Sri Lanka, instead of wasting time trying to defeat the LTTE militarily, should accept a political solution... What Mr O Blake is attempting, is to gang up with India to halt the ongoing military operations to defeat Tiger terrorism and drag Sri Lanka into a situation where it would again start wasting time in trying to find a so-called political solution. The Rajapaksa government, which talks of devolution while the security forces are engaged in trying to defeat Tiger terrorism, is undermining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka before the so-called international community... We believe that this is the reason why reactionary countries and organisations attempt to make this government act according to their needs.”

Both the JVP and the Hela Urumaya were silent in the last two years about the doings of the American ambassador. Of course even then he was loyally following the agenda of Yankee leadership. But then he did not come out so strongly on political solutions. On the contrary, he was intensely committed to the American struggle against “international terrorism”.

So, our great patriots of the JVP and the JHU were happy, in that period, to be seen with the Yankee ambassador. They were pleading with this blue-eyed boy to increase help and intervention to defeat LTTE terror. At that stage they were all for the American stand against terrorism to protect democracy. The JVP did everything possible to cover up their own history of terror and came out with beautiful arguments to obtain even military help to defend Lankan democracy against the terror of the LTTE.

As long as fighting Tamils and opposing Tamil rights are supported, America ceases to be a reactionary country! The moment Blake opens his mouth to talk about a political solution to the Tamil national problem he becomes an arch reactionary and he has no right to interfere! I do not think Blake has changed. Perhaps he only represents the new mood in America about the Tamil national problem.

In any case, there is ample evidence now to realise that the LTTE struggle is a part of the Tamil struggle for freedom and equality. I do not believe the emergence of Obama is necessary for Blake to think of the black American struggle for equality that also had a terrorist component. Neither the Indian leaders nor the Americans are worried about the internal problems of Lanka unless it becomes a danger to their establishment.

Now they are more worried because of the crisis in capitalism. Hence Blake is coming out with radical statements about a political solution. The JVP and JHU do not realise that the inability of the Sinhala regime, which these parties helped to come to power, to solve the problem of national oppression of Tamils and other minorities, is the main cause of these outside interferences.

War has only increased the misery of the Tamil people while destroying the economy. The suffering of Tamils has become an international problem, thanks to the stupidity of Sinhala chauvinism. Neither Blake nor the Hanumans of Delhi will have an excuse to intervene here if we grant equality, autonomy and the right of self determination to the Tamil speaking people. In addition it will be the end of Tamil terrorism.