Richard Boucher’s interview with a Norwegian newspaper

I was going through Asiantribune when I came across two articles on an interview of Richard A, Boucher, US Assistant Secretary, for South and Central Asian Affairs with Dagsavisen, a Norwegian newspaper. The interview took place soon after the end of the Co-Chairs meeting in Oslo to review the latest developments in Sri Lanka.

Boucher represented USA. While Japan, EU, and Norway, the other members of the Co-Chairs, also participated in meeting.

I find the interview quite interesting, not because Boucher was plain and up to the point about the LTTE but also hinted or at least expressed on the type of ‘solution’ the Co-Chairs vis a vis International Community wants to see, parties to the conflict accept.

With regards to the LTTE, he had stated that the US governments banning of the LTTE was based on the fact that it was crucial in terms of finding a solution. And went on the state “We have to be honest. The organization has killed leading members of parliament and public officials; they have killed the Indian Prime Minister. They have been engaged in terrorism until to this day. This the nature of a terrorist organization” needless to say, at least it’s good to know that US understands the true nature of the LTTE.

Unlike some of the other members of the Co Chairs, particularly Norway who constantly attempt to whitewash the terrorist actions of the LTTE, US made it clear about LTTE’s use of violence as means to justify its cause.

Furthermore, Boucher refused to compare the Human Rights violations of the Government with LTTE terror, claiming that the Sri Lankan Government is leading a democratic country. This is quite right, hats off to Mr.Boucher for that. But the notable fact is that the Norwegian papers attempt to compare LTTE terror to HR violations is a highly significant point. It gives out the viewpoint of the Norwegian Press over the LTTE and, again its use of terror to justify its claims.

Boucher went on to say that the Government should ‘dissolve’ Karuna group as its involved in Child recruitment and went on to state that “They have been involved in too many unacceptable actions”. However, in terms of the LTTE , Boucher acknowledged the fact that LTTE also recruits child soldiers but stopped short of saying “In order to get the Tigers to abandon the use of child soldiers there must be pressure from the international community “ So in Boucher view what are the ‘unacceptable’ actions that are executed by Karuna Group ? And why is that the LTTE is to get pressure from International Community over child soldiers, while the Karuna group has to dissolve? This need to be answered by the International Community I guess before we proceed beyond this point, as there should be no double standards of each different group or stakeholders.

But what’s more interesting is that while explaining the International Communities current approach to the situation, he mentions that the diplomats will use both whip and carrot in order to get the parties in the civil war back to the negotiation table. He cited economic consequences as the ultimate penalty to be paid by the Sri Lankan government, if it elects to continue war.

While commending the International Communities efforts so far to both screw up and to settle the conflict in Sri Lanka , I have to ask how on earth did they decided on this policy. Is it that they decided to use it because this is the best option so far, open to them or just that they see us as easy pray to yield to their consuming pressure? I don’t think this is the approach they used in Afghanistan, with its dealings with the Afghan government or Pakistan, over its issues in Human Rights and eroding Democracy or government of Israel.

As for the penalty, the sad truth is that not only it’s a hard hitting reality but also due to our prolonged reliance on foreign aid and investment we are but bounded by it.

Then the ‘final solution’ bombshell, where He stated “The USA shares the view of other countries involved in the peace process and a final solution must contain a one state solution where the Tamils are given broad control over their own matters. The problem is to get the parties to accept such a solution”.

So, if that’s the case, I’m I to understand that already US and rest of the Co-Chairs have found a solution to this question? What’s a ‘one state solution”? I guess these are some of the questions the Sri Lanka public should ask from the Co-Chairs, if not we might finally get ended up with imposed ‘solution’ with the kind courtesy of the Co-Chairs.