Sri Lankan Media, Western Media, Elections Loom

by NoEalamInSL

Its Presidential elections in Sri Lanka. Unlike previous 5 presidential elections (in 1982, 88, 1994, 1999, 2005); this presidential election is held under one law, one president, and one country. Sri Lanka is finaly freed from LTTE brutal terrorism after 30 years. Eelam War IV ended on 19th May 2009. Ever since President Rajapakse came to power in 2005, Sri Lanka has been on continuous development despite eruption of bloody Eelam war IV in 2006 against LTTE. The war was 24-7 for 2 years time. It is not just a war but a war against most ruthless terorists and who were funded, guided and directed by super powers. President Rajapakse not only fought a war against the most brutal terrorists in the world but also against pro-LTTE propaganda by west media and diplomatic intimidations by super powers in UN, UNHRC and other world bodies including ICRC, HRW which are under the leadership of same super powers; USA, UK, EU.

In comparison to war against terror superpowers whom were fighting a war against terrorism (Al Qaeda) are yet to achieve results while President Mahinda Rajapakse not only totally eliminated LTTE and won the war but also accomplished 90% of his promises given to his people in his 2005 manifesto. What west and the western media and its local agents here in Sri Lanka still struggling are try and manipulate the ground realities in Sri Lanka. They will again hear from Sri Lankans on the 26th January 2010 that they are not only wasteful creatures to bombard nations to stone age but also brainless hypocrites to have double standards on war against terror.

The FBI called LTTE as the most ruthless terrorists in the world followed in 2008. Al Qaeda which was the number one enemy of USA and its allies ( FBI LTTE Gets 1st Place Over Al Qaeda in 2008, Temilnet FBI: Taming the Tamil Tigers ) The war against Al Qaeda terrorists was supported by every state of the world while the war against LTTE was supported by only few countries. Surprisingly the superpowers US, UK, EU objected the Mahinda Rajapakse's war against LTTE. President Mahinda Rajapakse Government might not be perfect yet it is the best government Sri Lanka ever had.

There are certainly room for improvement but it is unlikely that Sri Lankans will choose another candidate as the President of Sri Lanka in 2010!

Anti-Rajapakse-front (as appear on this video)also criticizes President Rajapakse for sending a personalized greeting to mobile phones in Sri Lanka on the new year day. A personilzed greeting to a mobile seems an innovative thought by a president. I would definitely be delighted to have such a greeting from the president my country on the new year day. It gives me an impression of a symbol of a friendly nation. But unfortunately they use his friendliness as a intimidation to attack the president. Do they expect us to imitate their western norms and values? Or are they trying to imply western standards in Sri Lanka? What they forget is, Sri Lankans belong to a collective culture, it differs from western individualistic norms and values. They may have absorbed western norms, values and attitudes but should not criticise Sri Lankans in western perspective.

Sri Lanka is a hot topic for both businessmen and politicians, especially for the West Europeans, because giving a critic on Sri Lankan government attracts millions of Tamils around the world. They are busy attacking President Mahinda Rajapakse government to attract Tamils votes and try to defeat President Rajapaksa at elections on 26th Jan 2010.

So pro-LTTE western nations are sending their media agents and UN Special Rapporteurs on TV, You Tube, renewing outdated, discarded issues like Channel4 Executions, media attacks, killings, as well as new staged grenade attack of Tiran Allas to tarnish image of Sri Lanka. These deliberate manipulations and intimidation s are directed at Mahinda Rajapakse who fought and won a war super powers were embarrassed to admit or accept. They invaded Iraq on false allegation of WMD, later, post war investigations and commissions (NL, UK, USA) concluded that the war against Iraq was illegal but none of these media gave such a publicity as they do for Sri Lanka. Is this called unbiased reporting? is this called reporting with responsibility in west part of the world?

The human rights violaions, media threats, corruptions and thuggery have been decreased since the end of war in May 2009, as it is said here. But some journalist who makes comments on free media (Groundviews journalist 7:43 doesnt even allow readers to make a critic in his blog. Before pointing out others, it is wise to criticize your own attitude, be an example to others.

Dr. Palitha Kohana:

With regard to the west, we had some difficulties mainly owing to the fact that the LTTE had a well oiled propaganda machine operating in western capitals and in various international agencies. They influenced the policy makers in such a way that they tended to take a fairly sympathetic view of the LTTE. Despite this, Sri Lanka was successful in getting the LTTE proscribed in 27 European Commission states, in the United States, in Canada and so on. So we did have a number of significant successes in our foreign relations, even with regard to the west. The president has consistently maintained that Sri Lanka is a non-aligned country, and therefore, we have to ensure that good relations are maintained with all countries. It has to be said that the president's influence on foreign policy formulation in the last four years was a significant factor in managing our foreign relations in a satisfactory way. There was a time when we were not getting what we needed from the west including military material and funding for our development efforts. President Rajapaksa turned to other friends India, Iran, China and Russia.

Related links:

http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20100123_03
Please read Mahinda Rajapakse Manifesto 2010
http://www.mahinda2010.lk/manifesto2010.html