GOSL, UNHRC & The Humanity: Will Altruism Prevail Over Narcissism?
By Jude Fernando –September 17, 2015
Jude Fernando
“Conquer the angry man with love. Conquer the ill-natured man with goodness. Conquer the miser with generosity. Conquer the liar with truth.” — Dhammapada
“The truth will set you free.” — John 8:32
Let’s not mistake the fact that the UNHRC report’s incriminating charges of “war crimes and crimes against humanity” are against both the government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Its demand for truth, accountability, and transitional justice is about the entitlements of both the victims and perpetrators of the alleged crimes. Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera’s speech at the UNHRC has indeed set the tone for a positive approach to demands for transitional justice. Minister Samaraweera exhorted the international community to not judge the GOSL by its past failures to fulfill its promises but to trust its current political will and sincerity to fulfill the demands for transitional justice. Yet our optimism is tempered by cynicism and uncertainty as to how the GOSL will address a plethora of complex questions, when it comes to making headway on the subject of reconciliation and accountability.
Will the GOSL demonstrate the humility and courage to accept the truth and not try to outsmart the process by taking a professional approach to refute false charges in the UNHRC report? Or will its responses be uncompromisingly narcissistic, concerned only with its political ambitions, fears, and insecurities rather than exhibiting an objective and altruistic commitment to justice? Will the GOSL use current domestic and international goodwill as an opportunity to demonstrate its sincere commitment to accountability and reconciliation founded in consensus-based politics and just governance? Or will this be yet another “red herring” by the GOSL to cover up (or distract public attention from) its failures to transform the political culture of the previous regime? More importantly, will the GOSL’s responses marginalize the moderates willing to collaborate with the government or strengthen the extremists on both sides of the ethnic divide?