Base in the centre of the Shipping lanes
Posted on July 22nd, 2016

By Ashley de Vos. Courtesy The Island

Henry Kissinger once said: “Globalisation is the Americanisation of the world”and one assumes that most humans have been consumed by the mad rush to join the lifestyle band wagon to keep up with ‘the Joneses’ and get further into debt. It is unforgivable that cultures that have withstood the vicissitudes of change for thousands of years and that have evolved as proud nations are also being forced and encouraged to join or face the wrath of countries that have no cultural matrix as a base to fall back on––except a fine tuned technology for the manufacture of weapons of mass destruction.

One argument may lie in the fact that the evolution of man over the millennia is closely entwined with the manufacture of weapons, from the first picking up of an animal bone to kill his brother to the development of superior and more sophisticated weapons, to kill each other on a greater and grander celebratory scale.

Let’s face it, if 75% of your economy is based on the manufacture and sale of weapons of mass destruction, then either you have to be at constant war with somebody, a good scheme to get rid of the old stocks or instigate or jump start a war where there is no war. In addition, you frighten everyone else through well synchronised media hypes and misinformation through targeted TV channels and social media, formulated and presented by specially trained operatives and propose that building up an arsenal and a comprehensive war machine is the best way to ensure that you remain safe. However, if you live by the gun, you will also die by the gun.

Many oil rich countries and not so rich countries get into debt by this hyped up fear psychosis and the need to stock up with the latest machines of mass destruction. But what the hell, war is good economics, it is great for business, especially for the manufacturers of these weapons and the ‘Contractors’. The gullible, now in debt, are ready to grant ready access to their scarce, but valuable resources, on the cheap, in exchange. Sri Lanka is being enticed to go into defence spending. Even though there is no war, then why?

Stemming from the end of the World War ll, the Nazis are accused of killing 6 million Jews, and due to the numbers involved it is referred to as genocide. No one talks of the over millions of Russians or the Germans killed by the Russians, these have never been referred to as genocide.

The Nuremberg War Crimes Tribunal punished many of the perpetrators for exterminating Jews, gypsies and homosexuals from Europe. But no mention is made of the one and half million odd German soldiers who surrendered to the allied forces being wilfully starved to death by order of a General, this is not recorded as genocide. Only one honourable General was found fault with, for setting free the German soldiers that his platoons had captured. There was no trial for the other, only rewards and accolades.

The state of Israel was established to accommodate the Jewish community that had escaped being eliminated by the Holocaust in Europe. An island in the southern Indian Ocean that existed as a British protectorate with a population of between 1500 -2000 people also comes into focus.

“Between 1968 and 1973, in a plot carefully hidden from the rest of the world,” now recorded in great detail by David Vine in his publication,”Island of Shame, the secret history of the U.S. military base on Diego Garcia”, the United States and Great Britain forcibly exiled all 1,500 – 2,000 islanders to create a major US base on the Chagossians island, Diego Garcia.On the order of the U.S military, UK officials forced the remaining islanders to board overcrowded cargo ships that left them on the docks of Mauritius and Seychelles.”

“Just before the last deportations, British agents and US troops on Diego Garcia herded the Chagossians’ pet dogs into sealed sheds and gassed and burned them in front of their traumatised owners awaiting deportation.”

Genocide? N,o it cannot be, they are only dogs!

“A population that occupied and enjoyed their own land and unrestricted space under the sun since British colonial times, is now traumatised and confined to a slum in a foreign land and to a life of abject poverty, they received no resettlement assistance and quickly became impoverished.”

There was never a mention of Human Rights!

The island of Diego Garcia is today a fully-fledged US base, with every super facility for the US armoury. If the US base has to be removed or scaled down following the islander’s future demands and action in the British court and parts of the island need to be handed back to the islanders, they will find an additional location with equal security and accessibility, preferably closer to the international shipping lanes.

Martha Jager writing to Time in the 1990s mentioned the strategic location of Trincomalee in Sri Lanka. Thank you to prudence, our leaders had their heads screwed on, in spite of the 30 year insurgency that was aided and abated an International attempt to help the LTTE in the last stages of the war was possibly an attempt to get closer to the site in the northern Indian Ocean.

Soon after the end of the Sri Lankan insurgency, at a private function in Colombo this writer was visibly shocked when confronted during dinner by Dr. Ruth Wedgewood, SAIS, Edward B. Burling Professor of International Law and Diplomacy, Johns Hopkins University, the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, the Chief guest who suddenly and out of the blue, raised the question:”Should there be a regime change in Sri Lanka?” This author’s reply was, “No! Certainly not, we can at last breathe and move about with the knowledge that if we go out, we could get back in one piece!” The prompt retort was also a great shock for the questioner.

This points to the fact that the question of a possible regime change and a possible repetition of a Middle Eastern spring in Sri Lanka and the possible larger role had been discussed in the halls of Washington, long before the end of the war. It also displays that it had been planned early in the insurgency and the attempted rescue at the end was part of the grand plan.

Today, the sudden visits by numerous top US bureaucrats, some sufficiently ignorant, that till recently, they had not even known where Sri Lanka was, just dropping in, but obviously on focussed missions, meetings arranged with a variety of individuals are all carefully fashioned and structured as “the western powers push for the implementation of a US-led resolution crafted to make the Sri Lankan armed forces suffer the “consequences” for their role in defeating terrorism, in a part of the world far away from theirs” (LK. Daily Mirror).

The removal of the Sri Lankan military leadership and the demoralisation of the army is strategic for the next stage that the US and the UK “Expertise”, strangely, with Sri Lankan government support are rushing towards. The humiliating of the national army and its capability, and being drawn over the coals, is similar to and is as unfortunate as the wilful and complete sacrifice and annihilation of fifty two important Special Army intelligence operatives during a similar period in the recent past, this calamitous event is very fresh in the minds for most Sri Lankans.

David Vine in his latest book “Base Nation, how U.S military bases abroad harm America and the world” published in August 2015, identifies the proliferation of US bases amounting to over a 1,000 around the world. “Generally, those displaced have, like the Chagossians, been ‘small’ (sic) in number, under colonial control, and of non – ‘white,’ non-European ancestry.

David Vine demonstrates that, “the overseas bases raise geopolitical tensions and provoke widespread antipathy towards the United States. They undermine American democratic ideals, pushing the United States into partnerships with dictators and perpetuating a system of second class citizenship. The far flung bases strain the lives of military families, breed sexual violence, displace indigenous people, and destroy the environment”.

In a recent TV interview David Vine has placed a question mark on the island of Sri Lanka. He indirectly and tactfully states without saying that the US will turn its eyes on Sri Lanka!

In an attempt not to make it too obvious, the US is playing good cop, bad cop and is using India and RAW to do the dirty work, to undermine Sri Lanka with the CEPA/ETCA and to push for the construction of a bridge connection to be funded by the ADB, such a beautiful name coined by Julius Nyerere to describe the dubious Bretton Wood twins, that will gladly help destroy the territorial integrity of any country including Sri Lanka.

And what better way than to reintroduce and support the concept of federalism, not meant to unify but to divide the country. With full Sri Lankan government backing, and the advice of dubious backers, the players and implementers are already in place and the die has been cast for the decimation of Sri Lanka.

K. M. De Silva, editing the ‘British documents on the end of the Empire’, in Series B Volume 2, Part ll 396, Towards Independence 1945-1948 reveals, on page 302 under External Defence 18. ‘A threat to the territorial integrity of Ceylon is likely to come only from India, although a full scale attack from that country is only likely to occur if she were overrun by, or had thrown in her lot with a hostile power.’

It is imperative that Sri Lanka maintains her non- aligned stand. Since the Indians have already been given access to Sampur which controls the entrance to the Trincomalee harbour,if the US fights shy to set up a base on Sri Lankan soil, according to recent discussions, a shared base with India is certainly possible.

“Recently India reopened talks with the US on giving access to each other’s military bases.The Logistic Support Agreement (LSA) allows both sides to make changes to each other’s facilities in a way that allows for easier conduct of military exercises besides expanding their scope and ambition. The Communication and Information Security Memorandum of Agreement(CISMOA) is an agreement that allows both Militaries to come on a common communication platform and the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement(BECA) largely pertains to geospatial intelligence requiring sharing information on maps and satellite imaging for defence purposes.” (The Island 24/12/2015).

In which event, Sri Lanka would get embroiled in everything that the US and India does even to the extent of alienating her friends. Furthermore, both parties would have access to Sri Lanka’s exclusive continental shelf, oil, gas and its assets including the rich fisheries resources it commands.In addition, the Indian fishermen are already laughing, with the proposed bridge they will have free access to the exclusive fisheries resources of Sri Lanka a promise already given by the Centre to the fishermen of Tamil Nadu.

In early 2000, the US tried to introduce the ‘Tropical Forest Act’ that would commandeer the precious resources from all the Sri Lankan forest assets against interest on monies borrowed by Sri Lanka, that is, every forest reserve in the country at less than Rs. 2,300 an acre or Rs. 14.30 a perch. There were a number of “Sri Lankans” supporting this move. If signed, the resources in the Sri Lankan rain forests would belong to the President of the US, who is free to conduct military exercises and sell or otherwise exploit the resources.

The big pharmaceutical companies had their antennas tuned on, on what could have been a trillion $ lottery. There were heavy protests from a few Environmental NGO’s led by the Wildlife & Nature Protection Society, and certain committed individuals. To the great horror of the authorities concerned, this group of Sri Lankans, genuine protectors and lovers of their country even offered to buy the resource themselves, for which there was a prompt NO. Thankfully the proposed legislation was shelved, but there is nothing to stop the ‘Act’ from raising its head again, as many of the original players are back in the ring.

It is most unfortunate that Sri Lanka has pledged her armed forces to the United Nations for peace keeping duties elsewhere, a very regrettable move indeed for a country groomed on strong non-aligned principles. We do not need to sacrifice our youth in the dubious wars of others, especially when they are instigated by the manufacturers of weapons of mass destruction.

In turn,with a permanent presence in the northern ocean hub,the US and India would be able to interfere with the internal workings of the whole of the Indian Ocean rim, amounting to about 44 countries and Sri Lanka would get drawn into it.Trincomalee is a great harbour, but unfortunately its location does not lend itself to being a conventional port. Unfortunately instead, it could become, a holding hub for nuclear submarines, its sole purpose being to terrorise the southern shipping route.

Interestingly,”The US likes to fight wars or rather, its military contractors like to fight wars, because that’s how they make money, and they happen to own a big piece of the action. But, the US can’t or don’t want to win any wars, as it will affect their economy and that makes its entire war effort rather silly, but not for the contractors.”

John Pilger in his article ‘A world war has begun’. Asks the question, “How many people are aware that a world war has begun? At present, it is a war of propaganda, of lies and distraction, but this can change instantaneously with the first mistaken order, the first missile.”

Today, the boyish pleasure derived by sitting on the seat of a motor cycle is sufficient to open everything to the greed driven west. A confirmation of what Lord Macaulay wished for India that at the time included Ceylon,when he addressed the British Parliament in February 1835.He proposed a methodology to create a group of black men with a White colonial mind set, who would carry forward the neo-colonial message by helping to destroy the nation’s spirit, its cultural heritage, self-esteem and native culture,thereby creating a truly dominated nation.

This mad rush to dump a rich cultural base in a bid for a seat on the global platform and possible personal accolades that may follow, totally disregarding the have-nots in her population, will have detrimental and far reaching effects. We have forgotten anotherimportant statement made by Henry Kissinger, where He confirmed,”America has no friend’s, only interests.”

While most Kings over the historic period of two thousand five hundred years fought off invasions to maintain the territorial integrity of this island nation. Later erudite leaders fought the strongest in the world at international gatherings to ensure freedom for others, for countries like Japan, that the west had relegated to pariah status, this to ensure that all countries were given the chance to maintain their territorial integrity. Unfortunately today, totally disregarding the sacrifices of the past, ourleaders are willing to give up that freedom and give into the colonial machinations of the new greed driven empires, thus revealing a lack of independent thought, even entering into agreements that normally would require a national referendum.

Our own politicians tend to be naive, and feel that they have to be ‘politically correct’ in their dealings, at least they want to be seen as such, in everything they do. In the wake of the Japanese surrender ending World War ll in August 1945, General D. A. MacArthur & C. H. Nimitz requested the then US President for a definition for their better understanding of the phrase, President H. S. Truman defined political correctness to them as follows, “Political Correctness is a doctrine, recently fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and promoted by a sick mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a piece of shit by the clean end!” How true, those who promote political correctness do not even understand the phrase, and they have already caused irreparable damage.

Have we no national pride, Korea has developed but, they still remain very Korean. Malaysia has developed but, has fought to remain very Malaysian. Japan has developed but, has remained very Japanese and perhaps at one time Sri Lanka remained Sri Lankan at heart.

We seem to be falling by the wayside, with a preference for cowboy boots, a ten gallon hat and a gun belt,instead of focussing primarily, on the interest of Sri Lanka and its people first. We tend to look after the interest of all others and not our own.

Instead, we should stand tall, think of this country and design our own destiny, our own future and not accept something that is foisted on us, like the cheap fast foods we are being inundated with. From all indications we are up to our eyeballs in S++T.

3 Responses to “Base in the centre of the Shipping lanes”

  1. plumblossom Says:

    plumblossom Says:

    July 22nd, 2016 at 2:52 am


  2. NAK Says:

    With Batalanda ponnaya in the lead and pacha sira behind him US dreams are as good as realized. We still have a small window to save what is ours but most of our people don’t seem to smell the danger we are in.
    India is another country as the US that has no shame or morals . They are sacrificing us in the name of their security.
    Modi is as foolish as his predecessors and he refuses to see what is happening to France, Germany and the UK for following US instructions.
    Today the whole of Europe is terrorised by a handful of youths but mark my words unlike Europe India will pay a very heavy price for creeping between legs of the US.

  3. Ratanapala Says:

    How true your noble words Ashley, you are a true son of the soil.

    The likes of Yahapalana traitors are the bane of our motherland. It is time all true blooded Sri Lankans who value being Sri Lankan and who pride themselves in her rich culture, started to sharpen their axes and knives at least in a token way to prepare their minds for the coming war between the traitors and patriots.

    Did anyone bother to understand why millions died at the hands of the Khmer Rouge? The disconnect between the poor and the rich, the educated and the uneducated, the privileged and the non privileged was so vast and the chasm unbridgeable . At one instance a Khmer Rouge came to a rich mans house in Phnom Peng and drank the clear water in a commode thinking it is the ‘drinking well’ of the rich man. That was the type of disconnect that existed. The American backed Lon Nol government which was similar to this Ranil administration was the final straw that broke the camel’s back and made it possible for a demagogue of the calibre of Pol Pot to emerge.

    Similarly in Sri Lanka the Colombians, Colombian imitators and the Olcott Buddhists are willing to sacrifice Sri Lanka and her 2500 year old culture and heritage for American pottage! They must take heed after looking at the fate of countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and now Syria. These are countries that were much richer than Sri Lanka and steeped in history before they were utterly destroyed beyond recognition.

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