DN
Minister Prof G. L. Peiris has spoken of the need for the Government to set up a surveillance mechanism to monitor programs and funding sources of NGOs. Addressing the Cabinet Media briefing on Wednesday he was quoted as saying that the Government has information to the effect that many local NGOs and INGOs have been involved in domestic politics and other unscrupulous activities violating the country's law. Therefore he argued a monitoring system for NGOs is essential.
Many would agree with the Minister's views. Today NGOs have become a burgeoning industry. While a majority of these NGOs perform a commendable service to uplift the social and economic conditions of the poor and assist in many projects beneficial to the public, there are also rogue NGOs whose main agenda it is to undermine the unity and stability of the country. They have also inveigled certain local politicians to implement their vile schemes. Hence it is not without reason that the likes of Wimal Weerawansa and other vociferous politicians of the Government rant and rave against these NGOs whose agenda is all too clear to the independent observer.
The Minister's concerns are certainly not unfounded considering the subterfuge practised by many NGOs in this country particularly during the war period. It is readily accepted that some of these NGOs became the mouthpieces of the LTTE and their activities smacked of open hostility towards the Government. The discovery of several NGO vehicles and sophisticated communication equipment in the abandoned camps of the LTTE certainly tells a tale.
There were many local heads of NGOs who masqueraded as peaceniks but their real agenda was all plain to see to the enlightened observer. These NGOs brazenly sided with the terrorists while taking pains to highlight the alleged human rights violation of the Government Forces. There were even LTTE apologists among the NGO circuit who functioned as journalists to put Sri Lanka in poor light before the world. All these cumulatively affected the war against terror with Western pressure mounting against the Government. It is to the eternal credit of President Mahinda Rajapaksa that he ignored these threats to bring the war to a successful conclusion.
There is no doubt these NGOs had the full blessings and the patronage of certain Western powers who kept pouring funds into their already overflowing coffers. These funds were being used to undermine the Sri Lankan State by circulating false propaganda to vilify and demonize the country.
It is these very same NGOs who provided false information regarding casualty figures which were pounced upon by the likes of the Milibands to bring war crimes charges against Sri Lanka.
Hence the views aired by Prof Peiris no doubt will be shared by all dispassionate observers. The conduct of some of the NGOs in Sri Lanka had been a recurring theme and even a Special Commission was appointed by President Premadasa to probe the NGOs and their funding sources. But they continue in their merry way despite the same complaints and issues against these NGOs still being raised. These have today surfaced in many forms. There is not so subtle a move to debase the cultural values of this country too under the patronage of some of the NGOs. Some of them have been accused of carrying out religious conversions using money as inducements.
Today there is no scrutiny on the massive funds received by these NGOs which are being used for questionable purposes. Some NGOs are virtually functioning as adjuncts to political parties who carry out the agenda of the benefactors of these NGOs.
Prof Peiris noted that the NGOs continue to receive huge amounts of funds from various foreign sources. But whether these NGOs use those funds for their declared work program is the question.
It is no secret that the NGOs found Sri Lanka a haven during the three decades long civil war which provided the ideal ground situation to thrive. Demonstrations organised by well heeled NGO fat cats in Colombo denouncing the war was the order of the day with the constant refrain for a political solution. The well organised demos, the large crowds all pointed to well organised NGO network flush with funds. The ubiquitous presence of the local leaders of these NGOs in the diplomatic cocktail circuit was a clear pointer to the agenda at work.
It is time that Government makes a serious effort to flush out all rogue NGOs from the country. Now that the three decades long conflict has ended every step should be taken to ensure no NGO stirs the pot again.
Many would agree with the Minister's views. Today NGOs have become a burgeoning industry. While a majority of these NGOs perform a commendable service to uplift the social and economic conditions of the poor and assist in many projects beneficial to the public, there are also rogue NGOs whose main agenda it is to undermine the unity and stability of the country. They have also inveigled certain local politicians to implement their vile schemes. Hence it is not without reason that the likes of Wimal Weerawansa and other vociferous politicians of the Government rant and rave against these NGOs whose agenda is all too clear to the independent observer.
The Minister's concerns are certainly not unfounded considering the subterfuge practised by many NGOs in this country particularly during the war period. It is readily accepted that some of these NGOs became the mouthpieces of the LTTE and their activities smacked of open hostility towards the Government. The discovery of several NGO vehicles and sophisticated communication equipment in the abandoned camps of the LTTE certainly tells a tale.
There were many local heads of NGOs who masqueraded as peaceniks but their real agenda was all plain to see to the enlightened observer. These NGOs brazenly sided with the terrorists while taking pains to highlight the alleged human rights violation of the Government Forces. There were even LTTE apologists among the NGO circuit who functioned as journalists to put Sri Lanka in poor light before the world. All these cumulatively affected the war against terror with Western pressure mounting against the Government. It is to the eternal credit of President Mahinda Rajapaksa that he ignored these threats to bring the war to a successful conclusion.
There is no doubt these NGOs had the full blessings and the patronage of certain Western powers who kept pouring funds into their already overflowing coffers. These funds were being used to undermine the Sri Lankan State by circulating false propaganda to vilify and demonize the country.
It is these very same NGOs who provided false information regarding casualty figures which were pounced upon by the likes of the Milibands to bring war crimes charges against Sri Lanka.
Hence the views aired by Prof Peiris no doubt will be shared by all dispassionate observers. The conduct of some of the NGOs in Sri Lanka had been a recurring theme and even a Special Commission was appointed by President Premadasa to probe the NGOs and their funding sources. But they continue in their merry way despite the same complaints and issues against these NGOs still being raised. These have today surfaced in many forms. There is not so subtle a move to debase the cultural values of this country too under the patronage of some of the NGOs. Some of them have been accused of carrying out religious conversions using money as inducements.
Today there is no scrutiny on the massive funds received by these NGOs which are being used for questionable purposes. Some NGOs are virtually functioning as adjuncts to political parties who carry out the agenda of the benefactors of these NGOs.
Prof Peiris noted that the NGOs continue to receive huge amounts of funds from various foreign sources. But whether these NGOs use those funds for their declared work program is the question.
It is no secret that the NGOs found Sri Lanka a haven during the three decades long civil war which provided the ideal ground situation to thrive. Demonstrations organised by well heeled NGO fat cats in Colombo denouncing the war was the order of the day with the constant refrain for a political solution. The well organised demos, the large crowds all pointed to well organised NGO network flush with funds. The ubiquitous presence of the local leaders of these NGOs in the diplomatic cocktail circuit was a clear pointer to the agenda at work.
It is time that Government makes a serious effort to flush out all rogue NGOs from the country. Now that the three decades long conflict has ended every step should be taken to ensure no NGO stirs the pot again.
From the Island political column
ReplyDelete"A stark contrast
The contrast couldn’t be sharper than when one compares Basil with Sarath Fonseka. When SF was army commander, he had his own coterie of journalists. Any journalist who wished to be in his good books could highlight only what happened on land. The air and sea were out of bounds. Even on land, SF had to be the central figure. One officer who proudly wrote in a Ceylon Light Infantry anniversary publication that it was Maj Gen Nanda Mallawaarachchi who had led and won the Mavilaaru operation, was booted out of office. Victor Ivan pointed out in the Ravaya that Keith Noyhar the defence correspondent of The Nation was not beaten within an inch of his life because he was in league with the LTTE, but because he got his defense stories from the sea side. And journalist Namal Perera also got his teeth knocked out because he acted as the conduit between the sea going types and Noyhar. On one occasion, as the members of the security council waited for the arrival of the president, Sarath Fonseka had said to no one in particular "Patthara karayonta kanna bonna paga deela thamai ova liyawaganne." Wasantha Karannagoda sitting on the opposite side of the table had wanted to know "Kauda yako paga dunne?" Nothing further had happened, due to the timely arrival of the president.
The then army commander had one eye on the defence columns while the other eye was on the war. What we see in hindsight is that SF had been planning his entry into politics for years. Here was a military officer seeking publicity or a monopoly of the credit the way a politician would.
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http://www.island.lk/2010/03/14/politics1.html