Why shouldn’t Najib attend CHOGM?

Najib is pressured to miss the CHOGM Summit in Sri Lanka but are we missing the forest for the trees?

COMMENT

There is much rumpus made surrounding the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) this year, regionally and internationally. Voices of displeasure and concerns have surfaced since the meeting will be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka; where war atrocities have occurred against the ethnic Tamils.

Back here, Najib is being pressured by various organisations be it political or non-governmental to give a miss to the meeting since his attendance will be deemed as consenting to the war crimes that inflicted death, pain and misery to civilians. Najib has been bashed and even accused to be acting in a criminal manner for agreeing to be in Colombo.

The CHOGM 2013 Summit will be hosted for the first time in an Asian country in 24 years; and unfortunately has been riddled with unease and tension among some participating countries. Canada has retracted its participation while India is sending its foreign minister instead of the prime minister.

Should Malaysia follow suit at the eleventh hour?

Observing the trend of events and non committal stance taken by our government, Malaysia will definitely not back down. Currently, the Commonwealth comprises of 53 independent states working together in the common interests of their citizens for development, democracy and peace.

And why should Malaysia back out just because some disgruntled pockets of society? Yes, there is no denying in every possible term that human rights were violated. Innocent lives were lost. Many civilians were limped, raped, maimed, injured and tortured when the Sri Lankan military launched its offensive to rid its soil of any Tamil Tigers, leading to the ill-famed Sri Lankan civil war from 1983 until 2009.

Sri Lanka was practically torn apart to shreds during this period. Its economy, political and social fabric were in tatters and shreds. In plain terminology, it was disgusting to the highest degree and must be condemned in the harshest possible manner.

Nevertheless in all wars, it takes more than one party to be guilty. Have we not forgotten the fact that the Tamil Tigers had also recruited child soldiers in their camps? Some reports have claimed that at the end of the hostilities, nearly 600 child soldiers surrendered themselves to the Sri Lankan military. The Tamil Tigers also behaved in demonic proportions by violating all humanity in their pursuit for a separate and independent territory.

This is not an issue of which party is guiltier in committing crime and atrocities. Both were wronged from their perspectives and both reacted in a manner that suffered the innocent, the children, women, elderly and even the unborn.

Nevertheless is boycotting the CHOGM ever going to change history? Definitely not, but it may send a message out there that Malaysia denounces their past acts. That is about all we can achieve. Is it enough?

Will the Malaysian Indians and in specific Tamilians take the matter further to concretize their stand and sever all economic, touristic and social ties with Sri Lanka immediately if Najib concurs with their demands?

Cans of dead worms

Please do not be hyper-critical and a hypocrite on the same breath. All those opposing our participation to the Colombo CHOGM should reflect on grounds of fairness and equality.

This is not about Najib or Malaysia. This is about human idiosyncrasies and their political motives and maneuvering.

Why have we conveniently forgotten the terrors committed by the Japanese Army during World War II (WWII)? Was the Japanese kind to us when they invaded Malaya then?

The younger generations seems incognizant of the facts of WWII; but ask any living soul today that went through the horrors of the WWII; they will never forgive the Japanese till end of time.

But today, almost every human on earth deals with Japan directly or indirectly, have meetings there, and even boast about how the Japanese have evolved human technology. Why are these groups who are against Malaysia’s participation in Colombo do not raise issues with the Japanese?

The Japanese Kempetei or also known as “Military Police Corps”, arrested civilians and their brutality was particularly notorious in many occupied territories including Malaya.

What about North Korea and their atrocities?

Until today the North Korean regime is cruel to its people. The people of North Korea are in essence living in fear daily. Thousands if not millions of their children are starving even as this article is being written. Families from North Korea separated from South Korea yearn to see their relatives till death but their wishes are not met.

Amusingly its official name is “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea” but is run with an iron fist under the dictatorship of one man; often described as “totalitarian and Stalinist.” Are we kidding ourselves with the Sri Lanka CHOGM and making fools in the international media?

Why were there no protests and kicking when an established and esteemed college university in Kuala Lumpur conferred one of their highest honours to the North Korean leader?

Let us not isolate incidents and open cans of dead worms. The world has forgotten the very essence of atrocities carried out by the British, Americans and Germans.

Our colonial masters, Britain broke every rule known to mankind for human rights when they were propagating their righteousness on the world. If only Mahatma Gandhi was alive to tell us more.

Malaysians are nothing short of mocking themselves in asking Najib to boycott the Colombo CHOGM. Let us put issues right not on racially or politically skewed agendas. CHOGM just does not fit the ideals.

Narinder Singh is a FMT team member.