Making Friends and Influencing People

"With somewhat of a heavy heart [Canada will forego its prime minister attending the Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka]. "Some of you may recall that I said two years ago now that unless we saw significant changes in Sri Lanka in terms of democratic governance reconciliation, respect for human rights, that I would consider not attending the Commonwealth leaders summit.
"Our historic association with the Commonwealth is important. But it is first and foremost based on our view that the Commonwealth's greatest value is as an organization that promotes high levels of international values."
Prime Minister Stephen Harper

Actually, when Prime Minister Harper states a position of principle he does tend to stand behind it; he is resolute about human rights and has no wish to accommodate those who flout that most basic of expectations from the view of an enlightened democratic government. Whether by accepting the presence within the United Nations of dictators and tyrants taking the opportunity presented to them through elected membership on human rights commissions to lecture and express their disapproval at the human rights records of liberal democracies from their vantage point as vicious oppressors or attending the 2013 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka, Stephen Harper has made it abundantly clear that he, representing Canadian interests, will not behave as though there is nothing amiss.

He has closely observed the sticky hands of government leaders in Africa and elsewhere using scarce funds to build grand enterprises of commerce available only to foreign tourists while avoiding the necessity to ensure that adequate food supplies are held in store for times of drought and crop failures when populations starve. Despite that tourists have no wish to leave their tourism dollars in such places where the opulent hotels remain empty yet are fondly regarded by the despots that create their presence, as dynastic signatures of success. A fond legacy.

Since the government of Sri Lanka fought its final war with the Tamil Tigers when thousands of Tamil civilians lost their lives in a brutal offensive that the Tiger separatists returned in measure against their own, repression has never been lifted. Those thought by the government to represent threats against their sovereignty are marked for murder. Accidents occur that happen to be lethal to the people who are targeted when, for example, Canada returns a suspected Tamil human trafficker to Sri Lanka whom the government considers a Tamil threat and he dies driving a motorcycle, run over by a truck.

"Canada noted with concern the impeachment of the Sri Lankan Chief Justice earlier this year, and we remain disturbed by ongoing reports of intimidation and incarceration of political leaders and journalists, harrassment of minorities, reported disappearances and allegations of extrajudicial killings", explained the Prime Minister, reasonably enough for any head of government. Asking Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird, as a result, to review Canada's financial contribution to the Commonwealth.

Human Rights Watch has a report on the Sri Lankan human rights situation on its website. Titled We Will Teach You a Lesson: Sexual Violence Against Tamils by Sri Lankan Security Forces, provides accounts of 75 cases of rape against Tamil women taking place in official, secret detention centres located throughout the country. Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights pointed out in her September report that the government of Sri Lanka failed to investigate any allegations of war crimes. A matter that the Commonwealth Secretariat evinces no interest in discussing.

Perhaps the Commonwealth is an organization whose time has come for dissolution. Too many of the former colonial countries where Great Britain left a legacy of law and order, justice and fairness, despite its position as an imperial colonialist, simply go through the motions of democratic order, then feel they have earned the respect and plaudits that should accompany their status as such. While the evidence of their rule proves otherwise.

There are members of the Commonwealth who are critical of Canada's position in refusing to consort with human-rights-abusing heads of government. The New Zealand Prime Minister John Key pointed out that if he visited only countries respecting and displaying the same human rights record as his own, he wouldn't be doing too much travelling. "We're a Commonwealth country and on balance I  think it is worth it to be there", he has claimed.

"You don't make new friends by rubbishing old friends", said Tony Abbott, Australia's new prime minister. The whole point is who wants 'friends' who are oppressive tyrants with blood on their hands? Low expectations do not necessarily equate with criteria for reasonable acceptance.