Editorial

The President got embroiled in an awkward diplomatic tangle this week by a statement he later officially retracted, or denied making. On the eve of his Prime Minister’s visit to India on state business, he reportedly attributed to the Indian external spy agency, RAW, imputations of trying to assassinate him.

The story leaked from the Cabinet, where it was said he made the comment, to the media both local and foreign. The President was forced to act swiftly at damage-control by blaming the media for the misreporting. There is an anecdote in the newspaper world that a news story can only be confirmed when the Government denies it.

Stemming from the officially unsaid remarks was the case of India being invited to be a partner with a 20 percent stake in the construction of the East Container Terminal (ECT) of the Colombo Port. Now, the Shipping Minister has said that the MoU signed with India is invalid and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) will finance the project.

Beginning with the Mahinda Rajapaksa Administration, the development of Sri Lanka’s ports have been problematic.

While much has been said about the controversial contracts, the Rajapaksa Administration carried out vis-à-vis the ports, the ECT was no exception. Some 400 metres of the ECT was ready by April 2015 and handling equipment was to be handed over by March 2016. But the new Government said the price agreed by the Rajapaksa Administration was too high. The new administration went into these matters in 2015. Cabinet approval was sought and obtained to re-negotiate the contract with the Chinese supplier. Some improvement on the deal was achieved albeit in the way of accessories etc. and it was the opinion of the Administration that the procurement should go ahead taking into account the importance of getting operational as early as possible.

Then the Administration was replaced and after three years, three chairmen and two ministers, nothing moved at the Terminal except unloading of cement, steel and project cargo on the surface built for clean cargo operations. With no idea of how to set about things, they seem to have fallen back on the Rajapaksa policy. Meanwhile the South Terminal (CICT) which is operated and managed by a Chinese company with expertise in operating and managing ports internationally was making vast strides – and moneys for the SLPA which had only 15% of the shares with the Chinese company holding 85%. Even with a share of 15% the income to SLPA was substantial as it consists of lease rental, royalties and profit sharing. As CICT goes from strength to strength with the ability to pull major shipping lines, the SLPA benefits with no involvement in the operation or the management of that Terminal.

The argument for inviting India to participate in funding the East Container Terminal is partly because 80% of the total cargo handled in the port of Colombo is transshipments to India. With little know-how to attract major liners, the SLPA doesn’t seem to have the capacity to either fund the expansion or manage the terminal on its own, however much it would be the ideal option. Hence the importance of getting a reputed international terminal operator involved on BOT/PPP basis who would have the ability to bring major liners. It is interesting to note that India is using this arrangement in its ports.

Big power games and murder of Saudi journalist

The story of how a Saudi Arabian-born contributor to the Washington Post went ‘missing’ during a visit to the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey has sent shock waves throughout the world. Saudi Arabia has finally, after several days, admitted that the journalist was slain inside the consulate. The audacity with which the alleged murder was carried out, trying to pathetically imitate the more sophisticated Israeli secret service, Mossad, has caused embarrassment to both fair-minded Saudi and US citizens alike – and deep revulsion among the citizens of the world.

Whether the House of Saud that runs the kingdom can get away with murder remains to be seen. The answer would most likely be a ‘yes’. A few years ago, the United States went the extra mile to find those behind the brutal killing of a Wall Street Journal journalist in Pakistan. The mastermind of that heinous crime is languishing at the dreaded US prison camp at Guantanamo. But in the case of the Saudi journalist, there seems to be some plea-bargaining going on. Admit the crime and get off with a light sentence.

The reason is simple. Mammon – the god of money is at play. Saudi Arabia has it, and the US wants it. So many human rights abuses have taken place in the kingdom, the custodian of the holiest of holy sites of Islam. These violations have deftly been ignored by countries sermonising on the subject elsewhere in the world.

The kingdom has exported sectarian violence, especially in Yemen with the help of not only the US, but also Britain. Hundreds are dying there as a result right now. Where there are arms and business contracts, there are no human rights issues. It is not for nothing they have earned the reference; the ‘rapacious West’. But Russia is joining the club and now looking for entre’, should the US distance itself from the Saudis. So, it’s all superpower games once again.

At the recently held media event marking the 20th anniversary of the Colombo Declaration on Media Freedom and Social Responsibility, the representative from the Vienna-based International Press Institute (IPI) referred to the number of journalists killed around the world — 100 over the past 12 months. Shockingly, more are killed in non-combat zones.

While Saudi Arabia ranks a dismal 161 out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index – 19th worst in the world, Turkey where the horrendous crime occurred is no better. They are placed at 157. Last year, the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) called upon Turkey to free all journalists jailed in that country, dozens of them, and to ensure a free press.

Did the Saudis feel the impunity against journalists in Turkey gave them the licence to commit such a crime against one of their own critics? Or was it just plain and simple, their petro-dollar arrogance on show.

The issue is more than just a statistic; and even more than a murder of a journalist. It has become a diplomatic and human rights quagmire. But eventually, it will be just another statistic after a temporary dust storm over the oil rich Saudi desert.