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| CBK’s
absence a blow to Kadir's C'wealth campaign Letters signed by President Kumaratunga along with Mr. Kadirgamar's cv have been sent since Thursday to Commonwealth leaders, but some countries had still to receive these upto yesterday. Mr. Kadirgamar's late entry into challenging the incumbent secretary general of the London-based Commonwealth Secretariat, Don McKinnon, has now triggered a major campaign by the New Zealand government to back its former foreign minister for a second-term. With the absence of both President Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe from CHOGM in Abuja, Nigeria, Foreign Minister Tyronne Fernando is to head the Sri Lankan delegation for the summit. It will be Foreign Minister Fernando who will be the 'floor manager' for Sri Lanka's candidature. Last week, Mr. Fernando had telephoned Mr. Kadirgamar to pledge his fullest support after Prime Minister Wickremesinghe had backed the move to support the former foreign minister. Sri Lanka's high commissioners in London, Faiz Musthapha and in New Delhi, Mangala Moonesinghe were instructed to campaign for Mr. Kadirgamar's candidature. The campaign will exclude any trips to foreign capitals by either Mr. Kadirgamar or any special envoy for lobbying purposes and be limited to telephone calls. Senior Commonwealth sources said Mr. Kadirgamar's hat was thrown into the ring after several African countries had long been complaining about incumbent Don Mckinnon's administration, and were looking for another candidate from Asia, whose geographical turn it is to hold the job. Mr. McKinnon defeated a former Bangladesh foreign secretary, Farook Shoban, to clinch the coveted post five years ago, but African countries had been unhappy with his tenure. They had planned a vote of no-confidence on Mr. McKinnon in Abuja next month, but, with the possible exception of Mozambique, now back Mr. Kadirgamar's candidature. Seen as a hardliner, Mr. Kadirgamar has been credited by a majority of Sri Lankans for spearheading a successful campaign to have the LTTE banned in the US and the UK. Earlier this month he slammed the rebels for proposing a virtual separate state to end a 20-year civil war. A key adviser to President Kumaratunga on the peace process, Mr. Kadirgamar is reported to have had differences with the President since she took over the Defence Ministry in a move that surprised the nation and earned the wrath of the international community. Initially, Mr. Kadirgamar loyally defended President Kumaratunga's move, but later as she turned to wilt under the pressure of criticism and take about-turns to cosy up to the rebels, Mr. Kadirgamar was reportedly asked to back off, resulting in his equally sudden decision during a recent visit to London to throw in his hat for the Commonwealth job. The fact that he immediately won the support of President Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe shows the respect he has earned as a moderate in local politics. Almost always, Mr. Kadirgamar was present when the warring President and Prime Minister met and acted as a moderating influence on both leaders. Nationalist groups, however, were shocked by the news that Mr. Kadirgamar's departure from the local political arena by March next year, if elected, would deal a heavy blow to the intellectual element of the anti-LTTE elements. These groups felt that with the President now showing the glad-eye to the LTTE once again, and the Prime Minister pushing for a negotiated federal settlement with the rebels to end the war, the LTTE would consider Mr. Kadirgamar's exit from politics as one less obstacle. Britain is reported to have confirmed its support for the holder of the office, but a Colombo foreign office spokesman said that this was at a time when there was no other candidate, and Britain could change its decision. The voting at the summit is by heads of government and the votes will be counted by the host, Nigerian President Obasanjo. |
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