Like how the activities of the diplomatic missions of the West during the Sri Lanka presidential election on 8 January burgeoned, at the presidential elections in the Maldives in 2008, the activities of the diplomatic missions here in charge of the Maldives and Sri Lanka too intensified. It is the western countries that united the split opposition when the presidential election was held in the Maldives in 2008 which restored democracy in that country. At that time the Diplomatic Mission of the West here in charge of the Maldives nursed great hopes of a political change in the Maldives. Nasheed, the common presidential candidate of the Maldives also visited Sri Lanka frequently at that time with a view to securing assistance of the diplomatic missions of the West.
It is following the 30 years rule of Abdul Gayoom, Nasheed became the President of Maldives in 2008.That marked the victory of democracy for the Maldives. The main contributors to that victory were the western countries led by America. However, within a short period, the Government of Nasheed was plunged in crises, with one or two of his ministers tendering their resignations eventually leading to the resignation of Nasheed. Consequently Nasheed’s Vice President succeeded him, while Nasheed was arrested, precipitating a political crisis within the country. The downfall of Nasheed was brought about by the western countries led by America and India, since Nasheed ignored India and got closer to China. India that toiled a lot to install Nasheed as President hit back at Nasheed insidiously.
The evil fallout of Nasheed aligning himself with China was his dismissal from the presidency, and the subsequent arrest. Though during that period the assistance of the western countries led by America and India was sought, those countries were not in a position to help him out.
After the Maldives, the western countries led by America, and India had the need to put in place a programme to restore Democracy in Sri Lanka after toppling the pro-China Rajapaksa administration tainted with war crime charges and human rights violations, and replace it with a Maithripala administration. As in the Maldives so in SrI Lanka they succeeded.
Maithri administration
Currently, the Maithri administration is facing similar issues that were confronted by Nasheed’s Government. On the one hand, Maithripala after taking over the leadership of the SLFP that protected the pro-China Rajapaksa reign, and justified the human rights violations and war crimes, is trying to form an SLFP Government, while on the other hand, the opposition alliance that steered Maithri to victory and installed him in power is also in a shambles.
By now, it is the JHU that has got very close to Maithri which took a strong stance that the war criminals shall not be punished during the Rajapaksa rule. While the western countries led by America are pressurizing that the Parliament should be dissolved, the JHU team is intensifying its pressure on Maithri against the dissolution. The JHU is also resisting devolution of power, and are enemies of the western countries led by America. Moreover, they oppose Indian interference in the Tamils’ issues.
When the committee of MPs to unite Maithri and Mahinda met with Maithripala, the latter revealed, as soon as the UNHRC report is released, Mahinda will have to face serious problems, and in case the UNP turns against Mahinda, he will rescue Mahinda. Maithri wanted this information to be passed to Mahinda.
The messengers who carry messages between Maithri and Gotabaya are also the JHU. The Maithripala faction has made a proposal that if Gotabaya can halt Mahinda from engaging in politics, the corruption charges against Gota can be suppressed, and he can be saved from the war crime charges levelled against him by the UNHRC.
Meanwhile, the JHU had mounted its opposition against the programme of Mangala to win over the Tamil Diaspora. It is the JHU who are also the originators of the 20th Amendment that is unfavourable to the minority parties.
The western countries led by America and India prepared the road map to restore democracy in Sri Lanka by making Chandrika its founder, and it is Chandrika who was made use by the UNP to make Maithripala the candidate. Yet now, Chandrika’s status is weak in her relationship with Maithri. It is evident from this, the road map of the western countries led by America to restore democracy in Sri Lanka like in the Maldives, is enmeshed in a grave predicament.