Integrity of Australian Council for International Development (linked to TRO) questioned
Erickassonfire
country. The latest is Mr. Paul O'Callaghan, Executive Director of the
Australian Council for International Development (ACFID),
With all the pieties of a hired do-gooder, he fronted up at the
Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) last week and expressed
“fears of a blood bath” if the UN agencies and other NGOs withdraw
from the theatre of war in the Vanni – the last foothold of the Tamil
Tigers banned by the international community, including Australia.
This statement came at a time when the Tamil Tiger agents had launched
a global campaign to save the Tigers fighting a last ditch battle to
stop the advance of the Sri Lankan forces. Mr. O'Callaghan’s
statement, which among other issues was pressing for intervention by
the Australian government, coincided with the propaganda campaign of
the Tamil diaspora run on similar cries. In fact, the advertisement of
the Tamil agents of the Tigers in The Australian (18/9) echo the
issues raised by Mr. O'Callaghan. The coincidence is indeed
remarkable!
Raising the bogey of humanitarian disasters is the common tactic
adopted by INGOs and NGOs in Sri Lanka which, directly or indirectly,
give a leg up to the one-man fascist regime in the Vanni in its dying
days. Besides, the politically savvy INGOs and NGOs cannot be unaware
of the import of their statements at this critical juncture. This
combined with the tilt in their statements, exculpating the Tiger
terrorists of any responsibility for the worsening humanitarian
crisis, exposes ACFID’s statement as just another piece of propaganda
for the Tamil Tigers.
Mark you, Mr. O'Callaghan is wringing his hands and crying his heart
out about the plight of the Tamils trapped in the intensifying war
without saying one word about the Tamil Tigers plucking Tamil children
from their homes and throwing them into the futile war of Velupillai
Prabhakaran who sends his children abroad for their education. Nor
does Mr. Paul O'Callaghan, the ACFID preacher, mention anything about
the sick and the old Tamils pulled out of hospitals or homes for the
aged and forced to defend the falling front lines of the Tigers.
Obviously, this is not considered a part of the horrendous
humanitarian crisis faced by the Tamils in the Vanni. This is the
gospel according to ACFID’s Paul!
NGOs and independent journalists monitoring the Sri Lankan situation
agree that the Tiger terrorists are using the civilians as a human
shield. The last defence of the besieged Tigers is to hide behind the
civilians, pro-Tiger NGOs (like ACFID) and even UN agencies to
manipulate public opinion. It is at this critical point that Mr.
O'Callaghan rushed to the ABC as a doomsayer mouthing jeremiads to
denigrate the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL), even though he knew that
the responsibility of letting the Tamil people escape through the
humanitarian corridor was in the hands of the Tigers. So the
responsibility of avoiding the “blood bath” mentioned by Mr. Paul
O'Callaghan is solely with the Tigers who are holding them back by
force. But he blames ONLY the Government of Sri Lanka. That is the
gospel according to ACFID’s Paul.
Though Mr. O'Callaghan was quick to deliver his jeremiad over ABC,
posing as the encyclopedic authority on Sri Lankan affairs, he refused
to be interviewed by me for the Sri Lankan media. ACFID is a peak NGO
body consisting mainly of Church organizations. ACFID boasts that it
has 25 member organizations working in Sri Lanka over many decades.
The CEO of such an organization should be able to field questions on
this crisis, particularly after his ABC broadcast. Knowledgeable
sources, however, say that he is reluctant to face the Sri Lankan
media as he has no solid understanding of the dynamics of the Sri
Lankan crisis. In fact, he would not have made the statements he made
if his grasp of the conditions in Sri Lanka is as great as he claims.
Mr. O'Callaghan has refused to answer even a simple question as to why
he is unwilling to give an interview to the Sri Lankan media. ACFID is
not the arm of the KGB to keep its information wrapped in coils of
alufoil. He also blames the Sri Lankan government of not being
transparent. So shouldn’t he, being the champion of transparency, set
a better example to the backward natives of Sri Lanka? Besides, in a
media release assuring that the funds donated for the tsunami are used
effectively Mr. O'Callaghan invited the public to raise any questions
with him. But when questions are asked he refuses to even respond.
Incidentally, Mr. O'Callaghan’s statement pointing a finger at the
GOSL does not come as a surprise because Tamils Rehabilitation
Organisation (TRO), a well-know front of the Tamil Tiger, is
affiliated to ACFID. This violates the Code of Conduct of ACFID.
Answering a question in Parliament on December 7, 2005, Alexander
Downer, Australian Foreign Minister, said that TRO is associated with
the LTTE which is gazetted as a terrorist organization in Australia
(Question No: 41, -p. 147, Hansard). The UN Security Council (February
23, 2005) also named and shamed the LTTE as leading offenders of child
abuse. Despite these war crimes and crimes against humanity committed
by LTTE its main arm abroad, TRO, is allowed to retain its partnership
with ACFID as a signatory to the code of conduct of ACFID. Official
protests were lodged with ACFID to delist TRO but it has ignored these
protests even after it was pointed out that any affiliation with an
internationally banned terrorist front like TRO violates its code of
conduct. This affiliation questions the integrity of ACFID and its
right to question the actions of the GOSL.
TRO is also the adopted child of most of the Church-led organization
which consists of pro-Tiger Tamil activists. Tiger fronts like the TRO
hide their agenda of violent racist politics and infiltrate these NGOs
in the name of humanitarian causes. As seen in the case of Mr.
O'Callaghan humanitarian intervention is a tool used craftily by TRO
and other fronts of the Tigers to cover-up the war crimes and crimes
against humanity spilling over from the violent militarism of the one-
man fascist regime in the Vanni.
Before dealing with the inaccuracies in Mr. O'Callaghan jeremiads a
brief note on his background will help to understand what makes him
tick -- and also tock. He was in the Australian Department of Foreign
Affairs and Trade (DFAT). He held diplomatic posts in several Asian
countries. He was also a colleague of Dr. Palitha Kohona, the Foreign
Secretary of Sri Lanka, before Kohona was seconded from DFAT to work
in UN Treaty Section. Elementary duty to serve not only the cause of
peace in Sri Lanka but also Mr. O'Callaghan reputation as a credible
CEO demands that he be truthful in his statements. But, sadly, it is
easier to find a needle in a haystack than finding the truth in his
statement.
Obviously, his jeremiad was music to the ears of the Tamil Tiger
propagandists. This also explains why his statement was given
headlines in Tiger propaganda outlets. Others who knew better
dismissed Paul’s gospel as a load of rubbish.
The least he could have done was to balance his statement by cross-
checking with his former colleague Dr. Kohona. He was only a phone
call away and with 25 of ACFID’s agencies working in Sri Lanka he
would have had no difficulty in finding Dr. Kohona’s phone number. But
then, as they say, why spoil a good yarn with inconvenient truths. So
Mr. O’Callaghan proceeded blithely to make statements which he cannot
substantiate. This may also explains why he is running away from a
media interview which I requested.
TamilNet, the most popular media outlet played up Mr. O'Callaghan
statement. The following is a scrutiny of his comments reported in the
TamilNet:
1. Complaining about the exclusion of NGOs and INGOs operating in the
Wanni Mr. O'Callaghan says: "If you exclude all foreign humanitarian
workers then you won't have any, not only the immediate support for
those communities but also those who can actually see what's happening
on the ground,"
1.1: Mr. O'Callaghan is saying that NGOs must “actually see what’s
happening on the ground”. How valid is this claim when he is so
secretive about what’s happening in his own backyard in Canberra?
Without facing a war entailing security risks he is refusing to answer
basic questions about the normal operations of ACFID. Why? What has he
got to hide?
1.2: If his statement is a test of what is reported by the NGOs then
it is best that all of them should be sent home. He is clueless about
the ground realities as will be shown in the following paragraphs. In
any case, there are more reliable sources working at ground level
(University Teachers for Human Rights (Jaffna)) not to mention
international wire services (AFP, AP, Reuters, BBC, CNN,) and Tamil
media outlets which provide details (even though questionable) about
“what’s happening on the ground”. Moreover, ICRC will continue to
operate from Vanni. So what’s Mr. O'Callaghan beefing about? Doesn’t
he trust ICRC to report what’s happening in the war zone?
1.3: Of the 21 NGOs two agencies continue to operate: Medicin Sans
Frontiers (MSF) and ICRC, said Dr. Kohona in an interview with Sri
Lanka Guardian. However, the NGOs that were asked to leave were all
engaged in development work. In the current climate of an on-going war
in the region no development work is possible. Besides, says Dr.
Kohona, the tons of building material shipped to these NGOs have not
produced any measurable development work. They have yet to produce a
bridge, a culvert, a clinic, a road commensurate with the cement and
other material sent to them. On the contrary, the Tamil Tigers have
been constructing a lot of bunkers, trenches and other defensive walls
with the building material available to them. If the GOSL has banned
such building material that help Tiger military capabilities from
where did the Tamil Tiger get the cement etc to construct their
concrete bunkers?
1.3: In talking about “foreign humanitarian workers (providing)
immediate support for these communities” it is clear that Mr.
O'Callaghan is trying to compete with Baron Munchausen in narrating
tall tales for the delight of his naïve NGOs allied to ACFID. John
Ball, the Coordinator for Sri Lanka from the National Council of
Churches – and also a member of ACFID -- will confirm to him (if he
hasn’t done so already) that the bulk of all the food, medicine,
health services, free education etc., has been provided by the GOSL
without a break. Besides, Dr. Kohona states that less than 10% of the
aid comes from these foreign agencies. He said that the government
administrative services, run by government agents and district
secretaries, have been managing these services from the time the
crisis broke out and the GOSL has been commended by UN agencies for
the unique services of caring for the people in rebel-held
territories.
1.4: As opposed to this the NGOs have mishandled their affairs in the
Vanni areas as the corrupt NGOs that misdirected funds and material in
the tsunami affected areas. According to admissions of NGO
representatives, 29 of Norwegian vehicles have been taken over by the
Tamil Tigers to build bunkers, trenches and other defensive walls.
Media reports have also focused on NGOs playing footsy with the Tamil
Tigers and in some instances acting as their mouthpieces exaggerating
humanitarian crises. But despite fear-mongering by NGOs, commentators
have pointed out that the GOSL forces have advanced from the east,
clearing miles of Tiger-held territory and moved to the West and now
to the centre of Killinochchi without causing a major disaster as
expected. GOSL, with all its defects, has handled over 200,000 IDPs
from the east without creating a Darfur or a Rwanda type of disasters.
1.5 The distance to the heart of Killinochchi has now come down to
roughly 5 miles. Military analysts say that the coming battles will
fought hand-to-hand and casualties could be high. Since Ban Ki Moon,
the UN Secretary General, has appealed to the two sides to apply the
principles of proportionality it could be argued that one nuclear bomb
dropped on Hiroshima cause the instant death of 140,000 and the total
deaths in 30-year-old war in Sri Lanka is around 65,000. This is not
to condone a single loss of human life. No. While condemning all loss
of lives in a futile war perpetuated by the intransigent politics of
“the latest Pol Pot of Asia” (New Your Times – James Burns) it should
be noted that more Tamils have been killed by Prabhakaran than by all
the other forces (including India’s IPKF) put together. This estimate
has been revealed both by S. Chandrahasan, the son of the father
separatism, S. J.V. Chelvanayakam and the current president of
Chelvanayakam’s party, TULF, V. Ananadasangaree, the UN award winning
peace activist.
2: TamilNet, quotes Mr. O'Callaghan as saying that “the GoSL had
received the highest number of complaints of any government in the
United Nations Human Rights Commission over recent years. And that the
GoSL had as result been reviewed recently by the commission. In
response, the GoSL had made commitments to the commission only a few
weeks ago to protect civilians.” Ranjith Soysa, the spokesperson for
the Melbourne-based Society for Peace, Unity and Human Rights (SPUR)
told the Sri Lankan Guardian: “ACFID is departing from the truth
mainly due to ignorance of the facts. GoOSL voluntarily agreed to be
reviewed because it has nothing to hide. It has no complaints of
detaining children or forcibly recruiting children. It has no
complaints of holding 600 suspects incommunicado as in Gauntanamo Bay.
It has no complaints of water boarding. It has complaints concerning
the killings of 17 local aid workers employed by French agency Action
Contre La Faim (ACF), which according to the Australian pathologists
were killed by bullets used by the Tigers. ACF also pulled out of the
investigating commission when the lawyers were grilling them. It has
also complaints of air raids killing civilians but not only the scale
of Western forces hitting civilian targets in their wars against
terror in Iraq and Afghanistan. GOSL also has complaints about
abductions and there are independent courts investigating the
complaints brought for trial. Some of the missing has been found in
safe havens abroad or hiding in the Vanni. Some abduction has been
attributed to the Tigers and some to their Tamil rivals. There are
accusations against the courts too. But the best of investigations
into terror activities both in UK and Australia have run into
difficulties, with the juries throwing them out. Sri Lanka is no
different. That doesn’t mean the governments are failing. But the more
interesting aspect is the failure of Paul to raise any questions about
the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Tamil
Tigers. His failure to take them to task questions his impartiality
and the integrity in directing the affairs of a prestigious
institution like ACFID.”
3 TamilNet quoting Mr. O'Callaghan states: “The extreme humanitarian
situation of Internally Displaced Persons, including thousands of
children, who are already malnourished, would deteriorate dramatically
as clean water is not available for all the IDPs and they have been
deprived of medicine by the Sri Lankan government…and added that it is
worrying to see the GOSL's change in policy after only recently
pledging to protect civilians.” This is another example of Mr.
O'Callaghan letting his tongue run wild without engaging his brain.
Dr. Kohona told the Sri Lanka Guardian that 2,500 tons of food and
essentials, including medicine, are shipped every month through A9
road and are distributed by (Tamil) Government agents appointed to
handle the distribution. Independent sources state that much of this
is siphoned off by Tamil Tigers to maintain their cadres. Mr.
O'Callaghan has nothing to say about civilians being robbed of their
food and medicine by the Tigers. Dr. Kohona also said that these
supplies are maintained despite the Tigers blocking the sea lanes and
threatening to sink the ships that carry food and essentials.
Consequently, ICRC and World Food Program pulled out of shipping
supplies to the north. The GOSL continued to provide supplies despite
threats to the Navy personnel who take great risks in shipping goods
to the north and Mr. O'Callaghan refuses to acknowledge that the GOSL
is the only known government that takes risks in providing basic
essentials to its people trapped in the clutches of the Tamil Pol Pot.
4. Mr. O'Callaghan talks of malnutrition and children being deprived
of medicine. First, it is important to note that Australia was a part
of the naval cordon thrown round Iraq that deprived milk, medicine and
other essentials to the children of Iraq which, according to UNICEF
figures killed 600,000 children. He should know this very well.
Nothing of that sort has happened in Sri Lanka. Second, Mr.
O'Callaghan should also know that the Tamil Tigers agents, including
those in Australia, collect $200-300 million per year to finance the
military adventures of the latest Pol Pot of Asia. Before pointing a
finger at the GOSL Mr. O'Callaghan, if is conscience is clear on
humanitarian assistance, should ask what happens to this collection?
If he and his allied NGOs claim that Prabhakaran is running a de-facto
state isn’t it the responsibility of this Tamil Pol Pot to provide a
piece of bread for nutrition and an aspirin for children with his
massive collection -- 30% of which comes from Australia, according to
his colleague, Dr. Kohona? So does Mr. O'Callaghan have a conscience
when he talks about humanitarian assistance or is he invoking the
heart-tugging principles of humanitarian assistance to play politics?
John Ball of the Uniting Church who is also part of this missionary
cause should answer these questions. But they won’t. He replaced the
aggressive die hard Tiger propagandist Rev. Dick Wootton. They will
neither come forward to discuss these issues nor answer the relevant
questions. Ball has also been in the forefront of organizing seminars
parading pro-Tiger agents. At these gatherings he plays his suave game
of protecting the Tiger agents in whatever he can. They prefer to hide
behind he screen of humanitarian causes and pull the strings to push
the Tamil Tiger agenda.
1.8: Last but not the least, Mr. O'Callaghan also serves on the
Foreign Minister’s Aid Advisory Council. As an ex-diplomat allied to
Government-sponsored ACFID he has backdoor access to make in-puts into
Australia’s policy in Sri Lanka. His latest statement was clearly an
attempt to push the Australian government into a more pro-active role
in promoting ACFID’s partisan politics. There is no doubt that his
partisan role has brought ACFID into disrepute in Sri Lankan eyes. His
failure to present a credible case, balancing his ill-informed
statement with the ground realities, has not added one whit to the
stature of Australian NGOs. If he continues to drive ACFID down this
path he and ACIF will be seen as not only betraying the basic
principles of objectivity needed to advance humanitarian causes but
also as plain stooges of the Tamil Tigers. John Ball who is more
conversant with the Sri Lankan situation should have played a bigger
role in guiding his CEO. But his failure to do the job is also
regrettable.
THE CIVILIAN MASSACRES CARRIED OUT BY TAMIL TIGER TERRORISTS
http://www.spur.asn.au/LTTE_Atrocities_20060615_Kebithigollewa_Massacre.htm
http://www.spur.asn.au/LTTE_atrocities_20060529_Welikanda_Massacre.htm
http://www.spur.asn.au/LTTE_Atrocities_20070528_Ratmalana_Bomb.htm
http://www.spur.asn.au/LTTE_Suicide_Bomb_Blast_20071127_Nugegoda.htm
ETHNIC CLEANSING CARRIED OUT BY TAMIL TIGER TERRORISTS
http://www.spur.asn.au/ethnic_cleansing_in_sri_lanka.htm
http://www.spur.asn.au/chronology_of_suicide_bomb_attacks_by_Tamil_Tigers_in_sri_Lanka.htm
http://www.spur.asn.au/After_signing_the_so-called_JM.htm