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The Global Peace Index rankings: Some musings
Friday, 1 June 2007 - 11:43 AM SL Time
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The Global Peace Index (GPI) rankings have been released. Of 121 countries studied by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) on the basis of data received from various sources, by using 24 indicators including military expenditure, access to arms, level of violence, corruption, human rights, engagement in war, incidence of crime etc. Norway has come first as the most peaceful country, while Sri Lanka`s rank is 111. (The full list of the rankings is carried in this paper today.)
If those who are all out to confer the `failed state` status on Sri Lanka are getting ready to dance on the streets, here is some bad news for them. The US has been ranked 96 and India 109! Iraq, which the US and the UK (ranking 49th) have gone all out to democratise, has come last! Interestingly, Cuba and China have come 59th and 60th respectively! Iran is in the exalted company of its bete noire, the US, occupying the 97th slot on the list.
The main reason for Sri Lanka`s GPI position is that it is battling terrorism. But for the on-going war and the attendant human rights violations, its position would have been much higher notwithstanding the other negative factors such as corruption. War has cost this country dearly in many respects, as evident from human rights violations, the high incidence of crime, poor economic performance and the increasing desensitisation of society to violence.
Who created terrorism here and who is sponsoring it at present? It is the countries responsible for those crimes that must take the bigger share of the blame for Sri Lanka`s poor GPI ranking.
India fathered Sri Lanka`s terrorism and created her protracted war. The UK allows Lanka`s terrorism to be coordinated from the British soil, despite a ban. Some British parliamentarians have become putty in the hands of Sri Lanka`s terrorists. Norway, which is the most peaceful country according to the GPI, sponsors Sri Lanka`s terrorism by allowing its activists to operate freely on her soil and raise funds for their violent project. The same goes for other Scandinavian countries, which have secured impressive GPI rankings.
Where Sri Lanka`s terrorism is concerned, the US position is, to use a phrase that Churchill famously used to describe Russia, `a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.` The US wants terrorism wiped out wherever it manifests itself. It is supporting Israel`s military offensives against Hezbollah and has thrown its weight behind the Lebanese government to help it keep the Islamic insurgents at bay. It assists Colombia to the hilt in fighting FARC guerrillas and is unleashing hell on Afghanistan and Iraq in search of terrorists. But, in Sri Lanka, the Eagle is cooing like a dove!
The GPI should have `sponsoring terrorism` as an indicator in determining the peacefulness of a country. Such a criterion is of great import as terrorism is the biggest threat to global peace. How can a country be considered `peaceful`, if it helps nurture violence elsewhere? If that indicator was ever adopted, what would happen to the GPI ranking of Norway, which allows funds to be collected on its soil for bombs that kill hundreds of civilians in Sri Lanka?
The EIU should thoroughly examine the background of the nations it studies before ranking them, without relying on statistics alone. Recently, when the Maldivian Coast Guard intercepted an Indian vessel commandeered by Sri Lanka`s terrorists with a consignment of arms on board, a foreign embassy in Colombo went all out to secure its release, out of its concern for the pirates, but in vain. Shouldn`t such instances be thoroughly investigated before countries are given GPI rankings? It is not only among people that one finds Dr. Jekylls and Mr. Hydes. States, too, behave in a similar manner. In judging the peacefulness of a country, how it relates to the outside world should also be taken into consideration. Similarly, a complete list of the organisations, on whose information the GPI is based, should be made public. Their background, too, needs to be studied.
It is ironical that some members of the international community giving Sri Lanka gratuitous advice on conflict resolution have got lower GPI rankings. Having failed to be `peaceful` themselves, how can they guide Sri Lanka along the path to peace? Isn`t what we are witnessing a case of the blind leading the blind?
It is not being argued that Sri Lanka shouldn`t strive to achieve a higher GPI ranking on its own. Action needs to be taken to obviate human rights violations, combat crime, curb corruption etc.
Let the GPI be an eye opener!
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Mike1
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 16
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1 Jun 2007 10:28:33 GMT Report for Abuse
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How come? I totaly disagree. This evaluation should have been done by Keheliya, Nimal Siripala, and some more of our ministers.(not monsters)
We would have been among top 10.
And they will give enough justification to the selection.
It is a shame on these international boddies the way they have rated ourselves at 111th position. I think for sure, they are bribed by Ranil. |
kiwikanga
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Joined: Nov 2005
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1 Jun 2007 12:09:45 GMT Report for Abuse
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'....But, in Sri Lanka, the Eagle is cooing like a dove!'
That's because Sri Lanka has no Oil!
Lankaawata thel thibuna nam balanna thibuna Americaawey sathya karunaawa!!
Edited By - kiwikanga - 1 Jun 2007 14:28:35 GMT |
kandyz84
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1
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1 Jun 2007 17:22:39 GMT Report for Abuse
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Mike1 - are you living in a world of dillusion? Can you not see what is happening to our country? I would'nt have been surprised if we were placed last in this index. I've never been more insecure about the situation in our country in my 22 years of existense (well probably after the JVP chaos).
Although my government of choice, the UNP, failed to win the elections, I had faith in this so called president and faith in his government. I had always planned to go back to SL after my studies and contribute to the betterment of the economy. Right now, I feel like I wont be able to take the utter mismanagement of every part of our economy starting from the mis-use of aid to the state of the roads! (welll its an endless list).
To all PA supporters - I am all against eelam and splitting our country and I am all for killing every single LTTE recruit starting from Prabha. But can you not see that the current president cannot defend us? He's allowed the terrorists to fly over our capital and bomb any target at will. We are losing this war!! We cannot live in denial anymore, we 'are' losing this war! or atleast we cannot win it.
I never thought I'd say this but the best solution for every single Sri Lankan is to come to a compromise and share the land win the LTTE murderers. UNP realised this half a decade ago. This government will never realise this.
Open your eyes people! We are managed by a bunch of incompetent brats. Do not vote for this government anymore, I beg you on behalf of my country. |
sanspace
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 187
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1 Jun 2007 17:31:23 GMT Report for Abuse
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| Well, Ranil was smarter but who cares. If there was peace for 2 more years, LTTE would have disintegrated on their own or would have turned into a proper political outfit both of which would have been to the country's good. Well, since most of the people cant see beyond their nose, we have a president who can make them dance to his tune, all for his (and not to forget his family's)benefit. All in the name of terrorism and LTTE, for ever. |
nirupam
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Joined: Aug 2005
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1 Jun 2007 18:09:07 GMT Report for Abuse
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The US wants terrorism wiped out wherever it manifests itself. It is supporting Israel's military offensives against Hezbollah and has thrown its weight behind the Lebanese government to help it keep the Islamic insurgents at bay
US has a vested interest in supporting Israel in whatever it does. US also supported Sri Lanka and urged EU to proscribe LTTE and advised SL govt that 5-decade old ethnic problem be solved. This problem was there even before LTTE was founded and Prabakaran born. IC knows the history and trying to fool them will end up fooling ourselves.
Comparing Islamic terrorism with armed conflict in Palestine or Sri Lanka exposes one's ignorance.
US also wants friendly countries not to persecute minorities under the pretext of fighting 'terrorism'. After all while negotiations were going on to find a solution to the Northeren Irish problem the political reps of 'terrorist' IRA were entertained at the White House by both Presidents Clinton and Bush. |
hmdqbl
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 368
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2 Jun 2007 08:14:07 GMT Report for Abuse
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Kandyz84
Welcome with your first post although you are supposed to have joined in September last.
Your comments are appearing to be the very truthful but too innocent to go without redicule and hence some elderly musings.
We are a nation, right now at the pinnacle of idiocy created and instilled more than half a century ago. Deception, lies and ch eatings have become sine qua non for political success in our country. The chess pit of politics is overflowing with worms and gomiyas and these creatures are drifting and straying into this forum as well. You will notice that filthiest insults are traded for arguments. Just imagine a portion of the idiots proclaiming to have discovered the third or the unique gender of RW and publish such private frustration in this public forum pretending to logically argue out a political opinion. Such is our idiocy insulting one own self in filth by publishing a private and unethical affair.
Do not vote for this government anymore, I beg you on behalf of my country.
As for your good piece of advice, all I can say is that right now the the efforts by the Administration is to do away with elections with the Rajapakshe clan at the helm both in politics and economics and it appears that this effort is well on the way to success. It is hoped/feared we would be the next Burma in the region. |
vamp4
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 608
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3 Jun 2007 10:18:23 GMT Report for Abuse
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Yes when these idiot get their vetti to the shoulder to dance their sinna lingams too start a voodoo dance.
These idiots do not know index ranking system. Highest in the ranking is the best. |
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