By Prof. Samitha Hettige

Fidel Castor got too close to the Soviet Union (USSR) in the early 1960s and the Kennedy administration in the USA was worried. The USA was not at peace until it stopped the USSR installing missiles in Cuba. “Bay of Pigs” should be studied again by those concerned about the Ukraine situation and the actions of the Putin administration. When the USA came into Iraq and Afghanistan people of those countries could not request the EU to make them members as they weren’t bordering the European continent. Hence, the EU didn’t have to worry about imposing sanctions against the USA. Unlike in the Cuban crisis, Russian concerns about Ukraine has unsung sides. Apart from NATO coming too close, the constitution of Ukraine was amended few years back which creating a conflict situation among the public living in the country bordering Russia. That does not mean invasion is justified. Nevertheless, an analysis of USA moves to prevent other super powers rising in the 21^st century may help to get a wider picture. US share of major arms exports amounts to approx. 37% of the world market. Its current devil China is on the fifth place with an approx 5% share.  In 2017 US offered an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Rather than wining BRI partners through cooperation the US is seems to be making moves to counter BRI in the usual style. USA got into new deals with Australia to provide Tomahawk long-range missiles which can take targets 2500 KM away and knowledge to make nuclear submarines which can launch such. No one is seemed to be worried about the submarine deal threatening the treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons which will allow any state to develop nuclear submarines and stockpile weapons-grade nuclear material. It raises concerns about the double standard on non proliferation.

Who is violating human rights?

Many are talking about Russians violating human rights of the Ukrainians. Therefore US lead NATO imposed sanctions on Russia. Facts indicate that USA has actually used force much more than USSR or Russia violating human rights of global population resulting in large number of civilian casualties. It is not difficult to understand that abusive use of unilateral sanctions will cause humanitarian crises and can be seen as the biggest obstacle to the development of the international human rights cause. Sources within USA have claimed that the US withdrawal from Afghanistan was a total disaster. Moves similar (Afghanistan and Vietnam) highlights US history of ignorance of basic humanitarianism for selfish objectives. Afghan nationals may be punished for falling from the C17 plane above the Kabul airport or getting crushed among the plane’s wheels. Ignoring the safety of Afghan civilians may not be discussed as the US is of the stand that no military personnel would be punished for the deaths of civilians during withdrawal and drone strikes. The story may have been different if Russian or Chinese military aircraft was taking off with Afghans crushing within the wheels. In the 21^st century the US has launched many global foreign military operations to counter terrorism and according to analysts within the USA these may have caused the lives of more than 929,000 people (Ref. Cost of War). Approx. 174,000 people including 30,000 civilians have died and 60,000 injured in Afghanistan and the instability have made one third of the population refugees. Approx 3.5 million were displaced and nearly 23 million face extreme hunger (including 3.2 million children under the age of five). Also when the US ended occupation it immediately froze billions of USD in forex reserves at the Afghan central Bank. It caused the Afghan economy to collapse and making life worse for the people.

When New York Times once reported that approx. 50,000 US airstrikes in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan were conducted killing tens of thousands of civilians not many were interested in the human rights of those living in the said countries. An article published in the Middle East titled "How the United States Destroyed Iraq" states that inadequate food supply coupled with inflation have left Iraqis chronically hungry. The damages to power and water treatment facilities caused by US bombings have increased (by 400%) the numbers suffering from diarrhoeal diseases. The shortages of medicine and medical equipment which has left Iraq's health system in crisis making the poor, children, and widows, the elderly and other most vulnerable groups suffering the most can be discussed in length by those interested. Across the Atlantic Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez is of the view that the US continues to impose the embargo and sanctions even when Cuba was fighting COVID-19. As a result Cuban people are suffering from these inhumane acts according to him.  UN experts who visited the Guantanamo prison has said that many of the remaining detainees are vulnerable and elderly and that their physical and mental integrity has been deprived due to physical and psychological torture and other inhuman treatment.

Practical Socialism

The October 1917 revolution created the mighty USSR (which included both Russia and Ukraine) and is said to be the first step towards building the superpower PRC of today. The establishment of the Communist Party of China in 1921 took place following the footsteps of the Soviet socialist system. Socialist systems in USSR and China created super powers. Socialist politics kicked off in 1935 in Sri Lanka but so far it has only taken the country backwards. The USSR helped infant PRC to stand alone in the 1950s. Prime Minister Imran Khan refers to PRC as an all weather friend unlike the USA. In the case of Sri Lanka PRC has been that and the USSR and Russia have also been all weather friends. By 1960s there were frictions between PRC and USSR. The long territorial border they share was one reason. It made USA come closer to PRC not necessarily because the former whished the latter progress but wished the vanishing of the USSR. Years later the PRC developed its own nuclear weapons on par with other powers but due to the far sighted foreign policy approach based on above principles peace prevailed in the region.  One could imagine the destruction which could have harmed the mass populations of the two countries if the Chinese leaders catered to the gallery as comedians. While other powers are involved in sanctions and conflict provocative mechanisms, PRC is the only power insisting on firm dialogue between Russia and Ukraine to resolve the conflict. China’s proposal to Ukraine to become a bridge to connect east with the west should be taken seriously not only by Ukraine but by all those countries including Sri Lanka and Pakistan who’s geopolitics are key to world peace at present. Pakistan has displayed maturity in the equation so far. Sri Lanka was invaded many times by Indian rulers before the Portuguese, Dutch and the British. Just as eastern Ukraine got Russian spot light, Sri Lanka experienced Indian spot light on its northern region which affected domestic politics of India taking it to a level causing the life of its Prime Minister. Rise of China in the east will increase the risk of conflict within Belt and Road (BRI) partners such as Kazakhstan, Pakistan and Sri Lanka etc. Regional powers may be used by bigger powers who feel same as Kennedy and Putin administrations in the new world order.

None are non-aligned

The PRC has extended its support to specialized agencies of the United Nations to continue operations on humanitarian aid in Ukraine to ensure safety of civilian life and property. With this move the PRC has displayed its maturity as a permanent member of the UN Security Council to maintain international peace and security. While the world is witnessing a reappearance of the cold war behavior Switzerland took an unprecedented move to prove former Sri Lankan president J.R. Jayewardene’s stand on being “Non-Aligned”. In 1976 Prime Minister Sirima was hosting the leaders of the Non Aligned movement at the brand new conference hall in Colombo gifted by the PRC. Sri Lankan masses were experiencing shortages of basic food and clothing etc due to local and global issues of the times. JR was the leader of the opposition UNP and had reportedly said that only the USA and USSR can be non-aligned and all others had to be aligned with one of them. The cold war was on then but now the situation is different with new super powers such as China, India and Germany. Hence, multilateralism is key rather than small town gangster mentality. The Chinese approach to a conflict free world with win-win cooperation should be seriously looked at by all who wish prosperity and lasting peace for mankind.

Kazakhstan managed to control the riots with Russian support to continue with the long term development which comes with the BRI. When Russia launched its offensive on Ukraine, some were concerned if China would provide military assistance to its super power neighbor as USA and the NATO camp is providing military equipment to Ukraine to fight Russia. China has categorically refused that claim and Russia being a super power will not need any assistance from any one to fight a small state such as Ukraine as per many analysts. However, this indicates the cold war block mentality of the former colonial powers and their arm sales goals than lasting peace in the world. It is not clear if the USA and its small group of friends (which may include Switzerland) are actually interested and concerned about the international humanitarian law and human rights law when they act in such a way to fuel conflicts rather than defuse. Unbiased analysts believe that the responsibility of the international community at present should be to help Ukraine to resolve the conflicting situation in eastern Ukraine which borders Russia. Once Ukraine is done, same model might be tried in Nepal, Pakistan or even Sri Lanka to counter China. Those in the region should start looking at themselves while looking at Ukraine citizens protesting in front of Russian embassies in Colombo and elsewhere.