THAT FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTRY STATEMENT

Jun 07, 2010 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

---

The Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG), on Wednesday called on the government to break its silence on the Israeli commando raid on a flotilla of aid vessels heading for Gaza.

This horrific assault on the aid armada left close to a dozen persons dead and dozens more injured. It shocked and outraged the international community.

There was widespread condemnation of the attack, but Guyana, which only last year began a diplomacy aimed at deepening its relations with the Middle East, had not up to Tuesday evening added its voice to the chorus of criticisms of Israel.

Guyana is better known internationally because of its leadership in combating climate change. Persons who would never have heard of Guyana, now know about Bharrat Jagdeo and the country he leads because of the strong advocacy which has been undertaken on climate change.

The CIOG’s call for the government to condemn the actions of Israel is a reminder that Guyana is also expected to speak out on more than just the subject of climate change.

Following the CIOG statement, the government responded with a weak statement, which is likely to be monitored by the diplomatic community but not likely to upset Israel or its foremost ally, the United States of America.

It is a shameful situation that it was a demand by a local organisation that prompted the response of the government.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs ought not to have allowed itself to be placed in the embarrassing position of having to be called on to condemn an atrocity such as the Israeli attack. Guyana’s Foreign Ministry should need no prompting when it comes to condemning atrocities by foreign powers.

The Foreign Ministry should always be at the ready to swiftly condemn transgressions of international law and acts of the use of force. Guyana can well find itself one day needing the support of the international community should it be subject to acts of aggression.

Guyana’s national interests are directly tied to the avoidance of such acts of aggressions. This is all the more reason why the Foreign Ministry should have, hours after the incident, issued a strong condemnation. That it was beaten to the punch by the ruling Peoples Progressive Party and the leading Muslim organisation in Guyana is an embarrassment to the Foreign Ministry. Or perhaps it is a mere reflection of the retrogression that has taken place in that Ministry.

In its appeal to the government, the CIOG also called for the government to sever relations with Israel. In the 70’s, Guyana actually broke off diplomatic relations with Israel. The government of the day was at the time playing to the Non-Aligned gallery and at the same time hoping to secure some developmental assistance from the Arab world. But the move was also about its concern of the support that Israel was lending to the then apartheid South Africa.

Relations were eventually restored and Guyana adopted a position which respected Israel’s right to exist and also the Palestinians’ right to a homeland and to self-determination.

Guyana, under Foreign Minister Fred Wills, felt constrained to accept Israel’s right to exist in accordance with the boundaries set by the United Nations. But it was reluctant to accept a resident representative for Palestine, even though the PLO had representative status in a number of international bodies.

At present, it is not clear just where the PPP government stands on the Palestinian/ Israeli question. Perhaps the government itself does not know where it stands or for that matter where to stand. And this is why the present crisis presents it with the opening to at least adopt a position that supports its own foreign policy objectives.

The belated statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not shed much light on Guyana’s position as regards the Palestinian/ Israeli conflict.

The government in condemning the attack has said that it is unhelpful and sets back the cause of the Palestinian people in their just struggles.

Even though the government called for a removal of the blockade of Gaza, the government falls far short of calling for the Israelis to end their occupation and certainly does not suggest that Guyana intends to sever ties with Israel, a key demand of the CIOG which has played a pivotal role in facilitating this country’s recent diplomacy with the Arab world. While nothing much has resulted from its recent Middle East diplomacy, Guyana will be mindful of the need to take a position that would find sympathy in the Arab world.

Guyana’s statement ought to also have been condemnatory on the use of force by the Israelis. The attack on the aid flotilla involved lethal and disproportionate use of force. Guyana has to consistently be opposed to the use of force in international disputes since Guyana itself remains vulnerable to such aggression.

Guyana does not have the military means to repel serious incursions and acts of aggression by foreign powers. Thus, it is in Guyana’s interest to condemn acts of international aggression, especially those involving the use of force.

The incident took place in international waters. Guyana’s has an interest in ensuring that there is strict observance with the principle that allows free passage of vessels in international waters, especially since Guyana intends to exploit off shore oil reserves and would not wish to have impediments to the movement of vessels in international waters outside of Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

The Guyana government has also supported the call by the United Nations for an independent probe of the incident. Israel is stoutly resisting such a probe.

It was surprising that Guyana should be supporting such a call since it equally been guilty of resisting calls by United Nations Human Rights body for a probe in the ‘phantom group’ and thus exposes itself to criticism of asking the Israeli government to do something that it does not itself wish to do.

But then again the government will always find an excuse to justify not doing what it wants others to do.

 

---

---