|
Kosovo -- Proving
the invincibility of the will of a free people
As
United States and many other western nations prepared to welcome
Kosovo into the fold of independent nations, it is time for the Sikh
community, since it views itself as a nation, to weigh where it
stands vis-à-vis the latest development in
Europe. Wherever ethnic struggles are being waged and
communities are trying to break free from shackles of
ultra-nationalism and majority's might-is-right attitude, the
fighters have welcomed it and the oppressors have arraigned against
it.
No wonder that
China, Indonesia
and Sri Lanka have criticized Kosovo’s declaration of independence
from Serbia while Taiwan has welcomed it. Clearly, and
understandably, the Tigers in Sri Lanka will welcome it. Beijing,
not really a paragon of human rights upholder record, and frequently
threatening military action against Taiwan, was concerned by Kosovo
developments. And
Russia
would never have wanted to see Kosovo slip away into US fold. After
all, this will give Chechnya pretty nasty ideas.
 Democracies have welcomed the step.
United States,
Britain, France, Germany and Australia have begun preparing to
extend diplomatic relations to Pristina. Japan too is expected to do
likewise. Taiwan has welcomed it. The WSN is happy to note that
Vatican
is the only one in Europe to recognize Taiwan and hopes there will
be more soon.
After a civil war that claimed 10,000 lives, Kosovo broke
free of Serbian control and became a United Nations protectorate in
1999 -- coincidentally the same year that
East Timor broke away
from
Indonesia with
support from the United Nations and
Australia.
Indonesia was only able to reach a peace agreement in 2005 with a
long-running secessionist insurgency in its westernmost province,
Aceh.
Sri Lanka, which is
not a current member of the Security Council, has its own
longstanding struggle with Tamil secessionists, particularly in the
north of the i sland
nation. It also condemned the declaration of independence. “We note
that the declaration of independence was made without the consent of
the majority of the people of Serbia and is a violation of the
Charter of the United Nations, which enshrines the sovereignty and
territorial integrity of member states,” the Sri Lankan foreign
ministry said, according to the state-run Daily News newspaper.
Well, at least Colombo is candid enough to say that it would have
expected Kosovo to get a nod from Serbia before striking out on its
own. That the expectation is ridiculous will be akin to stating the
obvious.
We congratulate Kosovo in terms that echo the desire of the
Sikh community to be able to chart its destiny as it perceives best,
and in keeping with the great Sikh core value of ‘Sarbat Da Bhala’.
Despite a multitude of barriers, the people of Kosovo have insisted
on an ideal that they believe in, which is to peacefully pursue
independence, without being threatened or scared away. It is this
spirit from which our community has a lot to learn.
As a nation
surviving under the weight of Indian establishment with its voice
and concerns often muzzled, the Sikh community would do well to mull
over the developments and send a message to those in Kosovo who rose
from a strife torn region to see a new day, a new light, a new hope.
As a fiercely independent community, it welcomes independent people
anywhere to be able to chart their own destiny. Kosovo's people have
proven once again that it is possibly to change history, geography
and cartography even in the 21st century.
20 February 2008
|
Read Also
