German Memories in Asia - Chris Patten's Peace Mission & German Involvement in Ireland Crisis

While we were moving in the Northern highway in Kilinochchi, the huge board of the LTTE Finance Division took my memories back to my recent meeting with its head Thamilendhi, a political strategist. As he was an ex-banker his knowledge on post-conflict and economic issues was comprehensive.

I was discussing with him some time back the awareness program on "Strategic Post-Conflict Economic Development Initiative" of the Princes Diana Institute of Peace (PDIP), a Think tank on Post Conflict, Economic and Gender issues in its bid to promote re-building the war-ravaged Island's economy based on then Sri Lankan Premier Ranil Wickremeshinghe's "Regaining Sri Lanka" initiative. The initiative was well supported by Dr. Gamani Corea, a former Secretary-General of UNCTAD with the guidance of the PDIP's Patron Dr. James W. Spain, a former US Ambassador for Sri Lanka and the UN.

I had a chance to share with Thamilendhi his recent meeting along with LTTE Chief Vellupillai Prabhakaran with Chris Patten, the last governor of the British era Hong Kong and the European Union's External Relations Commissioner and his suggestions to resolve the island's decade-long ethnic crisis.

Chris Patten's years of experience in handling the smooth transfer of Hong Kong back to China and tackling sensitive issues in the unification of the European countries had made him a seasoned diplomat. But his involvement in finding a lasting solution in Northern Ireland might have made him adept at resolving international conflicts and to be admired as an international statesman.

As I was traveling with German university students, some interesting German involvement in the Irish Republican struggle struck my mind.

In the Easter Rising of 1916, the nationalists staged a rebellion against British rule in Dublin and other isolated areas. Weapons had been supplied by Germany under the auspices of a leading human rights campaigner, Sir Roger Casement. However, the secret plan had been discovered and the weapons were destroyed in mid sea.

The leaders seized the General post office, raising a green flag bearing the legend "Irish Republic" and proclaiming independence for Ireland and some Republicans talked of crowning Prince Joachim of Prussia King of Ireland if Germany won the First World War. But the fate of the First World War changed the whole scenario in a different way.