As Things Fall Apart, Even TT's Record on World Issues is Threatened

As Things Fall Apart, Even TT's Record on World Issues is Threatened
Mark December 21 on your calendar of T&T history.
No, this is not a day of celebration of major achievement. It may well go down in the annals of ignominy for our country’s record in the sphere of world matters and in the United Nations.
On December 21, 2017, the United Nations General Assembly voted on a resolution denouncing the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and demanding that the US rescind it December 6 declaration on Jerusalem.
This UN General Assembly voted hours after threats by US President Trump to retaliate against any country voting “against” the US by supporting this Resolution. Trump decreed that countries cannot take US aid and vote against it.
This is the most brazen naked example of Big Power bullying against the UN and its member countries possibly ever in the history of the UN. The General Assembly rejected this despicable behaviour by Trump and his administration, by a vote of 128 for – 9 against with 35 abstentions.
TT’s Proud Record in Global Affairs Threatened
 In an act of capitulation to this imperial bullying, Trinidad and Tobago recorded an abstention, refusing to support the Resolution.
This is a stain on the proud record of tiny country as a member of the UN.
The UN long ago denounced Zionism (the ideology of the most chauvinistic sections of the ruling circles in Israel) as Racism.
In 1967, by military force, Israel occupied and annexed the entire city of Jerusalem.
For 50 years there was international consensus on the status of Jerusalem as a question to be settled in negotiations between Palestine and Israel. This has been the position of many UN Security Council Resolutions which have the force of International Law.
But, Trump, defied International Law on December 6 when he ‘recognised’ Jerusalem and Israel’s capital and therefore its territory.
This US declaration was a flagrant provocation against the Palestinians, the peoples of the Middle East and all global nations.
Trump and US threats on the eve of the vote is just as, or even more, despicable.
TT’s Abstention is Shameful
Based on the open violation of International Law that the US ‘recognition’ of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital represents, there was sufficient ground for our country to join the majority of world countries and vote for the Resolution.
The downright disrespect for the UN and sovereign nations which are All Equal as members of the UN of Trump and the US threat to retaliate against countries supporting the Resolution by cutting off financial support is more than sufficient reason to defy such bullying.
But, TT failed to step up to the plate as a sovereign nation and UN member with a proud history of standing on principle in world affairs as a small but exemplary country in the Caribbean.
In 1983, when others were egging the US on, TT stood proud and tall in refusing to support the military intervention in Grenada.
Over many decades, at the United Nations our tiny country distinguished itself and earned the respect of others, large and small, by the positions we have taken on Resolutions against the US embargo against Cuba, against Apartheid and many other issues.
The abstention on December 21 is a precipitous fall from such heights into the pits of conciliation with violation of International Law and capitulating to Big Power threats.
All Nations in the World and the UN are Equal
After Thursday’s historic vote, in continuing the chauvinistic and hegemonic position of the US and its disrespect for the UN, its UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley, called the vote ‘null and void’ and defiantly declared that “no vote in the United Nations will make any difference” to the US and its plan to locate its embassy in Jerusalem.
The US and other big powers have always claimed to be more than equals with all nations in the UN and in the global international relations.
Every country in the world is sovereign and of equal status and the sovereignty of each country must be respected by all.
The statements of the US President before the Resolution Vote and by the US ambassador to the UN after when she said, “And we will remember when so many countries come calling on us, as they so often do, to pay even more and to use our influence…” are nothing but bullying and utter disrespect for the UN and the sovereignty of other nations.
TT Must Redeem Itself
This singular act of abstaining on this important Resolution is bound to severely damage the reputation and status of our country within the UN and in the global family of nations.
Here in the Caribbean, the fact that smaller CARICOM countries like Grenada, Barbados, Suriname stood up to be counted on this Resolution in the face of Trump’s threats, only further diminishes TT’s claims to leadership in the Caribbean region.
TT must redeem itself if it is not to lose all respect on the world and regional stage.
In the first instance, the Government must explain to the country’s population why the abstention on a Resolution grounded in International Law and in the face of threats by the US.
We must also explain this to the people of the region and the world.
Most importantly, we must never again be seen to be compromising on issues of international law and principles of relations among nations and never appear to be submitting to pressures by the US or anyone else in the circumstances of voting on any UN Resolution in the future.
Failing to do so will only let us continue to descend into the abyss of a society falling apart in every aspect including in international relations in which we have, until now, distinguished ourselves. 

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