China & 32 countries established world’s 1st Intergovernmental Mediation body

 By Prof. Samitha Hettige

The ‘International Organization for Mediation’ (IOMed) jointly proposed in 2022 by China & 18 other countries saw light last week in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HK). China being the only permanent member of the UN Security Council which practices ‘one country many systems of government’ offered HK as it’s a unique location which has combined the laws managing especially civil, commercial & international aspects etc. China’s top diplomat Wang Yi represented China when it joined 32 other countries to sign the convention to establish the IOMed. Many analysts believe that it may replace ICJ & UN court due to its practical approach. It is the world’s 1st intergovernmental legal body dedicated to resolving international disputes through mediation. Approx. 400 high level representatives from 85 countries & 20 international organizations such as the UN have attended the signing event. Among them 33 countries became founding members of the ‘IOMed’. It is designed to mediate disputes between; states, states & foreign investors & international commercial disputes & is expected to fill the institutional gap in international mediation to strengthen global good governance. HK will be the location of the head quarter of IOMed & is expected to start operations by 2026 (Ref. Media). Countries including Sri Lanka which struggle to attract investors to keep the economy on track without losing genuine friends due to internal conflicts may study IOMed more to benefit in the future.

Challenge in managing internal conflicts.

Any country should be internally stable to attract global business interests & thus be a successful player internationally. Parallel to their long written history of being an international player working with countries such as India, Persia, & China, Sri Lankans have also been active in universal activities with studies such as astrology like the Indians, Persians, Chinese & even Babylonians. Some Sri Lankans still calculate planetary movements at every important event from birth to death to avert conflicts. Some have proven successful while others haven’t.

A common example is the observance of the ‘Raahu Kaala’ to prevent conflicts. Raahu is one of the nine major celestial bodies. It is also considered the king of meteors by some astrologers. Though it doesn’t physically exist, it is allocated a planetary status in astrology. The time of day under the influence of Raahu is called the Raahu Kaala which is considered inauspicious (Ref. oxfordreference). Raahu has an orbital cycle of 18 years & rules the zodiac sign of Aquarius. AKA the ‘water carrier’, Aquarius was originally referred to as Enki in ancient Babylonia (Ref. Sri Lankan & Hindu texts). Some who re-search astrology & its link to conflicts believe that the Raahu - Aquarius move which took place few days ago after the 18 year cycle should therefore, be an eye opener to prevent conflicts (Ref. Eng A. Jayaweera & Prof. S. Bhatt).

The 18 year cycle

Based on the 18 year cycle logic, an analysis of natural & human crafted conflicts in Sri Lanka & elsewhere may highlight below. 18 years ago in 2007 the battle with the LTTE heightened in the eastern province. 1989 was the peak of the 2nd youth uprising & 1971 was the 1st. In 1953 workers replaced Sir John Kotalawala as Prime Minister since PM Dudley increased the price of rice. It may be since Sri Lankans were fighting famine in 1952 when China helped by signing the Rubber Rice Pact. During the British rule devastating Malaria pandemic affected masses in 1935. 1917 reported chaos in Russia & a year later the Spanish flu killed millions. At the turn of the century in 1899 Plague & Cholera pandemics killed millions. No matter if one believes in Astrology or not, it should be the duty of peace loving people to avoid / prevent conflicts whenever possible. If Sri Lankans prevent conflicts whether man made or natural, they may attract unprecedented development opportunities from the Indian economic expansion & China’s Belt & Road Initiative.

(Views expressed are personal. Photo: launch of IOMed.  Source www)