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India-Sri Lanka Ties:PRO-ACTIVE POLICY VITAL, by Monish Tourangbam, 14 June, 2011 Print E-mail

Round The World

New Delhi, 14 June 2011

India-Sri Lanka Ties

PRO-ACTIVE POLICY VITAL

By Monish Tourangbam

Research Scholar, School of International Studies (JNU)

The Manmohan Singh Government has chosen to take the real politik route vis-à-vis ties with Sri Lanka. This follows pressure from the domestic circuit to come hard on President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Administration regarding the fate of the Tamil civilians during and in the aftermath of the civil war.

The Prime Minister has shown confidence in President Rajapaksa for building a new Sri Lanka based on mutual trust between the Sinhalese and the minority Tamils. This makes sense as India can affect the rehabilitation of the Tamil civilians only by maintaining contact with the legitimate power-holder in Sri Lanka, the Rajapaksa Administration.

The regularity of the high level visits from India, including the latest one that consisted of National Security Adviser Shiv Shankar Menon, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar was meant to lend support to the Sri Lankan Administration. But, at the same time, as in every visit, the Indian side also sought to reiterate its concerns for the way the Tamil question is being handled in post-conflict Sri Lanka. Whereby, no real peace can come in the island nation by sidelining the needs and causes of the Tamils.

The recent visit was meant to maintain the momentum in India-Sri Lanka relations. Post the conflict, India has provided major assistance for relief and rehabilitation of displaced Tamil civilians and in de-mining operation in the erstwhile conflict zones. Also, the regular visits by Indian officials are also meant to be stock-taking exercises. The re-settlement of the Tamils and their proper inclusion in the larger growth story of Sri Lanka is something that India is highly concerned about.

Besides, New Delhi also handles Tamil Nadu’s domestic constituent which has been highly sensitive about the fate of their Tamil brethren in Sri Lanka. AIADMK’s Jayalalithaa returning to power therein has given rise to vigorous debates in the State Assembly regarding the Tamil issue in Sri Lanka. Before visiting Colombo, National Security Adviser Menon called on Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.

During the meeting, she pointed out concerns regarding Tamil fishermen, demanded a clearer picture of the post-conflict resettlement scenario and the end of disparity between the Sinhalese and the Tamil minority in Sri Lanka. According to sources, the Tamil Nadu Assembly even passed a resolution seeking imposition of economic sanctions against Sri Lanka by India on issues concerning Tamils in the island nation, including alleged human rights violations.

The Assembly also reportedly adopted a resolution seeking the State Revenue Department to implead itself in a case filed by Jayalalithaa for retrieval of Katchatheevu Island, ceded to Sri Lanka by India in 1974 by way of an agreement.

This is in stark contrast to countries like China which (while investing in Sri Lanka) seem to be far-removed from this complex question and concerned with only the economics of the story. Along-with how much foothold Beijing can gain in the region. Undoubtedly, New Delhi carries a bigger responsibility that tries to balance its relations with the Sri Lankan Government with the deeper questions of power devolution and human rights.

The Indian delegation after meeting high-level Sri Lankan officials, including the President expected an inclusive political arrangement, taking care of all communities. Said National Security Advisor Menon, “We will do whatever we can to arrive at it.”

 

Asked if this should be within the 1987 India-suggested framework of the 13th Amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution, which has been criticised widely in Sri Lanka, Menon asserted: “Our goal is an arrangement; the 13th Amendment is their amendment, not our amendment…we did the India-Sri Lanka agreement and gave them an enabling environment in which to implement their own Amendment. Now if they think they want to do better than the 13th Amendment let them do it…They want to do it different, that's for them. They all [all parties] must feel comfortable with it,” he added.

 

The fishermen issues formed a major part of the deliberations and inclusion of Fishermen Associations into the issue was welcomed. In another report, Sri Lanka said it was awaiting the release of at least 41 fishermen and eight boats by the Indian authorities. Recall, fishermen of five boats were arrested for allegedly poaching in Indian waters around Tamil Nadu while those in the remaining vessels had come under attack by Somali pirates and were later freed by Indian authorities, Sri Lankan Fisheries Ministry said.

 

Indeed, a visit by some Sri Lankan Navy personnel is a welcome sign. “We are not going to carry out any joint-operation, though,” said a Lankan Navy senior officer on the condition of anonymity He also revealed that they would visit different sensitive points along with their Indian counterparts.

 

Further, the Indian-aided housing project, aimed at the construction of 50,000 houses for internally displaced people of the Northern Province, was reported to be finally on track. Foreign Secretary Rao said that the work on the pilot project of cluster houses had begun and the target was to complete at least 50 houses by the end of June. The Indian side was hopeful of the completion of the entire pilot project of 1,000 houses by the end of the year.

 

Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar stated that preparations for an annual defence dialogue between India and Sri Lanka were under way. And Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had accepted President Rajapaksa’s invitation to visit Sri Lanka, the dates for which are to be worked out.

Clearly, Sri Lanka under a powerful President is giving every sign of growth. Rajapaksa has literally consolidated power and ensured his near-permanence in Sri Lankan politics. Last year, the controversial amendments to the 1978 Sri Lankan Constitution included lifting the two-term limit on the post of the President, which underscores that strongman Rajapaksa is in for a long innings.

But with greater power comes greater responsibilities. In a country that has been ravaged by a violent civil war for many years, winning peace would be more difficult than winning the war. The end game is essentially the most important part that will determine the future of Sri Lanka.

Importantly, effort should be directed towards building a new Sri Lanka where the ethnic Tamils would no longer feel the need of supporting the rise of another Prabhakaran. Colombo should not get caught in the illusion of power; prosperity and growth figures. That will push issues under the rug, and end up engineering a faulty peace that will only postpone another crisis.

Furthermore, smaller countries around India are often found to be skeptical and concerned with New Delhi’s overwhelming presence in the region and China is out to take advantage of this situation. The only way to handle this raging competition is to set in place a pro-active foreign policy decision-making mechanism and look at opportunities in the region that will bring positive dividends for India in future. Pro-activity in foreign policy is not a choice but a necessity for India. --- INFA

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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