Engaging India

A high powered Sri Lankan delegation visited India from December 9 and 10. The joint statement issued at the end of the visit noted the consensus of opinion on both sides of the Palk Straits on the developments in the country following the defeat of LTTE terrorism.

It has been the consistent policy of the Mahinda Rajapaksa administration to engage India and inform of the ground realities in the struggle against terrorism and the complexities and priorities of the Government. One could recall that it was to India that President Rajapaksa went soon after assuming office.

Relations with India have occupied a unique place in our foreign policy. These relations have evolved through the ages since the two countries are linked with centuries of common culture and thinking.

President Rajapaksa has taken these cordial and fraternal relations to a new height. Indo- Sri Lanka relations could not be better. There is comprehensive economic, political and cultural cooperation between the two countries.

They also cooperate in the framework of regional and global fora including the SAARC, BIMSTEC, Non-Aligned Movement and within the United Nations framework.

There are solid grounds for maintaining such a special relationship with India. It is not only our giant neighbour. It is also an emerging global giant. Besides, Sri Lankan economy could benefit by its links with a big market like India. Whatever the sphere, whether it is trade, tourism, cultural cooperation, technological and scientific cooperation India provides us many unexplored opportunities.

India is also deeply concerned with the ethnic relations in Sri Lanka as there is a large population in South India, particularly in Tamil Nadu that are of Tamil ethnicity. Besides Tamil Nadu is home to thousands of refugees from Sri Lanka who went across the Palk Straits to flee the war zone or for security. This is a factor that cannot be ignored.

Another factor that has to be taken into account is the pressure exerted by political parties and leaders that are sympathetic to the LTTE on the Indian Central Government.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has understood the problems of the neighbour and always tried to allay its concerns. In this India has also reciprocated in equal measure. The latest visit by the Sri Lankan high level delegation is also an example of the mutual concern for each other.

As the delegation has noted Sri Lanka is grateful to India for the urgent assistance it rendered in the aftermath of the victory over terrorism. It opened a Rs 500 million credit line, opened a field hospital and treated thousands of patients in the IDP villages and elsewhere, provided special food kits to the displaced, provided de-mining assistance as well as livelihood restarting packages for those resettling in their former areas of residence.

As a result of the correct policies undertaken by the Government there is a wide gamut of fields including mutual and regional security that the two countries are cooperating. Let us hope that this cooperation would grow further making it a good neighbourly relation worthy of emulation by other countries.

What is sauce for the goose...

There is a saying what is sauce for the goose is also sauce for the gander. Perhaps this is not always correct.

The United States Supreme Court has directed the Federal Appeals Court to revisit its 2008 ruling that required the US to release pictures of prisoner abuse in Afghanistan and Iraq. They cited a revision to Federal law in October this year that allows the Secretary of Defence to withhold the pictures.

The Abhu Ghraib torture pictures created a scandal. It exposed most brutal human rights violations by US Security Forces. The United States image sank to record levels. Strangely, the White House and the US administration require other countries, especially those in the Third World to be transparent in all matters relating to human rights even in instances where they raise security concerns.

They even threaten to take countries to International Tribunals even on concocted allegations.

Apparently what is sauce for the goose is not sauce for the gander.