The importance of strengthening Indo-Lanka relations

Wasantha Priya Ramanayake Translated by A A M Nizam

Recently the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited India. That was not to say ‘Friends we are friends’. The whole world knows that they are friends. Also it was not a visit being made among relations. It is because that everyone knows that the dark skinned Indians are not relations of the white skinned Americans.

Therefore, it is very clear that this visit was a political visit. There is a gradually growing political friendship between India and America since several years ago. Usually it was Pakistan that was closer to America than India. These are stories of the past. At present among the SAARC countries the country that is closest to America is India. The politics of this visit is very important. It is sheer foolishness if someone says that the visit was not that much important.

Hillary during her visit said that it is India that they recognize as the political leader of the SAARC region. But as per Hillary, India’s role for that leadership is not sufficient. In other words what she said was that India is not sufficiently exercising its leadership power in the SAARC region. Or else what she was telling was that “you take hold of the leadership” with more authority than what you do now. Such as that India should exhibit its power in the SAARC region as America display its power to other countries of the world. She expressed in a diplomatic language. That was by saying that India should move forward further for the leadership of the SAARC leadership.

Foreign policy

We do not know that she said so because of the mediocre foreign policy being pursued by the Indian Prime Minister Dr Man Mohan Singh, who is an intelligent statesman. Similarly the Man Mohan policy is a dilemma for some Indians. Especially for the Tamil Nadu extremists his foreign policy is ‘slippery’. In respect of the Sri Lankan question they think about him in this manner. Hillary who provided a stimulant to India to act like America did not confine her talks of this nature to Delhi alone. She also went to Chennai, to meet the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Jeyalalitha Jeyaram. Actually in this visit Hillary should have gone to meet the Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamta Bannerji and not the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Jeyalalitha.

It was Mamta Bannerji, the leader of the Trinamool Congress who ended Communist Party rule of 25 years in West Bengal. It was a historic event in the Indian state politics. An event that could make America happy. Also she is a lady who got elected for the Chief Minister post for the first time.

But, Banerji has not become important at this moment either to Hillary or to America. What has become important was to meet Jeyalalitha who was elected several times previously, got defeated and has got elected again. Any fool could understand that the reason behind this move was Sri Lanka. Also, Hillary went on this journey with the permission of the Indian central government. The Hillary-Jeyalalitha meet which was scheduled to be for about 10 minutes have gone up to about an hour. Discussions about Sri Lanka have focused mainly on these discussions.

At this moment the support of America is essential for India. It is because India is contesting a permanent seat in the UN Security Council. In this regard it is India that should go to America for canvassing. But the Americans making the visit to India, it is clear that they are prepared to jump ahead for this. Hillary came to India with the certificate that America would provide that support.

Also to place India in a firm position in the event of a need exert pressure on Sri Lanka. Hillary who brought the necessary stimulant for this went to Tamil Nadu to use Tamil Nadu as the syringe required for injecting that stimulant.

Channel-4

It was after Hillary’s Indian visit that aid given to Sri Lanka by the United States was stopped. This request was presented earlier from the Indian side by Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Jeyalalitha. Among all these things the Channel-4 has released another film. It is a film like the ‘Engili Salakunu’ presented by the Sri Lanka National Rupavahani which includes imaginary characters.

These events reveal about an international attempt being made day by day to push Sri Lanka to the wall.

We do not know that our External Affairs Ministry study these events one by one and bring them to the attention of the government. In a situation like this in other countries they establish a secretarial office in the External Affairs (Foreign) Ministry to study the events round the clock. In our country they have not even thought about it. Instead of this it seems that they are confined to the usual eight hours work. Some big wigs in the External Affairs Ministry have time even to go around the country as companions for certain parliamentarians. There are enough people. They just keep on going.

The report released by the Defence Secretary about the humanitarian operation is a very important document released from the side of the government. The contents of the report can be marketed to the international arena. About 11,000 LTTE cadres, including over 500 child soldiers, surrendered to the government forces have been rehabilitated and resettled. It can be argued with the international bodies that how the alleged killings happened if such a large number who surrendered remained intact. Therefore, there is a publication now which could challenge the Darusman Report and the Channel-4 film. In addition to this the comments that have been made by the wives of Thamil Chelvan and Soosai state about LTTE massacring civilians during the last days of the war.

Political vision

What we now need is an international salesmen who could market these documents with required comparisons. We have such persons in the External Affairs Ministry.

We also have persons who had been trained spending millions of rupees for tasks of this nature. We do not know whether they are playing the game of hide and seek. The country spends billions of rupees for the maintenance of the External Affairs Ministry and its embassies overseas. If certain people lack the political vision about the country they should get tuition from those who are aware of these things. Some are very competent just for talking about foreign affairs, to give tuition and formulate degree courses.

We cannot change the geographical existence of Sri Lanka near India and the existence of Tamil Nadu within India. Not only a majority of two thirds but even a majority of five sixth cannot make this change. Also we cannot do anything about India getting very much closer to America. At the same time the pressure being exerted by the big powers and the network of international organization steered by the big powers are not reasonable. As the Non-Aligned Movement has also become powerless now we cannot expect international elements will become supportive of us. Therefore, we must face the reality of this world by minimizing our mistakes.

We do not even have the liberty of carrying out only our work as a member of the United Nations. In this global apparatus no country has that liberty.

Economic restrictions

Therefore no purpose will be served by talking about a false sovereignty. In today’s world the subject of human rights works differently for the shark and for the sprat. We should not even become downcast by saying so. The brain is required in complex situations like this. Under these circumstances, we have only India both for good and bad.

Therefore, it is prudent to strengthen the relationship with India. In that context the American-Indian relationship is better for us as well. In such a circumstance, the West will not get encouraged to take decisions about our country, by-passing India. In that context, India becoming the powerful of the region is also good.

It is in the midst of all these that the proposal made by the Vaiko of Tamil Nadu about imposing economic restriction against Sri Lanka has been rejected by the Indian Prime Minister. These are positive developments. What we require is to make a reality of the statement made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa sometime ago that “India is our relation and China is our friend”.