'Although a mistake occurred, it was not intentional'

Wasantha Priya Ramanayake -Translated by A. A. M. Nizam

When a quarrel occurs within a family, the householders attempt to resolve it. If that quarrel happens due to an outside influence, the householders temporarily distance themselves until the problems are resolved.

It is not prudent to discuss the stance of the Indian government on the Geneva resolution by forgetting the crisis in the Indian government with the Tamil Nadu based politicians on the Sri Lankan question.

Manmohan Singh

Didn't India tell us earlier that they will support us? But due to our thoughtless diplomacy, we were unable to keep it a secret. It was from this point on that the Indian government faced a crisis.

Now there is no use of pointing fingers accusing one another about who revealed it first. When all Tamil political parties in Tamil Nadu come to a single decision on Sri Lanka, the Indian government has nothing to do except oblige them.

Ethnic and cultural connections

No country will come forward to help another if it creates problems in their own country. But if we are unable to get our problems solved prudently the future may become more complicated than this.

Yet, some of our Tamil leaders go to India to relate their predicaments. Then Tamil Nadu exerts pressure on the Indian central government.

There are some crude debaters among us who think that if India does not support us, we can turn towards China, which is not prudent diplomatic thinking.

'India is our relation. China is our close friend.' This is what President Mahinda Rajapaksa said. We should not forget that the majority of the people of the North and East in Sri Lanka and the Tamil people living in Tamil Nadu have ethnic and cultural connections.

Even the Tamil people in the South run either to the North or to Tamil Nadu when there is a problem. Therefore, for a long time there is a connection between the North of Sri Lanka and the Southern region of India which cannot be estranged. There are historical facts that have contributed to this as well. The reason for this is our failure to establish a Sri Lankan nation-state after Independence.

Therefore, with or without a reason, the minority communities in Sri Lanka hold a view that they are outsiders in this country. Today it is this view that has created problems for the Indian government.

LTTE terrorism

Since the day we obtained independence, the question of nationality of the Tamils came to the forefront at various occasions in various forms. With LTTE terrorism there came a violent chapter.

It is this question that has gone up to India creating unrest in the country. This has to be understood when maintaining relations with India.

Nagaland guerrillas

It is in such a background that India supported the US resolution in Geneva. Therefore, what Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh indirectly tells us is "although a mistake occurred, it was not intentional". It seems that President Mahinda Rajapaksa's era is a period in which Sri Lanka is very close to India. Even to win the war in the North, Indian brotherhood was a reason.

Now they continuously tell us to find the reasons that led to the war and opt for a political solution. Requesting to implement the report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission has become the latest demand of India. Several Indian ministers visited Sri Lanka several times to make this request. India has never used pressure on us in this regard. They have assisted us in rebuilding the North.

National consciousness

By understanding this diplomatic language of India, no damage will be caused to our dignity and national consciousness. India is also a country that faces many internal wars. We have the experience of only one incident. India has several such experiences. Nagaland situation is a good example. The Nagaland guerrilla movement fought with India to establish a separate country called Nagaland. India suppressed it and disarmed the Nagaland guerrilla movement.

Ultimately those who remained alive came in queues and surrendered to the Indian Army. Arms were heaped like mountains. After discussions with the Nagaland political parties, the Indian government agreed to provide more powers to Nagaland than the powers given to Tamil Nadu state.

What they say couched in diplomatic language, is that without providing a political solution to the North East question, it will spread like a cancer to become a problem to India.

It is advantageous for us to have a powerful nation such as India as a close relation of ours. If India becomes a South Asian friend of a powerful country such as America, it would help reduce international pressure exerted on our country. Therefore, it is on India that our External Affairs Ministry should focus on in its international policy.

It is far better than wandering in far away countries such Senegal and Peru.