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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