Learning the lessons from India-Sri Lanka Editorial !!!!!

[EastWest]

DAILY MIRROR-Learning the lessons from India

The historical and cultural ties that bind us with our closest neighbour India have always incurred the wrath of political manoeuverings at regular intervals throughout recorded history. Tragic as it may seem the many cultural affinities we share with the neighbouring giant have failed good relations between us at every crucial turn. Our recent history especially since the late 1970’s is full of instances where uncalled for interferences have blocked our path to development. It is not a secret that our very open economic policies that predicted a huge financial leap in the late seventies itself; was denied to the country due to the foreign policy adopted by India. Several such policies especially during the Indira Gandhi regime have stood testimony to the destability Sri Lanka experienced of significant economic and social proportions.

Fed, accommodated and trained on Indian soil, the LTTE could never have grown to the size and dimension it did if not for the open support it received under that regime. But as an ironic shift of fate led to the assassination of her own son, the late Premier Rajiv Gandhi by the LTTE, India looked like it had learnt a sad but necessary lesson in how not to deal with her neighbours. The support the present regime extended to the Rajapaksa government in ending a thirty-year-old scourge that destroyed the country was therefore seen as India paying its dues and finally changing the damaging foreign policy thus far adopted towards this neighbour.

Certainly nothing comes free; and certainly not support in the form of the central Delhi government it would seem! India operates in interesting ways. Today India is no longer the bully that throws her weight about: nor does she any longer threatens intervention. Hers are today, the finest lessons on how to exert pressure without seeing to do so, and the diplomacy that strengthens her might without denial. Lessons that are Sri Lanka’s to learn if she so desires. Lessons, that we must perfect if we are to enjoy the benefits of a cordial and fulfilling relationship with a neighbour that has the world at her feet.

 

[macho ki macho]

Good article

 

[Lankan Ranger]

It’s just an editorial from a Sri Lankan newspaper, not a official statement from Sri Lanka

 

[Lankan Ranger]

http://print.dailymirror.lk/editorial/106-editorial/45148.html

DIPLOMATIC BLUNDERS: TENSION WITH INDIA

For Sri Lanka, last week was eventful for one reason or the other. The week began with religious observances and celebrations for Vesak, with the added significance of it being the 2,600th year of the Lord Buddha’s enlightenment.

It is ironic that though the Lord Buddha is revered as the greatest son of India, Sri Lanka appears to be again having serious problems with its giant neighbour and the Southern State of Tamil Nadu. In a much delayed effort at building bridges of accommodation and understanding, External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris last week wrote to Tamil Nadu’s new Chief Minister Jayalalithaa Jeyaram congratulating her on her election victory and on her sbeing sworn-in as Chief Minister of the most populous Tamil State.

The message came in the wake of Ms. Jeyaram calling for a an international probe on accountability issues during the final stages of the war in Sri Lanka. Speaking on her own channel, Jaya TV, Ms. Jeyaram said it was India's responsibility to ensure a dignified and honourable existence for the Tamils in Sri Lanka.

Last week Dr. Peiris also visited New Delhi virtually on his own for crucial talks with India’s foreign policy high priests. The joint statement that came out of the meeting is seen by many political analysts as a tacit agreement committing the Rajapaksa regime to fully implement the “Made in India” 13th Amendment. This means the 13th Amendment plus which in turn means that provincial councils and especially those in the North and East will get and fully exercise police and land distribution powers. Essentially this is what the LTTE tried to achieve militarily, but now big brother India appears to be forcing it down the Rajapaksa regime’s throat diplomatically. While on the one hand, the Sri Lankan government has been telling the United Nations, the United States, the European Union and the Human rights Council that the reconciliation process in Sri Lanka is on the right track and in line with the aspirations of the Tamil people, the joint statement with India states otherwise. It announces that India and Sri Lanka have agreed that the end of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka has created a historic opportunity to address all outstanding issues in a spirit of understanding and mutual accommodation imbued with political vision to work towards genuine national reconciliation. The key word is “Genuine”. The statement means Dr. Peiris affirmed the Rajapaksa regime’s commitment to ensuring expeditious and concrete progress in the ongoing dialogue between the Sri Lankan Government and representatives of Tamil parties. Dr. Peiris also reiterated that the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission appointed by the government was looking into accountability issues and would act accordingly. But India was non committal on its stand regarding the controversial report by the experts’ panel appointed by UN Chief Ban Ki-moon to examine and advise him on accountability issues during the last stages of the war in Sri Lanka. The experts recommended there were “credible allegations” regarding genocide or war crimes and they felt a probe by an independent international group was necessary.

A pertinent question that has to be asked is whether the external affairs ministry lacked experienced officials well versed with the politics of India and knowledgeable in subtle diplomatic nuances to accompany the minister whose visit turned out to be a flop.

In recent years the government has been recruiting more political henchmen or women for important diplomatic posts and this has created a major crisis.

Opposition leaders and even some government allies like the Patriotic National Movement are saying that Dr. Peiris had betrayed this country and protests are being organised against India’s crafty interference in the internal affairs of sovereign Sri Lanka.


DIPLOMATIC BLUNDERS: TENSION WITH INDIA | Editorial