Insight By Sunil Kumar

September 24th 2012

What UNP Kurunegala District MP, Dayasiri Jayasekara has said in movingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ an adjournment motion in a recent parliamentary debateƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Government should take immediate steps to strengthen the now shattered diplomatic relations by providing a political solution to the ethnic problem sounds more like the cacophony coming out of Tamil Nadu linked to the wishful thinking of some of the politicians from that part of India who would love to see a severing of ties Between India and Sri Lanka illogical and irrational as it sounds as India just to appease theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ bickering of a few idealogues is not going to jeopardize many related issues virtuallyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ etched in stone which would more than likely be towards India’s detriment.

First of all while contesting theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ contentious nature of this item which appears in a media report, itƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ seemsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to beƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ one of convenience composed to portray the UNP as do gooders needing to curry favour with India for somewhat obvious reasons and typical of some of their recent rhetoric. SecondlyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ it also needs to be said that there can be no jeopardyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  as well as shattering of ties in same context as it has to be one or the other where one could lead to the other!

So when the Opposition recently charges that diplomatic relations between India and Sri LankaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ are in jeopardy as the Sri Lankan Government failed to keep its promises given to India over solving the ethnic issue there are many related issues which need to be put in perspective. WhileƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  it has been said that tiesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ have beenƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ shattered between the two countriesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ as a result of Government ineptitude and neglectƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ it makes no realƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ sense as India and Sri Lanka still maintain very cordial relations contrary to the provocative observation resting on fallacy!

Perhaps theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ UNP speakers responsible for such statements are baulking at the recent turn of events in Tamil Nadu relative to the President’s Visit to Sanchi,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the intimidations of pilgrims and visitors to India as well as the demonstrations led by a few myopic, Tamil sympathetic, obstreperous politicians such as Vaiko, Jayalalitha and Karunanidhi to name a few whose constant bickering over the Sri Lanka Tamil issue seems to keep their circulation systems running as well as portraying their persistent interference into matters beyond their jurisdictions as well as non-ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ comprehension.

It also appears to be an apathetic attempt to gain recognition from a global perspective that they rather than the Sri Lanka Administration are the sources leaning towards the well being of Sri Lanka Tamils not considering the viewpoint of the majority Sinhalese and other ethnicities including some Tamils who probably scoff at their feeble attempt led by an individual supporting a political partyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ which was once prepared to betray the securities and integrities of Sri Lanka by colluding with the Tamil Tigers so they need to tone down their rhetoric and reconsider their options which will neither serve them nor Sri Lanka wellƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in the overall scheme of things relative to the well being of Sri Lanka.

They only need to open their eyes and look around at Sri Lanka today and the contentment of a greater proportion of the population as well as those who visit from theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ outside world at what Sri Lanka has been transformed into today.

They appear to be attempting to create a rift between India and Sri Lanka with their worthless rhetoric and idealogies which at time appear to be confused and garbledƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  perhaps due to a sheer lack of knowledgeability on why India contrary to their rhetoric does indeed have strong ties with Sri Lanka with the exception of aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  few Faux Pas’ such as their vote at the UNHCR summit at Geneva some time agoƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ which they in all probabilities now relent. It also needs to be mentioned that the UN merely requested Sri Lanka to account for issues on a fact finding basisƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ where there was no litigation or mandatory impositions and the whole issue blown out of proportion by a blinkered few who made it all sound like the proceedings of a War Tribunal.

It seems irresponsible as well as having no basis to suggest that ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-South India was completely silent during the heightƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of the war when the Tamils were getting killed in Sri Lanka. Now they are creating all these problems and even the Central Government is helpless, as they also know that our government did not adhere to what they said,ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  as the UNP parliamentarian has statedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ but South India was never silent during the terrorist insurgency in Sri lanka and provided much fuel and fanned the flames of the Tamil Tiger attrocities and it was not only the Tamils getting killed but also a vast number of innocent Sinhalese, MuslimsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and other ethnicities who inhabited Sri Lanka. South India has been creating problems since the inception of related history where the Central Government of India rather than being helpless is dependent on votes towards their political continuity and sustenanace.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Sri LankanƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Government’s non adherance to whatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ was purported to have beenƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ have said is a matter of conjecture and correct interpretation relative to what the realities and requirements areƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ where no signed treaties which are legal and binding to this effect existƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ although blown out of proportion conjecture, speculationsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and concoctions most certainly do.

If as suggested the President went to India and promised a political solution and even when Indian signatories visited the country, he spoke of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and said that the Sri Lankan Government would give 13 Plus to solve the national issue, it still is not legal and binding as he has the right to decide based on the liabilities and implications to the Nation of Sri Lanka whether or notƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ it isƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ worth implementing and theoretical. From a standpoint of ethnic proportions alone andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the concept of majority rule it would be a subjugationƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ by a large majority of mostly indigenous people with inherant rightsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to the demands of a miniscule minority of mostly South Indian originƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ simply because some in Tamil Nadu egged on by the powerful global Tamil diaspora, its finances and lobby are behind the demands. Especially in a verifiable situationƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ where already the needs of the Tamils in Sri Lanka despite their origins and interracial differencesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ as well as the rest of the populace of similar perspectiveƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ are being adequately met and the 13th Amendment simply a vaivable option if the President sees fit to do so in the best interests of the Nation !

Interestingly, adding to the related jargon, UNP Kandy District MP, Lakshman Kiriella, joining the debate to second it has said,” if not for the support given by India, through maintaining silence during the last phase of the war, the government would not have won the war over the LTTE.” which seems a classic example of someone talking through his hat when considering who was responsible for the victory and how, when, where and why are appropriate questions also. Particularly when South India was desperately trying to ensure a Tiger victoryƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and India simply looked on! So what is he implying? That India could have been the decider on Sri Lanka’s victory over the Tamil Tigers which sounds like a load of codswallop which could emanate only from someone who in all probabilities also thinks that the Indian Peacekeeping Force couldƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  have decided many related issues in favour of the Indian idealogies but in the end failed miserably and that the posturing of the likes of Indira and Rajiv Gandhi were for the sheer love of Sri Lanka as opposed to Indian Intimidation?

SomeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ truismsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in responseƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to all the UNP bickeringsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  however need to be quoted as the salient truth where responding to the latest UNP cacophony, Deputy Minister of External Affairs, G. J. L. Neomal PereraƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  has said “ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the ongoing protests are led by extremists groups in Tamil Nadu who were funded by the LTTE diaspora.
Jayalalitha or her administration may have no directƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ involvement in these activities but they are geared by pro-LTTE elements with the influence ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ certainƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Tamil diaspora. The opposition led by Ranil Wickremesinghe and certain other members are also helping these groups by making provocative remarks.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ These ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ asƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  collective observations with much credibility have also been expressed at the proceedings.

Realistically it needs to be observed that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalitha, wasƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  not an anti-LTTE leaderƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ but started putting LTTE members and their supporters behind bars ever since they attempted to take her life. Karunananidhi’s ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ supportƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the elimination of the LTTE towards the latter part was probably a ploy to safeguard his own vulnerabilities which would haveƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ irked the Indian authorities as even today the man screams in favour of Tamil Eelam given half a chance.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Little needs to be said of Vaiko and the rest of the motley brigade !ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ TheƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lankan GovernmentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  is fully aware of allƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ this andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ despite its antagonising effect onTamil NaduƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ has stood up for the principle of serving the Nation as a whole rather than a partition of Tamils,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ while fighting forƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lanka’sƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ democratic and sovereign rights and the principles involving Sovereignity and Territorial Integrity which bear no relevance towards the devolution of power to terrorist supportives where the peace loving free Tamils of today within Sri Lanka are content to accept the Administration in their best interests as much as the rest of Sri Lanka. AND THEY DO NOT RESIDE IN TAMIL NADU OR ELSEWHERE IN GLOBAL ENCLAVES OF EXPATRIATE TAMILS IT MUST BE EMPHATICALLY NOTED!

It must never be said even in a state of inebriation that “One should understand that New Delhi is no longer powerful enough to have a say over all of India which is an affront and insult to India !!. At present regional governments are no moreƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ more powerful then when they began thereƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ although the tolerance of India towards Tamil Nadu and the politicansƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ who champion the cause of power to the Tamils in Sri Lanka without concealing the Eelam link to it seems somewhat questionable.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  While Sri Lanka’s relationship with IndiaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  as a whole by far overridesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ whatever acknowledgements ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Tamil Nadu’s legitimaciesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ neededƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ as part of the Indian Federal Government, Indo-Sri Lankan relationsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ areƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ probably atƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ their best presently despite the hiccups being caused by dissidents towards the cause.