India — the cause not the solution to Sri Lankan problems-Continuing review of Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka’s book, Long War, Cold Peace
Posted on June 18th, 2013
H. L. D. Mahindapala
AccordingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to my friend Dayan Jayatilleka’s own admission his latest book, Long War, Cold Peace, was rushedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to the printerƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in the hope ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ getting it out on time toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ impact on the UNHRC sessionƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in March — a critical session in which the big powers, including India, were preparing to nail Sri Lanka. This, of course,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ implies that it was meant to be more of a political tract than a scholarly book exploring in-depth the pros and cons (in MarxistƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ jargon “dialectics / contradictions”) of the post-Nandikadal complexities, particularly the external forces poking their unwanted fingersƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in the Sri Lankan kiri buth.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Besides, the main thrust of the book doesn’t indicate that it was written to defend Sri Lanka.
On the contrary,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the contents, by and large, go toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ back the anti-Sri Lankan forces. For instance, in his book he cites approvingly the latest anti-Sri Lankan international mafia consisting of Frances Harrison, the BBC correspondent who is still counting the dead, Gordon Weiss who is caged in his own phobias and fantasies and even S.V. Kirubukaran, the pro-LTTE activist from Paris who is a permanent anti-Sri Lankan feature in the lobbies of the UNHRC in Geneva.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Dayan picks up every bit of muck thrown at Sri Lanka by these one-eyed Jacks and Jills andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ hails each bitƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ asƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a part of the growingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ external forces that are rising to flattenƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lanka in one single stroke. He even cites in one of his recent articles a posting in the CNN made by a member of the TGTE (Tamil Ghost of Tiger Eelam) — the mythicalƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ government of Jaffna Tamils which can’t even issue aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ visa to its bogus Prime Minister, V. Rudrakumaran in New York,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to go to the toilet next doorƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ –ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ as another piece artillery fired at the GOSL.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Reading all thisƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ one does not have to be a political scientist to guess onƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ whose side Dayan is right now.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ForƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ good or for bad, his book couldn’t make theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Geneva deadline. Most probably, he was hoping it would be hisƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ equivalent ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Channel 4 films.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ What better authority thanƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a formerƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ representative ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri LankaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ at the UNHRC to demonise Sri Lanka!ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ButƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Vijitha Yapa’s printing schedulesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ failed to make it in time for Geneva.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This, however, hasn’t prevented hisƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ textƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ beingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ quoted by his favourite anti-Sri Lankan propagandists like Gordon Weiss. Quoting an ex-diplomat of the Sri Lankan governmentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ lends greater authority to anti-SriƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Lankan lobbyists abroad than their own voices.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
This raises a serious moral question. The Sri Lankan situation at the 11th session of UNHRC in Geneva (March 27, 2009)ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ was not radically different from what it is today.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It was the first post-conflict session of the UNHRC in Geneva. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ As stated by Dayan, within a matter of hours Hilary Clinton pushed the EU to move the resolution against Sri Lanka. More importantly, she moved against Sri Lanks with hardly any evidence — not even a cooked up one like that of Colin Powell against Iraq –ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to put Sri Lanka on the mat.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ They were out to get Sri Lanka. They were playing politics. They were determined to teach Sri Lanka that it can’t do what America does day in day out to protect its internal security, with orƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ without Indians tightening theirƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ turbans round theirƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ giddy heads.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
The onlyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ significantƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ change since then has beenƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ India’s stance against Sri Lanka. According to Dayan, it is India’s stance that is critical for victory in the international arena. So was the victory in Geneva due to his diplomatic skills or due to his following the Indian line abandoningƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the long-term interests of Sri Lanka? India’s line was to commit Sri Lanka internationally to the 13th Amendment. Dayan’s resolution did just that.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Since that is the realityƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ should the creditƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ then go to DayanƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ or to India? According to Dayan’s logic, any Sri Lankan donkey can win in the international arena if it follows the Indian line. So on what basis does Dayan claim it to be a personal victory for his diplomatic skills when he admits that to win all what is necessary isƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to say “yes sir, no sir, three bags full sir”, to India? Does he consider such aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ subservientƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ role as diplomatic skill or stooging?
There is no rationale for any self-respecting Sri Lankan — particularly in view of the political and administrative costs and failuresƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ caused byƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the 13th Amendment forƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the last 25 years — toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ perpetuate the 13th AmendmentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ as God’s gift to Sri Lankans.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Its presence in theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Statute Book is theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ most degrading insult to Sri Lankan dignity and self-respect.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Why? The 13th Amendment isƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the ultimate symbolƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of naked Indian imperialism. All of Dayan’s political theory — Marxist or otherwiseƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ — shouldƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ have made him recognise instantly the nature of Indian intervention.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Even Indian commentators have gone as far as saying that India’s interventions amounts toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ “bullying” of a small nation. As a “political scientist” he should have been the first to spot the imperialisticƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ characterƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of Indian arm-twistingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to serve Indian interests. As an anti-imperialist Marxist it should have been his moral duty to condemn India’s role in Sri Lanka. InsteadƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ he welcomes it as a benignƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ act of a benefactor whose aim is to restructure Sri Lanka according to his gospel.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
Throwing out the 13th Amendment is only way to kick Indian imperialism out of Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Right nowƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ India isƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ piqued and highly agitatedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ because Sri Lanka isƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ making a strong bid to overthrow the Indian yoke.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ However tardy it may be there is an established tradition of Sri Lankans working out their own salvation through their nativeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ genius. For instance, it may have taken 33 years to end the Vadukoddian violence launched by the northern Tamil leadership. But they did end the war triumphantly by (1) ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ saving the lives of 300,000 Tamils held as hostage and, above all, (2) restoring normalcy and democracy to the Tamils of the north who were suppressed under the jackboots of theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ brutal Tamil Pol Pot.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ America, after ten years and spending $60 billion, is still struggling toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ avoid anarchy in Iraq, let alone restoring normalcy.
Giving Sri Lanka the breathing space to work out its own paths to peace, reconciliation and progress is the prime need of the hour. Dayan in his Geneva resolution tooƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ argued on “the principle of non-interference in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of tates”. Despite the pompous rhetoric India has to yet to convince the world that it is committed toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the Gujral or Panchaseela doctrines. The Sri Lankans have to fight back to regain theirƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ freedom and their right to solve their problems withoutƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ IndianƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ interventionistsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ assuming the pretentious role of having answers to Sri Lankan problems.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The IndiansƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ must first prove that they have the capacityƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to solve their own problems — from Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh — before they step in to solve their neighbours’ problems. On top of this, theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ irony is that India expects Sri Lanka to be beholden to the Big Brother each time the bully kicks Sri Lanka in the guts.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lanka owes nothing to IndiaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ — not even the help it gave in the last stages — because as Lalith Weeratunga, President’s Secretary, said recently Sri Lanka would not be in this position if India kept its hands off Sri Lanka
Furthermore, the Jaffna Tamils are realistic enough to realize that the 13th Amendment was not introduced to serve their interests. If so they wouldn’t have opposed it with guns and going as far as assassinating the Indian author of the 13th Amendment. The merged north and east was the best strategic deal devised by the Indians toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ consolidate their position in the Indian Ocean. Having their proxy in command over the Trincomalee harbour was better than the Chinese having a foothold in Hambantota. With the 13th Amendment we were not handing over power to the Jaffna Tamils. We were handing over the entire northern and eastern coastal belt to the proxies of Indian puppet masters.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This wasƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ confirmedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in the case of Varatharaj Perumal, the first stooge of India. And it is revealed even now with TNA being summoned to Delhi to hold pow-wows on how to further mutual interests.
From the word go,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the 13th AmendmentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ has beenƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the legalisedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ backdoor in Sri Lanka forƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ IndiaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ creep in andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ manipulate politics in its southern flank.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Nobdoy wanted it ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ — not even the TULF or Prabhakaran. Dayan knows only too well that it was pushed down the throats of all communities and political parties by India throughƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ gun boat diplomacy. His distinguished father, Mervy de Silva, has written enough and more on this topic.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Besides, if,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ by any chance,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ IndiaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ had doneƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ this to Cuba –ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Dayan’sƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ideal MarxistƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ havenƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ run by “Saint Castro” — he would be doing an anti-imperialistƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Kavadi, in his loin cloth, opposite the South Bloc in Delhi, with Ranil Wickremesinghe and SampanthanƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ beating theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ IndianƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ drums to theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Tamil extremistƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ rythmƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of “Goo-ooo-urang! Goo-ooo-urang!”ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
The 13th AmendementƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ was India’s solution to India’s neo-colonial problems caused byƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ India’s determination to get a foothold in Sri Lanka. It wasƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ veneer for painting India as the goody-goody benefactor when in reality it was the creator of the political evil of destablising Sri Lanka through the violenceƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of Tamil terrorism bred in the womb of mother India, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, the vindictiveƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ witch of Indian politics. India’s foreign policy is based on the hypocrisy that it has been the protector and benefactor of Sri Lanka without acknowledging its unpardonable crime of violating international law, war crimes and crimes against humanityƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ every step of the way, startingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ from training camps in India to theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ failed IPKF operations. My friend Susantha Gunatilake hasƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ convincinglyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ demonstrated the reaction of the unofficial international community, represented by The New York Times, TheƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Guardian etc.,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ (Daily News –ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 6/6/2013), exposingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ India’s violation of international lawƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ by invading Sri Lanka on theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ pretext of dropping humanitarian assistance.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
Furthermore,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the 13th AmendmentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ has not served any positive or significantƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lankan interests, either for any community or the nation as a whole.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It has created more problems than solving any. But since 1987 when it was introduced India needed internationalƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ respectability andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ legitimacy for itsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ imperialistic interventions in Sri Lanka. Dayan was the first to give that legitimacyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in an international forum, in writing, by includingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the 13th AmendmentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ inƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ his Resolution in March 2009. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ And having done that he and his allies in India and Tamil diaspora are using it as the legal bench markƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ against Sri Lanka.
Right now he seems be obsessed with the aim of pushingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the 13th Amendment as the panacea to all the national and international problems facing Sri Lanka. Irrespective of the rapidly changing dynamics of the post-Nandikadal developments he sticks doggedly to the 13th Amendment. His ideological roots go back to the time when he was a minister in the puppet regime of Varadaraja Perumal whoƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ was a slimy stooge ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ India. Eventually, DayanƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ together with his leader, Vardaraja Perumal, foundƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ refuge in India. India, pursuing its self-interests, naturallyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ harbours itsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ agentsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ who serve its foreign interests.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Perhaps, it is either loyalty to India or the mistaken belief that India can do whatever it wants in the India Ocean — including what Michael Ondaatjee’s grandmother did, “piss into it” (See Running in the Family)– that makesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ DayanƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ feel that Sri Lankans are there to polish Indian shoes.
Of course,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in the resolution steered by him in 2009 at the UNHRC he had committed Sri Lanka “to a political solution with the implementation of the 13th Amendment to bring lasting peace and reconcilliation in Sri Lanka.”ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Whether it was necesary for him to go that far — mainly to appease India — isƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ questioned by cool-headed, senior diplomats who would have handled the situation more expertly without pushingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri LankaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ into a difficult cornerƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ by committing itself to India’s 13th Amendment.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ InƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ hindsight, it is clear thatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ he should have confined the commitment “to a political solution to bring lasting peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka.” That would haveƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ confirmed him as a sagacious, far-seeing, adroit “political scientist” who had foreseen the coming events and outfoxed the enemies threatening the security and theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ overall ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ interests of the nation. But he was blinded by his commitment to the 13th Amendment which heƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ should have knownƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ was a cure worse than the disease.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It was an IndianƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ move that even the Indian forces — the fourth largest army in the world — could notƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ implementƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ through its puppet Varathraja PerumalƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ orƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ enforce to subdue Prabhakaran — the monster created by India.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ As a realist, let alone political scientist, he should have seen it coming. Trying to force it down the throat of the nationƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ now by raising the bogey of Indian goni-billa does not justify his claims to beƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a political scientist who can read the future.
Moreover, nothing that wasƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ inscribedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ by him in the resolution of 2009 including –ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 1.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the principle of non-interference in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of States, 2. the liberation tens of thousands of its citizens that were kept by the LTTE against their will as hostages, as well as the efforts by the Government to ensure safety and security for all Sri Lankans and bringing permanent peace to the country; 3.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the duty and responsibility (of the state)ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to provide protection and humanitarian assistance to all segments of the population, including Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), without discrimination; 4. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ reaffirming the obligations of States to respect human rights law and international humanitarian law while countering terrorismƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ (Dayan agrees it was just war fought with less violations of humanitarian law than US etc); 5. reaffirming the respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, and its sovereign rights to protect its citizens and combat terrorism, 6. condemning all attacks that the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) launched on the civilian population and its practice of using civilians as human shields; 7.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ recognizing that the promotion and protection of human rights should be based on the principle of cooperation and genuine dialogue and aimed at strengthening the capacity of Member States to comply with their human rights obligations for the benefit of all human beings — mattered to the West and the anti-Sri Lankan lobbies.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Any commitment by the GOSL toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ implement LLRC / 13th Amendment didn’t matterƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ either.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ They were determined to run over Sri Lanka like a steam roller.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
So why is Dayan stoking the fires ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that steam roller now?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Is it because he feels that hisƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 2009ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ “victory”ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in GenevaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ hasƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ not produced anyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ lasting benefitƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to the nation? It cannot be considered as a landmark victory because it evaporated in the next sessions. His role in 2009 can be dismissedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ as a pyhrric victory whichƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ helped India more than Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In fact, the West could claim that they feel vindicated andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ justified inƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ opposing his resolutionƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ because the very man who steered the resolution is nowƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ arguing against the nation he represented, regurgitating the accusations of the West.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Since nothing substantial has changed between 2009 and the time he wrote the book — all the blackmarks he highlights in his book were there in 2009 too — his moral obligationƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ is to jettison the imperialistic flotsam and jetsamƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ on board andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ stand byƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ main objectiveƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of defending the nation.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ But when he goes against his own resolutionƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ what is the obligation for others to uphold it?
What Dayan has failed to recognise is that his current standƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ is condemnedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in the words of his own resolution. (I refer to 2009 Resolution as “his resolution” because, rightly or wrongly, he claims ownership of victory to his diplomatic skills. Secondly, a section of the Foreign Ministry states Dayan interpolated some parts –particularly the reference to the 13th Amendment –ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ on his own initiative to appease India.) Among other things, his resolution said that the UN “(W)elcomes the resolve of the Sri Lankan authorities to begin a broader dialogue with all parties in order to enhance the process of political settlement and to bring about lasting peace and development in Sri Lanka based on consensus among and respect for the rights of all the ethnic and religious groups inhabiting it and invites all stakeholders concerned to actively participate in it.” The operative part of it states categorically the need to “enhance the process of political settlement and to bring about lasting peace and development in Sri Lanka based on consensus among and respect for the rights of all the ethnic and religious groups inhabiting it and invites all stakeholders concerned to actively participate in it.” In brass tacks, this means that anyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ consensus must contain the consent of both theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ north and the south.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ History has rejected the misleading notion thatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the 13th AmendmentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ introduced to appease theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Indian and Jaffna political leadershipsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ adds up to a consensual agreement that would fulfill the aspirationsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of all communities.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ThatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ cannot beƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the meaning of consensusƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ because it applies only to one community, plus India.
Nor will the rights of all ethnic groups be fulfilled only by implementing the 13th Amendment because it violates the rights of non-Jaffna Tamil ethnic groups.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ And since he knows, through existential experience, that the 13th Amendment, has been bone stuck in the throat of ethnic groups the consensus has to “begin (with) a broader dialogue with all all parties / stake holders.” His resolution ended by urgingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ “the international community to cooperate with the Government of Sri Lanka in the reconstruction efforts, including by increasing the provision of financial assistance, including Official Development Assistance, to help the country fight poverty and underdevelopment and continue to ensure the promotion and protection of all human rights, including economic, social and cultural rights.” So where does this leave Dayan when heƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ is condemning his own resolution and aligning himself with the pro-13th Amendment forces?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
HisƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ obsession with theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 13th AmendmentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ blinds him toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ unravelling ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ dynamics of the post-Nandikadal developments.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ThisƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ is partly driven by hisƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ over-exaggerated impression of India’s power in global affairs which even the Indians do not believe in. Indian analysts like Dr. Subramaniam Swamy are warning India not to overreact and alienate Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Swapan Dasgupta of the BJP too has taken a broad swipe at the external interlopers meddling in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Identifying the current source of interferenceƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ asƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the Tamil diaspora he says: “Today, the LTTE has been militarily defeated but the diaspora funds are being used to keep alive the old Sinhalese-Tamil divide in politics and international relations . There is peace and growing prosperity in the Tamil areas, and only the political loose ends remain. This in itself is a challenge but the reconciliation process isnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t helped if the diaspora is determined that its unchanging historical memory and hateful vision for the future must set the tone for the country they left behind.”
This statement conveysƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ profound meaningƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to the current situation. He is just not blaming the Tamil diaspora for funding “to keep alive the old Sinhala-Tamil divide and international relations”. He goes further and putsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ hisƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ finger in the right place when he says that “the diaspora is determined that its unchanging historical memory and hateful vision for the future must set the tone for the country they left behind.”ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Isn’t Dayan too afflicted by the sameƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ “historical memory and hateful vision for the future…”?
In a sense,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ DasguptaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ is also hinting at India’s interventionist policies when he says: “Imagine our reaction if IndiaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s politics was sought to be remote-controlled from Southall and New Jersey.”ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Indeed!
Dasgupta is right again when he says that the “remote-control” button must be switched off, permanently. It must begin with India — the mother of all Sri Lankan problems. Any concessions to India like the way Dayan did in Geneva is going to bedevil Sri Lankan politics further. Post-independence history proves that Indian imperialist interventions have dragged Sri Lanka and India into the depths of varied disasters.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ India could have achieved better results if its spent the money and the IPKF forces in the poverty-stricken state of Chattisgarh where it is facing, according Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the most dangerous threat from the Maoists to its peace, stability and progress.
Moreover, the time has come for India to calculate the cost benefit ratio of its interventions. What has India gained so far except loss of face and humiliation at the hands of a Sinhala naval rating and finally death to the author of the 13th Amendement?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ If Indian continues to pursue its current aggressive stand against Sri Lanka it is boundƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to boomerang on its own security in the region. India will find it more and more diffcult to manage her economic, political and strategic interests in the southern flank if she attempts to bulldoze her way into Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Nobody likes a bully. And India should not make the same mistake twice. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
In the resolution steered byƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ DayanƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in 2009 at the UNHRC he hadƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ gone too far to appease India with no positive gains either for India orƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Dayan’s “victory” in Geneva was only a side show for India. Her most substantial victory was in Nandikadal. Eventually, India was rescued by Sri Lanka in Nandikadal. Defeating Prabhakaran — the assassin who killed their Prime Minister — stands out as, perhaps,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the biggest victory India scored in the region.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ As President Mahinda Rajapakse said once:ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ “We fought India’s war and won!” Three cheers for that, Mr. President!
After handing over Prabhakaran’s head toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ IndiaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ — a feat that India’s army failed to get –ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ it has no role in Sri Lanka except toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ assist Sri Lankans to tie upƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ “only the political loose ends (that)ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ remain”.(Swapan Dasgupta). This can be achieved only if India backs off. It can’t be solvedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ byƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Dayan raising the bogey of Indian goni-billaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ .ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ India should be mature enough by now not to put its boots down in their neighbourhood after its repeatedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ miserable failures in the SAARC region.
(To be continued)
June 18th, 2013 at 4:23 pm
We have to SCRAP 13 amendment now.
Removing only LAND and police powers will not work. TNA and Endia will soon ask for SEA POWER as well!!!
At the same time we should DESTROY WHATEVER THAT SUSTAINS Tamil nationlists.
Good news from toiletnet.
“[TamilNet, Monday, 17 June 2013, 15:22 GMT]
In a move delicately endangering local fishing of the peoples of entire southern South Asia, the Rajapaksa Establishment in Colombo has provided facilities of a state-of-the-art fishing harbour near Colombo and State endorsement to Chinese vessels fishing beyond the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Island’s waters. A Company in China has been graced with the rights to ply its fishing vessels with the flag of the genocidal State in Sri Lanka and to use the facilities of the Dikovita fishing harbour.”
VERY GOOD.
Deny fish to Tamil extremists on both sides of the sea in the north of SL and south Endia. This is the PERFECT catching place of fish BEFORE they reach Mannar!!
16 Chinese trawlers will soon WIPE OUT fish for Tamil terrorists!! Can Endia stop it? NO. Endia is too scared to mess with the Chinese.
Well Tamilians, this is the PRICE TAG for robbing SL’s fish. Now eat shif not fish.
Another excellent strategy by the ministry of defence!!
We should DESTROY WHATEVER THAT SUSTAINS Tamil nationlists ruthlessly.
June 18th, 2013 at 5:31 pm
India appoints a New Ambassador for Sri Lanka. He seems to be well qualified for the job; let us hope he will be sympathetic to Sri Lanka’s National Security concerns.
His appointment to Sri Lanka instead of to a cushy high-profile Western Country after his assignment to Venezuela reflects the high-priority India assigns to relations with Sri Lanka, particularly at this time when the PC elections are looming in Sri Lanka.
…………………
New High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka arrives in Colombo
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
June 18, Colombo: India’s new High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha arrived in Colombo on Tuesday, the High Commission of India in Colombo announced today.
Sinha is a seasoned diplomat and during his career of 32 years, has handled several important assignments at the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi and in Indian diplomatic missions in the Middle East, Europe, South America and the Permanent Mission of India at the United Nations headquarters in New York. Before coming to Sri Lanka, he was Additional Secretary in the Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran division at the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi.
He was Ambassador of India to Venezuela from January 2007 to August 2009 and Consul General of India in Dubai from August 2003 to December 2006. Earlier, he served as Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi (UAE) from March 2002 to July 2003.
Before 2003, Sinha worked in different capacities at Indian Missions in Saudi Arabia, Italy; and in the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi. In the mid-1990s, he served at Indian Mission in Pakistan and at the Permanent Delegation of India to United Nations, New York.
Y.K. Sinha was born on October 4, 1958. After post-graduation in History from Delhi University, he joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1981. He was member of the Secretariat of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit, held in New Delhi in 1982 and CHOGM Summit held in 1983. He studied Arabic language at the American University, Cairo from 1983 to 1985.
He is married to Girija, and they have two sons: Ambuj and Vinayak.
June 18th, 2013 at 5:47 pm
Lanka can’t toe India line on 13th Amendment: Gotabaya
By P K Balachandran, COLOMBO
NewIndianExpress.com
27th May 2013 08:08 AM
The influential Sri Lankan Defence Secretary, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, has said Sri Lanka should jettison the system of devolution contained in the India-inspired 13th Amendment of the country’s constitution, irrespective of India’s reaction.
“Just because India or some other country will get angry, we cannot stop doing what is good for our country,” Gotabaya told the Tamil daily Sudar Oli on Sunday.
He was asked if his statements against the devolution of power to the provinces would not irk India, which was responsible for the promulgation of the existing devolution system through the India-Sri Lanka Accord of 1987 and the 13th constitutional amendment which followed it. Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid had recently expressed displeasure over Lanka’s attempts to prune the 13th amendment to deny the provinces powers over land and police.
Gotabaya expressed the fear that if the Tamil majority Northern Province went into the hands of the pro-LTTE Tamil National Alliance (TNA) following the September 2013 elections to the Northern Provincial Council (NPC), that province would demand power over land and police and jeopardize national integrity and security.
He recalled that the 13th amendment did not have the people’s support when it was enacted in 1987. The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna had “set fire to the whole country,” and the LTTE leader Prabhakaran had rejected it, he pointed out.
“Why should we implement it merely because it meets India’s needs?” Gotabaya asked.
According to him some forces were trying to weaken Lanka’s Central Executive by divesting it of powers of land and the police; demanding independent commissions to make official appointments; and promoting an independent judiciary. Gotabaya, who is President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s sibling, suggested that Tamils, Sinhalese and Muslims, should all “forget” about the 13th amendment and think about a “reasonable” solution to the ethnic question.
However, according to “The Sunday Times” President Rajapaksa had told the cabinet that the NPC elections should be held as scheduled in September, and under the existing constitutional arrangement. Perhaps, Rajapaksa does not want to ruffle feathers in India and the West ahead of the Commonwealth summit scheduled to be held in Colombo in November.
June 18th, 2013 at 5:51 pm
Lorenzo !! Chinese Fishing Vessels ~~~excellent strategy, but would they touch the Nothern Sea Belt ? Nevertheless having Chinese at home is most welcome right now.
June 18th, 2013 at 6:06 pm
Following is an Article that appeared in April, 2013 by M.N. Buch, a “Learned Indian civil servant”. With Indian attitudes like this towards Sri Lanka, no wonder we CONTINUE to have problems with India!
My comments in response are also given below:
…………………….
What arrogant HOGWASH! Sri Lanka NEVER was, and NEVER will be, a part of India …. strategically or otherwise. This kind of attitude among Indians is what we Sri Lankans fear, although we are cousins of the people of India, and what drives us fopr protection towards China.. Let me see: India first plants terrorism in Sri Lanka, and when the country is aflame intervenes to provide “humanitarian assistance” to its terrorist surrogates, proclaining itself a high and mighty White Knight!. Bah! Absolute self serving Double Talk! We Sri Lankans have fended off foreigners for over 3000 years and preserved our independence. We will do so again and again as long as one of us stands. With it communal policies and weak federal governmenyt, India will disintegrate well before Sri Lanka does. No Federalism for Sri Lanka … period!
…………….
The terrorism India spawned in Sri Lanka spanned half (30 years) of Sri Lanka’s years of existence (65 years) as a sovereign nation, consuming the lives of 150,000 of Sri Lankans of every community: It brought Sri Lanka’s economic development to a dead halt. Therefore, India’s “reconstruction aid” is really “war reparations” .due Sri Lanka under International Law; it is not “charitable giving”. India’s surrogate, the LTTE, shot, bombed, hanged and tortured people of all communities. They executed 1,000 captured policemen en masse, sliced and diced entire villages of sleeping innocents in the dead of the night to spread terror and ethnically cleanse the North and East of Sinhalese and Muslims. Karunanidhi voices outrage at Sri Lanka today, forgetting the poems he penned praising the SunGod. Vaiko delivered motivational speeches to Black Tiger suicide bombers in the Vanni jungles. They are but a small sample of the criminal Tamil Nadu politicians who must pay for their crimes NOW!
……………….
Mr. Buch’s article reflects many Indian misconceptions about Sri Lanka. which is not a mere appendage to be dealt with at will to suit India’s external agenda and internal politics. We are an independent sovereign nation severely abused by India in the last 30 years, The majority (80%) Sinhala people in particular, tied to India by ancient bonds of blood, religion, language, and culture, are naturally inclined to LOVE, RESPECT and PROTECT India. But, instead of reciprocating, India implants terrorists, interferes in our internal politics exacerbating divisions, attempts to partition our country, and collaborates with neocolonialist Western powers to undermine Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is the only neighboring nation of India that wants to have close relations and to work towards our mutual defense and economic growth. Instead of fostering this historical friendship, India is DRIVING Sri Lanka AWAY towards India’s enemies. So, we Sri Lankans now want to DISSOLVE this abusive MARRIAGE!
………
India’s policy towards Sri Lanka
By M N Buch
NewIndianExpress.com
01st April 2013 07:20 AM
The United States brought a resolution before the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC). India voted for the resolution in which Sri Lanka was called upon to make a credible and independent probe into the killings and human rights violations in that country in the context of the war against terrorism. Under pressure from DMK India was in favour of a stronger resolution, but ultimately we accepted the United States’ draft. As a direct reaction to this, the Sri Lankan government has decided to seize part of the Indian public sector-run oil depot in Trincomalee. This despite the fact that the Indian Oil Corporation has recently spent $17 million on refurbishing the depot. All this seems to be a part of the pro-China shift in Sri Lankan foreign policy under the stewardship of President Mahinda Rajapakse. China voted against the resolution as did Pakistan. Part of the shift is because of India’s tardy response to the Sri Lankan call for assistance. For example, the Sri Lankans wanted our help in developing the port of Hembantota in south Sri Lanka. It is only when India failed to respond favourably and quickly that Sri Lanka turned to China, whose rapid response was in sharp contrast to our tardiness.
Sri Lanka faced two major threats to its existence. The first was through the extreme left-wing JVP, a Sinhala outfit which waged war with the Sri Lankan government. At the invitation of that government we sent in units of CRPF which helped in restoring order in Colombo, but a much greater threat came from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), created by and composed of the Jaffna Tamils who had migrated to Sri Lanka centuries ago. Even the Sri Lankans recognised them as citizens of the country. The problem did not end there because when rubber and tea were introduced by the British to Sri Lanka as plantation crops, large numbers of Tamils were brought in as indentured labour. They were not treated as citizens by the Sri Lankans and it needed firm intervention by India to sort out their citizenship status. Even the Jaffna Tamils treat them as a different people. In 1956 the Sri Lankan government removed Tamil as one of the State languages of Sri Lanka and replaced it wholly by Sinhalese.
This was reversed in 1978 and Tamil was reintroduced as state language. The middle and higher ranks of the civil services and the armed forces were manned by a large number of Tamils and this parochial move of the Sri Lanka government severely jeopardised their position in government service. Resistance against this move started to polarise. In 1978 LTTE was born. When Indira Gandhi was the prime minister large numbers of LTTE cadres were trained in India and much of the armament of LTTE came from weapons surrendered by Pakistan to us in 1971 and subsequently passed on by us to LTTE. In 1983 there was a general massacre of Tamils by the Sinhalese, especially in and around Colombo. This hardened attitudes and LTTE not only came out with an open declaration of independence but it virtually declared war on Sri Lanka. Sinhala Tamils living outside the country started sending funds and purchasing weapons for LTTE and soon that organisation became the deadliest guerilla outfit in the world.The Sri Lankan Army also responded with great violence. Ultimately India stepped in with humanitarian aid for the Tamils, a pact was signed between Rajiv Gandhi and J.R. Jayawardene, the Indian Army sent a peace keeping force. LTTE attacked it and soon we were involved in a full-fledged war with LTTE.
The Indian Army established complete control over North and North East Sri Lanka and a semblance of civil administration was re-established. At this stage Premadasa became President of Sri Lanka. He was upto playing his own games and entered into a secret pact with LTTE. The Indian Army was forced to withdraw, leaving its work not fully done. LTTE reneged on its agreement and in sixteen police stations of the North more than 450 policemen were murdered. The uneasy peace ended. Ultimately Mahenda Rajapakse became President, a re-energised Sri Lankan Army declared all out war and the LTTE was crushed. It was a murderous organisation and perhaps there were cases where the Sri Lankan Army caused civilian casualties and there were a few cases of atrocities. That happens in a war and India was ill-advised to immediately adopt an anti-Sri Lanka government stance.
This has annoyed Sri Lanka, brought no relief to the Tamils, moved Sri Lanka towards China and the loser in all this is India. What we forget is that LTTE caused about 1,500 deaths of our soldiers and another 5,000 or so were wounded. Masters of ambush, of improvised explosive devices, expert in defensive warfare, so highly motivated that the LTTE cadres preferred suicide by the cyanide pill rather than surrender, there is no way in which LTTE could be handled with kid gloves. An enemy who fights to the last bullet and then commits suicide cannot be defeated; he has to be annihilated. A guerilla fighter mingles with civilians and killing him may hurt civilians. To judge the Sri Lankan Army harshly on this account is unfair.
How should we deal with Sri Lanka? Geographically, ethnically, religiously and strategically it is part of India, though a separate nation. It has to remain in the Indian fold. We should generously open our markets to Sri Lankan tea, gems and other products. We should make heavy investment in infrastructure, including rebuilding the ravaged North and North East and Indian businessmen must help Sri Lankan industry to grow. We should gift one IIM and an IIT level institution and we should provide about 500 offshore fishing vessels to Sri Lanka to build a prosperous fishing industry.
At the same time we must insist that within a given time-frame Sri Lanka, though a unitary country, introduces strong elements of federalism and devolves power to the provinces in terms of the Thirteenth Amendment of the Constitution. We should strongly counter Chinese influence and make it clear that if Sri Lanka fails to rehabilitate the Tamils, implement a scheme of devolution and ensure that all sections of society become part of the Sri Lanka mainstream India may be forced to intervene. We have proven capacity in this behalf. At the same time let us evolve our own foreign policy towards Sri Lanka without being dictated to by domestic compulsions of what the DMK wants.
M N Buch, a former civil servant, is chairman, National Centre for Human Settlements and Environment, Bhopal.
E-mail: buchnchse@yahoo.com
June 18th, 2013 at 9:44 pm
SW,
No. But the fish travel from the LARGE Indian Ocean through the gap between Endia and SL towards north and into Bay of Bengal (where there are fewer fish). By trapping them en route, the fish supply to Mannar, Jaffna, Tamil Madu east coast, etc. will reduce DRASTICALLY.
The ONLY LEVER SL has on Tamil Madu is this and using it is the way to TAME THEM.
There is another advantage.
It will also affect SOME Sinhala fishermen of Puttlam and Gampaha districts. But they have access to the vast Arabian Sea and the large sea stretch south. Some may be willing to RELOCATE to new settlements north of Trinco. That way we can turn Trinco and Pulmodai into Sinhala areas. JR did this successfully with fishermen from Negombo.
It will also force Tamil fishermen in SL to toe the govt. line and DESERT TNA and even EPDP or suffer MORE.
Playing the China card has a whole new BEAUTIFUL meaning now! :))
June 18th, 2013 at 9:49 pm
“Just because India or some other country will get angry, we cannot stop doing what is good for our country,” Gotabaya told the Tamil daily Sudar Oli on Sunday.
“Why should we implement it merely because it meets India’s needs?” Gotabaya asked.
“he suggested that Tamils, Sinhalese and Muslims, should all “forget” about the 13th amendment and think about a “reasonable” solution to the ethnic question.”
Wow!
We need to get Gota to TRAIN at least 5 more like him. We can’t just clap and go to sleep thinking the nation is in good hands. Gota will be dead in another 15 years time whether we like it or not. We need ANOTHER GOTA then.
Never another dumbass idiot like Austin Fernando (aka LTTE tin tin).
June 18th, 2013 at 9:52 pm
DJ should change his book name to
LONG WAR, COOL PEACE.
June 19th, 2013 at 2:51 am
Gotabhaya is echoing OUR PLEAS! He is in effect saying that ETHNIC INTEGRATION of the North and East is central to achieving National Integration, and Permanent Communal Harmony! BRAVO, Mr. Defence Secretary!
RISE UP ….. O Patriots of Mother Lanka …. RISE UP, in your TENS of MILLIONS, and REPEAL the 13th Amendment and DISSOLVE the Provincial Council System NOW. Raise your VOICE NOW to make PERMANENT the PEACE & HARMONY in our Resplendent Motherland!
………………………….
Gotabhaya abhors exclusivity for any race anywhere
by Shamindra Ferdinando
Island.lk
June 18, 2013, 10:00 pm
Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said the Northern Province should be opened up for all communities to live in without further delay. That would be of pivotal importance to promote bonding among the people in the post-war era.
The Defence Secretary emphasised that the Sinhalese shouldn’t be deprived of their right to buy land in any part of the country, including the Northern Province comprising the administrative districts of Jaffna, Mannar, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya.
The outspoken official said that the Sinhalese and the Muslim public servants too, should be allowed to serve in the Northern Province as well as in the predominantly Tamil areas of the Eastern Province.
Asked whether he would take up the issue with the government, the Defence Secretary said that he had explained the situation to President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Those who had been propagating post-war national reconciliation should promote bonding among people, he said, alleging that as long as the Northern Province remained ‘closed’ to other communities it would continue to be a breeding ground for separatist sentiments.
Responding to a query, the Defence Secretary said that many Tamil speaking people from the Northern and Eastern provinces had moved to Colombo and its suburbs as well as other areas over the years. In spite of the conclusion of the conflict in May, four years ago, they hadn’t been asked to return to their original places of living, he said. Likewise, others should be able to live in any part of the country, he added.
The Defence Secretary said that recently he had had an opportunity to meet a Tamil engineer attached to the RDA and his deputy, also a Tamil speaking official responsible for an ongoing project at a Colombo suburb coming under his purview. If they could work here without any hindrance why couldn’t the people of other ethnicities be given appointments in the Northern region, the Defence Secretary queried.
He recollected the circumstances under which the LTTE had driven the Sinhalese and the Muslims out of the Northern Province. A Norwegian found guilty of slaughtering about 80 men, women and children in 2011 was on record as having said that he was inspired by LTTE project to drive out the Muslims, he noted.
The official emphasised the importance of taking tangible measures to address contentious issues. Although, the LTTE could no longer pose a military challenge, the post-war national reconciliation process was at risk due to the Northern Province having special status, he said. The Defence Secretary insisted that Northern Province shouldn’t be exclusively Tamil and similarly there should not be any exclusively Sinhala or Muslim areas in the country.
June 19th, 2013 at 5:46 am
Well stated, Gota ! With you all the way. This is what we said years ago and these sentiments holds true even today.
When India gets rattled, they get nasty with Lanka, as during the Cold War phase when the 13-A was imposed on Sri Lanka. Also, those who want to rattle Sri Lanka can do so easily via India. As such, may have to depend less and less on India for anything, including trade.
Being SELF SUFFICIENT as far we can possibly be in all aspects of our NEEDS is for Sri Lanka’s own future safety and growth.
June 19th, 2013 at 9:57 am
I see a far more sinister action than what is stated in the article. Ever since India entered into a proxy war with Sri Lanka the main issue was India’s security concerns. A divided Sri Lanka where Eelam will hold many ports including the Trincomalee port was crucial for Tamil Tigers to win and they got all the support they needed from India. That plan failed and instead India’s security has got much worse with the growing presence of China and the recent agreement of a strategic partnership between China and Sri Lanka. This is absolutely not acceptable to New Delhi or Washington D.C. and they will do whatever it takes to demonize those Singhalese in power both in the Buddhist Sanga and in Colombo to create the atmosphere for a referendum to create Eelam, or at the minimum the 13th amendment. The closer China and Russia come to Sri Lanka the greater will be the accusations of human rights violations. The first counter move is to negate India. That can be done by closing her Embassy and removing the Sri Lankan Embassy personnel from India. That would effectively negate India’s role in Sri Lanka on a bilateral basis.
June 19th, 2013 at 10:45 am
Lorenzo
one day I met this Austin fdo in a party given by an army officer. he started talking about tiger problems and solutions as if he was the only one who knows everything. there were few people including a navy officer and me. he was trying to convince us with u.n.p ideas….. I kept silent about 15 minuites until somebody asked why I was silent.
I was so angry and said ””IF I HAVE POWER I WILL KILL PEOPLE LIKE THAT WAS THE END OF THE””” lecture””
ALL GOT UP FOR DINNER AND AS SOON AS I GOT UP ONE GUY KISSED MY FACE AND SAID “”ayya u gave him tough thank u”””
June 19th, 2013 at 11:50 am
Some points to consider :
* Best thing for Lanka to do is to be as Self Sufficient as possible in our Needs.
* Continue Diplomatic relations with all countries, including India.
* Apart from the Tamils of Jaffna North (the Tamil Kingdom theory plus leadership), recognise that Tamil labor from Tamil Nadu has created problems in Lanka. It was the Plantations industry, mainly the Tea sector, that attracted Tamil labor, from indentured labor Colonial times to present. Tamil labor has come into Lanka, mostly illegally, without prior preparation or knowledge about life in Lanka, the history and its people. I am referring in particular to the Tamil people who have come in illegally. Culturally, they are still tied to Tamil Nadu and it will take them decades/generations more to truly belong in Lanka.
They follow their current Leaders (TNA) as their cultural identity lies there and in Tamil Nadu, however badly they were treated in TN due to Caste/poverty issues. Tamil Nadu is using the opportunity to create a greater Tamil Nadu to grow economically, silence its low castes & Dalits, by slicing Lanka through the 13-A. Other vested interests have jumped into the problem for their own gains, including entering India through the back door of TN.
* Recognise that 13-A must be removed from the Constitution to prevent slow motion slicing up of Lanka.
* We have to put Cold War politics behind us and Move Forward.
* Have a Question put to the Tamil people ONLY asking who wants to go back to Tamil Nadu ?
I am sure there are some other points too that should be considered in the context of the 13-A …….
June 19th, 2013 at 2:35 pm
And these are the buggers we should jump into bed with?
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600 pro-Tamil outfit workers arrested in Ooty
By PTI – UDHAGAMANDALAM
NewIndianExpress.com
18th June 2013 02:53 PM
Some 600 activists belonging to pro-Tamil Eelam outfits were arrested on Tuesday for allegedly attempting to march to the Defence Services Staff College at Wellington, 15 km from here, where two Sri Lankan defence personnel are undergoing training.
Protesting against the training, the activists demanded resignation of Defence Minister A K Antony for giving “false” assurance that no Sri Lankan military personnel would be given training on Tamil Nadu soil.
The activists shouted slogans against the central government, which, they alleged, was taking an anti-Tamil stand.
They also burnt the effigies of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa besides the Sri Lankan national flag.
Police said the activists were stopped some three km from the college and arrested.
Talking to reporters, K Ramakrishnan, General Secretary, Thanthai Periyar Dravida Kazhakam (TPDK), said like-minded parties and organisations have decided to stage demonstrations in front of Congress Offices in Tamil Nadu and also against Central Ministers from the state, dates for which would be announced later.
Besides TPDK, workers from Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, MDMK, Vanigar Sangham and Federation of Tamil National Students, participated in the demonstration, police said.
In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently, chief minister Jayalalithaa had slammed the Centre for being “insensitive” on the issue of training Sri Lankan defence personnel and asked it not to train them until Colombo takes satisfactory and credible action to end human rights violations against Tamils.
She had said two Lankan officers–Wing Commander MS Bandara Dassanayke and Major CS Harishchandra Hettiarachchige–were undergoing training at Wellington, which, she said, was a matter of “grave import that greatly offends the sensitivities and sentiments of people of Tamil Nadu.”
June 19th, 2013 at 2:46 pm
My comment on the above article at NewIndianExpress.com:
Tamils Feelings are sooo tender NOW that they have conveniently forgotten the terrorists they trained in Tamil Nadu and that the Indian RAW injected into Sri Lanka ultimately killing 150,000 Sri Lankan citizens. How about the gun running and the close support they gave the LTTE to inflict 1,000 Mumbai attacks on Sri Lanka?
Forget Tamil feelings, consider instead the Feelings of the Sri Lankans who endured 30 years of being shot, bombed, hanged and tortured, and sliced and diced by the hundreds in the dead of the night by your darling murderous followers of the Eelamist SunGod.
I agree on ONE thing: Sri Lanka should stop sending our defence personnel to India for training … send them to China INSTEAD, now that our CLOSEST COUSINS have become our WORST ENEMIES!
June 19th, 2013 at 3:01 pm
Another Comment on the above article at NewIndianExpress.com:
Oh, by the way, was it not this same Jayalalitha who was under a Death Sentence from the LTTE and pleaded for security from Karunanidhi, the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu?
Dear old “Nidhi” revelled in the opportunity to deny it of course … how could he prevent his hero … the late unlamented SunGod Velupillai Prabhakaran, to whom he wrote laudatory poems … ANYTHING … including the lady actresses’s head on a platter?
Now that the militants of LTTE have been eradicated by Leaf, Branch, Trunk and Root from Sri Lanka, Jayalalitha finds it politically convenient …. and SAFE … to espouse the Eelamist cause … to increase her grip on her job as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
No wonder caste discrimination and abject poverty of the People of Tamil Nadu CANNOT be SOLVED with demagogues like this holding onto power!!
But, Jayalalitha, don’t look behind you …. BOO … the LTTE is resurrecting itself … in Tamil Nadu! Think you can handle them???
June 19th, 2013 at 4:20 pm
To HELL with Tamil feelings! SL national interests are FAR MORE important than your feelings or lives.
These SLAF officers are undergoing training to fly MiG-27 and other similar craft not to scrape cocunuts but to BOMB and KILL armed Tamil nationalists in their drones. Get over it Tamils. Face facts.
Endian govt. MUST ensure the safety of Wing Commander MS Bandara Dassanayake and Major CS Harishchandra Hettiarachchige. Otherwise Endians in SL will face a similar fate.
June 20th, 2013 at 1:37 pm
The Defence Secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa says:
1. During the height of Eelam War IV, the three-member delegation to India comprising the Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga, then Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa, and the Defence Secretary told India, represented by National Security Advisor M. K. Narayanan, Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon and Defence Secretary Vijay Singh, that POLICE POWERS WILL NOT BE DEVOLVED under the 13th Amendment and Narayanan had FULLY AGREED with it.
2. When President Rajapaksa had assured India as well as other countries that his government would offer 13th Amendment plus, the President had meant was that he would give a better solution acceptable to all communities. It was misinterpreting the President’s assurance to propagate the falsehood that the government was ready to implement the 13th Amendment, which was forced on the then President JR Jayawardenene.
THERE YOU HAVE IT …. Straight talk from the Defence Secretary, that India was made aware that the 13th Amendment would be modified to EXCLUDE Police Powers even during the Eelam War, and that the 13th Amendment Plus would not be the same as what was forced down Sri Lanka’s THROAT by India, but was one that would serve ALL of Sri Lanka’s citizens better.
Agreements made UNDER DURESS are ILLEGAL under ANY LAW. They can be, should be, and will be ABROGATED as soon as the VICTIM OF CRIMINAL COMPULSION regains its free will. IN FACT, it is the DUTY of the VICTIM to DO SO!
It is PREPOSTEROUS to claim that Sri Lanka is DUTY-BOUND in any way to retain the 13th Amendment forced down its throat by India to satisfy her need for regional hegemony and to placate Indian Racists pursuing a Greater Tamil Nadu agenda!
Sri Lanka must be governed to serve Sri Lanka’s National Interest, not to serve India’s interests!
RISE UP …. O Patriots of Mother Lanka …. RISE UP, in your TENS of MILLIONS, to REPEAL this Indian BALL & CHAIN shackling Mother Lanka’s limbs, NOW!
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PCs won’t have police powers, Govt. has told India
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Island.lk
June 19, 2013, 10:06 pm
India had been informed of Sri Lanka’s decision not to devolve police powers to provinces at the height of the conflict, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said yesterday.
The Defence Secretary said that both, President Mahinda Rajapaksa and he, had emphasised during deliberations with senior Indian officials that devolution of police powers would be inimical to the national interest as well as political stability. “We made our position clear during talks involving top level delegations from Sri Lanka and India”, he told The Island.
The three-member delegation comprised Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga, then Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa and the Defence Secretary. The troika functioned as an informal group on behalf of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to inform and interact with all those who matter, within and outside the country, in general and on events unfolding in Sri Lanka from time to time and visited New Delhi several times during the war.
India was represented by National Security Advisor M. K. Narayanan, Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon and Defence Secretary Vijay Singh.
The Defence Secretary was responding to Indian media reports of Indian Premier Manmohan Singh expressing concern over President Rajapaksa’s decision to amend the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
The Defence Secretary said vesting provinces with police powers would be inimical to the interests of minorities. Recollecting a discussion they had in New Delhi, Rajapaksa said that when Narayanan queried from Singh what he thought of Rajapaksa’s opposition to police powers being devolved to provinces, the Indian Defence Secretary had agreed fully with him.
When it was pointed out that President Rajapaksa had assured India as well as other countries that his government would offer 13th Amendment plus, the Defence Secretary said that what the President had meant was that he would give a better solution acceptable to all communities. It would be nothing but foolish to misinterpret the President’s assurance to propagate the falsehood that the government was ready to implement the 13th Amendment, which was forced on the then President JRJ.
Responding to allegations that Sri Lanka had gone back on its promise to implement the 13th Amendment after the conclusion of the conflict, the Defence Secretary alleged that it was the government of India that voted for the US-led resolution against Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) after having promised to throw its weight behind Sri Lanka. “India let us down in Geneva, very badly,” the Defence Secretary said.
Commenting on the proposed Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to study the national issue and make recommendations, the Defence Secretary said that the tangible actions would have to be taken to ensure the 13th Amendment wouldn’t be the cause for further chaos. If implemented fully as it is it could create a volatile situation not only in the Northern Province but other regions as well, the Defence Secretary said.
June 25th, 2013 at 5:54 pm
Although it has no direct relevance to this article, I want to mention something about this AusFdo guy as Malindha has mentioned his name. When he was then Defence Secretary, he addressed the former LTTE heavyweight Pulidevan as “Machan”. And when Puli was ill and was hospitalized in Colombo he went to the hospital with a bag of apples to see him. What is the level of D/Secretary at that time?