Anura B’s pilgrimage to India
By K. Godage
We are happy at his appointment and think that, it would be like a duck taking to
water. He should make us proud of him, as we were of the late Mr Kadirgamar.
I am somewhat intrigued that, Mr Bandaranaike has decided to rush to India
before his visit to China. Whoever his advisors maybe, they are dead wrong on
this. If, I were to surmise, I would not put it beyond the Indian High Commission
here, to have advised him, stating that Delhi would get the wrong signal if he does
not visit India first and pay tribute to the gods of Delhi.
What may we ask has India done in recent years to help this country with regard to
resolving our national problem, which it helped to create by arming and training
Tamil militants and letting them loose on us? She has more than a moral obligation
–someone may say, that morality does not enter into international relations. Be
that as it may, 25-years after the India trained militants started the conflict, the
blood soaked LTTE, with the help of the Norwegians in particular, and because of
the sin of omission of India, has this country by its throat.
Our politicians, both of the UNP and the SLFP, keep rushing to India in a servile
manner, to pay ‘pooja’ to the Delhi gods. They have become the laughing stock in
Delhi, because we are seen to be absolutely subservient to such an extent that,
they have lost respect for us. India may have the power and capacity to destabilize
us once again, but would not do so, as she has, no doubt, abandoned the
imperialist policy of Indira Gandhi. India also appears to be preoccupied with
problems there, as well as in Bangladesh and Nepal in particular, to devote any
time to causing us further harm.
President Chandrika Kumaratunge, after she assumed office as President,
described our relationship with India and our predicament, most succinctly, in the
following words “India is our immediate neighbour, with whom we have been
inextricably linked by ties, the origins of which have long been lost in the mists of
time. We have, with India, the broadest and deepest interaction that, we as a
nation, could have with another State. India, therefore, possesses the capacity,
given her vastly disparate strength and influence, to help or hinder to a great
extent. In a word, the India factor is crucial to the existence of our nation. Forging
and sustaining a mutually trusting and supportive friendship with India must,
therefore, be, for us, not just a conscious and soundly judged policy, it is a natural
and vital ingredient for our national well being.”
To my mind, Anura is wasting his time visiting India, which is not prepared to even
sign an innocuous Defence Cooperation agreement with us, unless of course, he
is carrying a meaningful message to Delhi that, we would co-sponsor the group,
which includes India, in their bid for a permanent seat in the Security Council and
in return that, India should sign the Defence Cooperation Agreement. He should
also kiss the hand he cannot cut, by supporting the Sethusamudram project, which
India is determined to carry out, for security and strategic reasons. There is
nothing we can do about that. The best we could do in the circumstances is, to cut
a deal, support the project and demand that she comes into Trincomalee and
establishes a base there. We should also offer India exclusive rights on the use of
Palaly. I cannot understand our reluctance to concede this, for it is a vital security
prop for us and we lose no skin off our nose. If, despite all these concessions,
India is not agree to reciprocate or, tries to proffer excuses, then, Foreign Minister
Bandaranaike should visit Pakistan soon and sign a Defence Cooperation
Agreement with them, for they are prepared to formalize the current defence
arrangements we have with that country. We may also, perhaps, consider signing
a similar agreement with China, merely to formalize the defence procurement
arrangements, we have with that country. China may agree, for China’s interest in
the South Asian region is growing (one reason for the Sethusamudram). The least
India can do is to sign the long overdue Defence Cooperation Agreement with us.
She should also take the initiative and do what is necessary, to bring the LTTE to
heel.
Since India has concluded a strategic Defence Cooperation Agreement with the
United States and has cultivated the closest of relations with that country, the
Minister could invite the United States, not only to sign the Cross Services
Agreement with us, but also to take whatever steps are necessary with India, to
end this insurgency in Sri Lanka. India has more than an obligation to do this.
India could also demand of the Government and the UNP, that they immediately
effect amendments to the Concurrent List in the 13th Amendment, to make a
reality of the devolution, which they themselves initiated through the Indo-Lanka
Accord of 1987, to ensure peace with justice for the Tamils.
In conclusion, we do hope that India would not, in the Communiqué after the visit
of Minister Bandaranaike, once again serve up that trite ‘manthare’ which they do,
whenever Sri Lankan leaders visit their country. The ‘Mantara’ reads as follows.
”India supports the process of seeking a negotiated settlement acceptable to all
sections of Sri Lankan society, within the framework of a united Sri Lanka and
consistent with democracy, pluralism, and respect for individual rights… India
maintains an abiding interest in the security of Sri Lanka and remains committed to
its unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
These words ring hollow, as they may have “an abiding interest in the security of
Sri Lanka” but have done nothing to ensure it and end the insurgency, restore
normalcy and establish peace and security in this, their own backyard.
(The writer is a former diplomat)
COURTESY:DAILY MIRROR