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"The joint Indo- Sri Lanka statement issued after the visit of President
Chandrika Kumaratunga to New Delhi and the proposed Defence Co-operation
Agreement together with complementary agreements such as on Pallaly Airport
are being hailed in all quarters here, except by the LTTE. There is much
satisfaction because such Indo-Lanka co-operation, it is considered, would
be a positive deterrent to LTTE terrorism breaking out again and would help
resolve the 20 year- old North-East conflict.
The basic assertions of the Indo-Lanka joint statement reveals that there
are no fundamental changes in India’s Sri Lanka policy and it is a
reiteration of the former Indian position, even when relations were at their
worst. India being committed to the unity, sovereignty, territorial
integrity, their support for a negotiated settlement and opposition to
terrorism in all its manifestations, have been stated in documents exchanged
between the two countries much earlier and even quite recently. What is new
is the warmth, friendship, and commitment of both countries to these stated
objectives which are being bolstered by the economic and trade ties such as
the Free Trade Agreement and more such agreements on economic co-operation
in the offing.
The Indo- Sri Lanka Defence Co- operation is being welcomed even by those
who opposed the hegemonic features in the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement of 1987
because of the militaristic threat of the LTTE in the North-particuarly in
the Jaffna peninsula. The Sri Lanka government is trapped in its own peace
process from opposing the LTTE’s military build up. The LTTE, all concerned
are aware, has been building up its military cadres and re-arming by
smuggling of arms during the entire period of this cease- fire.
A recent
report by the prestigious London based International Institute of Strategic
Studies has said that the LTTE has even acquired a light aircraft. On the
other hand the ‘international community’ involved in our ‘peace process’
does nothing to halt this military build up and will howl if Sri Lanka
commences rapid arming of its forces. America helps in training the armed
services and perhaps may even provide some military intelligence but the
European nations involved are doing nothing to prevent contributions flowing
in from their countries into the LTTE war chest.
Thus, India whose security is being threatened on the Southern flank by this
terrorist organisation is the only foreign power that will be committed to
take on the LTTE militarily as it did in the late 1980s. As the former
Indian Defence Minister George Fernandes has said: the security concerns of
Sri Lanka are the security concerns of India as well.
But all this places Sri Lanka firmly in the Indian sphere of influence
circumscribing its defence strategies and limiting its foreign policy
options. It will no longer be have the freedom of action as it did as an
independent, non aligned nation when it permitted Pakistani troops to pass
through Sri Lankan ports from the west wing of Pakistan to the east wing
during the Bangladesh war. According to reports there appear to be some
hiccups about the agreement on the Pallaly Airport because the Indian
government wants to limit its use to Sri Lankan and Indian Forces only.
While such limitations will not be desirable in normal times, does Sri Lanka
now have another option than to grant India’s request?
Former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi made no bones about hiding Indian
hegemonic desires in South Asia and used the Sri Lanka Tamil insurgency to
make Colombo toe the New Delhi line. While Indians did realise its folly of
using terrorism as an instrument of foreign policy and fought LTTE terrorism
later on, today’s situation is that Sri Lanka has to depend on India to save
its territorial integrity.
Perhaps, as some Indian political strategists maintain, no country is fully
sovereign and certainly small countries such as Sri Lanka can enjoy only
limited sovereignty.
But can Sri Lanka place all its eggs in the Indian basket? New Delhi’s Sri
Lanka policy is also conditioned by the so-called Southern option—- central
coalition governments depending heavily on support of South Indian parties,
particuarly from Tamil Nadu. What would happen if a pro- LTTE Tamil Nadu
party begins to rock an Indian coalition government?
What is required now is astute political leadership although the present
incumbents are light years away from it. The only option available appears
to be the Superpower or Hyperpower as it is now called. India too has its
limitations when it comes to relations with the United States. Could our
leaders be smart enough to use Lanka-US relations to influence India to our
advantage? This will indeed be a long shot considering what President Ronald
Reagan’s trouble- shooter General Walters told Colombo newsmen in 1987: ‘You
settle your problems with India, we will not interfere.’
Right now, there appears to be no option but to place all Lankan eggs
in the Indian basket."
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"A leading English language daily 'The Island' has suggested that Sri
Lanka should use the United States to checkmate India in case the latter
makes use of Colombo's growing dependence on it to limit its foreign policy
options.
In an editorial on Wednesday, the paper asked whether it would be wise for
Sri Lanka to put all its eggs in the Indian basket since New Delhi's foreign
policy was conditioned by the Tamil Nadu factor which could favour the LTTE.
Central coalition governments in India tended to lean heavily on Tamil Nadu
parties, it pointed out.
'What would happen if a Tamil Nadu party begins to rock an Indian coalition
government?' it asked. 'The only option available appears to be the
Superpower or Hyperpower as it is now called. India too has its limitations
when it comes to relations with the United States. Could our leaders be
smart enough to use Lanka-US relations to influence India to our advantage?'
the paper wondered.
But there were limitations here too, it noted. After all, did not President
Reagan's trouble shooter Gen. Walters tell Colombo newsmen in 1987 'You
settle your problems with India, we will not interfere?.' At the time of the
controversial India-Sri Lanka Accord of 1987, Sri Lankans were looking at US
to checkmate India. But the US did not oblige.
In conclusion, the 'The Island' conceded that there was no option for Sri
Lanka, but to place all its eggs in the Indian basket.
Some Sri Lankans worry that Sri Lanka will lose its sovereignty if the
Defence Cooperation Agreement with India is signed and especially if there
are conditions like the one talked about in relation to the use of the
Palaly airport in Jaffna.
The Indians are reportedly saying that the airport should be used only by
Sri Lankan and Indian aircrafts if it was upgraded with Indian assistance.
'The Island' pointed this out and said that Sri Lanka might not be able to
do what it could do in 1971 when, during the Bangladesh war, it allowed
Pakistani military aircraft to use Sri Lankan airports en route to East
Pakistan against Indian wishes.
Meawhile, Sri Lankan Tamils have been criticising India's decision to sign a
Defence Cooperation Agreement with Sri Lanka.
The Tamil National Alliance and the LTTE have both said that they will tilt
the military balance and upset the peace process, which rests on a delicate
military balance between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE.
The Tamils are glad that the agreement was not signed while President
Chandrika Kumaratunga was on an official visit to New Delhi earlier this
month."
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