India to Declare “No Fly Zone” to Protect Tamil Civilians from Sri Lankan Air Attacks?

(October 21, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Does India consider declaring Wanni areas in Sri Lanka as “no fly zone”, saying it wants to protect civilian Tamil population from Sri Lankan air force’s repeated air attacks? Pressure is mounting in Tamil Nadu to protect Tamil people from Sri Lankan government’s war atrocities. In this background, speculations are spreading that India is about to take a move which is similar to its intervention in 1987 with spectacular airdrops of foods, but this time with declaration of “no fly zone”.

When Saddam Hussein’s Iraq government made air attacks on its northern regions of Kurdish people, US and its friendly countries declared the region as “no fly zone” over which Iraqi aircraft were forbidden to patrol.

Uthayan Tamil Newspaper which is published from Jaffna, in its editorial on Monday (20 10 2008) has focused on this speculation. But some informed sources in Colombo say that some Indian diplomatic circles are trying to approach interested parties with this agenda.

Uthayan in its Editorial explained recent developments in Tamil Nadu and New Delhi’s consequent diplomatic moves towards Sri Lanka. The editorial says according to Chennai and New Delhi sources, India prepares to teach a lesson to Sri Lanka’s Rajapaksa government which perused a war policy with a hope that no one will question.

Further the editorial says:

In the present context, analysts suggest some options available to India. One of that is very important.

In 1987 J.R. Jeyawardena government also acted in some way similar to the present regime. Then India sent their planes into Sri Lanka’s air space and dropped foods and essential items in Tamil areas. By that act, India forced the JR government to come into its line.

Now, protestations in Tamil Nadu are creating a political crisis in New Delhi. Manmohan Singh’s government wants to calm Tamil Nadu and safeguard its existence (If majority of the 40 Tamil Members of Parliament withdraw their support, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s minority government may have to dissolve parliament and order general election). As such, it is speculated that Manmohan Singh’s government may not hesitate to take some extreme acts such as in JR period.

Indian sources repeatedly pinpoint the sufferings of the Tamil people as a result of Mahinda Rajapaksa government’s war on Tamil homeland. India believes that repeated air attacks of Sri Lankan forces on Tamil civilian areas are creating serious destructions.

India itself is facing a crucial situation – terrorist threat - in Kashmir. But, India does not show its air power against the population. In contrary, Sri Lankan government claiming Tamil homeland as part of its territory, is raining down bombs with air attacks. - Sri Lanka Guardian