Signals from Lanka

Centre has contained Tamil Nadu passions

(October 28, New Delhi, Sri Lanka Guardian) THE Government of India has struck the right balance in getting Colombo to show urgency in dealing with Tamil concerns and, at the same time, pacifying the DMK to desist from any precipitate action that would endanger the UPA. This is no mean achievement given the situation New Delhi was confronted with: The pounding of the strongholds of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE); the Sri Lankan government’s pursuit of a military solution to the exclusion of Tamil civilian safety; and, the rising political temperatures in Tamil Nadu, where passions over developments in Sri Lanka were being whipped up by politicians. Even as the Sri Lankan security forces have been gaining in their military offensive against the LTTE with no sign of any initiative for a political solution as India has been advocating, New Delhi had to rein in Colombo without overt “intervention”.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee managed to do this during the unscheduled visit to Delhi of Sri Lankan President’s Special Adviser Basil Rajapaksa. The Adviser, who is the brother of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, appears to have satisfied Mr Mukherjee that Colombo was taking the necessary steps to ensure the safety and security of Sri Lankan Tamils; and that the civilian population in the island’s north where the military conflict is raging would be provided the necessary relief and humanitarian aid. India is also sending 800 tonnes of relief material for the affected civilians in the north.

This underscores that the UPA government is mindful of the genuine needs and aspirations of Sri Lankan Tamils even as it cannot intervene to call a halt to Colombo’s current military campaign. In the process, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi appears to have been mollified especially after Mr Mukherjee’s meeting with him in Chennai. The ruling DMK is no longer bent on making Tamil Nadu MPs resign from Parliament thereby pushing the UPA Government to the brink. The situation in Tamil Nadu has been dealt with and Colombo given the message that the safety, security, rights and aspirations of Sri Lankan Tamils – who, as a community, are not to be equated with the LTTE – are concerns that India expects to be addressed until a resolution of the Tamil-Sinhala conflict. Editorial: Tribune India. - Sri Lanka Guardian