India’s Role in Sri Lanka

by Gaja Lakshmi Paramasivam

(August 28, Melbourne, Sri Lanka Guardian) I write on the basis of excerpts from statement by the Hon S.M. Krishna, Indian Minister for External Affairs on ‘the steps taken by Government of India, for relief and resettlement of Tamils in Sri Lanka’ in Indian Parliament on 26 August 2011, published by Sri Lanka Guardian.

To most Tamils of Sri Lankan origin, India is a cultural leader due to Tamil Nadu. But with all its claims of political strength, India did not prevent the death of Tamil lives in May 2009. This confirms further, that India is NOT a country that Tamils of Sri Lanka could rely on for political leadership. It is highly unlikely that Tamils of Sri Lanka would, after their experience with the IPKF (Indian Peace-Keeping Force), accept political leadership from India.

Cultural respect for India in general and Tamil Nadu in particular, is strong within the Sri Lankan Tamil Community. Both communities benefit from the respective investments made by each other. During a recent Australian concert by Tamil Artists from India, the Indian Artists made the independent statement that the Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora was their largest support group outside Tamil Nadu. In Public Administration and Governance, Tamils of Sri Lanka lead themselves through their own experiences and investments in wider world. Sri Lankan Tamils are also more open than Indians towards Western Systems – especially in Education.

To me, therefore, in terms of economic support – Indian Government is returning our investments in Tamil Nadu. To my mind, Tamil Nadu gave refuge to Tamils of Sri Lanka during our time of need. Some of it was also political. Now it is our turn to show appreciation and strengthen our relationship. Each time there is ethnic problem in Sri Lanka, it would naturally strengthen the ties – even more strongly now due to the economic power of Diaspora Tamils.

The current Tamil Diaspora Leadership has the responsibility to give form to the work and sacrifices by all Tamils towards self governance, including through economic independence. Politicians on both sides are likely to continue to fight; but we civilians must exercise our votes and take action regularly to show our earned expectations from our politicians.

In his article ‘Sankaracharya’s influence on the Indian religious mind’ Mr Basil Fernando of the Asian Human Rights Commission says ‘The greatest treasure of any nation is the mind of its own people.’ True. That mind is made up of hearsay and belief. The greater our thoughts on the basis of belief, the more reliable the mind. As per my knowledge of Sankarachariya, the Saint’s work was more towards belief rather than idle knowledge. The words of the song that I remember in this regard, through my Spiritual Guru Swami Sathya Sai Baba are: Bhaja Govindam, Bhaja Govindam; Bhaja Govindam, Muda mathe.

As per the legend, Saint Sankarachachariya, sang the song starting with the above words to discipline a Brahmin who was learning grammar. The song in essence means – ‘Sing the glory of Lord Govinda, utter the name of Lord Govinda; Oh, you ignorant person. You should go on uttering the name of the Lord. It will not be possible for you to do so when death faces you and you are close to it. Reciting the rules of grammar cannot save you’

In secular language, instead of Lord Govinda, we need to use the words Truth or Love. Similarly, in place of grammar we need to use Laws or Policies. To me the essence of this is that if we keep reciting the Laws and Policies, it would not save us at the time of death of our hope and expectation. If we do not utter the Truth regularly, but merely the rules, policies and laws, they would not save us when we have disappointments and our mind goes into depression. If we express the Truth/Belief more than reciting the Law/Knowledge – our disappointments get converted into determination because we find what we can do for ourselves. It’s when we regularly invest in Truth more than talking about rights and wrongs that we would have this Savior within helping us complete our experiences before we go into the next stage/ new environment / next life.

The Hon S.M. Krishna (Krishna is another name for Govinda) says in regards to the UN report on the last battle of the ethnic war ‘To the extent that concerns have been expressed by various quarters on the UNSG’s Panel Report or the Channel 4 documentary, it is for the Sri Lankan Government, in the first instance to investigate and inquire into them and establish their veracity or otherwise through a transparent process. We note that it is also doing so through its Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC).’

Given that India is closely linked culturally with Sri Lanka, it is more likely to have a belief based conclusion on this issue. The issue behind the Channel 4 documentary is an experience for Tamils (including Tamils of Tamil Nadu) whilst to outsiders – they were events. India has the responsibility to be led by its beliefs rather than observation of events and that too by others external to itself.

Given that India has not had the courage to express a belief based statement or shown in action its condemnation of any negligence on the part of the Sri Lankan Government that contributed to the suffering of Tamil civilians and therefore the Tamil Community, the above statements would be considered by the Tamils Community as being too little too late.

India however has not been slow in showing off its economic handouts. Mr. Krishna says in this regard ‘India also announced the construction of 50,000 houses, mainly for IDPs in Sri Lanka. In November 2010, I inaugurated a pilot project for construction of 1000 houses at Ariyalai in Jaffna. Work on ground has started and houses are beginning to come up. It has to be kept in mind that construction is taking place in largely inaccessible areas, in many cases has to be freed of mines and other explosive ordinance.’

Ariyalai in Jaffna to my knowledge is NOT within the above mentioned ‘largely inaccessible areas’. Ariyalai is close to Jaffna Kachcheri (where I also grew up) – the Administrative Secretariat of the Government. Ariyalai Pillayar / Ganesh temple is well known and some of our service activities – especially in helping students have been centered around this area. There is also an army camp near the temple. The grant to construct 1000 houses in Ariyalai therefore does not seem to have been allocated on ‘needs’ basis. It is therefore essential that the merit based allocation of funds needs to be made transparent to the Sri Lankan Public and all investors in Sri Lanka. Without this systematic approach, India’s involvement would be another IPKF experience for Sri Lankans. India lost the opportunity to use ‘belief’ basis when it failed to protect Tamil civilians during the last battle. Hence it needs to use merit basis of Global standards.

Mr. Krishna says ‘Our primary objective in all that we are doing in Sri Lanka is to ensure the welfare and wellbeing of Sri Lankan Tamils, including IDPs, and to assist in the development of Northern Sri Lanka.’

Which Tamil Policy or Tamil Person / Group of Tamils, is leading the Indian efforts? Without any of these, India is likely to ‘use’ the war to help itself. India’s investment in North and East needs to be channeled through Independent Tamil groups for it to develop the minds of Tamils towards Global standards of democracy. Money spent in this regard should be merely to reflect that development and not the other way around. Hence, we need to hear more about how the Tamil Human Resource has been developed towards self governance – so at all times Tamils would rely on themselves – come what may. This is why as Adi Sankaracharya said – we need to develop Belief, express Truth anyway we can and take our place in wider society as per our independent assessment through Truth. That way we would not damage others’ work and would not facilitate others to damage ours.

Mr. Krishna says about the Kachchatheevu matter ‘We will have to also bear in mind the fact that as per the Agreements we have concluded with Sri Lanka in 1974 and 1976, Kachchativu Island lies on the Sri Lankan side of the Maritime boundary. These Agreements were laid before the Parliament. Therefore, as far as the Government of India is concerned, the issue of Maritime boundary between India and Sri Lanka, and consequently, that of sovereignty over Kachchativu Island is a settled matter.’

The Kachchatheevu Agreements as mentioned above were before the 1977 civil riots which happened after Tamils became the Leading Opposition in Sri Lankan Parliament and later the war which started in 1983. If someone believes that Kachchatheevu belongs to their side – they have every right to express that belief through avenues available at their level. If the current Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu – Madam Jayalalitha believes that it is theirs and has taken action through the Judiciary, Mr. Krishna as part of the Executive Government, had the responsibility to remain silent on this matter until the Supreme Court had delivered its judgment. In essence, such remarks by the Executive Government are in breach of the Doctrine of Separation of Powers between the Executive Government and the Judiciary. Hence India’s expressions of support need to be discounted to that extent – if Sri Lanka is to become more democratic than it is now.