Sri Lanka is an ‘archipelagic’ state. Archipelagic states are the states composed of groups of islands forming a state as a single unit
by Ali Sukhanver
Views expressed in this article are author's own
( November 22, 2018, Islamabad, Sri Lanka Guardian) The scenic beauty, the hard-working temperament of the people, a long series of political turmoil or something else; what is the most common thing in Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka, no doubt , three important countries of the South-Asian region,? Certainly the scenic beauty, the hard-working temperament of the people and a long series of political turmoil; all these factors have given a colour of peaceful prosperity and political stability to these three countries but at the same time the most common thing among them is the continuous threat to their existence and security at the hands of Indian hegemonic designs in shape of interference into their very personal type of affairs.
Bhutan is a country which shares borders with China and India. The Indian state of Sikkim separates Bhutan from Nepal whereas the Indian states of West Bengal and Assam separate Bhutan from Bangladesh. India always exploits its geographical presence by doing every kind of interference in Bhutan’s affairs. Indian meddling with recent elections in Bhutan was harshly and severely criticized by the local people. During the elections, Bhutanese media and the society gave a strong impression that “India is an Elephant in the Room” and Bhutan must get rid of it.
Nepal is a country landlocked by India on its southern, eastern and western borders and with China's Autonomous Region Tibet to the north. West Bengal's narrow Siliguri Corridor commonly known as Chicken's Neck separates Nepal and Bangladesh. Because of its geographical situation; Nepal has to depend large on India even for transportation of goods imported from China. The people of Nepal could never forget 23rd September 2015 when India imposed an undeclared blockade along the boundaries with Nepal. This blockade severely affected Nepal and its economy. This brutal blockade choked imports of not only petroleum, but also medicines and earthquake relief material.
Sri Lanka is an ‘archipelagic’ state. Archipelagic states are the states composed of groups of islands forming a state as a single unit. Sri Lanka is located between the Laccadive Sea in west and the Bay of Bengal in east, about 30 km south east of the southern coast of India. In the past, Sri Lanka had been facing a lot of serious trouble at the hands of Indian supported terrorists. The hard-luck and helplessness of Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka is that they cannot erase India from the map around them even if they are in dire need of doing so. On the other hand India is taking full benefit of its unshakable and immovable geographical position by interfering in almost all affairs of these three countries.
In the second week of last October, various Sri Lankan newspapers published reports which claimed that Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena had accused India’s external intelligence agency R&AW of attempting to assassinate him. More important is the fact that this assassination plot was unearthed just days before Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Sri Lankan Prime Minister was scheduled to visit New Delhi. Ms Srinivasan is Colombo correspondent of The Hindu. In her most recent article she has reported that Sri Lankan authorities are seeking Chinese assistance to tap evidence pertaining to the assassination plot. Unluckily just after that incident, a political crisis wrapped up the whole political scenario of Sri Lanka when President Maithripala Sirisena abruptly fired Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and appointed Rajapaksa as the new Prime Minister. Mr. Rajapaksa. Media reports say that Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa is still sailing in the troubled waters as he had to face no-confidence motions in the Assembly last weeks. It is something very interesting to know that Mahinda Rajapaksa had been the sixth President of Sri Lanka from 19th November 2005 to 9th January 2015 and he had held RAW responsible for his defeat in 2015. Political experts on Sri Lanka affairs are of the opinion that again R&AW is behind the turmoil which Mahinda Rajapaksa is facing now. The Times of India has commented on the political turmoil in Sri Lanka very intelligently. It says that India is adopting a wait and watch stand on the ongoing political crises in Sri Lanka; however it is trying to use media front as a mean to yellow revolution by projecting that the President’s action is unconstitutional and the move to install Rajapaksa as the PM could lead to a constitutional crisis.
Same is the situation in Nepal with reference to the interference of India in Nepal’s affairs. Last year, a book was published with the title, ‘Machination of RAW in Transitional Nepal.’ The author of the book is Nepalese scholar Dr Shastra Dutta Pant. The author has provided so many details regarding RAW’s covert and overt operations against the strategically important Nepal. The R&AW wants to compel Nepal to surrender its sovereignty in favour of Indian hegemonic designs in South Asia. The author has tried to make his readers realize that through micro-management of the Nepalese affairs, the R&AW is trying to make Nepal an exclusively India dependent country. A conflict-ridden, poverty-stricken, and politically weaker Nepal is a strength for RAW in pursuit of its Great Game Plan in Nepal. The book refers to the statement of a renowned Indian journalist Ashok Raina who once said, “R&AW pressurizes neighbouring countries to strike unequal bilateral treaties as in Nepal. With over 18,000 agents spread all over the world, RAW is believed to have around 12,000 agents just in the neighbouring countries, lending support to non-state actors, secessionists, and pressure groups.”
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