Jul 21, 2011

A Delicate Internal and External Balance

            The Sri Lankan government continued to remain under pressure through the month on three critical issues that have dogged President Rajapaksa in the post Liberation of Tamil Tigers for Ealam (LTTE) era. These include allegations of war crimes in the final phase of the Ealam war, meeting political aspirations of the Tamil community and rehabilitation of displaced Tamils. The last named, rehabilitation of displaced Tamils is perhaps moving forward in the desired direction though numbers yet to be settled and level of comfort to those who have been resettled is not satisfactory. In the other two areas, war crimes allegations and political solution concerns remain which were expressed from time to time by India as well as the international community.

New footage of a documentary aired by UK’s Channel 4 even as the UN Human Rights Council has assembled in Geneva created a stir and Tamil diaspora which had been silent for a while got a shot in the arm with these revelations. The footage reveals three people, including one woman, being executed. The Sri Lankan government has responded indicating that this was a doctored video for malicious propaganda and allegations will be examined by a domestic panel known as the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC). The government also aired what it claimed to be the original Chanel 4 clip. The armed soldiers shown in the government version are soldiers who are speaking in Tamil while in the Chanel 4 video aired publicly they are speaking in Sinhala.

The United Nations renewed its call for Sri Lanka to investigate alleged violations of human rights. Martin Nesirky, Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the UN Chief is aware of the documentary and is also working with the Secretariat to determine how to follow up on the recommendations. "The Secretary-General believes that it is first and foremost the responsibility of the Sri Lankan Government to follow up by investigating alleged violations of human rights," Nesirky said at the briefing. The United States and Britain also called for action; however Colombo is banking on support from Russia and China to prevent any injunctions at Geneva which it has succeeded so far.

            Meanwhile the electoral victory of Ms Jayaram Jayalalitha and the All India Anna DMK (AIADMK) in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu created more challenges for the Sri Lankan government and also to an extent Dr Man Mohan Singh in Delhi. Sri Lankan Tamils though not a major factor as far as electoral victory or defeat in the state is concerned which is decided by the performance of the government of the day, it has been used by parties for arm twisting the government in Delhi in the past.

            Thus Ms Jayalalitha who has won the state elections with a commanding majority met Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in New Delhi and raised demands of justice for the Tamils in Sri Lanka. This was a follow up of a motion in the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly which unanimously moved a resolution demanding that the Indian government impose economic sanctions against Sri Lanka until Tamils are given equal rights and bring war crimes charges against those responsible. "Only economic sanctions, imposed by India and other countries, would rein in Sri Lanka," Ms Jayalalitha she said adding that "Only then would Sri Lanka listen to what we say." The resolution also called the central government to take necessary steps to convince other countries to impose economic sanctions on Sri Lanka. The Chief Minister has already threatened to bring President Mahinda Rajapaksa to the International Court on charges of war crimes.

            The resolution by the state assembly has no locus standii but has only added to the weight of the statements by Ms Jayalalitha as these will not purport to be her personal agenda. Ms Jayalalitha is also putting pressure to obtain the release of the arrested the 23 fishermen from Rameswaram and Mandapam when they were fishing in Sri Lankan waters.

            These interventions while having no statutory bearing on the Sri Lankan government appear to be more to pressure the government in New Delhi. This would vitiate the atmosphere of Indo Sri Lankan relations particularly when the Indian government is attempting to work out a liberal trade regime between the two countries which is facing domestic opposition in Colombo, the call by Ms Jayalalitha would appear contradictory.

            New Delhi responded with the visit of a high level delegation comprising of the National Security Adviser, the Foreign and the Defence Secretary to address various issues of concern between the two countries particularly related to fishermen and Tamil ethnic issue. During the visit India's National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon called the Sri Lankan government to find an early solution based on the 13th Amendment to the Constitution that is comfortable to all the communities in the country to live peacefully. "The quicker the Sri Lankan government can come to a political arrangement the better," Menon said addressing the media in Colombo. A summit between Dr Man Mohan Singh and President Rajapaksa is planned later in the year.

            For India and Sri Lanka shaping the overall peace process in the country would be important and towards this direction the summit planned during a visit of the Indian Prime Minister to that country in the future should be a forcing event wherein both sides would have to activate their processes to ensure that they are able to reach an amicable solution to the long drawn out ethnic problem in the country. What that would be remains to be seen but is likely to revolve around the 13^th amendment of the Sri Lankan constitution. The Indian side is also sensitive to the sentiments of the Sinhala community which have suffered enormous harm due to LTTE’s terrorist campaign thus a compromise acceptable to all the communities on the Island may be the way ahead within the framework of the 13^th Amendment.

            In Colombo the domestic lobby including the Leftist JVP has been accusing the government that it has succumbed to pressure from New Delhi. Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris had to explain to the parliament that the discussion with the Indian government during his recent visit to India was not on the UN Expert Panel report, named as Darusman Report by Sri Lanka. The main opposition United National Party (UNP) also called for a public disclosure of what it called an, “agreement reached between the governments of Sri Lanka and India,” during the visit of External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris.

Meanwhile talks were held between the  major Tamil constituent, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and government representatives. Sri Lanka may be agreeable to devolve power to the minority Tamils according to the 13th Amendment to the Constitution made under the Indo- Lanka Accord of July 1987. The Amendment envisages province as the unit of power and devolution of powers between the center and the provinces as a solution to the ethnic conflict. Sri Lanka has also committed to what is known as the 13th Amendment plus formula going beyond what is envisaged in the same. The Provincial Councils established under this amendment in 1988 are defunct in the Tamil dominated Northern Province since 1990.

On the positive side the much-awaited ferry service between India’s Tuticorin port in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka's Colombo port was launched. India's Union Minister of Shipping, G.K.Vasan flagged off the MV Scotia Prince at V.O. Chidambaranar Port in Tuticorin to resume the Tuticorin-Colombo passenger ferry service that was suspended for 20 years due to violence in the Island.

Sri Lanka and India armies held the first structured Army-to-Army staff talks to strengthen bilateral military cooperation through training, administration, and welfare programmes. The three-day were held from 29 June to 1 July. The Sri Lankan delegation for the talks was led by Sri Lanka Army’s Military Secretary Major General H. C. P. Goonetilleke while Indian Army's Additional Director General (International Cooperation) Major General I. P. Singh led the Indian delegation. India has offered more opportunities for training of military personnel and expanding scope of training courses.