Shenali Waduge
In May 2009, Sri Lanka did what the world said it was impossible to do. For the first time in modern military history, a terrorist movement was militarily defeated simultaneously with a humanitarian rescue operation that rescued nearly 300,000 Tamil civilians. We all know of the pressures that prevailed demanding Sri Lanka end its military onslaught. Beneath the diplomatic maneuvers to bring the military effort to a halt, public statements issued from foreign powers to showcase a different version. India tops that list & so we are made to believe it is our friend. It is this new friendship that has forced Sri Lanka to agree to opening not one but two Indian consulate offices in Sri Lanka. Could this new friendship eventually lead to another covert operation taking place in Sri Lanka as is evident by the surge in violence taking place suddenly in Jaffna?
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ We are made to believe that upon realizing the dangers of the LTTE to India, it decided to secretly assist the Sri Lankan Government (by word only, unlike Pakistan). It should not take 30 years for India to realize the dangers to India by the LTTE, the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in 1992 should have been ample proof that the LTTE could even take out Indian leaders on Indian soil. If that did not stop India assistance to the LTTE, not even to stop Tamil Nadu politicians from assisting LTTE over the years, then the Indian version is a bit difficult to fathom.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ With the end & annihilation of the LTTE, despite remnants who have escaped to foreign shores, the people of Sri Lanka were finally given the right to live in peace sans the bombs, suicide bombings and false cease fires. No sooner the conflict ended, many of us knew that Sri Lanka real challenge had only just begun. It was natural that angered nations & their political leaders would have been in angst with Sri Lanka for not listening to their instructions and it was only with time that they would put into action plan B or another strategy that is all a part of the bigger picture for the Asian region/continent. Therefore, it should not surprise when things emerge where the coincidence factor should not alarm us. With the opening of the Indian consulate in November, we see a sudden surge in violence and it should make all of us alert & demand answers.
The Indian Consulate in Jaffna was opened on November 27, 2010 by the Indian External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna, located at Palaly Rd, residence of Jaffna District MP, Vijayakula Maheswaran, wife of slain MP. T. Maheswaran. The new Indian Consulate we are told is to issue travel documents & attend to cultural & educational matters. It would be good to wonder exactly what type of Indian officers are actually stationed here. Speaking on the occasion, S. M. Krishna said We are convinced that a meaningful devolution package, building upon the 13th Amendment, would create the necessary conditions for a lasting political settlement, referring to the constitutional amendment that for the first time dented Sri Lanka unitary structure. Thus, India is making no bones about what it desires and what we ask of our Government is why are we bending our backs for a country that created & nurtured the LTTE to prevail in Sri Lanka for 30 odd years?
The Hindu newspaper reported on 8 March 2010, echoes the same sentiment India intends to open a Consulate General in Jaffna to help the people of the peninsula and fully restore the connectivity to south India (Murali Reddy). According to another senior Indian official reported by the same paper It would help India strengthen the cultural links between the Northern Province in Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu besides making it easier for the people to obtain visa to travel to India.
Besides the thefts, kidnappings there have even been killings and moreover suddenly India is now accusing the Sri Lanka Navy of killing Indian fishermen. If we were to assume that LTTE cadres who had escaped were lying low and have suddenly sprung into action, it could not have been without some type of side-support and doesn’t it seem strange that we are diverting this accusing finger at the very nation that started this entire episode in Sri Lanka? Who is really responsible for reactivating this violence & if the Sri Lankan Government does find out, without being the nice guy some stern action needs to be taken. The accusations are piling against Sri Lanka as seen by the sudden statements by Indian politicians & officials which again makes us wonder whether all these occurrences are a part of either demanding for a federal solution or another modus operandi to destabilize Sri Lanka. India does take efforts to assist us but India must not forget that we are watching its movements with suspicion at all times because of what they did to our country by introducing terrorism.
We are all aware of the role the Sri Lanka military is doing in the North, practically all the residents are full of praise for the manner that the military is carrying out its role & duties. It has taken many years for the military to build faith amongst the people of Jaffna, & when violence is now suddenly seen it only makes us wonder what external source is creating this & it shouldn’t take us long to find the answers.
It is time the Sri Lankan Government too opened its eyes & took some actions, without committing the same set of fallacies that previous Governments took prolonging actions that eventually prolonged the ultimate solution leading to unnecessary bloodshed & loss of life & property.