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Nilame posted May 18, 2000 10:13 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Nilame   Click Here to Email Nilame     Edit Message
Sri Lanka - God abandoned?

Major Siddharth Chatterjee
(Retd), Sena Medal Ex 10 Para Commando, as part of the IPKF

An ancient Chinese aphorism appropriates the embattled time in Sri Lanka, producing images conflicting and contradictory. The Yin and the Yang, the passive and active principles that govern the universe, opposites yet as entwined as Siamese twins. Both elements- the positive and the negative conspired to drag the events in opposing directions, but at a heavy cost to a beleaguered nation. The positive being the gallant stand of the Sri Lankan Army against all odds and the negative being that God and India have both chosen to abandon them. "Rajiv Gandhi proposed a toast to South Asian History with the political champagne of Sri Lanka". He wanted to get the Sri Lanka accord implemented and therefore sent in the IPKF as cannon fodder to represent Mr. Gandhi’s desire to be elevated to the pedestal as a world leader of a regional super power.

The Indian Army returned humiliated and suffered further battering to their self esteem at the hands of the Tamil politicians of India. This they accepted with quiet and dignified fortitude. As a young officer I began to question our long held myths about our indomitably and resilience, as well as our political morality. We returned home to an uncaring nation, with nearly 1300 dead and over 3000 wounded, and we returned great respect for the skills of the combat troops of Sri Lanka, an army of limited man power and resources . We as officers of our Armies have talked and drank at bars together, telling stories one last time; the stories of the officers mess, of our training in Indian military institutions, of the jungles of Vavunia and Mullaitivu and the urban landscape of Jaffna, of the raids and our respective operations, the ordeals and pleasures of careers spent together in that special fraternity of the uniform and shared danger.

I wish to remind my country men that many a time at our hour of need during precarious combat situations between the IPKF and the LTTE the Sri Lankan Air Force and the Artillery came immediately and robustly to our assistance and helping to dramatically reverse potentially disastrous situations, as well as prompt responses to assist in evacuation of our casualties from the combat zone, whenever requested .

The Sri Lankan Army deserves all our respect, gratitude and admiration. These are men who have proved worthy of their calling, and I pray that their fortunes reverse and they are able to inflict on the Tamil Terrorists(not Tigers, as tigers have honour too), a final decisive blow, that puts the LTTE in the dust bin of history. It is a period that calls for strong nerves, single-mindedness (of purpose) and intuitive convictions that success can still be yours after these reverses. They are men of sterling character, and I hope they overcome and demolish the LTTE, this organization of pathological tyrants and killers.

India, has today abandoned Sri Lanka, for which there will be a price to pay, the poetic hand of justice spares none. "Do not forget the secessionist politicians of Tamil Nadu". A careful analysis of the history of the problems of this beautiful country can be traced back also to the Machiavellian plots hatched against this island nation, by Mrs Indira Gandhi and her Tamil allies in Tamil Nadu.

Here we cry blue murder about Pakistan’s support to Kashmiri militants, and thousands of our troops have been killed over the years. Each mother, each wife, each daughter mourns in tormented memory the loss of a loved one and we have felt the pain and agony of Kargil. Are the mothers, sisters and daughters in Sri Lanka any different? We have behaved no differently with Sri Lanka, infact by the record of our conniving and cruel politicians who wasted no effort in creating turmoil in Sri Lanka, we should also be declared a state that sponsors terrorism.

There is still time to correct the mistakes of history, and possibly redeem ourselves, honourably. We must stand by the Government and the people of Sri Lanka at this hour of need, and support them in the fullest measure, even if it means committing our own forces once again to safe guard the territorial integrity of a nation state, and a member of SAARC. I appeal to the Prime Minister and the Parliament, not to abandon Sri Lanka.

Finally we would do well to remember the words of Longfellow: " Though the wind mills of the God grind slowly, yet they grind exceedingly small Though with patience he stands apart waiting, with exactness grinds he all".

EAGLE posted May 19, 2000 03:36 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for EAGLE     Edit Message
Well said, Major Chatterjee!!
The sad part of India's COWARDICE on this issue is that by abandoning them Sri Lankans at this hour of need, it has also given up (a)it's standing as a regional Powerbroker,(b)It's right to claim a permanent seat at the UN as a Nuclear power,(c)A golden oppurtunity to sideline it's arch enemy Pakistan, which has good military relations with the Lankans and (d)Payback Prabakaran for having the Audacity to Humiliate ALL Indians by Assasinating a future Prime Minister in his own country!!!If your Leadership did not see all of these golden oppurtunities, then god bless their foresight!!!!
I believe they have since realised their folly and are trying to make amends, with veiled statements and declarations, but to all peace loving Sri Lankans, India's present leaders have ensured that India will once again be relegated to the dustbin of History!!!

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