posted October 21, 2004 07:21 PM         

[India News]: New Delhi, Oct 21 : An unexpected development has sparked speculation that India might be getting involved again in Sri Lanka's Tamil politics, for the first time since the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Last week, in an announcement that took everyone by surprise, the newly formed political party of V. Muraleedharan alias Karuna, the former regional commander of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), teamed up with the Eelam National Democratic Liberation Front (ENDLF), a militant group-turned-political party that for long has been based primarily in India.

ENDLF general secretary R. Rajarattinam alias Mano Master, who was a minister in the India-backed provincial government that existed in Sri Lanka's northeast when New Delhi deployed its troops in the island and who now lives in the Tamil Nadu capital Chennai, made the surprise declaration in Colombo.

He released a statement signed by ENDLF leader G. Gnanasekaran and Karuna that ENDLF and the latter's newly formed Tamil Eelam People's Liberation Tigers had come together to form a Tamil Eelam United Liberation Front (TIVM) to "achieve the cherished rights and the reasonable aspirations of the Tamils in Sri Lanka".

But the lengthy statement from TIVM made it abundantly clear that it was mainly targeting the LTTE, from which Karuna, the group's longest serving regional commander, dramatically split in March, causing an unprecedented fissure that has shaken the Tamil Tigers.

When Karuna broke away, the one anti-LTTE group that came out openly in his support was the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) of Douglas Devananda, a Sri Lankan Tamil cabinet minister who has survived at least three attempts by the LTTE to assassinate him. For some time it was widely thought that Karuna and Devananda might team up.

But the decision by Karuna, whose whereabouts are unknown, to throw his lot with ENDLF has led to speculation that New Delhi might be shedding its reluctance of well over a decade and indirectly taking on the LTTE, which is outlawed in India and whose leader Velupillai Prabhakaran is wanted in India for Gandhi's killing.

The ENDLF was formed in 1986 mainly by those who split from another Tamil militant group, the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOT). During the 1987-90 Indian military deployment in Sri Lanka, ENDLF members aided Indian troops against the LTTE and also fought battles with Tamil Tiger guerrillas.

When the troops withdrew in March 1990, scores of ENDLF guerrillas and their family members retreated to India. They set up a camp, with some help from Indian authorities, at Malkangiri, a tribal-dominated area in Orissa. Even now ENDLF maintains the Orissa camp and another one in Salem in Tamil Nadu. It also runs a school for Sri Lankan Tamil children in Karnataka.

The ENDLF then retreated from public view. Suddenly, in 1997, an ENDLF emissary travelled from India to Sri Lanka's north, stayed there for a few days and met some LTTE representatives. Apparently, that visit followed an invitation from the LTTE, which could not have been unaware of the ENDLF's India links, and was probably made with New Delhi's knowledge if not permission. But nothing came out of that visit.

And now, seven years later, the ENDLF has sprung another surprise, by teaming up with Karuna, who has thrown up the most serious challenge to Prabhakaran.

The ENDLF-Karuna statement is very harsh on the LTTE, which in recent times has come under increasing flak globally for killing rival Tamils and recruiting child soldiers. Interestingly, the statement is equally critical of Norway, which has been accused of being biased in favour of the LTTE.

Among the highlights of the statement are: (1) LTTE cannot be considered the representative of the Tamil people; (2) LTTE cannot be allowed to rule the Sri Lankan north and east; (3) the international community should curb LTTE activities; (4) the "barbarian" Prabhakaran cannot be tolerated any more; and (5) all Tamils should join hands to oppose the LTTE.

According to ENDLF sources, the group made its first face-to-face contact with Karuna in May, the same month when a new government took office in New Delhi. By then Prabhakaran had crushed Karuna's revolt and the latter had disappeared from public view. The ENDLF remained in touch with him but these contacts were kept under wraps. Apparently ENDLF representatives also went to Europe and Canada to activate those in the Tamil diaspora opposed to the LTTE.

Could all these have taken place without the knowledge of New Delhi?

"You may not believe it, but the fact is we acted on our own," an ENDLF source told IANS. If the statement is true, it must be a bizarre truth. If not, then it only means that New Delhi is sick and tired of the unending killings that plague Sri Lanka despite the Norway-brokered ceasefire of February 2002 and has decided to play a pro-active role in the island's Tamil politics, even if indirectly.

posted October 21, 2004 08:05 PM         

This is part of Growing International recognition that India is Regional and growing Asian Policemen.

"Over the past few years, the relationship between New Delhi and Colombo has improved dramatically. Today, the Delhi-Colombo tie is a privileged one, based on total trust and willingness to cooperate on each side. Moreover, India's present-day policies toward Sri Lanka have Washington's open endorsement.

Speaking to rediff.com on November 3, US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said it is up to India whether to play a "catalytic role" in the Sri Lankan peace process. Expressing concern over the on-going violence in Sri Lanka, Armitage said: "The overwhelming interest we have is one of humanity. And that is the development of Sri Lanka. We want this island - this nation of over 20 million - to be a full, complete partner in the economic life not only of South Asia, but of the globe. We see no reason why Sri Lanka can't be an engine of growth in South Asia and I look forward to the day when it will be."

US support to bringing Sri Lankan security under the Indian umbrella was evident when the USS Sides (FFG 14) completed port visits to Cochin, India and Colombo in May. At the time, USS Sides commander Octavio Manduley issued a statement saying, "The United States shares many common interests with India and Sri Lanka as well as the other countries of the Indian Ocean region, including mutual security and the prosperity of our people. Port visits like these two help contribute to those goals."

Will LTTE DREAMERS ever come to reality.. Clean up your acts.. because this time, we will come and we will concur.

I expect the usual abuse from all LTTE supporters but nobody will be able to speak with sense. That's usual.. they can't speak with sense because they have nothing in their mind called as "Sense". LOL

posted October 22, 2004 04:49 AM            

You are a good word fighter but you are trying to play the same records repeatedly. I know India is going to be one of the best in the world. Moreover, I know with out India’s help we will not have proper settlement or peace in Srilanka .India will have its influence in so many ways. Like they did it in 1980s. So this time we all have to get it right so we will not have any more trouble for our future generation.

posted October 22, 2004 05:04 AM         

You say that-
"India's present-day policies toward Sri Lanka have Washington's open endorsement."

Let me kindly inform you that INDIA never was or is Pandering to UNCLE SAM. We will never lay down like a submissive dogs, we have pride and courage to see them off anytime. Peace was invented by INDIANS not by Your UNCLE SAM. Peace is in our vains.

Bangalore-India my birth place, in the last few months it has become the largest silicon valley in the world, ahead of your uncle Sam's San Francisco, I am sure you knew that. India was great once and it's going to the greatest nation in the future.

Being Indian I feel Sri Lanka is part of us, in reality this is true, our heritage such as Religions, customs, way of life etc is identical to Indian Sub-continent. I hate to see tin pot politicians given the chance to ruin it for ordinary people of Sri Lanka.

posted October 22, 2004 06:40 AM         

http://www.dailymirror.lk/2004/10/22

By Ranga Kalansooriya
The recent change of regimes both in India and Sri Lanka did not hamper work towards a possible defence pact between the two neighbours who have been entangled in the two-decade long conflict.

The Indian high-powered defence delegation was scheduled to leave Sri Lanka last night after finalizing the Indo-Sri Lanka Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) which received much prominence in media, in both countries.

Though the news reports indicate that the pact is nearing completing, according to diplomatic sources, there are many more hurdles that need to be overcome. These obstacles are not simply from the bureaucratic front but the political as well.

The two-day talks that were held in Colombo this week, in a nutshell, concluded with an agreement on a "common draft" for defence cooperation. The final decision would be taken by "higher political authorities," in India and Sri Lanka - a process which would face obstacles in political and bureaucratic fronts.

The idea on a possible defence pact between the two neighbours was on the cards since the early 90's, but the whole process received added momentum following the summit between former Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and his counterpart the BJP Premier A B Vajpayee in New Delhi in October last year. The issue was made public through a joint statement at the end of the summit.

However, the development roused the LTTE's concern for obvious reasons. Feeling the threat of Indians playing a key role in Sri Lanka's defence structure, they opposed the pact on the grounds that it would disturb the tenuous peace process by altering the balance of forces in Colombo's favour.

"A military pact with India would encourage the Sinhala political leadership to take a hard-line, belligerent attitude towards the Tamils and eventually destroy the mutual trust between the estranged communities, a crucial factor necessary for the consolidation and promotion of peace," Anton Balasingham, said commenting on the proposal.

Mr. Balasingham said the defence pact would upset the balance of forces to the disadvantage of the LTTE and that "disturbing that military equilibrium would lead to the disturbance of the ceasefire agreement, the very foundation on which the Sri Lankan peace process stands."

The LTTE's opposition to the pact would, perhaps, place the Congress led UPA government whose leading allies are DMK and MDMK, in an uncomfortable position.

Even as the pact is in an advanced stage of deliberation, the DMK has not so far been brought into the picture, although the Indian government managers are certain that the party would come on board once the strategic goals are explained.

The DMK would obviously have to be convinced that the defence pact would not hurt Tamils - particularly LTTE interests, which would be the prime concern of MDMK leader Vaiko too.

Also leading Tamil hardliners in South India such as Nedumaran of the Tamil National Movement (TNM) who see the pact as detrimental to the cause of Tamils have to be convinced otherwise, if India is to see its efforts succeed. If not, it may add more fuel to the Tamil extremists movements in its southern tip.
"Why does Sri Lanka need a security pact with India? It is an island nation and has no visible enemy in the region. Why is it that they want to have a defence pact? Because, they want to use the Indian army to crush the Tamil population in Sri Lanka," Nedumaran told the World Tamil Confederation in July.

The usual bureaucratic barriers will also be an impediment to the pact, a senior diplomat said. "The negotiations are still at the defence level. It needs more bilateral consultations and diplomatic manoeuvring to bring it to the status of an agreement. We are making our best efforts to finish this process before the visit by President Kumaratunga to New Delhi early next month. But the efficiency of bureaucracy both in India and Sri Lanka is questionable," he says.

The pact, according to Defence Ministry sources, introduces nothing new to the prevailing military collaborations between the two countries except the proposal for joint naval 'surveillances' in the Palk Straits.

It is interesting to find out why the term 'joint patrolling' has not been used. In all probability it is to satisfy the LTTE. India conducts regular joint Naval patrolling exercises with Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Regularizing the existing defence collaborations between India and Sri Lanka is one of the main goals of signing this pact.

India almost doubled the number of training batches per year for Sri Lankan military forces in 2002 and introduced a new scheme where 300 elite commandos are being trained on Indian soil at any given time.

Indian interest in reconstruction and development programs in Sri Lanka's defence sector is overwhelming. The restructuring of the Police has also attracted Indian involvement and the Indian Credit Line has now become one of the main resource bases to the country's military establishments.

Sri Lanka, no doubt, will turn into a massive market for Indian military industry with the implementation of this agreement.

The giant military production house of India is capable of supplying the needs of Sri Lanka's entire defence structure, from paper clip to heavy artillery and rockets at a better price. This includes advanced light helicopters, small arms and ammunitions, artillery pieces, special clothing, gun boats and other military hardware.

Most importantly the Japanese wheels of the Sri Lanka military forces are also to be replaced by Indian vehicles under the credit line, according to the pact. Over 20 categories of vehicles in defence establishments will be taken over by TATA and Leyland brands. This is expected to save millions of rupees to the government of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka is also supposed to 'look after' Indian interests in development projects with regard to defence and military establishments.

Another significant feature of the process is its continuity irrespective of the change of regimes in both countries. Ranil Wickremesinghe's government initiated the process with confidence building measures such as Indian Oil Company involvement in oil tanks in Trincomalee.

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga during her visit to Ialamabad for 12th SAARC Summit early this year stated that her government will take early steps to finalise the pact.

"Indo-Sri Lanka relations had taken off on many fronts, especially in areas of defence and trade. The India-Lanka Free Trade Treaty, too, is working well to our satisfaction," said the President who took over the defence portfolio a coupe of months prior to the visit.

UNP's frontliner Milinda Moragoda who visited India last month under the instructions of leader Wickremesinghe met the leaders of both government and the opposition and assured that his party would fully support the proposed pact, as initiated in 2002.

In the immediate South-Asian neighbourhood, this pact will be the first of its kind for India. The Indian government is hopeful that others in the region - perhaps barring Pakistan would follow suit, because the initiative in this instance came from President Kumaratunga after the change of regime in Colombo.

posted October 23, 2004 12:22 AM         

Thanks for having so much good intentions on India. I only said as an information that UNCLE SAM has agreed to our intervention in SL even though India don't need their approval. anyway that's a Different issue. I hope you can give me your idea on this. How India can forgive LTTE after Rajiv's Assasination done by LTTE ? Do you think that Rajiv's Assasination precluded Tamil Ealam ? Do you beleive Prabhakaran as a Democratic person or is he Just another killer as pol pot/Hitler ? Whatever he is We will NOT forgive LTTE unless Mr. Prabhakaran undergo our courts's trial and get the punishment he totally deserves.

Apart from this, India Want Sri Lanka to live in peace, But that can happen only after prabhakaran and pottu are dead.

What do you think ?

posted October 23, 2004 03:29 PM            

THANK GOD SURYA THEVAN VELUPPILLAI PRABAHARAN
OUTSMARTED EVERY ENEMY AND SELFISH DUMB INDIA.
RAJIEVE AND BANDARI WERE BOUGHT LOCK, STOCK AND BARRELL BY J.R.JEYAWARDENE AND USED THEM LIKE PUPPY DOGS AND UNLEASHED THE MIGHT OF IPKF TO COMMIT HOLOCAUST ON EELAM TAMILS JUST TO AVENGE THE DISOBEDIENT PRABAHARAN WHO DEFEATED THE 3RD LARGEST ARSE HOLES WIMPERING
AND TUCKED THEIR TAILS AND HAVING NIGHTMERES
NEVER EVER WILL TOUCH EELAM TAMILS.

RAJIEVE WAS WORKING IN CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY AS JANITOR AND ANTONIO SONYA WAS WORKING AS AUOPAIR (AYA) AND NOW INDIANS ARE BUILDING TEMPLES FOR HER MENSES PADS. MAHATHMA IS CRYING IN HEAVENS KICKING HIS ARSE FOR FASTING TO DEATH SEVERAL TIMES FOR INDIAN INDEPENDANCE.

THANK GOD SURYA THEVAN VELUPPILLAI PRABAHARAN
SETTLED INDIAN CONNECTION WITH A GARLAND TO RAJIEVE BY DHANU. FLASH AND THUNDER.

DUMB INDIA IS INSTIGATING, FINANCING, TRAINING AND ARMING SRI LANKA AND ITS TAMIL COOLIES FOR WHOLESALE SLAUGHTER OF EELAM TAMILS JUST TO MAKE PRABAHARAN TO SAY SORRY SIR INDIA.

EVERY BODY AND THEIR MOTHER-IN-LAWS WANT PRABAHARAN TO BE KILLED, BUTCHERED, MURDERED, CAPTURED AND TORTURED AND BURNT ALIVE AT ANY COST, ANY AMOUNT OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION OF EELAM TAMILS. GO CATCH HIM. NO PROBLEM.

INSTEAD OF DEALING DIRECT WITH PRABAHARAN FOR
VERY LITTLE THEY ARE RUNNING ALL OVER THE WORLD
CONSUMED WITH HATRED, AVENGE, REVENGE, HARVARD, CAMBRIDGE, OXFORD IDIOTS AND WANT TO
SCARE TAMILS AND PRABAHARAN WITH USA, UK, INDIA AND DUMMY BULLIES. USING TAMIL COOLIES DOGLESS, SKUNK KARRY, KARI NAI, KARI KATHIR KAMA SUTHIRA,
ARSE HOOLE UTHR, HINDU, HINDUSTAN TIMES. GOD AND
HOLY BABY JESUS. THEY ARE STILL THINKING THAT IT IS 1983 AND JAFFNA TAMILS AS COOLIE BOYS AS THEY DO
TO MADARSI PARIAHS.

THANK GOD SURYA THEVAN VELUPPILLAI PRABAHARAN
HAS OUTSMARTED ALL THE INDIANS, SINGHALESE AND TAMIL COOLIES AND WILL BE VERY MAGNANIMOUS.

JEYALALITHA DOWN TO GRAMA SERVAKAR SWINDLE, RAPE AND PLUNDER USING THE REFUGEES TO COLLECT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM UN AND FOREIGN CHARITABLE ORGANISATIONS AND HOLDING THE REFUGEES AS HOSTAGES AND DO NOT ALLOW THEM TO COME BACK TO EELAM.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL. CALL US AND WE DO NOT NEED INDIA OR ANY BODY. WE ARE SELF RIGHTIOUS AND
SURYA THEVAN VELUPPILLAI PRABAHARAN IS OUR SAVIOR.

AFFECTIONATELY,

posted October 24, 2004 08:34 PM         

Norway coming to Ceylon and making an Eelam is like India going to Mexico-USA and dividing Texas from US