Col J P Singh, Retd
Three decades old civil war had isolated Sri Lanka and robbed the tiny Island Nation of foreign investment. Lankan Govt was accused of inhuman and unethical methods such as systemic torture and rape to end the civil war in 2009. To crush insurgency, ‘No Fire Zone’, inhabited by the civilians was allegedly bombed. Recently held CHOGM at Sri Lanka is therefore extraordinary for many of the wrong reasons because it has been held under the shadow of alleged barbaric war crimes inflicted on its minority community by the Island nation. Channel 4 video showed extra-judicial killings. A film made by a UK film producer, named ” No Fire zone; Killing Fields of Sri Lanka” showed horrific genocide of Tamils including killing of 12 years old son of LTTE Supremo. Revelations of war crimes of Sri Lankan Army are matter of great concern for world community. The outgoing Chairman of CHOGM said, “We are here to praise as much we judge”. Besides two other heads of the Govt, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has not attended the Meet despite a lot at stakes so far as India is concerned.
Internal politics seems to have taken the toll of Indian diplomacy. DMK, Tamil Nadu legislative Assembly and some members of Congress core group are said to have stalled the much desired PM’s visit to Colombo. Is it outcome of populist electoral consideration that country’s foreign policy has hit a all time low? If the compulsion of winning few Lok Sabha seat in Tamil Nadu in the forthcoming general election has nailed Indian foreign policy, it is pitiable. A nation’s foreign policy cannot be dictated by sentiments of a regional party. But India has done it earlier also. By not attending the CHOGM, India will be creating lot of cynicism and significant prejudice not only in Colombo but in the Commonwealth fraternity as well which is concerned about host nation’s war crimes. Lankan Tamils would be as skeptical as those who wanted Dr. Singh to attend the CHOGM. Its fall out will be no less than the negative fallout on Indo-Bangladesh ties when game changing agreements with Bangladesh were stalled by Mamta Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal. With Bangladesh going for elections in January 2014, we may lose a friendly dispensation in Dhaka and could end up facing the brunt for long time to come as we have lost leverage in Maldives due to weak foreign policy. Similar could be the repercussions in Sri Lanka. We still do not know the mystery in Dr Singh’s decision. Prime Minister wrote a letter to President Rajapakse. It is believed that letter, whose contents were not disclosed, does not talk about the reasons for skipping the Meet. Skipping such a big international event next door breeds speculations, more in the media. That is what makes Indian foreign policy ambiguous and weak. India is a loser in the entire scene. Shying away form CHOGM weakens its claim for permanent seat in the UN Security Council.
Presently Sri Lankan Govt is wary of India for many reasons. Opportunity of getting world community on your side and building bridges over the narrow sea lane is lost. President Rajapakse gained what India lost.
Civil war resulted in deaths of approximately 40,000 Tamils and forced migration of nearly 8 lakh to other countries including India as refugees. Over 50,000 internally displaced Tamil are living in refugee camps in the Northern Province. More than a lakh are in Indian refugee camps whereas over 50,000 are living outside the camps. India is impatient with slow pace of rehabilitation of war ravaged Tamils because the delay and denial effects its internal politics. Tamil Nadu politics is playing merry hell in the conduct of Indian diplomacy. It has injected hypocrisy in Indian diplomacy. On the one side India needs Sri Lankan friendship for its security and stability, on the other it is wary of Sri Lanka’s anti Tamil and anti India moves. Balancing both tangibles is a tight rope walk for Govt of India and it becomes more difficult with Prime Minister’s absence from CHOGM.
Commonwealth Summit traditionally is an informal grouping of 53 States which meets bi-annually to discuss issues such as anti-racism, trade and commerce, governance, democracy, human rights, development and international peace and security. It is an ideal platform for member states to put across their view point on such issues. This Summit in Sri Lanka was an ideal forum for India to raise human rights, rehabilitation, safety, security and welfare issues related to Tamils of Northern Province. Most of the CHOGM debate focused on Sri Lanka’s positives, especially its post conflict economic prospects. But it was British Premier who broke the ranks to observe, “We do that not by gliding over the difficult human rights issues, journalist’s freedom issues and reconciliation”. Soon after the inaugural session, he visited Jaffna where he met journalists and the Tamils whose family members are missing. He called upon President Rajapakse to quickly and independently investigate the war crime allegations. He called for an international probe if Sri Lankan Govt does not address the issue by March 2014. Having delivered his robust message to Rajapakse, Cameron left Sri Lanka a day before the summit concluded. Cameron’s flaying of Rajapakse will burnish his reputation as defender of democratic ideals and human rights. He emerged a strong international statesman, at virtually no domestic political cost.
Rajapakse shot him back at the British PM by stating that those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. He said that CHOGM cannot sit in judgment on its members. He rejected Cameron’s warning of international probe into its human rights record. By the concluding session he succeeded in getting reprieve form CHOGM and more time for reconciliation. That apart, there is a golden opportunity for the President to show magnanimity and build a successful and inclusive future for his country and build bridges with Tamils as early as possible. Hope he seizes it.
Last month provincial election was held for the Northern Provincial Council. Justice C V Wigneswaran has assumed the office of Chief Minister. He invited Dr Singh to Jaffna before attending the Summit at Colombo. For an Indian PM, visit after 26 years, would have provided a valuable opportunity to meet Sri Lankan Tamils. Under the rehabilitation program India has allotted 500 crore and is also funding construction of 50,000 houses for the displaced Tamils. Prime Minister’s visit to Jaffna would have enabled him to see the progress on Indian aided projects and conversely reassured Tamils that India remains committed to their security and welfare. By doing so Prime Minister would have been able to get them a better deal. It is only by communicating with Sri Lanka, rather than snubbing it, that India can intervene for the welfare of Tamils. Chinese’s presence is growing in the region. For national security and regional cooperation, India must reach out to its neighbors. Sulking will only benefit its detractors. By not attending the Summit, India has given China and Pakistan an opportunity to pretend to be Sri Lanka’s friends and well wishers.
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