While we say good by to Mr. S.M.Krishna the External Affairs Minister of India, it is a pleasure to Welcome His Excellency Mr.Asif Ali Zardari the President of Pakistan. Pakistan will always have a special place in the hearts of Sri Lankans, and will remain a true friend of Sri Lanka. Pakistan Stood by us through out that recent dark period of Sri Lanka under the threat of terrorism.
India’s relation with Sri Lanka was never cordial or sincere. India always had an ulterior motive in its “friendship”. Even before terrorism India, “…..keeping with the doctrine of Panikkar promulgated before Independence and which wanted Sri Lanka to be part of India together with chauvinist South Indian Tamils who had once wanted a separate Dravidistan had begun arming all our separatist groups.” **
India commenced the terrorism in Sri Lanka, and during the course of the terrorist insurgency continued “ aiding and abetting” terrorists in Sri Lanka.
When Prabhakaran and his terrorists were cornered by the Sri Lanka Government Forces,
When , “…….We were about to defeat them in Vadamarachchi. Prabahakaran was about to be captured when the Indians whisked Prabahakaran out of danger in a helicopter. Falsely claiming a humanitarian disaster, the Indians crossed our borders, now in a direct act of invasion. Initially they sent a convoy of ships which was intercepted by our Navy and turned back. Immediately, India called our ambassador in New Delhi and warned that if food parcels that it planned to be air dropped on Jaffna were hindered, there would be a full-scale military invasion of Sri Lanka. Soon gunboats were parked outside Colombo Harbour in a classic display of what in the 19th century was called gunboat diplomacy. “ **
This resulted in Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi forcing the hands of JR Jayawardhana to sign the 13th Amendment.
“This foreign imposed 13th Amendment was also a replay of what has been called the Monroe Doctrine whereby the US was to be the sole arbiter in the Americas. Indians were to call their incursion into Sri Lanka as its new Indira Doctrine (after Indira Gandhi) paralleling the colonial attitudes of the Monroe Doctrine. It was also reminiscent of the 1815 defeat of Sri Lankan sovereignty and the 1818 Treaty that followed, done under British guns. A subsequent OPA study a few years ago showed that the 13th Amendment resulted in a total waste of money. Like we rejected the 1818 British treaty brought under British guns, we should now reject outright the 13th Amendment brought under Indian guns -on the same grounds.” **
Now that the terrorism is over and with foresight and determination our present governing political leaders , have been able to break through financial red tapes to raise Sri Lanka from the status of a developing country to a Middle Income level, with the help of China, Iran, and other friendly Nations , India comes to our country not so much as a friend but as a new politically developing Nation to overseer and out manoeuvre Chin’s influence in Sri Lanka and spy on the activities of China .
Indian External Affairs Minister S.M.Krishna in opening the Consulate in Hambantota had said; “ ….. that Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has plans for developing Hambanthota and its environs as a major regional hub and naturally, India when it had decided to open a Consulate in the South, chose Hambanthota”.
The Minister said India is optimistic of the future of the region and the inauguration of the Consulate General in Hambanthota is intended to build on India's linkages with the region in the field of trade and commerce, investments, culture and tourism. “
India’s interest in Sri Lanka now is its own self interest. It is more keen in helping in the development of North and East of Sri Lanka rather than the rest of the country, and therefore the bulk of its aid goes to the North and East. There is a motive for that.
India is giving aid to satisfy the interest of Tamil Nadu, and force the Government of Sri Lanka to stop the Sinhala community settling down in the area to seal its Unitary State and prevent any future attempt for India to have a permanent stake in North and East of Sri Lanka as a separate Eelam State .
Unlike China which has given us more assistance and constructed Harbours and Air ports for a real development of Sri Lanka, India gives nothing for independent development of Sri Lanka but only those necessary assistance to retain its hold in Sri Lanka.
The Indian Minister S.M.Krishna had recalled to take credit that when tsunami struck Sri Lanka India was the first to come to Sri Lanka's assistance.
His reminder that the relations between India and Sri Lanka are multifaceted and historical and that Sri Lanka derive the full benefit of the proximity and exploited the full potential of their friendship and cooperation, does not make Sri Lanka forget India’s questionable role during the military operations against terrorists.
India was more interested in keeping the Tamil Nadu happy by interfering with its high-handedness. India once refused to provide transport to our soldiers when they were under siege by the terrorists, refused to sell us offensive weapons, and objected to our purchase of arms and ammunitions from China.
Even if Pakistan will not give us any aid Pakistan unlike India will always remain a faithful friend of Sri Lanka. Pakistan was always ready to help us when ever we were in need of help in the past, whereas India let us down on several occasions, and sold us outmoded radar detectors which enabled the terrorists to fly over Colombo to bomb the air port.
**(Susantha Goonatilake on Lessons:| Past, present and possible futures to Lankaweb on 26.11.10)
No comments:
Post a Comment