The Tamilnadu government has done the right thing by postponing their threat to withdraw all MP's. The deft and Willy politician, Chief Minister karunanidhi has cleverly diffused an impending national crisis. The present circumstances had very few options for India and the best option of sending relief materials to Srilanka and leaving the war on terror for srilanka to handle on its own way and will , has been rightly adopted. Srilanka has also been humane in its posturing and has made the right noises to facilitate this face saving measure.
The Ground situation in Srilanka has changed a lot compared to the IPKF days and that is why today the Srilankan army is smelling victory inspite what a superior Indian force could not achieve during IPKF episode. Post Rajiv assassination, Post 9/11, and defection by Karuna etc has helped them to stop most of the aid and arms flow for LTTE. Inspite of an aerial attack by LTTE yesterday, the fact and common sense suggest that probably in couple of years LTTE can be sidelined completely or at least marginalised, thanks to superior air and military power of an all Sinhalese army.
But a complete rout of LTTE whenever it happens and if at all it happens will lead to a vacuum in Tamil Leadership in Srilanka, which will be obviously exploited by Sinhalese chauvinists. The origin of LTTE and the ethnic conflict in Srilanka is mainly because of these Sinhalese Chauvinists and so history will only repeat itself if they are given any free hand. Balkanisation of Srilanka is not in India's Interest but a life of equality and justice for the Tamils there is also in India's Interest and also that of Srilanka.
Srilanka can have only two options. Give birth to EElam or establish a unitary government that provides equal opportunity and equal justice to all its citizens irrespective of their language, religion or creed. If the Government's motive is towards that as suggested by its president in his latest Interview to Mr. N. Ram then he should start the process right away. And India should facilitate the Srilankan Government to achieve this. The APC resolution he is talking about will have no meaning if the principle opposition party is not a part of APC. Also the hardcore Sinhala parties should be a signatory to any such resolution. Only then the words of the president will become a reality.
If this war against LTTE goes on for one more year and if no concrete steps are taken to show the Tamils what their life would be post LTTE there is a high probability that the Tamils will be further marginalised. And that does not augur well for Tamilnadu and India. What Vaiko and Seeman said a few days ago may become the common language of this state if that is allowed to happen. If the war continues for a year or two more does that mean lakhs of Tamils will live as refugees in their own country till then? How can UN and other world countries keep quiet on this inhumane situation?
It is difficult but India has to get involved now and in a bipartisan way and only to allow a unitary state of Srilanka to exist near our border. It is time for India and Tamilnadu to be proactive. If India can pardon the Kashmir militants and have a dialogue with them then they should also see if it is feasible to pardon Prabakaran in India and accept him as a participant in any future dialogue in Srilanka, if he agrees to give away his demand for secession.
Karunanidhi should accept Srilanka's invitation and go to their country and bring some reason in the thinking of the Srilankans. There should be more cultural and bilateral exchanges between the Sinhalese and Tamilnadu to help reduce their majority syndrome. Prabhakaran may be a terrorist in the eyes of the Srilankan and Indian Government but it is a fact that no one cares more for Srilankan Tamils as he does. If it is not feasible for him to be involved then the leadership in Tamilnadu should get involved at least to fill the vacuum which is imminent if LTTE falls.
A few rules regarding interference in a sovereign country can be modified if both are willing and that can be made possible if both understand that a long term solution is possible only by mutual coexistence of the conflicting communities. Otherwise this LTTE may fall but later many more will rise.
The recent aerial attack by LTTE clearly proves their bravery and also proves they cannot be easily marginalised. This may be an opportunity for the president to make understand the chauvinist Sinhalese to reason that a political solution is the only option possible. India should involve more countries especially the west and work for a peaceful Indian Ocean.
This is not a time to self congratulate for diffusing a crisis but to get more involved in avoiding a human catastrophe in a near future.
Half done is not done.
see counter view: Jaya tells people to send telegrams to CM and Leave the Lanka problem to the Lankans
see similar view: Tamil cause minus the LTTE
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