National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon on Friday refused to commit if India was satisfied with Sri Lanka’s peace and reconciliation process with Tamils, saying “the goal [of the Indian engagement] is much bigger…[It is] to get this [the reconciliation process] to the right place.”
Three years after the end of Eelam War IV, there is no forward movement on accommodating Tamils’ hopes and aspirations. The Tamil-dominated Northern Province still does not have an elected provincial council. It’s also the most militarised. Mr. Menon’s trip, the shortest in recent times by an Indian official, was to take stock of the process and convey the Indian thinking. India had not set a date for Sri Lanka to complete the political process.
“I don’t think that is the way it is going to move forward,” Mr. Menon told reporters.
Asked if he was satisfied with the pace of progress on the reconciliation front, he said: “Again, you are asking me if it is good, bad etc… I have told you what we would like: a united Sri Lanka, within which all communities feel they are in control of their own destiny, and they are satisfied. They have told me what they are doing, briefed me on where they are going, how they can take it forward. Ultimately they have to move it forward themselves. They will…. We are not going to sit here and make the atmosphere either easier or more difficult by making statements.”
“Political reconciliation is clearly a Sri Lankan issue which Sri Lanka has to do, but India will continue to remain engaged with all concerned and continue to support their efforts. We will continue to support, help…do whatever we can to make sure that it moves in the right direction.”
Mr. Menon said he was “not going to sit in judgement of anyone in this process” and discuss if the pace was proper or not. “This is something that has to get done. This is not a judgemental process — you like this, you don’t like this – That is not how it works.”
The hopes of Tamils could only be accommodated through a political process. This was an “internal political process. We have to also look at that. It is a process that has ramifications for all of us. And it is not something that started today or yesterday” or a few years ago.
Describing his short visit as “part of the regular consultations that the governments of India and Sri Lanka” have, he said “bilateral relationship, recent developments and areas of common concern” formed part of the discussions with President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his brothers Gotabaya Rajapaksa (Defence Secretary) and Basil Rajapaksa (Minister for Economic Development). Mr. Menon also met Tamil National Alliance leader R. Sampanthan.
Fishermen issue
Asked if the fishermen issue figured in the discussions, he said both sides recognised this as a livelihood issue that had to be dealt with humanely. The fishermen associations on both sides were in touch with each other. They have have reached some preliminary understanding. “We hope that they can meet and carry with forward. We will work with fishermen on both sides to take this forward.” Maritime security and cooperation issues also were on the table.
On Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s long-pending visit to Sri Lanka, Mr. Menon said: “The PM is still looking forward to visiting. He said he would like to come. We still have to find mutually convenient dates for that.”
there is nothing happened in the cause of reconciliation in sri lanka as promissed to India by sri lanka since the end of the war. as usual we tamils in sri lanka can see only the frequent visits of the indian diplomats and end up with a media brief by putting the tamils issue back to the sri lankan schedule. the basic issues of the conflict such as grabbing lands, colonisation and militarisation of the north east still continueing without interruption. the future of tamils in the island will be a questionmark if the situation keep continues unless India take some immediate action to save the tamils.
India has no business to poke its nose in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka. Would we like it if Colombo started interfering in Kashmir including taking up the matter in the UN as we did with Sri Lanka? Our thoughtless act's outcome is, Sri Lanka is getting closer to China and Pakistan, something that is not at all healthy for us. We must correct the course of our warped foreign policy in this context.
It seems nothing serious has happened on the so called burning issues. If that is the case, then their trip to Sri Lanka has rendered a useless one. Whatever has gained if any so far could have been made through diplomatic channels rather than through a so called highly publicised mission by a so called high-powered Indian personnel that has now been made to understand as a not so important Indian mission to Sri Lanka. In whichever case, Sri Lanka does not have to be lectured by any Indians. It will not tolerate big brother attitude if Indians think what they are doing is just that.By the way, this whole drama has been played by the Indian Central Govt could be for the benefit of Karunanidhi of Tamil Nadu that cries foul all the time.
"Political reconciliation a Sri Lanka issue: Menon" Stating the obvious! Of course, it is a Sri Lankan matter. Dumb statement from a NSA.
But talk, talk and more talk is just a waste of time. Talks will go nowhere with the Rajapakse Government.
Shiva Sankara Menon is not a skillful negotiator and he is no match to srilankan Periris.Indian High commissioner in colombo is doing the work of the Block development officer to supervise the ongoing group houses for the displced tamils. US.UK and Eurpean diplomats take deep interest and come out with innovative revealations and their outbursts are all pro tamils,whereas indian diplomats are doing second class work there and doing everything to please the srilankan authorities. We will never solve any of our problems with our neighbours including China,Menons,Pillays,Panickars,Nairs,Nambiars have done enough damage to the Tamils there.Punjabi and Bengali diplomats should handle the foreign affairs,as they are imbibed with the nationalist spirits,all others are internationalists at the cost of indian interest.Congresss will mend its ways only after 2014 Lok Sabha Election results.Effects of Failed Indian neighbourhood external policy will be known then.Indians hardly feel pride.
Please Email the Editor