Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Thursday took exception to Sri Lankan Air Force personnel being trained at the Air Force base at Tambaram near here, and demanded that the Union government scrap the training programme.
Other political parties joined her in condemning the Centre for allowing training of Sri Lankan military personnel in the State.
In a statement here, Ms. Jayalalithaa said that at a time when the demand for restoration of the rights of displaced Tamils in Sri Lanka was finding resonance around the globe, and pressure was building on Sri Lanka to treat Tamils on a par with the Sinhalese, the training of nine members of the Sri Lankan Air Force at the Tambaram Air Force base was akin to “thrusting a spear in the hearts of people of Tamil Nadu.”
She said the demand for action against violators of international law during the conflict in Sri Lanka was getting stronger. In this backdrop, training members of that country’s Air Force was not only improper but also an act against Tamils. “The Union government should immediately withdraw this action and send back the Air Force members to Sri Lanka,” Ms. Jayalalithaa added.
The Centre, which had remained silent over the resolution adopted by the State Assembly that economic sanctions be imposed on Sri Lanka till the Tamils, who were languishing in camps in Sri Lanka, returned home and got equal rights, was insulting the Tamil people by its action, she said.
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president M. Karunanidhi said that if the news was true, it was condemnable and demanded that the training be immediately sent back.
Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) leader and Opposition Leader in the Assembly, Vijayakant, also criticised the Centre’s stand and demanded that the Air Force personnel from Sri Lanka be sent back. He said the question before the people was whether the Union government was with the Tamils or against them. “As it is, India’s foreign policy towards Sri Lanka is pro-Sinhalese,” he argued.
Keywords: Sri Lankan Air Force, Sri Lankan Tamils issue, Tamil rights
@ Vijayakumar, India is an union of all states. The identity of Indian cannot be separate from that of Tamil. It's like asking who's child are you: your father's or your mother's? Any answer apart from 'both' is unintelligible. There are many Tamil people who are not Indians, but no Indian is without his regional identity. This is because India is a union, and if we cannot be mature enough to at least care for each other's needs, how will our union last?
As for the China-issue, the only country benefitting from us panicking about China and this 'rivalry' between India and China is Lanka. Playing China and India against one another is a ploy to divert attention from Lanka on the global diplomatic scene.
The airforce personnel are trained under Indias long term geopolitical needs and not for the love of Sri Lanka. Otherwise Sri Lanka could go elsewhere. Jayalalitha is vying for a more immediate profit like few votes at an election.The Tamil politicians do not care for India. These training programs are nothing new. If Prabhakaran won at the last war it would have become the first nail in the coffin of the Indian union.
Such a decision is going to invite the Chinese, who will be very happy
to have their influence in the region. It is very important that foreign policies decisions be let to the external affairs ministry and
let not states decide the foreign policies of the country. According to
my view its best for India to have good relationship with the countries
of the region, rather that letting the Chinese come into India's
backyard, which will not be a good thing.
Very True ...send them back
It is best that Tamil Nadu deal with the massive problems it faces rather than dictate foreign//military policy the central govt is delegated to deal with.
People should first identify themselves as Indian, then second as Tamils, or Hindus
or Muslims. Now our leaders crying for the Tamils of Sri Lanka shows they are first
Tamilians, then Indian. This is the bane of this country. Jayalalithaa, for the sake of
her vote bank, forgets the national priority of not wanting China to set their foot in
Sri Lanka. India need to build better relationship with its neighbors and then leverage
the relationship to address ethnic and religious discrimination. Even with so much
experience and age, leaders like JJ and KK have not acquired this maturity or have
they kept it home again for the sake of votes.
@Gamini Lindagedera - Tamils are Dravidians and Tamils - it does not matter whether they live in Up Country or Down Country or in Singapore or the UK.
@Gamini
You ask "did we have this kind of trouble during pre-LTTE times? Then why now?"
Yes, infact, pre-LTTE, this kind of trouble was heightened because India was
completely pro-Tamil and every time a riot occurred where the Sinhalese would go
on rampages killing tamils, India would take Sri-Lanka to task. The final straw that
broke the camel's back was Sri-Lanka's support to Pakistan during the 1971
Bangladesh war. Only after the LTTE killed Rajiv, did India soften its stand on Sri-
Lanka and infact supported it many a time. But now, without the LTTE, it seems
Sri-Lanka has not learned its lesson yet and is taking India for granted. You talk
about acting un-neighborly, what do you call killing Indian fishermen on a regular
basis? Neighborly? Now there is no LTTE, so beware, Sri-Lanka has no excuse, and
if it keeps pushing the envelope with India, it will pay dearly.
It is a good call from CM and she is only CM of TN and it is only
right that she represent the popular view of her people.
And on the Central, we have a weaker leadership. I think Ms
Jayalalitha would be stronger leader for India, I would compare her to
former PM Mrs Indra Ghandi.
India should never be afraid of Sri Lanka; if necessary do what India
did to Pakistan in 1971. Sri Lanka is not a trusted friend of India.
Yes, avoid war but India need to monitor what is Sri Lanka is after?
Yes. I look at this in another way. If India wants to have sanction against Srilanka and break all the good relations we enjoyed (Both the countries) for many centuries, as a small nation Srilanka has no choice. We have to accept it and find another way to survive with out India. India always helped Srilanka for their benefits only.
These are unwanted interference by India in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka
has places to go if India doesn't wish to provide Training or
whatever to Sri Lanka. India's interference in sovereign and independent Sri Lanka has brought untold misery to Sri Lankans
(Tamils are part of us) for over three decades. When knowledgeable (some learned) Indian Leaders act so unfriendly and
un-neighborly, people driven by sentiments created by them ignite
hate between our Nations. Did we have this kind of trouble during
pre-LTTE times? Then why now?
Sri Lankan Tamils are Sri Lankans and those Tamils in the Up-
Country are Indian Tamils who were brought into Sri Lanka by the
British. What do you have to say about them? Hypocrisy!
Paul, this is a nice name for an LTTE supporter, why should Sri Lanka should account for the 146,769 missing people you mention when they were shot and killed by you the LTTE. afterall the LTTE should also account for the drug smuggling/money laundering/people smuggling, and killing ruthlessly innocent farmers, children, buddhist monks and placing bombs in buses/trains and in busy places, bombing Gandhi, kidnapping, forcing people to contribute to the movement, recruting child soldiers ++++ etc
India did its part in the UN. But it simply cannot afford to cut off all ties with Sri Lanka because of the Tamil issue. Else we'll soon see a Chinese Base in Sri Lanka posing great threat to the entire nation.
It is a sad day when India takes decision in fear of her neighbours and
loose respect in the international community. We helped the Sri Lankans
in the war against the Tamils because of our fear of the Chinese who
started equipping the the Sri lankan army and navy. Once again we are
doing the same and this back boneless attitude makes us loose our
standing and makes India look like a weak nation.
Dr.Manmohan Singh is well aware that 18 MPs support (belonging to the Tamil Nadu) is at his disposal. He is least bothered about the true Tamil Sentiment and any amount of Cry by JJ will be like blowing the Conch into the deaf ear.
Dr.JJ is right, Srilanka need to be accountable to the 146,769 missing
people. The pain of losing an entire generation is more important than
diplomatic relationship with a rouge state which does not honour its
own LLRC report nor accept the UN panel of Experts report. Land
grabbing of Tamils, Prison riots on Tamils, economic subjugation of
Tamils, Sinhala population transfer into the Tamil areas are the order
of the day and systematic cultural genocide of the Tamils continue, in
these circumstances should we really welcome enemies into our
territories who would be trained by us, they would go back and kill
the innocent Tamils. Sri Lanka historically has always supported
Pakistan and China, not India, the Tamils in Sri Lanka are our real
friends and we should strengthen them like we did during the time of
Indira Gandhi.
Bravo Jayaji ! Well said ! The Central Government should do the needful
immediately to discontinue the training imparted to the Srilankan
Airforce personnel as it might help them bomb tamil living areas in
Srilanka !
India is one nation and Tamils should learn to come out of their identity and support the strategic interests of the nation. We as a country should press the Government of Srilanka to devolve the rights and amend the constitution and bring in a truly federal structure within the united Sri Lanka. The Military training and cooperation is essential for Sri Lanka and as well to India to protect our high seas from terrorists.
I am appreciating CM' statement verymuch
Agree totally with Mr. Rahul in the post above (5th July, 10:58IST). This was totally stupid thinking by our defence mandarins (minister / bureaucrats / air force - whoever took the decision) - I mean they could have had their cake and eaten it too by catering to SL's need as a friendly neighbour, yet at the same time avoiding Tamizh backlash by simply not having the training in Chennai or anywhere else in TN! The only explanation is that the specific training they needed required equipment that was only available in Chennai. Otherwise, it's a brainless decision. No qualms giving the training to them - at a national level there might be enough reasons to justify that - but not in Chennai.
She is right in urging the P.M.to stop training Lankan Air-force.can we
strengthen the arms of our opposite parties? Small nations are not
viable nations.They have to depend on their big masters for everything
if it is war or peace.Srilankan present government is not willing to
negotiate the problem.West are mere onlookers.As a state giving refuge
to thousands of Tamils our resources are fast draining or we are
nurturing inactivity and carefree life among the refugees.Traing them in
our soil only tantamounts to milking the snakes.
The government of Sri Lanka is being charged with genocide. It is the duty of India to stand up to China and advice Russia and others to resolve the issue politically, once and for all. if not it is natural that problems can escalate in many forms or can be suppressed in many inhuman ways.
I think that is a sheer outlook of the Central Government. It is not
advisable for the State Governments of various states to interfere in
the international politics. As part of the SAARC region & the
proximity of Sri Lanka with India, it is not in the best interests of
India to cut off its ties with Sri Lanka. Rather than playing the
"Tamil sentiment" politics, the CM should concentrate more on the well
being of Tamils of India.
The Center should have a neutral strategy for all the decisions where diplomatic ties are concerned.In this case , the decision to impart training to the military personnel of the country which is already facing huge uproar for mass killings of civilians is not a good.In other case , we can take example of Iran , the country which is tied to South-asian terrain for its cultural and historical ties;putting economic sanction against such country will be taken as a biased and exhorted decision hence killing the neutrality and NAM of India.
If Indian Govt refuses to impart training to Sri Lankan military, they will approach PAKISTAN who will do it gladly. This issue needs to be handled very carefully by experts in MEA rather than a TAMIL politicians.
Gayathri is right these talks have to taken in diplomatic ways,the issue is very close to us and we should try to put pressure on them economically and politically .....but not at once ..they should realize us as an able nation and work in favour of the tamils.
The Defense minister should have discussed with State government before
planning this training.Earlier too he arranged one such training for
Srilankan Army at Wellington, The Nilgris and due to outcry from public
and politicians,they were evicted from there.Kerala made huge
escalation,when two of their fishermen were killed by Italian marines
and Indian govt. too supported it; But TN lost several of its fishermen,
but absolutely no action from central govt. Defense minister behaves
like minister for Kerala only and has sanctioned many defence projects
for Kerala.As long as the pressent central govt. remains, the injustice
to Tamils will continue.
Good call Ms Jayalalitha. It is not in our stategic interest to train a neighbour who has very few neighbourly tendencies. The training imparted will be used against people who oppose the regime in power, in other words, we are facilitating another genocide.
Very valid demand!
One can understand the compulsion India as a nation has to forge strong ties with Sri Lankans at all levels - economic, military, strategic - considering the fear of China embracing the island nation (and India left behind).
But what planning and management of its foreign affairs makes it necessary to impart training to Sri Lankan pilots in CHENNAI knowing fully well that there is strong resistance against the Rajapaksa government among Tamils. Isn't that lack of a little foresight and absolute mismanagement.
Tamils are not the only people in either nation. It would do well to
remember that it is not practical or advisable to cut off all
diplomatic ties with Sri Lanka. If we do that, we only make ourselves powerless to
defend the Tamil cause in Sri Lanka. Only through meaningful engagement
can we hope to have some influence in Sri Lanka.
Each Tamil should fully endorse the views expressed CM. Her showing of tenacity on the issues pertaining to Tamilnadu should be appreciated by one and all. Now we can a leader who has vision for the state's progress.
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