The Hindu : India against Japan mediating in Sri Lanka

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 21, 2003

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India against Japan mediating in Sri Lanka

By Amit Baruah

NEW DELHI Jan. 20. India would like Japan to restrict its role in Sri Lanka to reconstruction and rehabilitation and not to extend it to problematic areas as playing "mediator" or "facilitator" in an already tortuous peace process.

Informed sources told this correspondent that this point had been conveyed to the Japanese Foreign Minister, Yoriko Kawaguchi, during her visit to New Delhi earlier this month. The Indian position was that Japan was free to extend whatever help and assistance it wanted, but should not form a fourth corner in the negotiating process — in addition to the Sri Lankan Government, the LTTE and the Norwegians.

New Delhi believes that, finally, the issues at stake in Sri Lanka are for the "principal parties" to resolve. Even though India has cooperated with the Norwegian-assisted peace dialogue, it is clear that the "principals" are the ones who hold the key to peace.

India, it would appear, is also aware that Japan wants to enhance its international role at a time, when like New Delhi, it is keen on entering the United Nations Security Council as a permanent member. Given the restrictions on the armed role that Japan can play and the fact that suspicious North-East Asian neighbours watch its every move closely, Tokyo, perhaps, feels that a country like Sri Lanka would be an appropriate nation to play the "Good Samaritan". But, for its part, New Delhi is clear that an activist role in the peace process by Japan is not going to be helpful in the region. Given the fact that the peace talks have found a "venue" in Thailand, having one round of talks in Tokyo in March does not make too much sense.

Japan, for its part, has often complained that it is asked simply to "issue cheques" after the event is over since other countries may point out that its international role is not commensurate with its economy. Japanese sources made this point very recently. And, in the case of Sri Lanka, Tokyo doesn't simply want to be shelling out the cash for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the island nation, but be seen to have a role in facilitating a peace settlement.

As for the peace process, New Delhi has been getting considerable feedback not just from the Sri Lanka Government and the Norwegians, but also from those close to the Sri Lankan President, Chandrika Kumaratunga. Already, the inability to deal with the "Muslim'' factor in the peace talks till date, can create serious problems in the weeks and months ahead. The refusal of the LTTE to even think in terms of some kind of de-militarisation is yet another big question mark.

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