THE Tamilnadu political circus began ratcheting up the heat on the Central government in New Delhi, as the Sri Lankan Defence Forces began encircling the major domain of the Tami Tiger terrorists in Killinochchi.
As major battles for Killinochchi were drawing closer, the TamilNadu's racists began to pressurize the Center to force the Sri Lankan government to halt its military offensive against the Tamil Tigers.
This led the Central Government to face a unique situation. It carries moral responsiblity to support its neighbor Sri Lanka, since the LTTE was a monster created and supported by a previous Indian administration. It also has so far failed to bring the LTTE's killers to justice for the murder of Rajiv Gandhi and thousands of Indian soldiers. It has also failed to bring LTTE's killers to justice for many terrorist attacks carried out on its soil. On the other hand, mass resignations threatened by Tamilnadu's politicians could seriously undermine its political clout.
The political tsunami in Tamilnadu also suddenly brought the well known threat of secession again to the forefront. Tamilnadu's failed politician 'psycho' Vaiko went as far as to verbally threaten secession if a seperate state of Eelam in Sri Lanka is not allowed. Related article from the Hindu; http://www.hindu.com/2008/10/23/stories/2008102360660700.htm
The Indians will now face their long awaited moment of sanity, where Tamilnadu is concerned. The idea of secession obviously was never far from the chauvanists of Tamilnadu, and a seperate state in Sri Lanka would have ideally supported that effort since military action could be planned and executed from the dense jungles of Mullaitivu, in which thousands of Indian soldiers miserably failed to successfully confront the LTTE. The LTTE would support a 'Greater Eelam' and where would it be best located, but in Tamilnadu itself, with its thriving economy.
India walks a tight rope, and has her own future as well as her reputation at stake in the next steps her leaders take regarding the Sri Lankan terrorist situation. Supporting a seperate state administered by teh world's most ruthless terrorist group in Sri Lanka may provide temporary releif from minor political discomfort for now. In the long term it would prove suicidal for India without fail. Supporting terrorists would also bring her into worldwide contempt and make India the laughing stock of the international community.
Not playing any role in Sri Lanka could also be interpreted as a sign of weakness by her neighbors, even though Sri Lanka's alligiance to India has grown many fold in recent years. India would finally wish to witness some form of autonomy being granted to the Tamil minority which it can claim credit for.
Sri Lanka for her part needs to take the opportunity to empathize with India's concerns and find a middle ground which favors both. It has a convenient explanation, which Sri Lankan leaders have so far failed to exploit; an outright military win against the LTTE would leave the government in a position of strength and its population filled with confidence in the ability of the Sri Lankan Defence Forces to defend the nation's soverignty and territorial integrity. From success would flow national confidence, and that confidence can and must be exploited to devolve greater autonomy not only to a single minority, but to every one who lives in the country. To consider a particular linguistic group as specially priviledged, would be a reward for terrorism and a recipe for another, greater disaster. This is why devolution needs to be even handed, without favoring any particular group.
Local governments can and need to be provided with greater autonomy while overall national policy making is retained by the Parliament of the Sri Lankan central government. This would help reduce wastefulness and inertia of the present political establishment and lead to a more balanced power structure which will provide stability for the future. It will also provide a basis for an inclusive nation in which all Sri Lankans feel a sense of belonging, where long term peace and prosperity can be found.
As major battles for Killinochchi were drawing closer, the TamilNadu's racists began to pressurize the Center to force the Sri Lankan government to halt its military offensive against the Tamil Tigers.
This led the Central Government to face a unique situation. It carries moral responsiblity to support its neighbor Sri Lanka, since the LTTE was a monster created and supported by a previous Indian administration. It also has so far failed to bring the LTTE's killers to justice for the murder of Rajiv Gandhi and thousands of Indian soldiers. It has also failed to bring LTTE's killers to justice for many terrorist attacks carried out on its soil. On the other hand, mass resignations threatened by Tamilnadu's politicians could seriously undermine its political clout.
The political tsunami in Tamilnadu also suddenly brought the well known threat of secession again to the forefront. Tamilnadu's failed politician 'psycho' Vaiko went as far as to verbally threaten secession if a seperate state of Eelam in Sri Lanka is not allowed. Related article from the Hindu; http://www.hindu.com/2008/10/23/stories/2008102360660700.htm
The Indians will now face their long awaited moment of sanity, where Tamilnadu is concerned. The idea of secession obviously was never far from the chauvanists of Tamilnadu, and a seperate state in Sri Lanka would have ideally supported that effort since military action could be planned and executed from the dense jungles of Mullaitivu, in which thousands of Indian soldiers miserably failed to successfully confront the LTTE. The LTTE would support a 'Greater Eelam' and where would it be best located, but in Tamilnadu itself, with its thriving economy.
India walks a tight rope, and has her own future as well as her reputation at stake in the next steps her leaders take regarding the Sri Lankan terrorist situation. Supporting a seperate state administered by teh world's most ruthless terrorist group in Sri Lanka may provide temporary releif from minor political discomfort for now. In the long term it would prove suicidal for India without fail. Supporting terrorists would also bring her into worldwide contempt and make India the laughing stock of the international community.
Not playing any role in Sri Lanka could also be interpreted as a sign of weakness by her neighbors, even though Sri Lanka's alligiance to India has grown many fold in recent years. India would finally wish to witness some form of autonomy being granted to the Tamil minority which it can claim credit for.
Sri Lanka for her part needs to take the opportunity to empathize with India's concerns and find a middle ground which favors both. It has a convenient explanation, which Sri Lankan leaders have so far failed to exploit; an outright military win against the LTTE would leave the government in a position of strength and its population filled with confidence in the ability of the Sri Lankan Defence Forces to defend the nation's soverignty and territorial integrity. From success would flow national confidence, and that confidence can and must be exploited to devolve greater autonomy not only to a single minority, but to every one who lives in the country. To consider a particular linguistic group as specially priviledged, would be a reward for terrorism and a recipe for another, greater disaster. This is why devolution needs to be even handed, without favoring any particular group.
Local governments can and need to be provided with greater autonomy while overall national policy making is retained by the Parliament of the Sri Lankan central government. This would help reduce wastefulness and inertia of the present political establishment and lead to a more balanced power structure which will provide stability for the future. It will also provide a basis for an inclusive nation in which all Sri Lankans feel a sense of belonging, where long term peace and prosperity can be found.
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