By R Hariharan –
Col. (retd) R.Hariharan
India has handed over a Coast Guard ship to Sri Lanka Navy as a gift. Tamil Nadu political leaders have strongly condemned it because Sri Lanka Navy had used such “gifts” from India to attack our fishermen and destroy the Sea Tiger boats during the Eelam War. MDMK leader Vaiko has described it as a ‘betrayal’ of Eelam Tamils and Tamil Nadu fishermen. What are your views on this?, a TV news channel asked me.
India’s Sri Lanka policy is not solely guided by what happened in the Eelam War or the fishermen issue. Indian government is responsible for national security and it has to ensure the country’s foreign policy is tailored to serve our strategic interests. So we should view New Delhi’s gift of a coast guard vessel in this broader context than from the perspective of one or two issues only.
Tamil Nadu political leaders have long used both the fishermen issue as well as the Tamil separatist struggle to strengthen their political constituencies in the state. So it is not surprising that they have strongly criticized gifting away the Indian Coast Guard vessel Varaha to Sri Lanka Navy on August 27.
In any case, the Eelam War is over and the Tamil Tigers have been eliminated in Sri Lanka. However, Sri Lanka fears the possibility of LTTE’s revival as remnants of the LTTE are still active abroad. Sri Lanka Navy is responsible to ensure such elements do not clandestinely enter into the country. So it will continue to patrol Sri Lankan waters to check any suspicious movement of boats.
*Photo| A Sea Tiger boat – Courtesy Wikipedia – Sea Tigers
The Tamil Nadu fishermen issue is a complex one because it is connected not only with the traditional fishing rights of our fishermen, but also to the sanctity of international maritime boundary as well as territorial claims. So it will continue to linger unless the two countries make up their mind to resolve the issue once and for all. As the issue has become politically complicated in both countries, we cannot expect its closure in the near future.
Ever since China entered Sri Lanka in a big way India’s maritime security concerns have increased. Chinese naval ships are increasingly sighted in our ocean vicinity. China has financed and completed the Hambantota port project and the expansion of Colombo carrier terminal. Last year, India had strongly objected to the berthing of Chinese warships, including two submarines, in Colombo port. Sri Lanka seems to have understood India’s security concerns as it is a major user of Colombo port facility.
Ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Sri Lanka – the first visit by an Indian prime minister in 12 years – the two nations have come closer. The Sirisena government has responded positively to India’s security concerns about Chinese warships; this is evident from a PTI report on April 15, 2015 from Beijing. It quoted Zhao Gancheng, director of South Asia Studies at Shanghai Institute of International Studies as saying “the Gwadar port [in Pakistan] will also guarantee China’s naval ships’ maintenance and supply in the Indian Ocean. The move is widely seen as crucial for China, especially as it is unlikely that Sri Lanka will open its ports to Chinese naval ships.”
India, Maldives and Sri Lanka have a maritime coordination agreement under which Indian navy has been protecting the extended economic zone (EEZ) of the three countries. So India’s gift of a ship to the Sri Lanka navy should be viewed in the overall context of strengthening its maritime security which is in the interest of India’s own national security. This becomes even more important now that China’s naval presence Indian Ocean is going to increase in the years to come.
China is also helping to augment Pakistan’s naval capability by selling eight submarines and a few warships. Pakistan has in the past used Colombo to operate intelligence sources to spy on India; sometime back a Sri Lankan employed by the Pak ISI was arrested in Chennai after a bomb explosion. Pakistan and China have a strategic security agreement now apart from very close economic bonds.
So there are many dimensions to India-Sri Lanka defence cooperation. We can expect greater defence cooperation between India and Sri Lanka, particularly between the navies, in the coming years. It would not be in our national interest to adopt a negative attitude to fostering good relations with Sri Lanka.
Lastly, at the risk of repeating myself, I would request Tamil Nadu political leaders to understand the dynamics of change in Sri Lanka after the defeat of the LTTE and the exit of Mahinda Rajapaksa from power. It was Sri Lanka Tamils who helped President Maithripala Sirisena come to power by overwhelmingly voting for him. The Tamil National Alliance is at the forefront of looking after Tamil interests.
However, Sri Lanka Tamils particularly in northern and eastern provinces have not yet fully recovered from the aftermath of the devastating war. Tamil Nadu can help them immensely by assisting in increasing their employment and livelihood opportunities. This would make more meaningful contribution to them, than Tamil Nadu political leaders’ flowery, but negative, rhetoric on Sri Lanka.
*Col R Hariharan, a retired Military Intelligence specialist on South Asia, served with the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka as Head of Intelligence. He is associated with the Chennai Centre for China Studies and the South Asia Analysis Group. E-Mail: colhari@yahoo.com Blog: http://col.hariharan.info
Thamilan / September 1, 2015
Is this ship for defending against Chinese or Indians??
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sam / September 2, 2015
It is for him to cuddle with Dr S Swamy because neither of them have any respect at New Delhi anymore.
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ameer / September 1, 2015
A Trojan Horse ?
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Uthungan / September 1, 2015
The Trojan Horse had become an inevitable necessity to stall the advance of an ISI rabid dog destructive mindsset taking a hold in SL.
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Al Baghdadi / September 2, 2015
Uthungan
Soon, youll have a bigger Trojan Horse landing here from Pakistan. Then, youll have to shove your tail between your legs and jump into the Indian Trojan Horse for protection. So, hold your tongue.
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Vibhushana / September 1, 2015
China delivered 8 sub-marines to Pakistan after India meddled in Chinese economic interests in Colombo eh?
I think a proxy is war is on its way.
India needs to stop taking decisions based on “analysis” by these third grade South Indian “experts”.
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Native Vedda / September 1, 2015
Vibhushana
“China delivered 8 sub-marines to Pakistan after India meddled in Chinese economic interests in Colombo eh?”
When exactly did China deliver these submarines?
Read excerpts:
Pakistan to buy 8 submarines from China in multibillion-dollar deal, report says
Jul 24, 2015
Pakistan will buy eight submarines from China in a multibillion-dollar deal that will boost Pakistani navy’s maritime capabilities, media reported on Friday.
……..
The two sides agreed in principle on the sale of eight submarines that China will provide to Pakistani navy, Express Tribune reported.
………
Sources in the country’s finance ministry, however, said the deal is subject to final review form higher authorities in Beijing, following which a formal agreement will be signed.
………
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/
You are still hearing voices in your head. Aren’t you? This time it is Pakistani voices in Urdu.
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Vibhushana / September 1, 2015
Native,
Your Sociology degree background not enough to understand what is going on.
The moment India threw a hissy fit over sub-marines their rival got to know their weakness.
In the future the Indian Ocean will be teaming with Pakistani and Chinese submarines. Not sure what they will do with it, nevertheless they will be there tickling Indian underbelly.
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Native Vedda / September 2, 2015
Vibhushana
I am not Sumanadasa Abeygunawardena to predict what Pakistan and China would do or do not do in the Hindian Ocean.
All what I know is Pakistan has five aging diesel submarines and three MG110 miniature submarines.
China has five nuclear attack submarines, four nuclear ballistic missile submarines, and 53 diesel attack submarines, planning to increase the fleet by another 16.
Mind you China has to look over its shoulders for Japanese (16), American (72), South Korean (13), Vietnam (4), Russia (55), UK (10), Australia(6), Singapore (6) ………… submarines.
Paul Kennedy in his 1987 book The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers wrote about “a top-heavy military establishment may slow down the rate of economic growth and lead to a decline in the nation’s share of world manufacturing output” (p. 445)”
The effect was popularly known as “Imperial Overstretch”
By the way Hindians have 15 submarines in their Naval arm and eight under construction.
“The moment India threw a hissy fit over sub-marines their rival got to know their weakness.”
There is no secret about who has what, where and how many.
“In the future the Indian Ocean will be teaming with Pakistani and Chinese submarines. Not sure what they will do with it, nevertheless they will be there tickling Indian underbelly.”
Oh yeah, all these might couldn’t stop Hindian victory over Pakistan in 1971 and Pakistan has to let go Bangladesh and negotiate with Hindians to repatriate 96,000 Pakistani humiliated war criminals.
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Vibhushana / September 2, 2015
Native,
After the bitter experience with the World Wars no one has any appetite to start anything of that scale again.
China is not going to invade India nor vise-versa than minor border skirmishes. Besides, the 8 Indian submarines are woefully inadequate to patrol its own shores let alone attempt an “outreach”.
Given no one is likely to go on the offensive, sub-marines, ICBMs and weapons of that nature are redundant to a large extent. They are probably useful tool to scare each other not to step on each others toes only. In other words they are used for Psyops.
So when a submarine docked in Colombo India should have assessed it as a non-event. By being rattled it showed it cannot handle Psyops well.
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Native Vedda / September 2, 2015
Vibhushana
On the whole you got it right for the first time.
However, Hindians used Psyops well to get whatever they wanted from this island.
You forgot to mention how the defense analyst up the ante to justify and increase defense spending in a particular country or region. They closely work with arms manufacturers, politicians, bureaucrats, defense establishment, media, ………. The humongous expenditure in defense procurement is shared out among the stakeholders.
The stupid people are contended with what they don’t need.
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hariom / September 2, 2015
At present India has just one- Modi has not kept his word (more into buying and selling business) because the Gujarati does not care for the south of India but the money is in the fight with Pakistan.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_submarines_of_the_Indian_Navy) and china’ s strength is much more that the Americans fear to get caught in a dog fight in the south china sea. so they are at Darwin.
Both India and China purchased their first aircraft carriers from Ukraine and had them refurbished just before the crisis
Hariharan says – “India has handed over a Coast Guard ship”
however recently when an indian coast guard plane went missing even the Indian Air force did not care because it was a south Indian.
Stupid old goat the next time you write get on about a north south Indian split instead of playing poker.
A small nation does not need your 1.2 billion baggage where 600 million poop in the open.
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Ajith / September 1, 2015
We learnt lot about India’s policy in Srilanka. We know that India used Tamil youths for its own benefit and destroy them. We know it is India who directed the war against LTTE and India played key role in the massacre of Tamils in May 2009. We know how Indian military violated human rights and war crimes in Srilanka. We cannot forget the attack of Jaffna Hospital by Indian Army.
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Paul / September 1, 2015
Correct. No other Indian state is so closely tied to the history of Sri Lanka its people culture language and religion than Tamil Nadu. Just like the Punjab and other north western states of India , are closely connected to Pakistan and the eastern Indian states, especially West Bengal to Bangla Desh. It is the feelings/opinions and input of these states, that largely decide the Indian policy towards these respective countries. Because these are the states get most affected by these countries and many of them share blood and cultural ties across these border.
The same yardstick should be used when it comes to India’s policy towards Sri Lanka. The opinion of the people of Tamil Nadu should matter and be given weight above all the other Indians. Because it is the people of Tamil Nadu who are the most affected by these policies. Not the largely South Indian/Tamil hating Northern Indian states or even the other southern Indian states. However The Indian government does the opposite. Ignore the opinion and feelings of the people of Tamil Nadu and give importance to all the anti Tamils within the Indian establishment.
It is not only the Tamils of the island, who share very close linguistic religious and cultural ties with all the people of Sri Lanka, including the author, but also the Sinhalese and the Sri Lankan Muslims. The vast majority of the present day Sinhalese never migrated from Bengal or any other Indian State but originated from Tamil Nadu. The ancestors of around 50% of the present day Sinhalese, both low and high born, only migrated from Tamil Nadu a few centuries ago. All the former Sri Lankan presidents and prime ministers, nearly everyone beating the anti Tamil drum, are descended from these Tamil immigrants from Tamil Nadu. The Sinhalese language is around 35% to 40% Tamil in vocabulary. Its grammar syntax and lexicon is purely based on Tamil. It is not Sanskrit or Pali that gave the Sinhalese alphabet but Tamil. According to Dr. C.E. Godakmubara, the Sinhala Grammar Sidathsangarawa was based on the Tamil Grammar Virasolium in the 11th A.D. Take all the Tamil based words from the Sinhalese vocabulary , there will be no Sinhalese language.
There were no Sinhalese in Lanka or in any part of the world until the Dipa Vamsa for the first time, referred to the descendants of Tamil (Hindus) who embraced Buddhism in 246 B.C. as Sihala on account of the Lion (no relevance). There is no culture called Sinhala culture. It is the Tamil culture that is projected as Sinhala culture. The 14th day of April is observed as New Year, day only by the Tamils and Sinhala people throughout the world.
This fact is strong evidence that the Sinhala people inherited this practice from their Tamil ancestors who embraced Buddhism in 246 B.C. It is stupid to deny that fact. When there was no Sinhala language in Lanka or in any part of the world before 8th A.D., it is thuggery to claim that there were Sinhala people in Lanka prior to the 8th century A.D. Just as the descendants of Tamils who embraced Buddhism in 246 B.C. claim they are Arya Sinhalese; Tamils of the Western Coast, from Ragama to Kalpitiya, after adopting Sinhala as their mother tongue, (after the introduction of free education) claim thy are Arya Sinhalese. In Sri Lanka any person who adopts Sinhala as mother tongue ipso facto is an Aryan
It is the same the so called Tamil speaking Sri Lankan Muslims now incorrectly labelled as Sri Lankan Moors. Are more than 90% descended of Dravidian Tamil Muslim immigrants from India who migrated to the island from medieval to quite recent times. Despite falsely and incorrectly claiming an Arab or Moorish origin, there is very little Arab in them.
More than 90% of the dyansties and kings/queens that ruled the island are from South India and the vast majority from Tamil Nadu or then Tamil Kerala. Despite all these connections the opinion and feelings of the people of Tamil Nadu does not matter with regards to Sri Lanka. Is this a joke!
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soma / September 2, 2015
Paul
You are advancing solid reasons as to why Tamils in Sri Lanka should live with Sinhalese like one family and not try to devide it on ethnic criteria. They are the ones who maintain that Tamils are a separare nation and constantly demand that they be iidentified as such. And why Tamilnadu should look upon all islanders with empathy and affection rather than taking sides.
A sàid to B you are my long lost young brother but B refused to acknowledge it. A was furious and from that day onwards A was scheming to kill B.
Soma
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alex / September 1, 2015
Yes India needs to take a long hard look at itself and the way it has behaved in Sri Lanka. Ultimately India should be a force for good in Sri Lanka, but to date it has done nothing but support oppression and blood-letting. This ship doesn’t really help the pursuit of liberty in Sri Lanka.
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Ranjith / September 1, 2015
India’s history is written in blood of oppressed people. It is a country of hesitantly and forcefully annexed kingdoms and cultures.No south indian state wants to stay under Hindi speaking arrogant North Indians. North Indians treat South Indians as slaves and they look down on them as Yakshas as they were described in Ramayana. India is a fake Nation.
Day by day, the people of India are getting killed by same Indians under the name of Nationalism. This massacres been happening in Kashmir, Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, Punjab, Andhra and etc. India’s latest forceful annexation is Kashmir. India has illegally occupying Kashmir and killing kashmiris in daily basis in order to keep Kashmir as a part of India.
They speak about ahimsa, but they kill their own people. Muslims been massacred by Hindu Indians in Bombay and Gujarat. Current Indian Prime Minister , Narendra Modi is personally responsible for the massacre of more than 2000 innocent muslims in Gujarat in a state sponsored ethnic cleansing when he was the Chief minister of Gujarat.
Sonia is responsible for massacre of more than 150,000 Tamils in Srilanka during 2009 war.
Indra Ghandi is responsible for the massacre of more than 20,000 Sikhs in 1984 and 1985.
Rajiv Ghandi is responsible for the massacre of more than 10,000 Tamils in Srilanak in 1987 to 1989.
Narasimma Rao is responsible for the massacre of 2000 Muslims by Hindu Priests in Ayodhya in 1992.
India’s history is written in cold blood of innocents.
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soma / September 2, 2015
Ranjith
You must immediately forward these figures to UNHRC.
Soma
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Native Vedda / September 1, 2015
alex
“Yes India needs to take a long hard look at itself and the way it has behaved in Sri Lanka. “
What was India’s behaviour that you want Hidian’s to have a long and hard look?
“Ultimately India should be a force for good in Sri Lanka,”
Hindians got rid of VP and MR. Don’t you think those were not good enough?
“This ship doesn’t really help the pursuit of liberty in Sri Lanka.”
Don’t you know this ship also helped Sri Lanka to get rid of VP and LTTE? Don’t you agree that must be the first step in the right direction?
What do you want Hindia to do?
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salam / September 2, 2015
“”What do you want Hindia to do? “”
[Edited out]
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Native Vedda / September 2, 2015
salam
“[Edited out]”
Thanks for keeping it brief.
However you haven’t responded to my question.
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salam / September 2, 2015
as usual ct is seated on poop and afraid of being exposed themselves.
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Native Vedda / September 2, 2015
salam
“as usual ct is seated on poop and afraid of being exposed themselves.”
If its true the first thing one should do is to avoid it then try and clean it. But then you enjoy being part of whatever it is.
A word of advice, find out whether you know the difference between poop and fine aroma.
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salam / September 2, 2015
“find out whether you know the difference between poop and fine aroma. “
Hey Popeye, Try Brut… you can love it or…
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salam / September 2, 2015
Native Vedda,
“”However you haven’t responded to my question. “”
The maximum number of Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims of Sri Lanka in the western world are in the UK as refugees, exiles etc.
Now Somali is a country in a worse situation than Lanka yet a single Somali athlete continues to bring in Gold medals to UK which neither the Caribbean’s nor Lankans have. As workers the Japanese company Sony prefers them to others. Most of them are also into basketball too.
Sri Lankan’s like their blood brothers the Indians are just `puss part` conmen in commerce or whatever they do that is why we think they have HIV- (hair is vanishing)
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Native Vedda / September 2, 2015
salam
You haven’t responded to my question.
The question that I posed earlier:
What do you want Hindia to do?
Don’t bother if you haven’t got the answer.
One cannot think if one is angry or sitting on one’s brain. Which one do you think is blocking your thought process?
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salam / September 3, 2015
Native Vedda,
“What do you want Hindia to do? “
They would do exactly what they feel like and neither you nor your organisation can do anything about them exploiting the island.
Sadly, You are just a speck in a collage.
“…..Which one do you think is blocking your thought process? “
better you go bald with HIV or keep clinging onto your ba**s.
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Native Vedda / September 3, 2015
salam
What do you want Hindia to do?
You haven’t got a clue.
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salam / September 4, 2015
Self proclaimed wisdom of the arrogant veddha.
Go play billiards and find a cue.
The greatest wisdom in the world is stupidity.
learn to live with it at peace than playing holy poker wise one.
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Native Vedda / September 4, 2015
salam
“Go play billiards and find a cue.”
In the mean time you will be playing with your willy and still have no clue as to what and why you type here in this forum.
What do you want Hindia to do?
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salam / September 4, 2015
“”What do you want Hindia to do? “”
Ignorant buffoon what they do and want to do is their business- Stop being mosey or running around with begging bowl.
everyone sees what others write in different perspective and that is media worldwide. So nothing knew in your verbal diarrhea
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Native Vedda / September 4, 2015
salam
“So nothing knew in your verbal diarrhea”
If you diarrhea please make sure you keep your mouth shut in case.
What do you want Hindia to do from your own perspective?
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salam / September 5, 2015
scumbag, go write science fiction not Aladdin lamp comments.
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Native Vedda / September 5, 2015
salam
“scumbag, go write science fiction not Aladdin lamp comments.”
Good idea.
What do you know about History, Science and Scholarship?
It won’t take more than two sentences.
What do you want Hindia to do from your own perspective?
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salam / September 5, 2015
Native Vedda,
What you say all along is : ” that the sage does not speak, the talented ones talk,and the stupid ones argue”
– this in spite of the fact that You yourself love very much to argue.
(occupied only in proving one point
“I am entirely right and you are entirely wrong”) dehumanised truth.
bread and butter can be found on different platforms than Aladdin lamp.(kapurala)
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Native Vedda / September 5, 2015
salam
What do you want Hindia to do from your own perspective?
The fact of the matter is that my question still remains unanswered.
“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.”
― Albert Einstein
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Native Vedda / September 3, 2015
Candidly
“India, let alone Tamil Nadu, fishermen have no “traditional rights” to fish in Sri Lankan territorial waters,”
When exactly the sea was divided between Sri Lankan territorial waters and and other extra territorial waters?
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SlumDogMillionaire / September 1, 2015
[Edited out]
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Native Vedda / September 1, 2015
SlumDogMillionaire
“[Edited out]”
Thanks for keeping it brief.
Are you the Jamal boy who immersed himself in excrement?
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Ranjith / September 1, 2015
India is trying to fill the vacuum created by China. But, Srilanka has gone towards West already. Ranil and Sirisena are not Pro-Indian leaders. They are more towards west.
India used Tamil grievances as a tool to enter in to Srilankan matters. It armed Tamil youth, used them as mercenaries against Srilankan Govt, tried to take control of things in 1987, finished off what it created in early 80s with a massacre of more than 150,000 Tamil civilians in 2009. Made Tamil grievances 100 times more than it was in early 80s.
India is run by few Brahmins (who still believes the story written by a thief call Valmiki) is true and still living in the myth of Ramayana. Totally isolated from the outside world. Have no guts to stand up against China , Pakistan or Srilanka. Mahinda used them to eliminate Tamil uprising. But once Tamils been dealt with, he pushed India off the table. India could not do anything but to fold her tail in-between her legs and slowly walk away. Chinese master entered the scene. Mahinda was their favourite at that time.
Now China is gone (at least for the time being), India is trying to come back with a gift (second world war time patrol craft).
Don’t listen to corrupted retired army people such as Col.Hariharan and Co. They being paid by RAW to talk and write on behalf of a corrupted nation call, India.
India – most impotent nation on Earth. Should be kept at bay at all time.
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Native Vedda / September 1, 2015
Ranjith
“India – most impotent nation on Earth. Should be kept at bay at all time.”
Could you tell us why should we keep Hindia at bay if it is impotent. What more could the do?
Please note estimated Indian population in 2015 is about 1,282,390,303. How did India manage this population explosion?
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Ranjith / September 2, 2015
Hello Native Vedda,
India is impotent as a regional power. The only thing it has done so far is eliminating Tamil uprising for equal rights or self determination in Srilanka.None of the countries around India wants it as their neighbour. I hope you understand what I meant .
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Native Vedda / September 2, 2015
Ranjith
“I hope you understand what I meant.”
No I don’t.
Please explain.
“None of the countries around India wants it as their neighbour”
Will you help the neighbours relocate India somewhere near Antarctica?
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SlumDogMillionaire / September 2, 2015
India actively helped Sri Lanka in 2009 to finally end the curse the foisted upon us.
India actively armed, trained and financed tamil terrorism in the 1980s and even early 1990s.
IT WAS ONLY after Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated, the central government games were exposed and RAW were exposed.
Can we use this ship to stop illegal immigrants coming in hordes from India since 2009?
Why don’t you write about the war crimes committed by Innocent People Killing force IPKF?
Can we use this ship to stop drug smuggling and illegal immigrants who find Sri Lanka to be a paradise compared to Tamil Nadu?
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Native Vedda / September 2, 2015
SlumDogMillionaire Jamlu
“IT WAS ONLY after Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated, the central government games were exposed and RAW were exposed.”
Read this:
On General Walter’s visits to Sri Lanka in 1983/84 [Excerpt from *Assignment Colombo by J N Dixit]
(One of the factors which influenced Prime Minister Indira Gandhi) was the visits of US General Vernon Walters to Colombo in October 1983 and then again in 1984. Walters was a senior figure in the US strategic and intelligence establishment. Walters had followed up the first visit to Colombo with a visit to India also. General Walters was perceived by the Indian establishment as a confirmed Cold War warrior. He was known to be the subterranean architect of many of the anti-Indian aspects of US policies on matters of India’s national security.
Walters gave detailed information to Mr Jayewardene about India providing training and other logistical facilities to Sri Lankan Tamil separatists in India. He also agreed to act as an intermediary between Sri Lanka and Israel to ensure Israeli arm supplies and intelligence support to the island nation. The quid pro quo suggested by Walters was that Sri Lanka should provide strategic intelligence gathering facilities against India in the proposed Voice of America broadcasting station to be established in that country. Walters also agreed to facilitate the employment of British mercenaries and Pakistani military officers to support and assist Sri Lankan security forces. India had confirmed information about the discussions Walters had on Sri Lanka, both in Colombo and in Washington. This certainly did not improve Mrs Gandhi’s mood or attitudes on the Sri Lankan situation.
During his second visit in 1984, General Walters told the then Sri Lankan Minister for National Security, Mr Lalith Athulathmudali, that the United States had satellite photographs of training camps for Tamil separatist groups in India and that he had told his interlocutors in New Delhi that if India kept on denying the existence of such camps and did not close them down, the US would release these satellite photographs to the media to embarrass the Government of India…
I must also mention that General Vernon Walters found both Mr Parthasarthy and Mrs Gandhi’s Principal Secretary Dr P.C. Alexander rather “difficult and unsatisfactory”, according to his assessment conveyed to Sri Lankan leaders.
One is not surprised because General Walters with his sense of self-importance must have been reduced to a state of unpleasant shock that some odd Indian natives should see through his motivations, and could tell him that India mould not be taken in by his sophistry and that we had assessed his mission precisely for what it was in terms of the facts gathered on what he was doing in Sri Lanka. I cannot help coming to the conclusion in the light of my dealings with the Bangladesh war also, that Vernon Walters’ was a pale imitation of the role which Kissinger tried to play during the East Pakistan crisis 12 to 13 years earlier.
To sum up, General Walters’ shuttle diplomacy only heightened tensions and generated an adversarial relationship between India and Sri Lanka. Perhaps that was the predetermined purpose of his activities at that point of time. ..”
Excerpt from
Assignment Colombo Hardcover
August 1, 1998
by J. N Dixit
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salam / September 3, 2015
Native Veddha,
then also read about the Desi Indian from UP state Mr Singh (a super intellect according to American civil servants forget his first name but he was the very first Indian to hold the highest position at that level.)
He worked as the key person for both State Dept and Pentagon at the same time and had his office at Colombo (American Foundation)
It was his planning that was considered (by Bush and Donald R after 9/11 in the invasion of Afghanistan and thereafter.- a total failure.
Finally he left his post as a dejected man remarried a white woman and joined her charity company – for which he still works.
Both the Americans and Indians are out to squeeze lankan ba**s whether they like it or not.
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salam / September 3, 2015
SlumDogMillionaire,
Could you please tell us as to why Indira Gandhi presented Diego Garcia to Lanka while knowing that it would be sold back to Uk and in turn it would be leased out to the USA? Today Diego Garcia is the most sophisticated nuclear base of the Americans with a force capable of accommodating 50k marines.
In the writings of Pundit Nehru- he wanted the island of dark people too to form part of India but did not get it from UK/USA. He received Andaman and Nicobar (administered by TN) on the left and Diego Garcia on the right.
Remember you can’t bark at India forever because minimum they would lathi charge you.
Remember they are the largest purchasers of Ammunition in the world- whether you like it or not this is to kill the people of SARC nations including its own. They would keep on doing it because they are a political power like Rajapakse Brothers was in Sri lanka. They would continue in the presence of western eyes when the west is busy like the separated Pakistan
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SlumDogMillionaire / September 2, 2015
QUOTE
However, Sri Lanka Tamils particularly in northern and eastern provinces have not yet fully recovered from the aftermath of the devastating war. Tamil Nadu can help them immensely by assisting in increasing their employment and livelihood opportunities. This would make more meaningful contribution to them, than Tamil Nadu political leaders’ flowery, but negative, rhetoric on Sri Lanka.-END
Interesting the war prolonged and was a direct result of India playing geo political hegemonistic games during the cold war because it was afraid of US influence in the sphere it considered to be their own.
Facts are facts. India is the nation which fostered armed conflict and terrorism in Sri Lanka.
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slumdogmillionaire / September 2, 2015
India most certainly is not impotent considering the fact that Indians and Chinese seem to have sex for breeding purposes at alarming rates. Everywhere you go, you see Indian emigrants of all social classes. It has 800million who still defecate on the streets but it has the world’s largest middle class and has sent space probes and has nuclear weapons. It is really a strange country; but fact is that none of their neighbours like them!
FACT IS THAT because JRJ veered towards US foolishly and thought he can play a game, India decided to destablize us.Games between big powers during cold war.
This fellow Hariharan(Tamil or Malayali by name I would think) should write about Indian crimes and arming terrorism because of their geo political concerns.
Best survival foreign policy was during Mrs Bandaranayake’s time.
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Richard Kaz / September 2, 2015
I agree with Col. Hariharan that India handing over the Coast Guard ship to the Sri Lankan navy should not be linked to the Sri Lankan Tamil issue. They are not related and I am not sure if the TN politicians are linking them.
However, if I was from Tamil Nadu, I would be extremely unhappy that New Delhi is gifting a ship to the very navy that treats its fisher folks so poorly. The issue of TN fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters should be resolved through negotiations, but handing over a ship as a gift to those who treat your citizens on the oceans so badly? Shouldn’t New Delhi be protecting its citizens??
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kali / September 2, 2015
Col. (retd) R.Hariharan
India’s Gift Of A Ship To Sri Lanka Navy:
*** I agree with some of your assessments and take issue with some others as you like many others see the Regime change as the end of the Tunnel for Tamil struggle.
1) India has handed over a Coast Guard ship to Sri Lanka Navy as a gift. Tamil Nadu political leaders have strongly condemned it because Sri Lanka Navy had used such “gifts” from India to attack our fishermen and destroy the Sea Tiger boats during the Eelam War. MDMK leader Vaiko has described it as a ‘betrayal’ of Eelam Tamils and Tamil Nadu fishermen. What are your views on this?, a TV news channel asked me.
*** Unlike many Politicians I dont see any problem with the handing over of the Ship as it dosent have any offensive capacity. I fully understand the sentiments of Vaiko and that is to show Solidarity with the Tamils. What was the betrayal of Eelam Tamils was the help India gave to Sri Lanka with men and offensive Weapons during Eelam War.
As for the Fishig difficulties I agree with you that Sri Lanka suffers from Poaching by Indian Fisherman out of necseeity. The answer to that lies in developing Sri Lankan Fisherman. But Sri Lanka is not at all interested in this as it will improve the livelyhood of Tamil Fisherman and it will be them who stand to benefit.
2)India’s Sri Lanka policy is not solely guided by what happened in the Eelam War or the fishermen issue. Indian government is responsible for national security and it has to ensure the country’s foreign policy is tailored to serve our strategic interests. So we should view New Delhi’s gift of a coast guard vessel in this broader context than from the perspective of one or two issues only.
*** Here I think you are being a bit Naive. What you are saying amounts to India trusting Sri Lanka to safeguard her Security. Wake up Colonel and be realist.I will never trust Sri Lanka.
3) Tamil Nadu political leaders have long used both the fishermen issue as well as the Tamil separatist struggle to strengthen their political constituencies in the state. So it is not surprising that they have strongly criticized gifting away the Indian Coast Guard vessel Varaha to Sri Lanka Navy on August 27.
*** This is a fair asessment but they are Politicians so what do yiu expect.
4) In any case, the Eelam War is over and the Tamil Tigers have been eliminated in Sri Lanka. However, Sri Lanka fears the possibility of LTTE’s revival as remnants of the LTTE are still active abroad. Sri Lanka Navy is responsible to ensure such elements do not clandestinely enter into the country. So it will continue to patrol Sri Lankan waters to check any suspicious movement of boats.
*** This frankly is an Opportunistic Rhetoric, Therev is no Revival of the LTTE.
6) Ever since China entered Sri Lanka in a big way India’s maritime security concerns have increased. Chinese naval ships are increasingly sighted in our ocean vicinity. China has financed and completed the Hambantota port project and the expansion of Colombo carrier terminal. Last year, India had strongly objected to the berthing of Chinese warships, including two submarines, in Colombo port. Sri Lanka seems to have understood India’s security concerns as it is a major user of Colombo port facility.
*** Sri Lanka is a “kosu” and doesnt have the Naval capacity to patrol international Waters which is left the biggest Gun the USA.
Ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Sri Lanka – the first visit by an Indian prime minister in 12 years – the two nations have come closer. The Sirisena government has responded positively to India’s security concerns about Chinese warships; this is evident from a PTI report on April 15, 2015 from Beijing.
*** India under the pretext of her Security has the Luxury of puling the Plug any time and GOSL was simply ordered to toe the line.
7) So India’s gift of a ship to the Sri Lanka navy should be viewed in the overall context of strengthening its maritime security which is in the interest of India’s own national security. This becomes even more important now that China’s naval presence Indian Ocean is going to increase in the years to come.
*** I hava already said that Sri Lanka is a “Kosu”. But China might be a Kulavi but it can be contained because of the area China has to cover to exert any influence and vulnerable to hostile manuevers by USA.
8) Lastly, at the risk of repeating myself, I would request Tamil Nadu political leaders to understand the dynamics of change in Sri Lanka after the defeat of the LTTE and the exit of Mahinda Rajapaksa from power. It was Sri Lanka Tamils who helped President Maithripala Sirisena come to power by overwhelmingly voting for him. The Tamil National Alliance is at the forefront of looking after Tamil interests.
However, Sri Lanka Tamils particularly in northern and eastern provinces have not yet fully recovered from the aftermath of the devastating war. Tamil Nadu can help them immensely by assisting in increasing their employment and livelihood opportunities. This would make more meaningful contribution to them, than Tamil Nadu political leaders’ flowery, but negative, rhetoric on Sri Lanka.
*** This is where I disagree with you and would correct your analysis. We may be seeing light inside the tunnel but it is a bit like the ” Kada Kada Loda Loda Vandi”. We are moving towards day light but two ” Madus” who are pulling it to rreach the end are not synchronised. One ( USA) is refusing to pull and may be it has seen another Mate for a bit of hanky panky and there is a danger that Journey might end and we wil be stuck in the Tunnel while the Bull has some fun at our expense.
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Tassimo / September 2, 2015
Those who don’t know the past, here is the key reason India is mortally scared of China.
In 1962, they gave India a double thrashing and Indian armed forced ran and they were humiliated when China attacked across contested territory. Chinese then agreed to the ceasefire brokered by Indonesia, Egypt and Ceylon; the leaders who activated the non-aligned nations to do that were Sukarno(overthrown by CIA), Nasser and Mrs.Bandaranaike.
Chinese were so amazing that they rebuilt all the destroyed houses of the peasants in the areas they captured. If they wanted to, they could have stayed on but the conflagration could have escalated getting super powers involved.
Hariharan knows that India is still morbidly afraid of China’s military prowess. But India rearmed adn retrained after that and now has troops capable of high altitude fighting and has weapons systems that can give back to the Chinese in equal or even better effective ways in artillery etc. It was sad to see poorly equipped and poorly trained troops from India not being able to fight in high altitudes without proper gear. The joke was the Tamil and other S.Indian troops were wearing chappals and just woolen jerseys. Anyway the word to describe that super humiliation at the hands of Chinese is a**whupping.
I would like Hariharan to read Dixit’s book and then talk about the wholesale rape of our Tamil girls and the massacres and torture they carried out. The Sikh troops of Innocent People Killing Force(IPKF) were considered the worst when it came to rape and stealing gold from Tamils in our nation.
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Ranjith / September 2, 2015
Rightly said. IPKF is one of the worst Armies in the World. Equally barbaric as Srilankan Army.
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Mora / September 2, 2015
“”and they were humiliated when China attacked across contested territory. “”
Please don’t shoot mantras across.
To date the Indians have not returned a single POW to China but China has returned all POW to India.
The reason being which applies to Lanka too is that American Truman and English Churchill created India Pakistan East/West. As much as US/UK would not permit Israel from being destroyed it would not let India be destroyed by China.
China and Russia both needed American Roosevelt money to stay alive during WW2 but they like Lanka both cheated by killing their own people to form one single ethnicity which is not the way the English have ruled and do rule even today. Even in the UK most of the upper class are married to the Irish so there we go…
now go over to a British reference library and read before saying China would do India. The Chinese are negotiators in their thought not war mongers and india knows that well so they prefer to be allies and fight both the US/UK and Russia (all Europeans) and reign supreme- that’s their future dream.
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Native Vedda / September 3, 2015
Ranjith
“Rightly said. IPKF is one of the worst Armies in the World. Equally barbaric as Srilankan Army. “
Therefore we need an independent investigation into all war crimes and crimes against humanity committed on this soil from 5th April 1971 to date.
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Candidly / September 3, 2015
India, let alone Tamil Nadu, fishermen have no “traditional rights” to fish in Sri Lankan territorial waters, only bad habits to do so. Why should a small independent island grant fishing rights to a nation of 1.25 billion people to fish in in its waters and destroy them through greed as they destroyed much of their own fishing waters? You don’t stop robbers by giving into their demands.
It’s not going to happen and the sooner India, and especially Tamil Nadu, accept that, the sooner they will find alternative sources of employment other than poaching and robbery.
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Tassimo / September 3, 2015
India trained unemployed Tamil youth in India clandestinely in the 1970s
§ Where is the evidence for this? Jain Commission report following assassination of Rajiv Gandhi names the camps that these trainings took place, the number of batches as well
§ Council of Foreign Relations “RAW helped to train and arm the LTTE in the 1970s”
§ Mr. Dixit, in his memoirs, had said that arming Sri Lankan Tamil youths was one of the two major policy blunders of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. “Intelligence agencies (RAW) said….these are boys who were trained by us from 1977” (Dixit, Assignment Colombo)
§ “Intelligence agencies (RAW) said….these are boys who were trained by us from 1977” (Dixit, Assignment Colombo)
§ Paying LTTE Rs.50 lakhs per month (Apri 5, 1988 Wikileaks cable quoting Dixit)
§ April 5, 1988 Wikileaks cable quotes J N Dixit that India had agreed to pay LTTE Rs.50lakhs per month which was paid in July 1987. This was to make up for the tax loss for the LTTE upon IPKF arrival. It was also a payment that sealed Prabakaran’s agreement to the Indo-Lanka Accord.
If we say Indians have “traditional rights” HARIHARAN, so do Sri Lankans. Problems is with Tamil Indian GREED to STEAL resources and overfish. They use bottom trawling illegal methods and they STEAL the fish after having depleted YOUR SIDE of the resources in the breeding ground for fish species. SO if you do not have tens of millions poor underprivileged people, we will have less problems. Illegal immigration is also a problem for us.
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Native Vedda / September 4, 2015
Tassimo
Please factcheck your comment.
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