Deputy Minister Vijayakala Maheswaran has declared that Sri Lanka will not return Katchatheevu to India.
“Katchatheevu is part of Sri Lanka according to an agreement and hence it is not possible to give it back to India,” Minister Maheswaran told reporters at Katchatheevu, after taking part in a two-day annual St Antony’s festival, the Indian Express news reported.
As per the 1974 and 1976 agreements, India had ceded Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka.
Shrikharan / February 23, 2016
“Katchatheevu is part of Sri Lanka according to an agreement and hence it is not possible to give it back to India,”
But, agreements are meant to be broken, is the norm of Sri Lanka. What then about the 1987 Indo Lanka agreement, and has it been honored? Definite No is the answer! You respect yours and India will respect theirs.
Indian Military should walk in and take control of the island. India has all the justifications to taker it back. First and foremost reason is ‘Might’. Might is right. Sri Lanka did not honor the commitment of a Federal State through the signed Indo-Lanka agreement in 1987 on grounds of ‘might is right’ so why can’t India too take back Katchatheevu on the same grounds. Further there were other flaws quoted and if I remember correctly one was Indira Gandhi did not seek approval of the Indian Parliament or something.
If India had some self respect she would simply order their military to walk in and take over the Island and when questioned by Sri Lanka simply quote Sri Lanka’s abrogation of the Indo-Lanka accord and their bogus court case where Sarath Silva declared Indo Lankan agreement being null and void. Else let India also have similar court case and let it declare handing over Katchatheevu as illegal and then order the military to walk in and take over!
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Ben Hurling / February 23, 2016
Shrikharan,
“Indian Military should walk in and take control of the island.”
Indians tried something like that around 1987 in Jaffna Peninsula and beyond in Sri Lanka.
Ended in bloody debacle for India. After imposing upon herself massive loss of lives and treasure. Mother India ran away back to New Delhi with her tail firmly between the legs.
That was after having faced a Sri Lankan terror outfit called the LTTE. Imagine the plight of the ill-equipped and poorly trained Indian Army at the hands of the battled hardened SLA. An Army annihilated the LTTE.
Have you heard about much dreaded deep penetration reconnaissance missions of SLA? Heard about “The Mahasohon Brigade”? Does it ring a bell?
I don’t think the Indian Army should walk anywhere beyond the borders of southern Tamil Nadu. Don’t you?
Cheers!
PS: Deputy Minister Vijayakala Maheswaran for President! She did not mince her words on Sri Lanka’s behalf. Nothing was left for any doubts. We need more politicians like her in our ranks.
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Rohan R / February 23, 2016
Shrikharan,
I know,you are hurting because your deal LTTE lost. Don’t lose sleep over this issue, India Will never take this island back. Also read the indo lanka agreements if you can read that is. It never says there will be a federal system. Anyways we don’t need to honor it because it was forced upon SL.
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Shrikharan / February 23, 2016
“Anyways we don’t need to honor it because it was forced upon SL.”
You can tell any excuse and the same excuse is also possible by India. India could also say various excuses the handing over Katchatheevu was forced and make a story and that is all it takes.
I am only looking at the bigger picture and the moral issues behind and not the minor details. The bigger picture is an agreement is an agreement and that should be honoured.
I am not a supporter or against Katchatheevu being taken over or not and it does not bother me. But certainly Indo Lanka agreement was an agreement and now being dishonoured. I will like to have my pound of flesh. Honour the Indo-Lanka agreement and then I will support India to honour the Katchatheevu agreement of handing over the island to Sri Lanka. If my memory serves me well, I think these two, Katchatheevu and the Indo-Lanka agreements were connected. Forgive me if I am wrong here, and even if so it does not any way affect the concept I wish to enlighten.
All I understand, what is always accepted and honoured is ‘might is right’. Might is on India’s side and so they have the absolute right to take over. They can cook up any reasons and excuses similar to Rohan saying ‘they were forced on them and so the mighty Sri Lanka (Sinhalese) do not have to honour the pledge for Federal State in the N&E for the weak minorities (Tamils)”.
Sorry, I can’t accept the stand, “heads I win, tails you lose!”.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / February 23, 2016
The Kachchaitheevu agreement was finalized in 1974. The indo-Lanka agreement came a decade + later.
Dr.RN
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Shrikharan / February 23, 2016
Dear Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
“The Kachchaitheevu agreement was finalized in 1974. The indo-Lanka agreement came a decade + later.”
Thanks. Still, agreements need to be honoured and if one can dishonor an agreement then other too has the same right to dishonor an agreement of their choice. Am I right in this concept? What is good for the goose is good for the gander.
So if Sri Lanka can dishonor the Indo Lanka agreement using cock and bull argument then India to have the equal right to dishonor their Kachchaitheevu agreement giving cock and bull reasons.
Tamils do not care of the Kachchaitheevu agreement but certainly by dishonoring the Indo Lanka agreement by the Sri Lankan Government the Tamils have lost a lot for what Tamils fought for. This matters to Tamils a lot. We had so many broken agreements and was not the fist time. We had seen broken Banda Chelva agreement, Dudley Chelva agreement and then the Indo Lanka agreement.
We need our pound of flesh. Honor the indo Lanka agreement and give the Tamils what they were promised. Then I will support India to honor their agreement of giving Kachchaitheevu to Sri Lanka. Tamils cannot be always losers. We too must strike when the iron is hot. Dear Dr. Narendran understand my point. Stop being a boot licker, nothing personal!
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / February 23, 2016
Shriharan,
Being objective, rational and sensitive to realities is not bootlicking! The 13th amendment drafted on the basis of the Indo-Sri Lanka was deliberately mutilated with Indian connivance. I remember the then Indian Solicitor General, Parasaran, participated in the drafting. The Indians convinced many doubters here that they would be able to get more done with time, with their presence (IPKF) in the island. However, LTTE did not give us a chance to see whether that would transpire. The LTTE connived with Premadasa to end the Indian involvement . They also murdered Rajiv Gandhi to make sure the Indians were kept at bay.. Varadarajaperumsl played into the hands of the LTTE and Premadasa, quite stupidly. JR also laid a trap for them and they fell into it with their eyes open. To give credit to JR he did make an effort to make many aspects of the 13th amendment like land and police powers operative. It is not Sri Lanka or India that are to be blamed for the fiasco the 13th amendment became. The LTTE has to bear a major share of the blame.
We have to work with the present government to give form to the intent/ purpose of the amendment. The concurrent list must me minimized or eliminated. Taxation powers must be granted to the PCs. The questions of police and land powers must be revisited address the concerns of both parties. The system should be designed to permit the minorities to play a decisive role at the center and a effective and inalienable bill of rights should be incorporated rights in the constitution.
I think this is the way to go. We cannot bargain with Kachchtivu -a barren little island as the pawn. The Indians are not going to play the game you wan them to, despite Jayalaltha’s hysterics. India will have much to lose with an enemy at its Southern tip.
Dr.RN
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Shrikharan / February 23, 2016
Dear Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
Thanks so much for your reply. I agree with what you said, I agree the LTTE stymied the Indo Lanka accord because they wanted Eelam and ultimately got nothing and left placing us in a worse situation than what we were when they took over in the 70’s. The LTTE cannot boast like the Governor of Hong Kong to tell the people of Hong Kong when they left “we are handing back a HK better than what it was when we took over”. However there is now no LTTE!
I wanted to bring my point being totally frustrated at many broken accords by the Sri Lankan Government.
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Ross Peters / February 24, 2016
In the present context Sri Lanka Tamils are better treated compare to Indian Tamils.
Tamils are in high profile places
Both Sinhala and Tamil are recognised as National Languages
National anthem is sung in both languages
Tamils are recruited in to the government service
Police and military
Opposition leader is from Tamils Nation Alliance
I think srilanla is progressing well towards reconciliation and togetherness.
India created the LTTE terrorist and aided a and trained them allowing 30 years of misery including 70000 innocent lives were lost.
There is no moral or otherwise obligation to uphold the Indo-Lanka agreement because Indian jets were flying in the Colombo sky as warning if JR disagree on the deal.
Best bet is learn from your progressive neighbour rather been jelous. We all make mistakes and Rajive experienced it first hand so did his mom.
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Amarasiri / February 23, 2016
Deputy Minister Vijayakala Maheswaran
RE: India Will Not Get Katchatheevu: Vijayakala
Yes, “Katchatheevu is part of Sri Lanka according to an agreement and hence it is not possible to give it back to India,”
Katchatheevu is part of the Land of Native Veddah Aethho.
It belongs to the Paras in the Land of Native Veddah Aethho.
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Tamil from the north / February 23, 2016
Keep these Indian fellows at bay. This country belongs to the folks who live there.
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Dr.Rajasingham Natendran / February 23, 2016
Kachchaitivu apeared as a result of a volcanic eruption in the 14 th century. The following link gives the response of Rohitha Bogollagama, former Foreign a Minister in parliament:
http://www.mea.gov.lk/index.php/component/content/1396?task=view
The information in this presentation, show that Indra Gandhi was right in renouncing its claims to this barren island without referring to the Lok and Rajya Sabbas.
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / February 23, 2016
Kachchaitivu apeared as a result of a volcanic eruption in the 14 th century. The following link gives the response of Rohitha Bogollagama, former Foreign a Minister in parliament:
http://www.mea.gov.lk/index.php/component/content/1396?task=view
N
The information in this presentation, show that Indra Gandhi was right in renouncing its claims to this barren island without referring to the Lok and Rajya Sabbas.
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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Estate Labourer / February 23, 2016
Katchatheevu is best left to the bats, owls and other animal life on that islet and the sea around it!
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PARAMANATHAN K / February 23, 2016
Comments made by Minister Vijayakala on Katchaitivu is totally uncalled by a responsible minister. This might put the government in an embarrassing situation with its counter part. Sri Lanka politicians always fish in troubled waters since they want to create more problems and won’t make an attempt to solve them. There are many more problems unresolved in her electorate and she appears to be clueless as she got into politics by accident. Hope in future Honourable Minister will act with responsibility.
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Patriot / February 23, 2016
This lady after refusing to hoist the national flag in a state function came under lot of flack. This Katcchathivu hula baloo is to get media attention about her patriotism. That Island has been given to Sri Lanka no one is asking for it in India. This is what was called Pada Show.
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sekara / February 23, 2016
Far more important than Kachativu is the problem of Indian poaching.
While that happens who owns Kachativu is irelevant.
Can the SL Government be firm for a change and stand up to India.
Allow the Navy to be be tougher.
Detain the vessels release the culprits with large penalties, which the High Commisioner’s Office in Jaffna could pay if it wishes.
Hold on to the vessels until the whole matter is resolved.
The fishers on both sides are capable of resolving humanitarian issues to the exclusion of bottom trawlers.
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Candidly / February 24, 2016
India did not cede the island of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka as the island was never India’s to cede. It was disputed territory and the government of India accepted that it was part of Sri Lanka and withdrew all claims to it in 1974. The chief minister of Tamil Nadu should be arrested by India for continuously inciting Tamil Nadu fisherman to poach, i.e. to steal, from the seas of another country. If India does not do that Sri Lanka and the Northern Province should take action against the Tamil Nadu chief minister for incitement to breach international law.
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NAK / February 24, 2016
Dy.Min.Vijeyakala only exposes her lack of knowledge on the subject.
Katchchativu was never India’s to be ceeded in the first place but they seem to have the notion that it belonged to them.
Sri Lanka pointed out out to India in before and in 1974 that it belongs to Sri Lanka according to International maritime boundary law, India acceeded and signed the agreement conceding sovereignity to Sri Lanka.
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sekara / February 24, 2016
Dr RN
You said:
“Kachchaitivu apeared as a result of a volcanic eruption in the 14 th century.
The following link gives the response of Rohitha Bogollagama, former Foreign a Minister in parliament: http://www.mea.gov.lk/index.php/component/content/1396?task=view“
Is there geological evidence for this? I am curious.
I could not find much on volcanic action in the Palk Strait in your link. Not anywhere else either.
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