By Dayan Jayatilleka –
Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka
Were Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to stay away from the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) summit in Colombo next month, it would not only be perceived as a snub by Sri Lanka but would damage Delhi’s soft-power projection in its own environs and prove deleterious to India’s interests.
India has just scored a singular achievement in reactivating the Northern Provincial Council. That should have been sufficient for New Delhi to face down pressure from Tamil Nadu vis-à-vis attendance by its leader at CHOGM.
If it is unable to do so, it will also reduce India’s capacity to nudge Colombo forward on the delivery of devolution — the preponderant view in Sri Lanka would then be that even the riskiest move such as the holding of Northern elections and the installation of an administration critical of the State in the strategically sensitive North does not earn even so much as the attendance of the Indian Prime Minister at CHOGM. The conclusion would be that there is little to be gained by moving forward on the issue of devolution that is of significance to India. This in turn may prompt the Sri Lankan government to believe the re-establishment of the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) is as far as Colombo should go and good as it is going to get.
Image perception
Then again, there is the optics of absenting oneself from an event in one’s neighbourhood which will be attended by other neighbours including one’s critics. This would reinforce a negative vision of India as a power that is deficient in good neighbourly custom and sentiment, insensitive to the hurt pride of small neighbours, but at the same time is weak enough to have its external relations shaped if not determined by sub-regional pressure.
It is unrealistic to assume that New Delhi would ignore the feelings in a State of 70 million people especially in an election season. Nevertheless, it is perfectly possible to balance those sentiments with those of a neighbouring state and the overwhelming majority of its people, by pointing to the holding of the elections in the North and the reconstitution after a quarter of a century, of that important sub-state unit in which the Tamil minority constitutes a majority.
If the Prime Minister of India is blackmailed by Tamil Nadu into absenting himself from the summit despite the election of the NPC, it is highly probable that the same factor would prevent Delhi from being perceived as favouring Colombo or even sit on the fence at the March 2014 session of the U.N. Human Rights Council if a resolution to initiate an international inquiry into the conduct of the war by the Sri Lankan state were to come up for a vote. Tamil sentiment in Tamil Nadu is no more legitimate or politically significant than Sinhala sentiment in Sri Lanka. Therefore, an Indian semi-snub cannot but reinforce the negative aspect of the ambivalent sentiment towards India prevalent among the vast majority of the neighbouring island’s inhabitants.
Beijing-Islamabad tilt
While it may not prove a strategically prudent reaction, this public opinion backlash can only renew an abiding sense in the Sri Lankan establishment, dating back to Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s tilt during the Bangladesh war, that the island state is better served by location on a Beijing-Islamabad axis.
The Bandaranaike tilt of the early 1970s was itself a variant on the policy of the first Prime Minister of independent Ceylon, D.S. Senanayake, who perceived a threat from Nehruvian India and a nexus between the powerful neighbour and inhabitants of Indian origin in the central highlands of the island nation. His strategy was to retain a relationship with the West and to politically marginalise the domestic Tamil component of perceived Indian influence.
Given the India-U.S. axis, Sri Lanka manifestly has no western card to play, but it could regard itself as the third corner of a Beijing-Islamabad-Colombo triangle, however unsustainable such a strategic posture could turn out to be. The domestic aspect of such a strategic decision could be to regard the vital border areas of the Northern Province as a potential sphere of influence if not a beachhead of an unfriendly India. This cannot but impact upon the progress of the process of the full devolution of powers in accordance with the Thirteenth Amendment.
It is of course true that India is of sufficient size, strength and significance to ignore the sentiments of its neighbours. However, the relationship with Vietnam cannot be entirely irrelevant to China nor can that with Mexico be irrelevant to the U.S. Both relationships have a history of suspicion on the part of the smaller power. As a small island, Sri Lanka lacks the weight of a Vietnam or Mexico, but it can be a prickly porcupine which will then be regarded by India more as the U.S. did Cuba. This would entail a complete abdication of soft power in Delhi’s equation with Colombo, its retrenchment to and residual retention only in the island’s Northern periphery and the replacement of equidistance or a balancing act between Sri Lanka’s Sinhala majority and Tamil minority in favour of an irrevocable Indian tilt to the latter.
Vital cards
After the friction of a few years ago with its neighbours, China is more aware of the importance of how it is perceived to behave in its own immediate environs. The loss to India’s soft power in South Asia by the alienation of Sri Lanka will neither be negligible nor ephemeral. This is an outcome and scenario that need to be rethought in a neighbourhood that is not devoid of competition.
The presence or absence of the Indian Prime Minister at CHOGM and India’s vote on an international inquiry mechanism at the UNHRC in March 2014 are cards that must not be thrown away. As Ronald Reagan cautioned, once you’ve played your last card, you no longer have it. India must not gain the Tamil minority of the island only to lose Sri Lanka. India’s Sri Lanka policy must not seem as if it has been formulated at the Madras Cafe.
*This article appeared in the Hindu
I am Sri Lankan / October 21, 2013
Mr. Dayan, We know that this Land will be separated… so dont talk more useless….
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Javi / October 21, 2013
Germany was a lesson never to be repeated. If you had only seen the features of the easterners the day the wall fell like I did after hearing of the russian war on them after the war- War is the ultimate horror that man inflicts upon man.
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John / October 22, 2013
Good advice to Delhi.
Sri Lanka knows it’s best friends in both good & bad times are Pak & China, even if Indian PM visits or not that remains same but if India needs it’s influence to rein in ,then PM should visit , if not India’s words on devolution etc; would be as good as Canadian words.
Tamil Nadu factor is Delhi made one, never TN indigenous, even in mid May 2009 last days of war India had national elections & according to NDTV poll, TN voters attention to Lanka war had only 8% interest & balance 92% factors were domestic, like 12 hour power cuts & cost of living etc.
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Javi / October 22, 2013
Really keep on twiddling your toes King Pong
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John / October 22, 2013
Javi,
Indian monkey , F ur mother , tell me any thing u disagree with me, then i’ll give u a mouth full.
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Javi / October 22, 2013
[Edited out]
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Javi / October 22, 2013
CT has got a hiccup like Hoppalong Cassidy so John try toadstools mouse tse tung.
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rohana / October 23, 2013
This is what NGO mans premadasa did to our country
SB lambastes Premadasas for ethnic turmoil, UNP crisis
October 22, 2013, 10:03 pm
article_image
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Had President Ranasinghe Premadasa allowed the Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF)-run first North East Provincial Council (NEPC) to function, the Eelam conflict wouldn’t have taken such a destructive course, Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake asserted yesterday.
He said that President Premadasa had joined forces with LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran instead backing the first NE Chief Minister Varatharaja Perumal’s administration.
President Premadasa was bent on sabotaging the provincial administration regardless of consequences, the minister said. He was responding to a query on a live political discussion, on the ITN yesterday morning.
Perumal was appointed the Chief Minister of the NEPC following the elections held in November 1988 under the supervision of the Indian Army.
Having reached an understanding with Prabhakaran in May 1989, President Premadasa provided the LTTE with the wherewithal to wage war against the IPKF and the EPRLF, Minister Dissanayake said.
The MP criticised President Premadasa’s unilateral demand that the Indian Army be pulled out by July 1989.
He claimed that the initiative to settle the national issue through peaceful means had suffered a debilitating setback due to President Premadasa’s foolish move.
Responding to another query, Dissanayake accused the UNP of causing mayhem in Jaffna in the ‘80s. The minister alleged that the disruption of Jaffna DDC polls and setting the Jaffna library ablaze caused the rapid deterioration of the situation in the North.
Although successive governments couldn’t overcome terrorism, President Mahinda Rajapaksa succeeded in May 2009, the minister said.
Whatever the criticism, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), comprising the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi, the EPRLF, the TELO, the PLOTE and the TULF comfortably won the first Northern Provincial Council poll, the minister said, adding that contrary to expectations those who had campaigned on an LTTE platform barely managed to enter the council. The minister ridiculed newly elected MPs who took their oaths at Vellimullavaikkal following a simmering dispute over the allocation of ministerial portfolios. Dissanayake asserted that the ongoing power struggle in the TNA could get worse and the moderates would definitely experience difficulties.
Expressing confidence that Northern Province CM retired Justice C. V. Wigneswaran would be able to work with the government for the benefit of northerners, Minister Dissanayake stressed that no government had done so much work in the Northern Province.
Commenting on the continuing crisis in the UNP, Dissanayake alleged that former UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa, MP was primarily responsible for the crisis in the party today. Due to Premadasa’s treachery many party members had to leave the party, the minister said, alleging the former President’s son wanted the party to remain in the Opposition until he was ready to succeed Wickremesinghe.
Responding to a query by The Island, the minister said that those who had courageously backed Premadasa’s initial push for reforms in the wake of heavy defeats were forced to face the wrath of Wickremesinghe. “Sajith Premadasa never wanted to bring the operation to a successful conclusion. He launched a project but abandoned it halfway leaving his associates to face the fire. Dayasiri Jayasekera was one of the victims of Premadasa’s deceit.”
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A. Friend / October 24, 2013
The problem with dayan’s analysis is that he thinks Singh may not attend the Summit because of the Sri Lankan Tamils. Wrong. He may not come due to the electoral realities in Tamil Nadu. This makes dayan’s analysis irrelevant.
And also Singh knows that you have already sold out to China and what he is trying to salvage is the North, for which he may needs the support of the Tamils. My dear dayan cannot see that as his present writings are only contracts.
Anyway, the objective of the piece is achieved because it was a contract undertaken for his master, Mahinda Rajapaksa.
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Pasel / October 21, 2013
Learn to keep you friends close and the enemies closer
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Thiru / October 21, 2013
Wimal Weeransa, the war monger who egged on the genocide of Tamils, during the war said that India should be used like karapinja and discarded after the curry is cooked:
It was cooked alright in 2009 with 147,000 Tamils’ lives. Now India is to be discarded, right?
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Banda / October 21, 2013
This man, a terrorist sympathizer says ‘Wimal Weeransa, the war monger’. He doesn’t know that the vast majority of Sri Lankans approved the war and are grateful to MR for ending the 30 year terrorism in Sri Lanka. He doesn’t know that the vast majority of Sri Lankans enjoy the peace that prevail in the country after the war.
These kind of separatists think megalomaniac terrorist Pirapakaran a peace dove. They have forgotten that Pirapakaran had blasted 384 human bombs and thousands of clamour bombs to blast our buses, trains and public places that had killed and maimed tens of thousands of people.
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RuwanL / October 22, 2013
Hey Thiru,
How did you get 147,000? it was 20,000 then it went to 40,000 and after some time it went to 70,000 and may be some claimed that 100,000 died! if 147,000 died what happened to their dead bodies? I am sure if such a large number died then the US who has satellites hovering above us that could read the label on my shoe would have the photos out in a flash! if 20,000 civilians died prove it!
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Vichara / October 22, 2013
Anybody interested in getting the number of civilian deaths from a Tamil perspective should visit the Tamilnet website archives which report less than 8000 deaths during 2009. Tamilnet does not make a distinction between civilian deaths and deaths of LTTE cadres.
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Native Vedda / October 23, 2013
Vichara
What is your guestimate, give us a number?
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Nano Tina / October 21, 2013
Its a huge mistake by India to succumb to regional forces thereby reducing its stature as the central government which could boomerang from many a regions in time to come and the center will fade into insignificance as a political power in international affairs where the regions will set the agenda for the central government.
Sri Lanka has nothing to loose by this absurd Indian move and of course everything to gain by further moving towards China that can justify now. Even Sampur Coal power plant, to begin with, should be given to the Chinese. All development work in the North and East should be given to the Chinese. In addition to development, this will force China to secure their interests in Sri Lanka which will automatically secure Sri Lanka against high handed acts of India.
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Taraki / October 21, 2013
Well said DJ. Manmohan Singh will attend CHOGM, he’s just silent at the moment to keep the Tamilnadu blackmailers guessing.
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Javi / October 21, 2013
“Manmohan Singh will attend CHOGM, he’s just silent at the moment to keep the Tamilnadu blackmailers guessing.”
Graft Company is trying to lure schedule caste Schedule Tribe votes.
It will not work when its badagini/pasikidu/buklagrahai
Hanuman ki Jai
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Taraki / October 21, 2013
‘Graft Company is trying to lure schedule caste Schedule Tribe votes. It will not work when its badagini/pasikidu/buklagrahai Hanuman ki Jai’
kullanımdaki dil İngilizce olduğunu bilmiyor musun? Makes as much sense!
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Javi / October 21, 2013
chetty boy sound like a terrified postman.
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Taraki / October 22, 2013
Javi the Govt. are hosting Turkish postmen these days.
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Javi / October 22, 2013
Those are your sausages poor boy.
Tell the Austrians that for a change will you.
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Sen / October 22, 2013
Javi Indian monkey your sausages not worth shit.
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Javi / October 22, 2013
“not worth shit”
sorry honey its not thursday- try me i have it jamon serrano specially made for you- preek preek.
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JULAMPITIYE AMARAYA / October 21, 2013
Oh, India Is having many friends
and its Bureaucrats used to Destabilize all of the friendly countries back stabbing them.
as example; Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan, Burma [Myanmar] China, Papua Newguine and some African countries.
No exemption of Sri Lanka,
As India becoming the most Friendly Enemy.
Even their own people dying of starvation, the friendly India spending millions of dollars from their budget to Spying, Arming, training of terrorists and rebels, to destabilize neighbouring and other friendly countries.
Best example is SRI LANKA.
They have Spy centres called Consulates in KANDY , HAMBATHOTA, JAffNA, and going to open Trincomalee, Mannar and Batticoloa.
And most of the Indian companies operating in sri lanka,
they have RAW and IIB agent with them.
The Dangerous Enemy, Disguise as a best friend.
Who wants a Friendly ENEMY like that??????.
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Safa / October 21, 2013
With a general election looming in 2014 it is doubtful if the Congress Govt will risk alienating TN. Remember they had no qualms about dropping parippu in the time of JR. Sri Lanka is negligible compared to the huge challenges they face on the Northern and Eastern fronts. In any case they are well aware of the forces at play here.
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Thiru / October 21, 2013
This prophet has now reached the stage of warning India.
South Africa, Pakistan, and other countries were pushed out of the Commonwealth for lesser reasons than Sri Lanka’s grave violations of human rights that peaked in crimes against humanity and genocide of Tamils in 2009. CHOGM should not have been held in such an authoritarian, if barbarian state in the first place, let alone talk about Singh attending it.
Beijing-Islamabad-Colombo axis of evil is killing the decent lives of Tamils in Sri Lanka.
They are distressed by the genocide continuing in its structural form; land grabs, sterilization of Tamil women, sexual abuse of women, colonization of Sinhalese in their homeland, complete militarization of their daily lives and many more atrocities going on.
It’s not the devolution stupid, it’s the freedom from the Sinhala yoke that Tamils are yearning for.
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Park / October 21, 2013
Dayan your analysis is nothing new or nothing that is known by everyone. You have sat on a fence and commenting. You have missed a very vital point, there is no way China or Pakistan is going to come to Sri Lanka to defend Sri Lanka if there is an issue between India and Sri Lanka. You know what happened to Sri Lanka during Indra Gandhi’s time when Sri Lanka went behind USA, same happened during J.R. Jayawardena’s time when Parippu was dropped from the air by Rajiv Gandhi. At the end of the day all what India is asking is a solution to the ethnic problem and minority rights in Sri Lanka. You do not have to suck up to the President to get a position, be honest to yourself.
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Park / October 21, 2013
Sorry an error, it should read, nothing that is not known…..
Regret the error.
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lynx / October 22, 2013
Yes and RG paid for it ….
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justice / October 21, 2013
“……………………and the installation of an administration critical of the State……………………………”
Is the NPC critical of the MR regime?
In what way?
DJ is himself rousing hatred by such a supposition.
“………………..optics of absenting oneself from an event in ones neighbourhood……………………………………”
Are there “neighbourhoods” in the world?
DJ need not advice Singh who is a far mature politician and head of the world’s largest democracy unlike DJ who is now an admirer of the MR’s sinhala-buddhist military machine labelled a ‘democracy’.
Singh will do what he thinks is correct.
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Ceylonese / October 21, 2013
If the Indians pee. LANKA will drown. That’s a fact. Indians always had Lanka where wanted. The Chinese will play ball with the Indians for the big picture. The Rulers will fatten themselves at the expense of the citizens.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / October 21, 2013
I am sure Manmohan Singh is receiving quality advise from his officials, who are head and shoulders above their counterparts in Sri Lanka. I am sure all options will be explored and what is best for India and its interests will be pursued. He himself is a very intelligent, wise old man,who knows to keep his silence and say what he wants to say, when he wants to do so, briefly, firmly and sensibly.
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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manisekaran / October 21, 2013
Disagree. He is corrupt, stupid, yesman. If i dont respect his age, i would have used much worst words.
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Ceylonese / October 21, 2013
How do you come to the conclusion that Dr. Singh is corrupt, stupid, yesman? How closely you know him, Or are you consumed with propaganda. Fyi. Dr. Singh is the architect of the economic boom India experience now, which he instigated in 1990’s as Finance Minister.
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manisekaran / October 22, 2013
The recent coal scam beyond doubt has prooved to whole India that he is corrupt . He may not be the direct beneficiary of the corruption, but allowing corruption for the benefit of his master Sonia does not absolve him of corruption charges. You cannot single out only Dr. Manmohan for the success of Indian economy, equally P.chidambaram and Yaswant sinha too palyed active role in stabilizing the economy.
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sbarrkum / October 22, 2013
Manisekaran,
I am not sure what you consider as India’s economic success when you have nearly 14 million people mainly Dalits in slavery.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-24576982
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manisekaran / October 22, 2013
both sbarrkum and Ben hurting(self) jumped immediately at my comment not knowing that the response was to “ceylonese” mention of economic success. I just referred the limited economic success and does not boast like ben who thinks that he is from the most devoloped nation whose economy touches the moon. Between Ben, how many in middle east working as maids? I heard every montn one maid is killed and subjected to tortures. Is n’t worst than the three list you mentioned below, gentleman?
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Ben Hurling / October 22, 2013
Manisekaran,
Ha..ha! Let me summarize India’s economic success since Independence. Mostly under Congress Party management:
1. Population is largely illiterate.
2. Most people live in unhygenic conditions.
3. Most Indians live well below poverty line.
Gentlemen, the list is long.
Cheers!
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Dev / October 21, 2013
Well India’s foreign policy is often dictated by CAREER diplomats and NOT POLITICAL appointments such as Dayan !!!
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Saman De Silva / October 23, 2013
And thank god for that given how the DJ political types tend to waver back and forth, side to side, depending on how the wind is blowing favourably or unfavourably in their favour.
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Javi / October 21, 2013
DR R.N.
The name Gandhi came from a Parsee( Indira’s hubby Feroz) not the naked fakir. So in a land where illiteracy was over 30% the Congress was able to hoodwink along with playing race.religion, caste. Rajiv married a Gore and both took over power because of assassinations. Present leader of the opposition Sushima said I would shave my head if Sonia becomes PM. Raul Ji is now known not as a Brahmin from Kashmir but a pariah whom folk cannot trust like the Graft Government of today. Don’t forget 90% of IAF are Brahmin’s and the best from the engineering colleges of India- it is their strength that Lanka has never seen. The final scenario may be a schedule caste Sinhala Buddhist state of India. The reason being US which created Porkistan does not need it anymore since it has Poland the catholic nation for defence in the event of Russia. China will never threaten India come 2014 because of economic reasons. SL may try to sell Lanka as a subic bay and not pay back its dues is another scenario. Either way Lanka will lose at the end. The EU is talking of the US concept of Zero migration from Mexico (it’s simple the illicit immigrant gets nothing on arrival and anyone who assists would face legal action) so all the boat people better think twice.
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Taraki / October 22, 2013
The US created Pakistan….genius, you should be teaching History at Yale
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Javi / October 22, 2013
No! It was created because London was blitzed Quackula.
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Abhaya Premawardena / October 22, 2013
for a gut with a fake spanish avatar your racism and racial and caste knowledge is impressive .
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Javi / October 22, 2013
Boar constrictor I will get you some that is.
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aratai / October 22, 2013
Disagree….. He cannot say anything without getting permission from Madam Sonia.
:-)
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Dev / October 21, 2013
Pakistan is a basket case of a country-perfect for SL to join them than India.
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Senguttuvan / October 21, 2013
DJ’s narrative here has to be read and understood in the background of his improved relations with The Family. The regime could be expected to rely on DJ more and more in view of the absence of expert and analytical political minds within. DJ, arguably, is needed to dissect to understand the complexities/nuances of dealing with a suspicious and exasperated Delhi Administration in the latter’s little-love-lost relationship with the Rajapakse Brothers particularly in the eve of a do-or-die General Election in India.
DJs analysis proceeds on the assumption the personal visit of Dr. Man Mohan Singh is almost the beginning and end of our relationship with India in the present context. Let us be a little more objective and realise the Congress Party is fighting for its survival, to win the early 2014 General Elections, where Narenda Modi is leading the polls. The Indian electorate is extremely worried about the health of the Indian Rupee – whose decline the current administration has failed to halt. In the confusion there is the fear of another barbaric attack on highly populated Indian cities by overseas religious fanatics encouraged by Pakistan’s ISI, the Al Qaeda and the Taliban – to remind the world of the “growing power” of Islamic power, whatever that is. The truth is even if the Indian PM is far too much under domestic pressure to remain in Delhi, the Indian delegation may be headed by seniors in the administration – the Deputy President and the External Affairs Minister and a large delegation. The Indian PM has given a miss to previous CHOGMs – as Dr. MM is to have missed the last. Let us remember President Obama had to, most reluctantly, miss the much looked-forward-to APEC and visits to Indonesia and Malaysia – due to compelling domestic pressure surrounding the Govt. shut-down there.
So where is|”the slap in the face to India” here. If our relations with India is at a sorry pass the Rajapakses will have to take responsibility for that which is reported why the Indian PM, in other words, refused to meet President Rajapakse in the recent UNO meeting in New York.
“…it will also reduce India’s capacity to nudge Colombo forward on the delivery of devolution..” is a strange comment. The world is unanimous in warning the War itself was as a result of the failure of successive Lankan governments to provide the necessary devolution and internal governing features to the Tamils for half a century. Conceding these reasonable demands is not India’s responsibilities but Sri Lanka’s. Holding India to ransom to provide justice to Tamils may eventually drive India to proceed towards a Cyprus-like incision is the empirical truth.
“GoSL to believe the re-establishment of the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) is as far as Colombo should go and good as it is going to get” seems to be the strange shared thoughts of the Writer and the regime. It was no different to the warning of Minister Basil R before the elections “unless you vote for UPFA candidates you will not get funding for development and other work in Tamil areas” The asinine action of provocatively imposing “Development Ministers” as spanner in the works to the NPC is action fraught with mischief and inevitable danger.
“Tamil sentiment in Tamil Nadu is no more legitimate or politically significant than Sinhala sentiment in Sri Lanka” is a misleading statement in a Sinhala electorate in the South where the “sentiment”
is fastly changing where the forced might of the Rajapakses is coming under popular resistance such as the embarrassment to Dayasiri Jayasekera and the serious differences in the CPC.
DJ finds himself placed in the enviable position of gaining unison in competing compulstions – pleasing his master, serving the cause of justice to Tamils and helping reconciliation which I suspect is close to his heart. And that is to separate enabling the NPC without let to realising its potential from the pressures of Tamilnadu and Delhi issues. That will satisfy the hopes of the nearly million war-weary Tamils that empowered Vigneswaren in this, arguably, last chance as worth their sacrifice.
How the Rajapakses, the Delhi Wallahs and the Sonia-MMS duo conduct their private squabbles should not be used to distance the Tamil Nation in the Island away from the rest of the country. But, clearly, time is running short.
Senguttuvan
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Native Vedda / October 22, 2013
Senguttuvan
“Learn To Keep Your Friends Close”
Keep your frinds close, your enemies closer.
Does India keep war monger Dayan and his masters closer?
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manisekaran / October 21, 2013
“India has just scored a singular achievement in reactivating the Northern Provincial Council. That should have been sufficient for New Delhi to face down pressure from Tamil Nadu vis-à-vis attendance by its leader at CHOGM” – Dream in your own world. We tamils are not going to leave until the final peacful political settlement is guaranteed for them to pursue their life. Dont settle with rotten food 13A.
You build Islamabd-Beijing-Srilanka nexus, while myanmar and bangladesh which were part of “pit of pearls” realised its stupidity and moving away. And more so, US-India-Jap move sent already jitters in the partners of pit of pearls. Bangladesh withered its rigid approach with India and coming to good terms on all issues.
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Ben Hurling / October 22, 2013
Manisekaran,
“final peacful political settlement”
Could please specify exactly what you want? Obviously you are not happy with 13A.
So that, you coul stop beating about the bush whining about HR and all that.
Cheers!
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manisekaran / October 22, 2013
We are with TNA manifesto plus independent investigation of war crimes during the war in 2009
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I am no muslim / October 23, 2013
They want Eelam and thereafter a greater Eelam to include the Toilet Nad.
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Dr Dayan Jayatilleka / October 21, 2013
While it may be true, that as some of my critics on this thread say, my ‘advice’ is not needed by India or anyone else for that matter, but for some strange reason, The Hindu editorial desk disagreed and ran the piece on the Op-ed page…:))
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/learn-to-keep-your-friends-close/article5254549.ece?homepage=true
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bbs dayan / October 21, 2013
What’s so surprising about the Hindu which has been the mouth piece of N. Ram and Neo-Brahmanism taking an Anti-Dravidian and Tamil position, Mr. MR slave?
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Javi / October 21, 2013
Reality: if you see strength in SC/ST you may just keep on dreaming like this beauty. India is not just TN but its the Brahimins that keep it together and DJ is playing to that tune even though buddhist are SC.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZjOgz1x_uM
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Peace / October 21, 2013
The Hindu is a newspaper like Daily News in Sri Lanka.
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Senguttuvan / October 21, 2013
India, Tamilnadu and The Hindu are not the Failed Society and Kept-Press of Sri Lanka where “opinion” is now carefully managed. We congratulate DJ in his article and views featured in the democratic Hindu. But it does not necessarily mean the tolerant successors of the Kasturi Rangan family or its learned Editors agree with everything
DJ had written. It merely demonstrates how a newspaper in a democratic society – somewhat wobbly, if you like forgetting what John Galbraith described her, had to say.
Senguttuvan
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Uthungan / October 22, 2013
Exactly.
“…India is a functioning anarchy…”, it’s peculiarities
are it’s assets, because it is the land of the Eternal,Unborn and Inexhaustible.
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Dev / October 21, 2013
you will do anything for Geneva 2014
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Native Vedda / October 21, 2013
Dr Dayan Jayatilleka
Remember when Hindu notices you it means India is going to pull the carpet under you.
But then you deserve it.
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Senguttuvan / October 22, 2013
Dear Native
Looks like the wily N. Ram has prevailed. There was a drastic change
in the editorial policy matters late last week. Ravi is now Chief editor and Ram has more influence. Its a family show again with Malini Parthasarathy the other in the trio.
Senguttuvan
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manisekaran / October 22, 2013
Did you read the 9 comments under that article. Hindhu for a known reason is an anti-tamil newspapaer and no wonder that it carried your article there. Between Have you ever read the Tamil publication of Hindhu? It just carries out exactly the opposite views of its english version, blasts more of Srilanka policies like JV.
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Kumar R / October 23, 2013
Dayan,
Didn’t want to miss even that chance to blow your horn – hah!
Did you seriously think Hindu was looking to promote good counsel in selecting your article. You couldn’t be more wrong. They are merely looking to get any cheerleading they can get – and you thought they respected your wisdom! What a hoot!!
On another issue, you have religiously followed Rajiva’s strategy of not responding to any questions in the past three months or so, having eaten crow in the previous months trying to defend you positions. How come you came out of the shell this time – too tempting a horn to miss?!
Now, having broken the silence, can you answer Aljazeera’s question on your right-about turn at Weliweriya – even Rajapakse could only guess, evoking suggestions that you prostituted for an NGO? Do you not see a need to defend you honour?
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padmakumara / October 23, 2013
And do you also believe that running an article in its op-ed page is the Hindu’s endorsement of your position or acknowledgement of your capacity to advise and warn New Delhi, Dr Jayatillake?
You send your writings to so many places I guess some of them have to oblige and publish occasionally. No need to get too puffed up about it. The Hindu regularly carries op-eds from sri Lankan writers of varying shades of opinion.
The Hindu editorial desk indeed. Silly billy.
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A. Friend / October 24, 2013
My dear dayan, its also possible that, just like you, Hindu is also part of the Rajapaksa contract. Given the Hindu’s track record I have no doubt that this is part of the plan. You the kisser write and the Hundu publishes. It seems that you have made up with your master with Viggi’s swearing in.
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Upul / October 21, 2013
Lets not get the Congress Party’s domestic political agenda confused with its desire to project soft-power vis-a-vis the Chinese. The Chinese are a long way from home and are trying to co-opt the idiots running Sri Lanka along with the lot recently elected in Pakistan to serve its multiple purposes.
In the meantime India is in deep economic shit and the only reason there are no riots on the streets is because of its massive food welfare programs. It produces a lot, wastes a lot due to gross negligence and lack of infra-structure and what is left is pilfered, stolen and used.
Approximately 200 million Indians can be considered have the good life be they middle class or ultra-rich. The rest, are either starving or barely making it. This is the reality.
A technically educated younger generation 10 years ago was able to harness the massive dearth in Math and Science competent labor in the West and they lay siege to all the employment visas available in the West. The singular advantage they had was that English was taught as a second language throughout India, no matter if you studied in Hindi, Tamil or any other regional mother tongue. So, broken English or accent, the Indian employees were able to communicate. That was where their Russian and Chinese counterparts were no where to be found. Today, that shortcoming is being overcome in those countries too.
America is essentially projecting power through its proxy India. The new Obama Pacific force initiative is to tell China that the US is not going to allow China to intimidate its allies in any manner.
The Sinhala adage about the Elephants fighting and the ants getting trampled comes to mind.
Sri Lanka is insignificant in the geo-political machinations of the powers. Pakistan projects it is equal to India and India gladly allows the farcial charade to continue because it facilitates the massive defense budget. The Pakistani state has been an absolute failure and continues to be that. The Afghan conflicts twice over gave it an artificial life line a-la Western Military spending. That is coming to an end soon, so they create a Pakistani Taliban problem hoping that threat will inspire further US spending in the region. To allow or not to allow a bomb into a crowded bazaar sometimes is a cynical choice made by intelligence services. We know that the CIA, MI5 and ISI all do this.
CHOGM is not an India-centric event or a regional event. Its a British EVENT. Whether Manmohan Singh comes or not, India’s influence will be apparent.
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Piranha / October 21, 2013
Dayan is talking crap. After being fooled by Rajapaksa many times India has only one avenue open to it – put the boot into Rajapaksa’s arse. The man needs to be taught a lesson in common decency and acceptable diplomatic behaviour.
This China Pakistan scaremongering is a load of bull and India should not hesitate to even try and topple the Rajapaksa dictatorship. It will be for the good of India nad also Sri Lanka.
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chandra / October 22, 2013
I’m reasonably confident that Manmohan will attend. He is a seasoned politician who will “bargain” with the TN politicians to come down hard on MRGOSL in March 2014.
He has delivered the NP elections, he canvassed the Commonwealth to go ahead with the Colombo venue. More importantly he would send the wrong signals to the IC on his non attendeance.
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K.A Sumanasekera / October 22, 2013
“Tamil Political parties and their leaders are whipping up the low castes sentiments to their advantage ,using Srilanka Tamils as bait” says a respected Congress MP from Tamil Nadu,in defence of his PM Mr Singh.
Doesn’t this sound similar to the LTTE master plan , which resulted in annihilating the high caste high class political structure, and bludgeoning the fringe players to become humble servants for the Leader?.
Are the high caste and high class Nadu pollies joining before the Srilankan fate befall on them?.
Could Yesterday’s suicide attack in a Russian Bus killing hoards of innocent civilians including children ,while President Putin was in talks with the Indian PM ,give the latter a reality check?.
With their TNGE well in place with its high profile PM in good company of movers and shakers at the top, wouldn’t the largest Ethnic group in the world without a proper nation of their own , aspire for one in the most obvious place to accommodate all as one family?.
Even if Mohan can go a step further,to detach the Peninsula ,how many can be accommodated in such a small piece of real Estate?.
Even with Hakeem’s East,there wouldn’t be much room to house all the Vaiko, Nedu and Seeman crowd.
These are the issues which the Indians should be focusing on rather than trying to organize mini Arab Springs in SL and give our inhabitants the Suicide treatment again with the help of the West.
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Fathima Fukushima / October 22, 2013
If 3 million Tamilians in SL live with their 65 million Tamilian relatives in Tamil Madu, all problems will be resolved.
This is what SL should achieve one day by hook or by crook. Until then continue what Tamilnet calls structural genocide.
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Fathima Fukushima / October 22, 2013
India was never SL’s friend. SL’s true friends are Pakistan, China.
DJ is begging Manmoron Singh to come to SL. What for? Who want this bovin urine drinker?
SL should have permanent Pakistani and Chinese military camps in Jaffna and Trinco.
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Sengodan. M / October 22, 2013
So the holding of the Northern elections, a simple democratic process was the riskiest move for a government? What sort of a government is that?
Sengodan. M
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aratai / October 22, 2013
.
This is how Rajapakse’s think: Let’s hold the NP elections so that Indian PM cam attend the meeting. After that let’s make sure NP doesn’t get police and land powers. What can India do?
Looks like Singh finally figured that out.
:-)
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Navin / October 22, 2013
Should it decide to skip the CHOGM India has more to worry about its own credibility than that of Sri Lanka for India has already put itself on the line to ensure that this summit takes place in Colombo. It makes no sense for India to fight for Sri Lanka until the very last minute and then give the summit a miss.
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Sengodan. M / October 22, 2013
If Sri Lanka seriously chooses the option of becoming the third apex of the triangle of Beijing, Islamabad and Colombo, it should know it will surely court an irreversible disaster! Would it really want it? The Best option is to resolve the issues within ourselves by devolving adequate autonomy to the North and East with or without merger and thereby avoid unnecessary interference from outside!
Sengodan. M
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Murugan / October 22, 2013
Dayan,
You are getting a lot better now, but still missing it perfectly.
If you go through Taraki’s old articles you can figure it out.
Also tell the President, not to worry about one conference.
Everybody already knows the South is doing well now. Probably just a bunch of foreign spies coming to Galle & Galle face anyways.
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Murugan / October 22, 2013
I mean to say in the previous comment, that you are just short of perfection in your understanding and you are missing one key component in your analysis.
I can’t give you everything you see because you after all speak a language whose script is a derivative of Punjabi and Bengali… so that you know wouldn’t be fair.
You guys really should do more work in Paris than writing a book to sell on Amazon.
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Jayantha / October 22, 2013
Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka,
Let’s forget about everything happened during the war. What did Pres. Rajapakse do after the end of the war…….
Took the War victory only upon the Rajapakse Family members. No Armed forces commanders, Generals or soldiers or the general public were allowed to share the war victory but only among the King and his family.
Passed 18th Amendment hurriedly.
Installed Family Members and Goons many are unqualified to all top positions in Sri Lanka’s Administration, governing and foreign mission.
Jailed War hero Gen.Sarath Fonseka without a trial.
Changed all Gen.SF loyalists from all the forces including Police Dept, Bribery commission, Media personnel and replaced them with Family Loyalty unqualified goons.
Never implemented any useful suggestions in the LLRC report, and human right issues in UN, EU and CW.
Human Rights violations among Minorities, Media personnel and opposition party members increased after end of the war and still continuing.
Terminating CJ Shirani Bandaranayake using fake PSC committees overnight shows how Rajapakses are capable doing business.
There are still over 150,000 war refugees languishing in India four years after end of the war, while Rajapakses try to send out more Boat people through economically depriving them.
Rajapakses thinking of hoodwinking International community days are gone. Enough acting Drama and Jokes and face reality in Governing. India’s refusal to meet Pres.Rajapakse at the UN told him what India’s position is and his subsequent lies to Al Jazeera.
VP had to face over 30 countries who supported Sri Lanka during eelam war, and now we do not need to face 150 countries opposing Rajapakse syle of governing Sri Lanka while loosing Sri Lanka’s credibility.
Where is the Independent Media, Police commission, Judiciary,bribery and corruption commission, election commission etc,etc, Why need PSC only to solve Tamil issue when all others are carried out by Pres.Rajapakse himself.
India’s refusal to attend CHOGM sends clear message to Pres. Rajuapakse and to the outside world where India stands, and who has a much bigger regard, influence and a reputation among International community.
Unless Pres.Rajapakse puts his house in order, both Sri Lanka and CHOGM will be a joke and a laughing stock among outside world, and the Sun God could become a Frog in the well.
Dr.Dayan should write to open the eyes of the Blind who are acting like Frog Kings in the well and to correct their mistakes, than blaming others. Sooner the better before Sri lanka becomming a Pariah state and two separate states due to three blind mice.
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crazyoldmansl / October 22, 2013
India has at last understood what it is to be a “Sinhalese” and has adjusted her approach accordingly and I think that Dayan has played a large role in this belated awakening. New Delhi does not care a hoot for the 100 million Demalas in Tamilnadu and cares even less about the rat shit in Sri Lanka.
It is just that the islands role is beginning to become important and since the “Sinhalese” being the idiots they are have still not realized this, they are about to be wiped out of the way. Talk about killing 250, 000 Tamils to get the LTTE out of the way what is going to come to the Sinhalese is going to take the cake.
Keep spewing the gobbledygook and hope that you can get away.
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crazyoldmansl / October 22, 2013
If you really want to move forward then it is time for the Kerala King of Sri Lanka to meet with the Kerala Queen of Tamilnadu and pow wow
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Senguttuvan / October 23, 2013
Crazyoldmansl,
Who do you have in mind, Sir? Right now Jaylolita in
Tamilnadu is a Tamil sometimes mistaken for a Kannada. Our King insists he is from the Yakka clan but some suspect him to be of Javanese origin – the achcharu or tuppahi variety.
Senguttuvan
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