Plea for a Change in New Delhi’s Neighbourhood Policy

By Ashik Bonofer

(January 08, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) The deportation of M.K Shivajilingam, the TNA member of Sri Lankan parliament, who is also contesting as an independent candidate in the forthcoming Presidential elections, from Chennai airport, during the last week of December 2009 is another illustration of New Delhi’s failure to evolve a credible and meaningful policy towards its southern neighbour. According to media reports, the deportation was due to Mr. M.K Shivajilingam’s pro-LTTE stance. What precipitated the deportation order was Sivajilingam’s sudden decision to contest the Presidential elections to be held on January 26, 2010, without the backing of the Tamil National Alliance.

For those who carefully watch the developments in India - Sri Lanka relations, this decision by New Delhi is not at all surprising. Unfortunately the Mandarins in the South Block are keener to ingratiate themselves with the Sri Lankan President and Sinhalese establishment he represents rather than protecting and fostering the interests of Sri Lankan Tamils. Shivajilingam’s pro-Eelam inclinations are quite well known; he was the member of Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO), which during the initial years of ethnic conflict, was the favourite of New Delhi and RAW. As the member of TNA he tried to champion LTTE’s cause. On few occasions by his undiplomatic statements on developments in Sri Lanka he must have caused embarrassment to the policy makers in New Delhi. At the same time, by not permitting him to come to Tamil Nadu, New Delhi has sent wrong signals to the Tamils of Sri Lanka. The Tamils interpret New Delhi’s decision as another illustration of New Delhi’s willingness to bend backwards to please the Sinhalese.

New Delhi’s policy towards Maldives during the last days of President Gayoom also substantiates this point of view. The ruling establishment in New Delhi preferred to be an upholder of the status quo. For a long time it turned a Nelson’s eye to the rapidly changing events in favour of democracy in the Island republic. The undisputed leader of the democratic struggle in Maldives Mohamed Nasheed was keen to keep New Delhi informed about his policy options and, if possible, get India’s backing. Unfortunately, for a long time, New Delhi ignored the reality and preferred to lend its support to Gayoom. Even Gayoom’s son Farish Maumoon, when he visited New Delhi in July 2008, was given a red carpet welcome. It was only later when the writing on the wall was clear that Gayoom’s days are numbered that New Delhi opened a dialogue with Nasheed. Nasheed represents the wave of the future in Maldives, he is keen to modernise the Islamic society by introducing progressive social reforms. He wants understanding and support from New Delhi for his far-reaching revolutionary policies. It is essential that New Delhi should respond to him in a more sympathetic and positive way. Fortunately the Ministry of Defence understands the strategic significance of Maldives to India, the visit of the high level team led by the Defense Minister A.K. Anthony and the decisions taken to support the internal and external security of the archipelago are pointers of change in the right direction.

The destiny of Sri Lanka is closely intertwined with that of India. Whenever Colombo had faced threats to its security whether during the first JVP revolt in April 1971 or the putting down of the LTTE’s terrorist threat in recent times New Delhi has readily extended its hand of friendship. By providing valuable information to Colombo relating to the movement of LTTE ships and lending two coast guard ships, New Delhi helped Colombo in destroying vital supply lines of the LTTE. When Tsunami struck the southern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka in December 2004, New Delhi immediately responded and assisted the Government in the restoration of normal life.

Equally relevant is to underline the fact that the Tamil minority groups look to India and want New Delhi to play an assertive role for restoring their dignity. They want New Delhi to persuade / pressurise Colombo to introduce far reaching constitutional reforms so that the Tamil-dominated provinces would be conferred substantial degree of devolution. There is a general perception among the Tamil minority groups in the Island that New Delhi seems to be keener to foster government – to - government relations rather than extending its hand of friendship to Tamil minority groups. The recent deportation of Shivajilingam is a pointer in this direction. When will New Delhi realise that an alienated Tamil minority in Sri Lanka is not only a threat to Sri Lankan security but also can be destabilising factor in the politics of South India?

The writer, Research Fellow in the Center for Asia Studies, Chennai