CLASSIFIED | POLITICS | TERRORISM | OPINION | VIEWS

Our Great neighbour India, and the comforting words of the Indian Prime Minister and his External Affairs Minister.

By Charles Perera.

Our great neighbour India, who could not think of any thing better to say other than, “ the Sri Lankan government and LTTE should work towards a devolution package that could command a consensus among major political parties to end the ethnic conflict.”

It must be the only wise thought that had come to the mind of the Indian PM, to say to our Foreign Minister. Indian Prime Minister was followed by another great mind, the Indian External Affairs Minister, who said “the legitimate aspirations of all sections of the Sri Lankan society needed to be addressed expeditiously.”

Surely the advice by these two prominent men in India, is enough for poor Sri Lanka to pull out of the tragic situation she finds herself in.

What a consolation that we have a neighbour the size of India to come to our help when we are really in need of it. Thanks to Indian Prime Minister and to the Indian External affairs Minister our major problem seems to be over. It is wonderful how just two statements by two great men could settle our problem. No one had thought of this and we should be thankful to them for having reminded us of it !!!

I forgot the Indian Prime Minister, may the god bless him, had also “affirmed India’s commitment to the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka. “ We are very much obliged Prime Minister, that is very comforting. That is to say that their will be more comforting words next time, when we have still more problems with the terrorists.

On the other hand Dominick Chilcott British High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, had “exhorted the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to put away their weapons and their attachment to violence and join the family of civilized, democratic peoples who sort out their differences through negotiations, not terror. The High Commissioner pointed out that the Tamil rebel outfit must try to attain their political aspirations through the democratic institutions of the state, not through bombs and bullets”

I was wondering why the Indian Prime Minister could not have said some thing like what was said by His Excellency the British High Commissioner. After all the problem of Sri Lanka is also the problem of India. If our country is forced to be divided by the gun toting terrorist brutes, Viko in South India will also ask for a separate state for the Tamils in India. That will be a problem that will soon be knocking on the door of the Indian Prime Minister.

Then we may perhaps remind the Indian Prime Minister, what he and his External Affairs Minister told our Foreign Minister, when he called on them to see what help they could give us to stop the terrorist menace.

We could say, “ Mr.Prime Minister, the Indian government and Viko should work towards a devolution package and command a consensus among major political parties to end the conflict.” We affirm Sri Lanka’s commitment to the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of India. And add that “ the legitimate aspirations of all sections of the Indian society needed to be addressed expeditiously.”

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