‘India will only alienate Lanka if it tries to coerce it’

Posted by: Shubham Ghosh- Thursday, September 20, 2012

The Tamil issue has resurfaced recently affecting both India’s domestic politics and foreign policy priorities. While there are calls to boycott Sri Lanka for overlooking Tamil sentiments, other quarters believe such measures would only affect India’s foreign relations with the island state ruled by a powerful President. OneIndia News speaks to retired Military Intelligence officer of the Indian Army, Col R Hariharan on the issue.

Col R Hariharan served as a MI specialist on Bangladesh, Myanmar and Sri Lanka as well as terrorism and counter-insurgency for nearly three decades. His operational experience includes India-Pakistan wars in Kutch (1965) and East Pakistan in 1971 (now Bangladesh) and counter insurgency operations in North Eastern States, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. He was awarded the Visisht Sewa Medal (VSM) for his service as the Head of Intelligence of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka (1987-90).

Col Hariharan writes and gives commentary on national security issues in national and international print and electronic media. He is currently associated with the Chennai Centre for China Studies and the Delhi-based intelligence think tank South Asia Analysis Group.

Here is the full interview:

OneIndia: We are seeing protest in the Indian media about the Sri Lankan government’s atrocities against the Tamils there. Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa took a retaliatory stance against the island nation by driving out football teams and pilgrims.

There is a call for boycotting Sri Lanka from certain sections. India-Sri Lanka relations are not simplistic for besides the ethnic sentiments, a crucial strategic significance is also attached to them. Leaders like Jayalalithaa are actually endangering India’s bilateral engagements with Sri Lanka in the name of ‘shielding’ ethnic nationalism.

If we turn belligerent towards them and do not show interest in a peace process, the Lankans can retaliate in their country against Indian sentiments as well. Do you think such coercive diplomacy will do India any favour? What is your take on this?

Col Hariharan: Your have raised four separate but inter-related issues in your question. My views on these issues including ‘coercive diplomacy’ (an oxymoron as diplomacy means skill and tact in dealing with people) are:

First, regarding Ms Jayalalithaa’s recent action in sending back Sri Lankan football teams and pilgrims, she has now clarified that it was a symbolic act to register her protest against the continued aberrations in Sri Lanka’s handling of Tamils. Sri Lankan pilgrims and others are welcome to visit Tamil Nadu, she has added wisely as a lakh of people come to Chennai from Sri Lanka.

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