Is Indo-Sri Lanka Accord A Path To Accountability And Reconciliation?

By G. K. Nathan -June 23, 2013 

Dr. G. K. Nathan

The accord between Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi of India and the President of Sri Lanka J R Jayawardene was signed on 29^th July 1987 to end the on going conflict between Sinhala and Tamil Nations, which started almost four decades ago with gaining of independence in 1948. A few of the key events which led to worsening of conflict and inevitable intervention of India are: disenfranchisement of Indian Tamils in 1948 brought by British to work in plantation sector, government sponsored colonization of North East Sri Lanka started in 1948 (recognized in the accord as area of historical habitation of Tamil speaking people, it is referred to as Tamil Eelam using the acient name), introduction of “Sinhala Only Bill” in 1956, deportation of large number of disenfranchised Tamils to India started in 1964 under Srimavo-Shastri Pact (no other country with Indian Tamils in Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa has done so),   depriving of economic benefits to Sinhala youth resulted in armed rebellion against the government in 1971, indirectly inspired by the Sinhala youth together with denial of educational and employment opportunities to Tamil youth  initiated the Tamil militancy under the name of TNT in 1972,  repeated anti-Tamil riots or pogroms (1956, 1958, 1974, 1977 and 1983) against Tamils as a reaction to the demand for recognition and equal rights.  The accord and the direct intervention of India to enforce resolution of Sinhala-Tamil conflict, brought hope to the Tamil Nation and adverse reaction from a section of Sinhala Nation; but, overwhelmingly there was hope that the military confrontation between the Sinhala and Tamil Nations will be brought to an end and usher peace and prosperity to all. Contrary to expectations, after a brief period of “peace”,  fighting broke out and continued for another two decades.  The fighting intensified after President Mahinda Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka in January 2008, unilaterally abrogated the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA);  signed on 21 February 2002 between Sri Lanka Prime Minister and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam – LTTE, faciliated by US, EU, Norway and Japan, this was the second international 

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