Tiger80 Posted November 11, 2011 Posted November 11, 2011 OSLO: Even as it publicly advocated peace when the Sri Lankan conflict was raging, India quietly informed Norway that the LTTE must be "put in its place", reveals a Norwegian government sponsored study on why the peace process failed in the island nation. The exhaustive document, released here Friday, shows that New Delhi's sympathy lay with Colombo vis-a-vis the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam as the peace process began to slowly unravel from 2003-04. After the Congress returned to power in 2004, New Delhi kept calling for the accommodation of "Tamil aspirations" but did not apply any pressure on the Mahinda Rajapaksa government over its military option, it said. "India criticizes Norway in private meetings for being too 'LTTE friendly' and underlines the need to 'put the LTTE in its place'," said the 202-page report, based on archival material in the Norwegian foreign ministry as well as interviews with key players and personalities. "India provides radar and intelligence information to the Sri Lankan forces. Delhi maintains it will not provide offensive military assets but it does not object to Sri Lanka purchasing weaponry elsewhere... "Most importantly, Indian opposition to the LTTE starts to translate into firmer backing for the Sri Lankan government." India outlawed the LTTE in 1992, a year after a Tiger suicide bomber assassinated former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. In a dramatic turn of events, his widow Sonia became India's most powerful figure when the Congress returned to power in 2004. Although the document, titled "Pawns of Peace", is an evaluation of the Norwegian peace efforts in Sri Lanka from 1997 to 2009, when the LTTE was vanquished, there are repeated references to India, which many viewed as the most important foreign player in Sri Lanka. Norway helped the LTTE - which was fighting for a Tamil homeland - and the Sri Lankan government to sign a ceasefire agreement (CFA) in February 2002 with a view to ending the country's protracted ethnic conflict. But after a limited period of peace, the situation slowly returned to square one, particularly after the LTTE split in April 2004 and President Rajapaksa took power in November 2005 promising to tame the Tigers. In May 2009, Colombo militarily crushed the LTTE, the last stages of the war leaving thousands of combatants and civilians dead. By then, Sri Lanka had terminated Norway's role as facilitator in the peace process. The reports says that even as New Delhi made "some pleas for limiting civilian casualties (towards the end of 2008), the Indian government makes it very clear that it supports a continuation of the (military) offensive and the defeat of the LTTE". Referring to the LTTE's last days, the report said: "As the net around the insurgents closes, LTTE surrender becomes a less and less attractive option for Colombo. It is also doubtful (if) India has any interest in the LTTE surviving the end of the war." May 2009, when the entire LTTE leadership including its founder chief Velupillai Prabhakaran was wiped out, also coincided with the last round of Indian elections that saw the Congress retain power. The report says that Sri Lanka was worried that if the Congress was voted out, "someone will come to the insurgents' aid". The report says that Indian cabinet minister P. Chidambaram contacted Prabhakaran towards the end of the conflict -- it does not say how -- and suggested that "the LTTE agree to a pre-drafted statement that they will lay down their weapons". But this move, it says, leaked to pro-LTTE Tamil Nadu politician Vaiko "who rejects it as a Congress trick and assures the LTTE that the BJP ( Bharatiya Janata Party) will win the elections and come to the Tigers' rescue". That never happened, and Prabhakaran was killed just when the Lok Sabha election results were announced in India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-wanted-LTTE-put-in-its-place-Norway-report/articleshow/10693044.cms
zen Posted November 11, 2011 Posted November 11, 2011 First of all, I am not for getting involved in affairs of another country but, in this case, India could have done better to bring peace to that region and help a lot of innocent Tamils being from being killed I am neither in favor of Cong. way for turning a blind eye or to suport a military-terror outfit like the LTTE but there could have been a middle ground
Ram Posted November 11, 2011 Posted November 11, 2011 Crush the bastards who killed our prime minister.
achilles Posted November 12, 2011 Posted November 12, 2011 Great job by India. :isalute: Can't believe DMK were openly backing terrorists for so long in the name of "Tamizh rights".
achilles Posted November 12, 2011 Posted November 12, 2011 Also, are you all aware that LTTE was actually an Indian creation like the Mujaheddin was US'? We pretty much let it go out of hand with our shoddy handing of the IPKF episode.
zen Posted November 13, 2011 Posted November 13, 2011 Crush the bastards who killed our prime minister. Let's try again: Y or N Was Rajiv the PM when he was killed, thank you
The Dark Horse Posted November 15, 2011 Posted November 15, 2011 Crush the bastards who killed our prime minister. Thats how our government thinks
Show_stopper Posted November 15, 2011 Posted November 15, 2011 First of all, I am not for getting involved in affairs of another country but, in this case, India could have done better to bring peace to that region and help a lot of innocent Tamils being from being killed I am neither in favor of Cong. way for turning a blind eye or to suport a military-terror outfit like the LTTE but there could have been a middle ground Honorable sentiments...but our country can neither afford Nehruvian Idealism nor the pragmatism of later years atm. We can't afford any more neighbours getting antagonised or even staying neutral towards us. China exerts far too influential as it is in our sphere of interest. I think the present regime under Manmohan Singh has chosen the right path vis-a-vis SL and Myanmar.
zen Posted November 15, 2011 Posted November 15, 2011 Honorable sentiments...but our country can neither afford Nehruvian Idealism nor the pragmatism of later years atm. We can't afford any more neighbours getting antagonised or even staying neutral towards us. China exerts far too influential as it is in our sphere of interest. I think the present regime under Manmohan Singh has chosen the right path vis-a-vis SL and Myanmar. My concern was more about not having innocent Tamils being killed and govt. could have done more in that regards .... And that does not mean supporting LTTE's war but may be looking to 'faciliate' options where you have Prabhakaran replaced by someone who was willing to consider a ceasefire with SL .... The common Tamilian, if I am not wrong, suffered at the hands of both the LTTE and the SL govt
Show_stopper Posted November 15, 2011 Posted November 15, 2011 My concern was more about not having innocent Tamils being killed and govt. could have done more in that regards .... And that does not mean supporting LTTE's war but may be looking to 'faciliate' options where you have Prabhakaran replaced by someone who was willing to consider a ceasefire with SL .... The common Tamilian' date=' if I am not wrong, suffered at the hands of both the LTTE and the SL govt[/quote'] True. But I think you missed the point I was trying to make...We need SL to be an active ally. And for this it was important for India to realize that the SL government has never been/will never be serious about addressing the Tamil aspirations. The signs have been there for all to see IMHO. So our government has finally done what was required, Tamil Nadu's objections notwithstanding.
zen Posted November 15, 2011 Posted November 15, 2011 True. But I think you missed the point I was trying to make...We need SL to be an active ally. And for this it was important for India to realize that the SL government has never been/will never be serious about addressing the Tamil aspirations. The signs have been there for all to see IMHO. So our government has finally done what was required' date=' Tamil Nadu's objections notwithstanding.[/quote'] So even if we know that Tamils may not be treated fairly, we do nothing because SL's value as an ally is more than how a population gets treated .... This could be a case of overestimating SL's value as an ally and underestimating the proper treatment of a part of a population It could be stands like these that could prevent India from being a world player. Be it fighting terrorism, protecting the rights of Kashmiri Pandits, the north-east region, or the kashmir issue, Ind govt either turns to UN or does little or turns a blind eye
Show_stopper Posted November 15, 2011 Posted November 15, 2011 So even if we know that Tamils may not be treated fairly, we do nothing because SL's value as an ally is more than how a population gets treated .... This could be a case of overestimating SL's value as an ally and underestimating the proper treatment of a part of a population It could be stands like these that could prevent India from being a world player. Be it fighting terrorism, protecting the rights of Kashmiri Pandits, the north-east region, or the kashmir issue, Ind govt either turns to UN or does little or turns a blind eye Turning a blind eye to the 'internal' affairs of perspective allies is essential and practiced by the so-called 'global' players when it suits their interests. USA's double standards during the Arab Spring concerning Libya,Syria on the one hand and Bahrain,Saudi Arabia, Yemen etc on the other is a case in point. These idealisms served a purpose during the whole NAM and the Cold War era but its high time that the whole nation becomes a bit more selfish in guarding its interests. I think you are underestimating the resulting negative impact if SL and Myanmar were to be driven into China's lap by us espousing the cause of a certain section of their population (no matter how just they are!). Fears about Chinese encirclement are genuine and India desperately needs to wean away its immediate neighbours from China. So far their policy seems to be achieving the desired results. As far as the policy affecting India's prospects of emerging as a global player...contrary to your views, I feel it would expedite India's rise.
zen Posted November 15, 2011 Posted November 15, 2011 Turning a blind eye to the 'internal' affairs of perspective allies is essential and practiced by the so-called 'global' players when it suits their interests. USA's double standards during the Arab Spring concerning Libya,Syria on the one hand and Bahrain,Saudi Arabia, Yemen etc on the other is a case in point. These idealisms served a purpose during the whole NAM and the Cold War era but its high time that the whole nation becomes a bit more selfish in guarding its interests. I think you are underestimating the resulting negative impact if SL and Myanmar were to be driven into China's lap by us espousing the cause of a certain section of their population (no matter how just they are!). Fears about Chinese encirclement are genuine and India desperately needs to wean away its immediate neighbours from China. So far their policy seems to be achieving the desired results. As far as the policy affecting India's prospects of emerging as a global player...contrary to your views, I feel it would expedite India's rise. If a man is drowning, you need to help him The problem is that Ind can't even solve its internal issues so it probably has little confidence to be able to do it successfully w/o losing an (low-value) ally like SL .... And thus comes in China's threat to mask its shortcomings :winky:
The Dark Horse Posted November 15, 2011 Posted November 15, 2011 The sad thing is the contribution of Indian army in the killings of innocent Tamils.
BeautifulGame Posted November 17, 2011 Posted November 17, 2011 LTTE are terrorists however different some Dravidan politicians try to portray them.So there is nothing wrong in them being eliminated. But this move, it says, leaked to pro-LTTE Tamil Nadu politician Vaiko "who rejects it as a Congress trick and assures the LTTE that the BJP ( Bharatiya Janata Party) will win the elections and come to the Tigers' rescue". That never happened, and Prabhakaran was killed just when the Lok Sabha election results were announced in India. Prabakaran believed what Vaiko said :hysterical: Even his party people dont take him seriously nowadays.
BeautifulGame Posted November 17, 2011 Posted November 17, 2011 First of all, I am not for getting involved in affairs of another country but, in this case, India could have done better to bring peace to that region and help a lot of innocent Tamils being from being killed I am neither in favor of Cong. way for turning a blind eye or to suport a military-terror outfit like the LTTE but there could have been a middle ground India did what is the most important thing for India and Indian people.Its not like India had any chance to stop innocent Lankan Tamils from dying in the war. Whats the point of trying to engage in peace talks with LTTE when history shows LTTE had always used these peace talks only a way to strength themselves and were never wholeheartedly interested in peace. Its not India's fault power clouded the intentions LTTE.
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