Thursday, 4 September 2014

Sri Lanka Perspectives – August 2014



Col R Hariharan

Highlights
·        

Warm up for Presidential poll: President Rajapaksa appeared very confident of winning a third term as President when he met foreign correspondents in Colombo. Opposition parties failure to decide upon a common strategy to fight the election is proba
India reiterates support to Tamils: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for a political solution that addresses the aspirations of the Tamil community for equality, dignity, justice and self-respect within the framework of a united Sri Lanka after he met a Tamil National Alliance (TNA) delegation has probably disappointed Sri Lanka government.


·       MoU with China: During President Xi Jinping’s visit to Sri Lanka in September two MoU will be signed for China to take over the maintenance of the Chinese-aided Norochcholai power plan plagued by breakdowns. 

Warm up for Presidential poll

President Mahinda Rajapaksa showed a lot of confidence in getting re-elected to for a third term as president while answering questions on forthcoming presidential election from foreign correspondents based in Colombo when they met him at his residence. In the words of media he ‘shrugged off his political rivals and appeared undeterred by the UN inquiry into allegations of war crimes quietly gathering steam in Geneva.’

The President’s confidence comes from the continuing leadership hiccups in the main opposition party – the United National Party (UNP) where its president Ranil Wickremesinghe had to constantly fend off challengers within the party. As a result a lot of contradictions had been surfacing within the party leadership on some of the basic issues of presidential poll – fielding a common opposition candidate, deciding on possible UNP candidate for presidency, and clear stand on ethnic issues including the Muslims. 

Meanwhile, former Chief Justice, Sarath N Silva threw a spanner in the works saying that President Rajapaksa was not eligible to get elected for a third term though the 18th Amendment to the Constitution had removed the two-term limit on the presidency. He argued that the 18th Amendment cannot be applied retrospectively as President Rajapaksa was already serving his second term of office when 18A was passed on September 9, 2010.  He also said if Rajapaksa contests the poll he would file an appeal in the Supreme Court. Justice Silva is a widely respected jurist who has not only been Chief Justice but also Attorney General and President of the Court of Appeal.
 
India’s support for Sri Lanka Tamils

A Tamil National Alliance (TNA) delegation of parliament members visiting New Delhi had an hour long first-ever meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 23, 2014. The six-member delegation was headed by TNA leader R Sampanthan .

According to Sri Lanka media Sampanthan’s briefing focused on three different aspects - militarisation, colonisation and the changing of the demography of the North. Some 1,600 acres had been taken over from citizens there to accommodate military families. Some houses and other buildings have been destroyed. Owners of these properties have filed cases which were still pending. The TNA had brought these issues to the attention of the President but no action had been taken. Sampanthan also briefed him on the background to the TNA boycotting the parliamentary select committee (PSC) and 

Rajapaksa’s failure to fulfil his promise to India to implement the 13th Amendment to the Sri Lankan constitution which called for devolving autonomous powers to provinces benefiting Tamil minority.

After listening to them Modi is reported to has advised the TNA to talk other political parties including those of Muslims and plantation Tamils. Evidently the Prime Minister’s suggestion was aimed at Tamils broadening their support base in Sri Lanka.

He is also reported to have suggested that TNA have a direct dialogue with the government even if it is not participating in the PSC. This is only a reiteration of Manmohan Singh government’s advice.

According to official statement issued from New Delhi “The Prime Minister stressed the need for a political solution that addresses the aspirations of the Tamil community for equality, dignity, justice and self-respect within the framework of a united Sri Lanka. In this context, the Prime Minister urged all stakeholders in Sri Lanka to engage constructively, in a spirit of partnership and mutual accommodation, towards finding a political solution that builds upon the 13th Amendment of the Sri Lankan Constitution.”

Prime Minister Modi’s clear reiteration of India’s stand on implementation of the 13th Amendment probably disappointed Sri Lanka government. Just as TNA delegation was visiting New Delhi, Sri Lanka government had extended a red carpet welcome to Dr. Subramanian Swamy who is chairman of the BJP strategic affairs committee. The government was lulled into complacency after listening to the maverick politician speaking in full support of President Rajapaksa.

Significantly, after the New Delhi talks, the TNA delegation had detailed discussion with the Tamil Nadu BJP president Ms Tamilisai and Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan. The BJP leaders have assured the TNA that the BJP would see that justice was done to Tamils and were confident the Modi government would fulfil their expectations.  

Sri Lanka’s reaction to TNA-Modi meeting lacked clarity. If the government holds direct talks with TNA it would be negation of President Rajapaksa’s stand that deliberations on the subject should take place in the PSC. The PSC was appointed to recommend “measures to be taken to create a political environment, where all Sri Lankans could live as one nation.” Opposition parties including the TNA have refused to serve in the committee which at present 19 members from the ruling UPFA coalition only.  The term of the PSC has already been extended once till December 21, 2014. It is doubtful whether any breakthrough in the political impasse can be expected by then. With the presidential poll in the air, President Rajapaksa is likely to stall the issue till the elections are completed.

In the meanwhile, Sri Lanka-India official talks to resolve the fishing dispute have failed after Sri Lanka rejected an Indian proposal to allow Indian fishermen to enter Sri Lankan waters for three days a week by entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries. India had proposed at the 2012 Joint Working Committee meeting that Indian fishermen  be allowed to fish in Sri Lankan waters for three days a week and given a two-year grace period to switch from bottom trawling to ordinary fishing.

MoU with China

Chinese will be signing two memoranda of understanding with Sri Lanka on September 16, 2014 during President Xi Jinping’s two-day visit to the island nation. They relate to China a providing “technical cooperation for stable, efficient functioning of the Norochcholai Coal Power Project.” The US$ 1.35 billion Norochcholai power plant built with Chinese technical and financial assistance had become source of embarrassment for them with repeated breakdowns.

Written on August 31, 2014
Courtesy: South Asia Security Trends, September 2014 issue

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