Ever since the tremendous success of TESO conference
organized by Kalaignar last month, which she tried her level best to prevent,
Jayalalitha wanted to score a brownie point in the cause of Sri Lankan Tamils.
But forgetting her position she stooped to the levels of fringe outfits and
sent back Sri Lankan school football team which was on a visit to Chennai for
friendly matches. Emboldened by her stupid act such outfits resorted to attack
on pilgrims from Sri Lanka which caused an uproar worldwide. If you search in
the internet on ‘attacks on Srilankan pilgrims’ it goes to several pages of
news and comments from many newspapers and periodicals of not only India but also many other countries throughout the
world.
Jayalalitha issued her statement on Sep.2 which was
published in all dailies on the next day on Sep.3. In an editorial published on
Sep.4 ‘The Hindu’ prophetically stated:
“Nothing could be more myopic than Chief Minister
Jayalalitha’s outburst against the visit of a Sri Lankan school football team
to Tamil Nadu and her decision to suspend an official for allowing a match to
be played in the government-owned Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai. Her
action has harmed the image of the State and tarnished the reputation of India
as an open and tolerant society. The reason for the official’s suspension is
that he allowed a team from Royal College, Colombo, to play a friendly against
a local Customs team at the stadium on August 31. As part of the fallout, the
students and coach of a team from another school, Hilburn International
College, Ratnapura, which was planning to play against a Chennai school, were
sent packing on the Chief Minister’s insistence. It is tempting to see a
connection between this hostile act towards innocent school children and the
strident political demands Ms Jayalalitha and other party leaders have been
making in recent weeks that India put an end to its practice of training
military personnel from Sri Lanka’s defence services. However, it is one thing
to demand the government desist from training soldiers from the island nation
and quite another to ask for — and then peremptorily impose — a virtual embargo
on sporting and cultural ties with ordinary Sri Lankans.
For quite some time now, Tamil Nadu has been asking New
Delhi to act on its Legislative Assembly resolution seeking early
rehabilitation of war-displaced Tamils in Sri Lanka and restoration of their
rights on a par with the Sinhalese majority. Far from taking note, the
Government of India has actively sought to strengthen ties with Colombo,
especially after it voted in the United Nations Human Rights Council in favour
of a resolution that was critical of Sri Lanka. Popular sentiment in Tamil Nadu
is against sacrificing the pursuit of equality, justice and dignity for the
Tamils of Sri Lanka to the goal of preserving India’s political proximity to
Colombo. Nor can it be denied that the Union government has been insensitive
towards public opinion in the State. When the call for an end to military
training arose, it merely shifted the Sri Lankan trainees from a facility in
Tamil Nadu to another outside and got Minister of State for Defence M.M. Pallam
Raju to say the military training could not be stopped since Sri Lanka is a
friendly country. However, the Centre’s callous attitude cannot serve as an
excuse for irresponsible grandstanding by Tamil Nadu politicians. We are
already on a slippery slope. Today a school soccer match has been cancelled;
tomorrow the demand will be for a ban on cricketers, tourists and pilgrims from
Sri Lanka.”
178 Lankan pilgrims on a visit to Tamil Nadu for worshipping
churches in Poondi near Thanjavur and Velankanni were targeted thrice by some
outfits on Sep.3 and Sep.4. The pilgrims faced two protests and an attack on
three buses carrying them to the Trichirappalli airport in which some women and
children were injured. Most unfortunately most of the pilgrims from Sri Lanka
were of Tamil origins although their names were Pereras and Fernandos etc.,
The DMK President Kalaignar virtually blamed Chief Minister
Jayalalitha for attacks on Lankan pilgrims, saying her action in sending back a
football team from that country had led to the incidents.
Jayalalitha's efforts to show that this government is seriously
concerned for Sri Lankan Tamils by sending back the football players led to
attacks on pilgrims forcing Colombo to issue an advisory to its citizens
against travelling to Tamil Nadu, Kalaignar said.
The DMK President said sports and cultural ties should be
kept away from politics. "It is not acceptable that we Tamils, who are not
opposed to any national race, attack people on pilgrimage and cultural exchange
but we will continue to oppose Sri Lanka's action against humanity," he
said and appealed for calm in the interest of the Eelam Tamils. He said actions
spurred by emotions will result in unwanted consequences.
The relations between Tamils of Sri Lanka and those in the
state are often described as that of an umbilical cord. In such circumstances,
suddenly sending back the Sri Lankan players and attacks on pilgrims will
affect bilateral relations, he said in a statement. With lakhs of Tamils in Sri
Lanka already suffering to survive under present circumstances, we should not
create a situation that would further increase their difficulties, Kalaignar
said.
The Economic Times in an editorial ‘Stop the violence’ said:
“The attack on Sri Lankan pilgrims in Tamil Nadu is the
awful fallout of competitive grandstanding on the ‘Tamil cause’ by politicians
in the state. Historically, the Tamil issue in Sri Lanka has been cynically
used by virtually every political outfit in Tamil Nadu as populist rhetoric in
the race to score brownie points. Thus, not to be outdone by the DMK, which
held a conference in support of Tamil rights, the ruling AIADMK pitched in with
anti-Lanka rhetoric, be it against some Lankan armed forces personnel training
in India or the absurd obstruction of a Sri Lankan school team’s football match
with a Chennai school. Other political outfits then lowered the bar further
with assaults on pilgrims (ironically reported to be Tamil-speaking civilians).
Colombo has responded with a diplomatic riposte in the form of an advisory to
its citizens on travel in south India. These events in no way help the rightful
cause of the Tamils in Sri Lanka. In fact, they could further harden Sinhala
majoritarianism.
That, of course, is as much a part of the problem as the
LTTE was. Given that this murderous outfit had already wiped out any possible
internal Tamil opposition, its military defeat meant a veritable catastrophe
for the Tamil minority in Sri Lanka. The Rajapaksa regime, in turn, behaved —
and continues to behave — as if that military triumph meant the end of the
Tamil issue. Tamil Nadu political outfits, in turn, still seem to be making the
mistake of linking Tamil rights to the fate of the LTTE. Thus, mere rhetoric
from parties in the state takes the place of what would be politically
fruitful: sustained pressure on New Delhi to firmly hold the course in making
Colombo comprehend that only the devolution of political powers to the
minorities would constitute a feasible measure towards ending the decades-long
ethnic conflict in the island nation. Diatribes against, or attacks on, Lankan
citizens, and any strain on Indo-Lankan ties would, inversely, make the task of
ensuring the distribution of political power in Lanka more difficult. Which
might be just what the Rajapaksa regime wants.”
The Times of India on Sep.5 in an editorial stated:
“A disturbing trend that has implications for India’s trade
and foreign relations with Sri Lanka is on the rise in Tamil Nadu. Politicians
are increasingly targeting Sri Lankan nationals, especially civilians, who are
visiting the state. The latest incident, when a few pro-Eelam outfits protested
the presence of Lankan pilgrims at a church in Thanjavur on Monday, has pushed
Colombo to issue a directive against its citizens from visiting Tamil Nadu. In
the past too, these politically marginal outfits have targeted visiting Sri
Lankan officials and academics.
What is worrying
is even the state government seems to be tacitly approving the anti-Lanka
sentiment, which has been on the rise, especially after reports of war
atrocities in the aftermath of the LTTE’s decimation. On Sunday, the state
government had suspended an official who gave permission for a football
friendly between a visiting Sri Lankan school team and a Chennai school,
claiming it was tantamount to hurting the sentiments of Tamils.
It is more than a
coincidence that the AIADMK government has started to identify with the
anti-Lankan sentiment after the DMK held a conference to uphold the cause of
Lankan Tamils. One outcome of this competitive politics of rhetoric and bluster
is that an agenda that was marginal in the political discourse in the state has
started gaining momentum and, now, threatens to disrupt bilateral relations
between New Delhi and Colombo. A dip in India-Sri Lanka relations is for no
one’s good. Ever since the two countries signed a bilateral agreement in 2000,
trade has increased manifold and a major beneficiary has been industry in Tamil
Nadu. A hostile attitude to Colombo would also force Mahinda Rajapaksa to
further strengthen relations with Beijing. Enabling a Chinese presence in
Colombo that crowds out New Delhi hardly suits India’s strategic interests in
the region.
More importantly,
the interests of Tamils in Lanka are best served if India has friendly
relations with Sri Lanka. We are in a post-LTTE era and fresh, constructive
thinking is necessary to enable the Tamils in Sri Lanka to outlive the trauma
of war and rebuild their lives. Political leaders of Tamil Nadu must ask New
Delhi to influence Colombo to mend its approach towards Tamils and tell the
Rajapaksa government that encouraging Sinhalese triumphalism will not heal the
wounds of a three-decade-long ethnic war but only lead to Sri Lanka’s isolation
in the international community.”
Fishermen from Rameswaram, who ventured into the sea on
Sep.5, sailed with fear as they are worried over the recent attacks on Sri
Lankan nationals by Tamil outfits in the state. Fishermen associations have
also condemned the attacks saying they will badly affect the fishermen
community.
N. Devadoss of Tamil Nadu Fishermen Welfare Association said
they will only know the results on Thursday morning as 400 boats have ventured
into the sea on Wednesday. “The fishermen are worried they may be attacked in
retaliation and we believe that they will not venture farther due to these
issues,” he said. “We strongly condemn the attacks on pilgrims and tourists
from Sri Lanka. Hurting them is wrong. The state and Centre should take
stringent measures against these outfits,” he stressed.
“We appeal to these Tamil outfits to consider the plight of
lakhs of Tamil fishermen in coastal region and desist away from such acts,”
said N J Bose, general secretary, Tamil Nadu Mechanised Boat Fishermen Welfare
Association.
Jayalalitha’s stupidity led to avoidable demonstrations in
Sri Lanka that too by Tamil traders in Colombo. They staged a protest march to
the Indian High Commission in Colombo against attacks on pilgrims visiting
Tamil Nadu. “We are staging this walk to hand over a letter to the Indian High
Commission noting our protest,“ M. Selvanadan, one of the participants, said.
Hundreds of traders, mostly Tamils, walked from the business
district of Pettah to the Indian mission after shutting their businesses. They
carried placards that condemned the attacks on Lankan pilgrims in Tamil Nadu.
“Do not play dirty politics“, said one poster while another in Tamil pleaded
against disrupting “our brotherly relations“.
Over 180 Lankan pilgrims to the Poornimatha Church in Tanjavur
were targeted by some outfits and had to cut short their pilgrimage to fly back
on Sep.5. The incident forced Colombo to issue a travel advisory against travel
to Chennai.
Several tour operators of Sri Lankan Budd hist pilgrimages
to India said they were cutting off shopping time in Chennai, which has often
been part of their itinerary, in view of the hostile environment there. Thousands
of Lankan Buddhists go on the Dambadiva pilgrimage to India throughout the
year.
The Sri Lankan government’s decision to issue an advisory to
its citizens against travelling to Tamil Nadu may adversely impact trade
between the two neighbours, resulting in a loss of opportunity for textile and
commodity businesses in Tamil Nadu.
In the near term,
the impact may be felt by the smaller businesses. “Numerous Lankans shop in T
Nagar for wedding purchases. I know each Lankan boarding the plane back to
Colombo carries 40 sarees each. The margins are nearly 100% for these sarees.
These guys may get impacted,” said an exporter, on condition of anonymity.
“Businesses of
small traders and unorganized traders could be affected as they might not be
able to ship directly to Chennai and would have to route it through Mumbai or
such other locations,” C S Muthu Subramaniyan, president of the India-ASEAN Sri
Lanka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said.
If the issue continues
to simmer, the environment may become unfavourable for bigger businesses such
as those involved in hospitality, tourism, commodities too. “South Indians,
particularly farmers and sugar companies from Tamil Nadu will be affected,”
said Somi Hazari, managing director of the Chennai-based Shosova Group. Shosova
is into export and import of edible oils and other food items.
Other commodities
like onions and lentils from other parts of India too are exported to Sri Lanka
via Tamil Nadu because of proximity to Sri Lanka and price competitiveness.
“The value of
exports to Sri Lanka is about five times the imports from the country, if there
is a trade embargo, the country that will suffer is India, not Sri Lanka,”
Hazari said. “India’s policy should not become Tamil Nadu policy.”
Among the
big-ticket items that get shipped out to Sri Lanka from Tamil Nadu are sugar
and cement. “We know of sugar companies in the Trichy belt, which export sugar
to Lanka, companies like Madras Cements use the Karaikal Port to export
cement,” he said.
Other big business
houses like the Ashok Leyland, Hyundai and Ford export fully built vehicles
made in Tamil Nadu into Sri Lanka. Given the growth potential for trade,
especially after the end of the civil war in Lanka, some business leaders
expressed hope that the acrimony would not be allowed to stand in the way of
trade relations and people-to-people ties.
When trade and business expand between India and Sri Lanka
it is Tamil Nadu which will be the obvious beneficiary of the economic
engagement. The trade between the two
countries in 2010, a major portion of motor cycles worth US $140 million
exported to the island nation in the year came from TVS’ Hosur factory and most
of the buses, trucks and tractors, totally worth $190 million, were from Ashok
Leyland’s Ennore and Hosur factories.
Textiles exported
from Erode, Madurai and Tirupur were worth $190 million. India also exported
onions, lentils, sugar and vegetables worth $80 million and because of TN’s
proximity to Sri Lanka and its price competitiveness, the perishables were
taken from Tamil Nadu. All this indicates is that it is Tamil Nadu which stands
to gain from India-Sri Lanka trade.
India responded to the advisory issued by Sri Lanka on
travel to southern India by assuring the safety of its citizens but also
pointed out that important visits should take place after informing the Indian
authorities.
“I wish to convey here that the government of India, in
close consultation with the State governments concerned, has taken and will
continue to take all measures to ensure the safety, security and well-being of
Sri Lankan dignitaries and visitors to India, including to Tamil Nadu,”
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said in a statement.
But, he added, in certain instances, important visits from
Sri Lanka have taken place without prior intimation to the authorities
concerned. “I find it important to emphasise here that people-to-people
contacts are an integral part of the close historical, cultural, ethnic and
civilisational ties between India and Sri Lanka,” he said, while pointing out
that India issued two lakh visas to Sri Lankan nationals to visit the country
last year while about 1.75 lakh tourists from here visited Sri Lanka in 2011.
“It is this perspective that guides all our actions on such matters,” he said.
But law and order being the subject of the State, Chief
Minister of Tamil Nadu Jayalalitha is maintaining a conspicuous silence so far
and not even condemning the incidents of violence against the pilgrims. This is
because of her guilty conscience. In all respects, by her thoughtless action,
Jayalalitha has brought disgrace to Tamil Nadu and its people in the eyes of
international community, harmed the interests of trade, industries and
agriculture in the state and caused risk to the safety and security of not only
fishermen of southern districts of the of the state but also of Tamils in Sri
Lanka.
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