Friday, Apr 11, 2003
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By Amit Baruah
The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, with the Sri Lankan President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, in New Delhi on Thursday. — Photo: V. Sudershan
As is well-known, Ms. Kumaratunga has reservations about the trajectory of the peace process — she has gone on record as saying that the LTTE has used the ceasefire not just to re-arm itself, but recruit new soldiers. The spokesman stated that Ms. Kumaratunga shared her perspective of the peace process and how it was proceeding. She also conveyed her feelings and ``concerns'' about the peace process. Asked what was India's views on the concerns articulated by her, the spokesman said there were many actors in the peace process, and that Ms. Kumaratunga had her own perspective. India, the spokesman said, supported the peace process and wanted a negotiated settlement. He added that the LTTE remained a proscribed organisation in India. In response to questions, he said Ms. Kumaratunga had her own ``experience'' of the LTTE. About differences between her and her Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, on the dialogue, the spokesman said India listened to all the actors in the process. Mr. Wickremesinghe and his Cabinet colleagues had visited New Delhi and given their views about the talks. There was close and continuous briefings and de-briefings about the dialogue process between the Government of India and Sri Lanka. It was almost a continuous process, the spokesman stressed. Important Muslim leaders from Sri Lanka have also visited New Delhi and given their views about the state of play between the main stakeholders in the dialogue process. Interestingly, perceptions about India and the role that it can play have been changing. The old suspicions about India and what it could do seem to have evaporated. Instead, there is a growing realisation that any political settlement that might be achieved in Sri Lanka would have to be ``guaranteed'' and vouched for by India. India has been careful, some would say too careful, about the role it can play in Sri Lanka. In fact, some countries closely involved in Sri Lanka have been saying that if India is not keen on playing its rightful role, then it should allow others to step in. But, there would appear to be an opportunity for India here. The top Sri Lankan leadership, the Norwegians and the Japanese have kept the Indian Government informed of the developments taking place in the talks between Colombo and the LTTE.
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