Friday, December 30, 2011

Sri Lanka: Making LLRC Report Meaningful


By Col R Hariharan


The Rajapaksa government should be happy with the report of the Commission of Inquiry on Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation (LLRC) presented to the Sri Lankan parliament on December 16, 2011 as it has not pinpointed responsibility on anyone (other than political and systemic weaknesses and the LTTE) for the mess Sri Lanka finds itself after the Eelam War.

The report provides badly needed breathing space for the government, as the Commission has has done a fairly good job if one goes by the President’s mandate given to it. The well written report analyses in detail the reasons for past and present discontent of Tamils and has drawn the government attention to a number issues that had triggered Tamil insurgency.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Strategic power play in Myanmar

By Col R Hariharan

The US Secretary of State Ms Hilary Clinton’s recent visit to Myanmar, the first ever of its kind in the last five decades, is likely to be a turning point in the estranged relationship between the two countries. And that could bring the US-China power play closer home to Myanmar.

Myanmar President Thein Sein had been taking many positive steps to establish the government’s democratic credentials. And as Ms Clinton’s visit comes after a lot of preparatory work by US representatives, Myanmar had high expectations from the visit. From news reports after her visit, the chances of the two countries resuming normal relations in the near future appear to have become brighter.

Friday, December 2, 2011

Sri Lanka Perspectives: November 2011

By Col  R Hariharan

INTERNAL DEVELOPMENTS

Internally, the month of November 2011 saw a politically turbulent period and the country’s economy was facing the heat from the international economic downturn. 

Acquiring of private enterprises

The hurried enactment of the bill “The Revival of Underperforming Enterprises and Underutilized Assets Bill” to take over 37 private enterprises, which the government said were not performing well, created strong reaction from most of the business houses and political parties. The bill had drawn widespread criticism from business, political circles and even Buddhist clergy. Even two partners of the ruling coalition the right wing Jatiya Hela Urumaiah (JHU) and the National Freedom Front (NFF) abstained from voting although the bill was passed with 122 votes in favour and 46 against. 

Monday, November 28, 2011

Combating terrorism: three years after 26/11

By Col. R. Hariharan 

How is Indias war on terror going on three years after 26-11 Mumbai attacks?  Like the proverbial curates eggs it is good in parts, while bad otherwise. 

But overall, it would be realistic to call it limping. In a nutshell, at the Central level the progress is somewhat better while at the state level it is uneven and tardy. At the operational level halting progress has been made in structural mechanisms and in force levels. Leadership drive and commitment to fight terrorism demonstrated in the U.S. after 9/11 attack is missing here. Even well-thought out plans continue to be hobbled by the deadweight of political priorities and considerations, rather than real time needs of counter terrorism.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh speaking at the annual conference of the State police chiefs and Inspectors-General of Police at New Delhi on September 15, 2011 gave an overview of the progress India has so far made in combating terror. He said, "The security environment in the country continues to be uncertain. The recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai and Delhi are grim reminders of the grave challenges posed by terrorism to our national security. Over the last one year, Left wing extremism has also claimed the lives of many innocent persons and police personnel." It is doubtful whether the situation has actually improved since he made the statement. 

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Myanmar: Fast forward to democracy

By Col. R. Hariharan 

The decision of the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) to register as a “legitimate” political party may well become a turning point in Myanmar’s history. The NLD under the leadership of Aung San Suu Kyi had been at the vanguard of peoples struggle for democratic reforms during the last two and a half decades. The NLD applied for registration as a political party on November 23 as per the requirements of electoral laws. The 21 NLD signatories of the application included three founders of NLD – Aung San Suu Kyi, former General Tin Oo, and Win Tin. 

The NLD was de-recognized as a political party after it refused to re-register as a political party as required by the electoral laws for 2010 elections. It had boycotted the 2010 elections as it considered both the 2008 Constitution and the electoral laws unjust.  

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

China's Impact on India-Nepal Relations

By Col R Hariharan

The increasingly loud and belligerent assertion of China’s claims in South China has become a matter of strategic concern for many nations for diverse reasons. It comes at a time when nations with diverse interest in the Southeast Asia from the India to Vietnam to Japan and the U.S. are already concerned about China’s growing strategic strength. Even other nations of the ASEAN group, who do not vocalise their concerns over this development for reasons of real politick, are equally uncomfortable though China is fully established as a trading partner among them.  The recent U.S.-Australian agreement to station U.S. Marines in bases in Australia is directly related to this concern.

For India, it sends clear message of China’s sensitivity to India’s efforts at upgrading its relations in Southeast Asia. Read in the light of escalating strategic collaboration between China and Pakistan including the involvement of PLA troops in the construction of strategic road links in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, and build up of PLA force levels in Tibet with better strategic access to Indian borders, the possibility of Chinese belligerence  shifting to India’s Himalayan frontiers has increased.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Sri Lanka Perspectives: October 2011

By Col R Hariharan

Overview

In the first half of the month, the Sri Lanka scene was dominated by the final phase of the local body elections in which President Rajapaksa’s United People Freedom Alliance (UPFA) coalition scored a massive success underlining his continued popularity.

In the second half, the Commonwealth Heads of State Meeting (CHOGM) held at Perth, Australia came into the limelight as it considered the creation of a Human Rights watchdog for the Commonwealth.  Sri Lanka felt this as targeted move against the country as it continued to be in a state of denial over the alleged war crimes committed by Sri Lanka Army during the last stage of Eelam War. However, the proposal sponsored mainly by Britain, Canada and Australia was not accepted. Similarly Sri Lanka also ran the risk of losing its opportunity to host the CHOGM 2013 when Canada and the UK suggested changing the venue. However, again thanks to the support of Afro-Asian members this was also rejected.    

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Myanmar’s chances for ASEAN chairmanship brighten

By Col. R. Hariharan 

Myanmar President Thein Sein must be rejoicing at the visiting Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa’s comment that political reforms in Myanmar looked "irreversible." Reuters quoted the Indonesian Minister as saying, “I wish to believe and I get the sense that they are meant to be irreversible. I did not get any indication that the process will stop.” 

According to the report he said he had urged Myanmar's leaders to release more political prisoners and take greater steps to reconcile with restive ethnic groups. He expected progress in these areas before the country assumes the chair of ASEAN. 

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Making India-Myanmar relations meaningful

 Col R Hariharan 

Myanmar President Thein Sein’s visit to India from October 12th to 15th had only limited visibility in Indian media that has become characteristic of news relating to Myanmar.  Unlike the earlier visits of Myanmar’s heads of state, Thein Sein’s visit is of special interest on two counts – the changing political environment in Myanmar and India’s slow assertion of its strategic perception. In the near term, these developments might compel India to take A relook at its Myanmar policy and reshape it in keeping with the changes taking place both within and outside Myanmar. 

Saturday, October 15, 2011

What is the 'Real Axis of Evil'?


The phrase ‘Axis of Evil’ coined in the wake of rise of Al Qaeda, means many things to many people. But what is the real ‘Axis of Evil’ that India should be worried about?

Well-known counter-terrorism expert B Raman’s examines this core concern while discussing the issue of terrorism in the context of India-Pakistan relations in his mail interview with Jahanzeb Aslam  published in Newsweek Pakistan. His comment “India is fully capable of dealing with Pakistan and has no concerns. What we are worried about is the increasing strategic threat from the developing Sino-Pakistani axis….This developing axis is the real axis of evil.” is noteworthy. Excerpts of the interview titled “The Real Axis of Evil”  is reproduced here for your reading. 

Excerpts:

What has India’s role been in the U.S.-led war on terror?

India’s primary role is exchange of intelligence, knowledge, experience and capabilities, and mutual assistance in legal matters with interested countries, including the U.S.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Is Myanmar-China relation entering a tricky phase?

  By Col. R. Hariharan 

Myanmar’s recent decision to suspend the construction of the Chinese-aided Irrawaddy Myitsone hydroelectric dam project in Kachin State comes as a pleasant surprise, whatever be the reasons behind the Myanmar decision. 

However, the moot point is, whether the three-decade old relationship carefully nurtured by both sides is entering a new tricky phase? 

China’s immediate reaction to the announcement by the Myanmar President Thein Sein was tinged with irritability in the midst of polite bureaucratic wordings.   It would indicate China was not probably consulted before Myanmar President went public with the decision.  This is clearly a case of proverbial Chinese loss of face. 

Monday, October 3, 2011

Sri Lanka Perspectives - September 2011


By Col R Hariharan

President Rajapaksa’s address to UN General Assembly

For Sri Lankans, the highlight of the month was President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s address at the UN General Assembly. In his speech, the President skirted the human rights issues and allegations of war crimes for which Sri Lanka had come under strong criticism. Similarly he gave a broad brush to the Tamil political question also. He focused on the rehabilitation and developmental activity undertaken by his government in the postwar period. He averred “the remarkable growth of 22% of the economy of the Northern Province” was a clear indication of the success achieved” by his government’s initiatives on development in the North.  The President cited the moving up of Sri Lanka from the 52nd to 79th rank in the assessment by the World Economic Forum as a testimony to overall economic progress made by his country.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Army's Deepening Crisis of Amorality

When I see the present state of our Army, I cannot but agree with Gen Baljit Singh who has highlighted the growing amorality within the Army [in the article reproduced below].  I have my own recollection of the days when the Army scrupulously stuck to its straight path ;  it was applauded by the public for it. But sadly those days appear to become part of our regimental histories. Perhaps the Army's record of  punishing the guilty is better than the civil services; but that is no consolation for any army.  Indian Army had always proudly set its own high standards and lived up to it. Is  it not time for the Army bosses look at themselves and set an example and clean up the scene before the stink hits the ceiling?

Army's Deepening Crisis of Amorality
By Lt Gen (Retd) Baljit Singh


Of late, the Indian Army’s proud image has been severely dented. The discerning Indians as well as the aam-admi is beginning to question whether those who lead the Indian Army are men of straw? A few years ago, a Maj General commanding an infantry Division pleaded guilty of misappropriating CSD liquor and was cashiered with seven years RI in a civil jail. About a year later, another Maj General was served a show-cause notice for acts of omission and commission while ironically he headed the Army’s Judicial Department. In 2009, the CBI filed a charge-sheet against yet another Maj General (since retired) and his spouse for possessing assets to the tune of 3.37 crores while in service, grossly disproportionate to their known incomes and family inheritances. In 2010 a General Court Martial cashiered a Lt Colonel and sentenced him to three years rigorous imprisonment for irregularities upward of ten crore. And now 30 officers are facing trial; surely a dubious record for any army. 

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

First takeaways from Delhi blast

By Col. R Hariharan

Terrorists have struck once again in Delhi taking the historical count of such attacks to more than a dozen. Apart from the tragic loss of lives of innocent public, the repeated terror attacks in Delhi have exposed the soft underbelly of India's fight against terrorism.

Unfortunately in our country one can almost predict the immediate response to terrorist attacks because it is so pedestrian - Prime Minister assures the nation terrorists would be brought to book, opposition leaders blame the government for its soft attitude to terrorism, media blames the police, and everyone calls it intelligence failure.

Lashkar terrorists struck Mumbai and went on a rampage on a fateful day - November 26, 2008 - many probably expected India to react like the U.S. did after 9/11 Al Qaeda attacks. But India is not the U.S.

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Sri Lanka Perspectives - August 2011

By Col R Hariharan

Overview


President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s announcement that the state of emergency in force in the island nation since 2005 would be allowed to lapse in September 2011 was the key development during the month of August. Sri Lanka government showed its mounting concern over erosion of its international image due to unrelenting international focus on its lack of accountability over human rights violations and alleged war crimes in the last stages of war.


In particular, the increasingly vocal expression of concerns by India and the U.S. showed that Sri Lanka would have to come up with concrete measures to convince the international community of its sincerity on tackling the subject. A strategy for doing this appears to be eluding Sri Lanka still. At the same time, Indian government is under tremendous pressure for proactive action on Tamil issues including the alleged Sri Lankan war crimes which were discussed in Indian parliament. This could further increase the international momentum building against Sri Lanka as the issue might figure in the meeting of the High Commission for Human Rights at Geneva in September 2011.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Why Anna Hazare's movement is first of its kind?


I am amazed that Anna had been able to achieve what no political party or movement has ever before been able to do -- create a national focus, says Col (retd) R Hariharan [ Images ]

This is the first poser that comes to mind when we see thousands of people in whom he raised hopes rejoicing in the streets. The answer depends upon how we see Anna Hazare's campaign. We can answer the question better after understanding what he did achieve and what he did not. Here is my take.

I have been listening to cliché-ridden sanctimonious speeches of political leaders delivered in a monotonous tone that put me to sleep for nearly four decades now; the latest one of this genre was Dr Manmohan Singh's [ Images ] Independence Day address. This painful exercise coupled with watching corpulent Parliament members walking in and out of Parliament on non-issues with feigned indignation beamed on Lok Sabha TV has turned me quite cynical about our "democratic process". This cynicism had been further reinforced after watching our lawmakers in disorderly conduct on the floor of the House with increasing frequency. In fact, I advise parents not to let their kids to watch our Lok Sabha proceedings lest the young minds consider them as standard parliamentary procedure and perpetuate it.  

Friday, August 26, 2011

Daughter Desh Ki

By Shahana

It was a rainy midnight in July in an exhausted little city called Poona. I was fast asleep when all of a sudden I heard someone breathe very heavily, almost choking with utter shock and bewilderment. I woke up with a start only to see Maa staring at the television wide-eyed and terrified.

There it was —NDTV on full volume with Barkha Dutt reporting some flood, scandal, or some such thing which at that point did not matter. Maa pointed at the ticker, which was rolling the same news over and over, as if to make sure it was drilled deep into my cerebrum that the commanding officer of 22 Rashtriya Rifles has been shot in a terrorist encounter in the valley of Sopore. I stared in utter disbelief. One only knew people or knew of people who met with circumstances such as these, but knowing that this time it was my father at the receiving end of the bullet was just the one thing I could not fathom.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Sri Lanka: Getting out of the “Grease Yakka” syndrome


By Col R Hariharan

Sri Lanka is currently rocked by reports of ‘Grease Yakka” (Grease devils) suddenly appearing in rural areas and terrorising villagers. Traditionally a grease yakka is a prowler in the dark who attacks women; he is said to wear only a loin cloth and cover his body with oil to escape capture. Already five lives have been lost in more than 30 incidents of vigilantism against grease yakkas by paranoid villagers. In two recent incidents a policeman was killed by irate villagers and a traffic-cop beaten up and four others were injured. In one incident naval sailors and the public got into a fracas over grease yakka attack. What is interesting is most of these incidents have been reported from eight Tamil and Muslim minority inhabited districts. 

Monday, August 22, 2011

"A battle we must not lose "


Columnists of all hues had been working overtime to write about Anna Hazare's Jan Lokpal Bill and anti-corruption movement. Many of these columnists have tried to interpret, what is surely a mass movement that has inspired IIT students the same way as it had done with Bombay Dabbawalas, from their own entrenched views and agendas. Among all these articles I think it is Pritish Nandy's piece given below appears to pragmatically explain what Team Anna is trying to do.  The Jan Lokpal Bill is not a movement against politicians or leaders or parliament but against corruption, lack of accountability and ignoring peoples problems.

Read on and make up your mind.

 "A battle we must not lose "

By Pritish Nandy

Forget Anna Hazare. The Jan Lokpal movement can go to hell for all I care. Let us just look at the issues over which the battle between the Government and us citizens is being fought. And then let’s decide where we want to stand, each one of us, on the issue of corruption.

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Sam Bahadur is Bharat's Ratna

[Those of us who served under the Sam Bahadur will remember him for ever. But will the nation remember? Here is an article by Major General Ashok Mehta suggesting that the Bharat Ratna be conferred posthumously on Sam Manekshaw, India's only Field Marshal.]

By Ashok K Mehta

Around Independence Day each year, military heroes are remembered mainly due to the prodding by the media (one news channel did a special show, remembering the armed forces). Grudgingly the Government commemorates Vijay Diwas and only the Army celebrates the victory in Kargil, one of the most difficult and self-disadvantaged Infantry battles won by our soldiers. Yet warriors are forgotten quickly.

Cricketers on the other hand, are adulated 24x7, making cricket the de facto national sport and its players the idols of the country. Government Ministers, officials and others yearn to be associated with the game and its heroes as it brings fame, money and power. Cricket has been besmirched with corruption and market forces have overwhelmed the game. A young first time politician and potential Foreign Minister became its first hit-wicket casualty.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Pakistan's army: Divided it stands

[Recently I read a provocative analysis by Pervez Hoodbhoy on what is happening in Pakistan and how Pakistan army has contributed to the present state of disorder there. I am sharing it here with the readers. It presents a scary picture because an unstable Pakistan is a potential danger not only for India but South Asia as a whole.] 

By Pervez Hoodbhoy, 12 August 2011 

[Why is the Army getting weaker? The problem is not the lack of materiel – guns, bombs, men, and money. These have relatively easy fixes. Instead it is the military’s diminished moral power and authority, absence of charismatic leadership, and visibly evident accumulation of property and wealth. More than anything else, the Army has sought to please both the Americans as well as their enemies] 

Pakistan bleeds from a thousand cuts. If things had gone according to plan it is India that should have been hurting now, not Pakistan. The army’s 25 years-old low-cost, high-impact strategy of covert warfare would have liberated Kashmir and secured Afghanistan from Indian influence.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

India - Independence: Partition


By Lt Gen SK Sinha (Retd.)

The Army’s contribution to India’s Independence and its role during the Partition of the Sub-Continent, have not received much attention. As one who served in the Army before and after Independence, as also witnessed the Partition holocaust, I would like to place on record my recollections of that period. My views on these two aspects of our Nation’s history are based on my personal experience and not on any erudite research.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Military losing its shine - Time to recast short service commission



Lt Gen Harwant Singh

In a developing economy, rapid industrialization and a country well on the road to prosperity, preference for government jobs tends to decline. This has not happened in India so far due to a number of reasons. One, government jobs offer unmatched security of employment, two, seniority overrides merit, three, mediocrity prospers, promotions are plentiful and finally, there is much rent to be collected with minimum risk. Government employees have still not shed the colonial era hang-ups of being masters and not public servants: ego and false notions of status persists.  

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Sri Lanka Perspectives -July 2011

By Col R Hariharan

The month of July had been an eventful one for Sri Lanka both internally and externally. The three major developments included the thumping success of President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the local bodies’ elections in the country except in the Northern Province, the building up of pressure on India-Sri Lanka relations and the fall out of Mrs Hilary Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State’s visit to India and its impact on U.S- Sri Lanka.

Local authorities election

The ruling coalition United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA), led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, scored a thumping victory in the elections for local bodies held on July 23. The President’s continued popularity was underscored with the UPFA capturing 45 of the 65 local bodies for which elections were held. The main opposition parties the United National Party (UNP) and the Janata Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) failed to capture a single local authority. This would show that opposition parties were yet to bounce back from their parliamentary poll defeat.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Sri Lanka: FAQs on Channel 4 videos on war crimes - Part 2

Transcurrents.com had carried my earlier blog on Channel 4 videsos
(http://transcurrents.com/news-views/archives/2202#comment-8859). It evoked large scale response from readers. While some of them were the familiar India-bashing type, one of the reader asked a few interesting questions which reflected the suspicions about India's role in Sri Lanka prevalents among sections of Sri Lankans. I chose one to answer that had the most interesting questions. I am giving below my answers to this reader  which are carried in www.transcurrents.com  under the heading "Sri Lanka did not bother to listen to international friends who helped it win the war - Col R Hariharan"

Since Jazz has raised some interesting questions. I am normally accustomed to abusive language, which Sri Lankans seem to be fond of while discussing India. However, as he has politely worded his questions, I am answering them:

1. Do you believe that military forces around the world conduct ‘clean’ wars? If so, please be kind enough to mention those forces. Do you honestly believe that any kind of ‘war’ can be ‘clean’ in present day context?

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Sri Lanka: FAQs on Channel 4 Videos on War Crimes


Col R Hariharan
  
I have received a number of mails asking for my comments on the Channel 4 video ‘Killing Fields of Sri Lanka’ on alleged war crimes committed by Sri Lankan Army, particularly after I participated in a panel discussion on Headlines Today TV channel recently. I am giving my views and comments on questions summarised below:  

Question 1: Do you think the Sri Lanka army’s war crimes depicted graphically on Channel 4 video are true?

There are two issues related to the allegations war crimes.

First is whether the video footage is genuine or not; the footage has been examined by international experts (including some from the UN) who believe they are original. However, Sri Lanka government’s experts claim they are doctored. I feel the video establishes a prima facie case for an international commission to look into the war crimes allegation; the same commission can also get the video footage examined by neutral experts in the course of its inquiry.

Friday, July 8, 2011

Sri Lanka Perspectives: June 2011


By Col R Hariharan

Sri Lanka- India relations

The recent political changes in Tamil Nadu and the stodgy attitude of Sri Lanka to increasing Indian concerns on a whole lot of issues connected with Tamil minority and the Eelam war appear to have started having its adverse impact on Sri Lanka-India ties. In a frank assessment, India’s prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh in an interaction with selected editors of Indian media vocalised India’s concerns. He acknowledged his dilemma in handling Sri Lanka Tamil issue calling the grievances of the Tamil community in Sri Lanka ‘legitimate.’ He said the Tamils felt “they are reduced to second-class citizens.” He said that within the Sri Lanka population there were hotheads, and “the Sinhala chauvinism is a reality.”


Friday, June 3, 2011

Myanmar's quest for democracy


By Col R Hariharan (Retd.)

INTRODUCTION

Myanmar’s newly elected parliament under the 2008 Constitution had its first session on January 31, 2011. In the political history of Myanmar, it marks a new milestone; however, its impact on Myanmar’s quest for democracy remains an open question. Despite the limitations in transferring political power to peoples’ representatives imposed by the 2008 Constitution, a new element – limited civilian rule - has now been introduced after continuous military dictatorship for 22 years.

The 2008 Constitution has a lot of democratic veneer. There is bicameral Union Assembly (Pyidaungsu Hluttaw) consisting of the 440-member lower house - ‘House of Representatives (Pyithu Hluttaw)’ and the 224-member upper house - ‘House of Nationalities (Amyotha Hluttaw).’ All the 14 regions or states have their own assemblies. Despite this the constitution designed by the ruling junta can hardly be called a democratic one in its present form. Only 330 of the 440-seat lower house are filled by elected civilian members; similarly only 168 out of 224 seats of upper house will be filled by civilians. Military officials would be occupying the rest (25 percent) of the seats. 

Sri Lanka Perspectives – May 2011


by Col R Hariharan

External developments

Even as Sri Lanka celebrated Victory Day for the second year on May 27, allegations of war crimes and human rights violations in the last stages of its ‘final’ war the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) continued to haunt it. Sri Lanka’s damage control actions so far do not appear to have yielded much dividend. The latest in these efforts was a 3-day international seminar “Defeating Terrorism – the Sri Lankan Experience” organised by the Sri Lanka Army at Colombo from May 31. Sri Lanka expected participation from 45 countries. This is probably an exercise to vindicate the approach it adopted to defeat terrorism to deflect the increasing international flak over war crimes allegations. 

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Army watches as Siachen dialogue resumes

[Indian and Pakistani defence secretaries are meeting today to resume the dialogue on Siachen glacier, one of the contentious border issues between the two countries. But how many of us know how the Siachen came into Indian possession? Yes, it was with the blood and sweat of our troops operating at inhospitable heights of over 21,000 feet. Will it be traded off as a 'goodwill gesture' for some dubious promises from Pakistan? For thos of us who took part in the 1965 and 1971 wars where in the end we made such trade offs, it is a troubling question. I am reproducing Ajai Shukla's blog on the story of capture of the highest post in Siachen and the grit of the soldiers who did that. It symbolises one of the greatest moments of our army. - R HARIHARAN]  


By Ajai Shukla, 30th May 11


On a moonless night in Siachen, in May 1987, Second Lieutenant Rajiv Pande’s thirteen-man patrol silently climbed towards Quaid Post, a 21,153-feet high pinnacle near the crucial Bilafond La pass that was held by 17 Pakistani soldiers. Quaid had to be captured and Pande was fixing ropes on the near-vertical, 1500-feet ice wall just below the post, to assist a larger follow-on force in making a physical assault. As the jawans fixed the ropes, gasping for breath in that oxygen-depleted altitude, the Pakistani sentries just a few hundred feet above heard them. Gunfire rang out killing nine Indian soldiers, including Pande. But the four survivors could tell their unit, 8 Jammu & Kashmir Light Infantry (8 JAK LI), that the ropes were fixed.


Capturing Quaid post was vital being the only Pakistani post that dominated key Indian positions at Bilafond La. Realising its importance, Pakistan named it after Qaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. The post, commanded by Subedar Ataullah Mohammed, was held by commandoes from the elite Special Services Group.


Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Sri Lanka: Jayalalithaa fires the first salvo



By Col. R. Hariharan
 
After staging a spectacular victory over her bête noire M Karunanidhi-led Dravida Munnetra Kazagham(DMK) in Tamil Nadu assembly elections, Ms Jayalalithaa, leader of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (AIADMK), has called upon the Indian government for action against the Sri Lanka  President Mahinda Rajapaksa for alleged war crimes and genocide of Tamils. Speaking at her very first press conference, Ms Jayalalithaa said “The President of Sri Lanka must be tried for war crimes and brought before the International Court of Law…” The AIADMK leader added, "India can no longer remain a silent spectator….If necessary, an economic blockade will have to be resorted to bring a recalcitrant Sri Lanka to heel."

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Can India do an operation like the US did in Abbottabad?

 
By Col R Hariharan

Can Indian security forces carry out a special operation like the US SEALS did in Abbottabad?

The US SEALS struck within the backyard of Pak military establishment but in 40 minutes killed the most wanted terrorist of the decade Osama bin Laden. As the TV and other media had a field day covering the operation and its aftermath, the inevitable question why can't India carryout an operation like that to catch any of the 20-odd India's most wanted terrorists hiding in Pakistan was raised.

In answering it we must be realistic; we should not even contemplate such overseas special operations unless we fulfil three basic parameters for their success: strong national leadership with decision making ability as demonstrated by President Obama, realtime intelligence about the target before, during and after the operations, and technical support system including air lift and communication for special forces. I fear at present we do not fulfil any of these three basic parameters.

Friday, May 6, 2011

Sri Lanka: Cleaning up the act

By Col R Hariharan

The report of the three-member UN  panel of experts set up to advise UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on alleged war crimes and human rights violations committed during the final stages of the Eeelam war has produced two reactions – both on expected lines.

In the report made public by the UN on April 25, the panel found many of the allegations “credible” against both the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). This has vindicated the suspicion of all those who had been accusing Sri Lanka government of committing these crimes. This section includes many liberal governments of West, INGOs, Tamil Diaspora, human rights activists both within and outside Sri Lanka and of course the rump of the LTTE still trying to revive the defunct organisation amidst Tamil Diaspora. (One will notice that I have omitted India and Tamil Nadu where attitudes are not crystallised as the issue is inexorably mired in domestic and national politics, not unlike Sri Lanka.) However, this disparate section has neither a common agenda nor a forum for collective action; it constituents widely differ on the follow up action to be taken on the report. These range from increasing diplomatic pressure to bring it up in the UN Security Council to indicting President Mahinda Rajapaksa for war crimes.     

Sri Lanka Perspectives – April 2011


By Col R Hariharan

UN advisory panel report and its fall out

The report of the three-member UN  panel of experts, set up to advise UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on allegations of war crimes and human rights abuse during the final stages of the Eeelam war, has found credible reports of war crimes committed by both the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The report released by the UN on April 25, has made the following recommendations to the Secretary General:
a.    The Government of Sri Lanka should immediately commence “genuine investigations” into these and other alleged violations of international humanitarian and human rights law committed by both sides involved in the armed conflict.
b.    The Secretary- General should immediately establish an independent international mechanism, whose mandate should include: monitoring and assessing the extent to which Sri Lanka is carrying out domestic accountability process and investigations and advising the Secretary General on its findings; and conduct investigations independently into the alleged violations.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

An ode to the Indian soldier


March 09, 2011   7:57:38 PM
Manvendra Singh

While India has chosen to forget the sacrifices of its soldiers in foreign land, Sri Lanka has erected a memorial in honour of the IPKF’s fallen heroes.

I was on the lookout for Harpal’s name. Like all those who knew him I too had been devastated by the loss of the Ropar Khalsa. He had that infectious persona. I had last seen him at his unit mess, during the 1987 cricket world cup. Even as the country partook in its cricket craze, there were those who didn’t have that luxury, as they were at war for India.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Promoting crisis within the military


An ongoing spat between the MoD and Army HQ is keeping key positions empty. A codified army promotion policy will put an end to such face-offs

by Ajai Shukla Business Standard, 5th Apr 11

South Block is being roiled by a face-off between military and the ministry of defence (MoD), which co-exist at the best of times in mutual loathing. Since September, the MoD has blocked the routine promotion of army officers to the senior-most levels of command. Today, the commanders of several army divisions and corps – combat formations that are headed by major generals and lieutenant generals, respectively – are serving extended tenures since nobody is being promoted to relieve them. The Indian Army’s elite 1 Corps, which strikes deep into enemy territory in war, currently has no commander. Two major general posts in the crucial Military Operations Directorate and one in Military Intelligence Directorate are lying vacant.

Sri Lanka Perspectives – March 2011

Col R Hariharan Retd.

Local government polls

President Mahinda Rajapaksa once again affirmed his political strength when his Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP)-led United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) romped home winning   205 of the 234 local government (LG) authorities in polls held during the month. [Elections to 64 LG bodies could not be held as legal action is pending after nominations to these bodies were rejected.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Crime and Punishment - Army Style

Recently Lt Gen Sahni, a three star general, was dismissed from the army and awarded a prison sentence for corruption in his dealings. In this context I read an insightful article by former vice chief of army staff Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi highlighting the promptness with which army deals with crime in its ranks.  I am reproducing Gen Oberoi's article here for your reading. Readers comments are welcome.
  
Crime and Punishment

By Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi (Retd.)

 [LEARN FROM THE ARMY. Justice is prompt in the Indian Army; there is no shielding of a person on account of his rank or stature. It's time babus and politicians were put through similar scrutiny]

When Lt Gen Sahni, a three star general, is dismissed and awarded a prison sentence, one can conclude that the army does not baulk in punishing its defaulting personnel, irrespective of their seniority. It also calls for introspection by the society on larger issues.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Justifying Corruption as Coalition 'Dharma'

I am one of the millions of Indians highly disappointed with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's television interaction with a clutch of handpicked high profile journalists beamed live on the TV on February 16, 2011.

At the end of the long rambling interaction, I was dismayed when the Prime Minister spoke of coalition 'dharma' and the compromises one has to make. Dharma is a sacred word for many and what the coalition in New Delhi in an increasing number of cases is total 'adharma.' And the Prime Minsiter doing a bad job of whitewashing it all and putting the blame on Raja is adharma of the worst sorts. The Prime Minister as Captain of the team shares a greater responsibility because he never set benchmarks of conduct for members of his cabinet and failed to monitor their performance when media produced strong evidence of their misconduct.

He never answered Rajdeep Sardesai's question why he accepted Raja in the cabinet for a second time when Congress came out strong in the last general election. If the Congress Party expected the Prime Minister to shore out the Party of the quagmire of its own and its Prime Minister's making, it miserably failed. 

As one who teaches business communication in management schools I had always found the Prime Minister as one of the poorest communicators among his peers. I wish our politicians and nethas undergo formal training in public speaking (even some of the best of them are rabble rousers) and voice training. I don't know whether Tony Blair, General Musharraf or Mrs Margaret Thatcher had such training; but they had the gift of making their arguments 'convincing' at least for the moment. I do not remember any of our prime ministers in the recent past could carry the country with their speeches, except Atal Bihari Vajapayee who was comfortable and eloquent in Hindi in an intellectual way. Perhaps this is one reason why Dr Manmohan Singh avoids televised interviews; he can be utterly unconvincing while speaking in public. Thank god at least he knows it. Congress Party would do well not to put him on TV if they want somebody to carry the day.   

I am reproducing here my friend B Raman's open letter to the Prime Minister carried in his blog of February 16. It eloquently analyses how the Prime Minister performed in his interview. I share his feelings.

http://ramanstrategicanalysis.blogspot.com/2011/02/what-fall-was-there-my-countrymen.html

WHAT A FALL WAS THERE, MY COUNTRYMEN

B.RAMAN

Dear Mr.Prime Minister,

Like millions of ordinary Indians, I too watched from the beginning till the end your televised interaction with selected journalists from the electronic media on February 16,2011.

You had never spoken to us, the ordinary people of India, on the various scams which have rocked the country one after another since August last year. Our only source of information has been the media.

As the citizens of this country who put your party in power, we had a right to expect that you will talk to us and explain to us what is the truth and how you intend arresting and reversing the rot that has set in and the continuing decline in the credibility and image of India as a result of the stories of these scams .

These stories---whether correct wholly or only partly--- have brought out one thing loud and clear--- the ineptitude and incompetence of your Government, the poor supervision which seems to prevail in many Ministries and offices, including the Prime Minister's Office, and the insensitivity of many senior members of your Cabinet to public concerns over these alleged scams.

Corruption is nothing new, but the magnitude of it as seen since you came to power has been highly disturbing . What is new is the ineptitude, the incompetence and the lack of supervision which seem to prevail since you came to power--- the like of which one had not seen under any other Prime Minister of India since we became independent in 1947.

You try to blame your difficulties and embarrassments on your having to run a coalition. You are not the first Prime Minister having to run the country at the head of a coalition. V.P.Singh, Chandrasekhar, Deve Gowda, Inder Gujral and Atal Behari Vajpayee headed coalitions too. Despite this, they gave us a government which worked as a team and which did not pull in different directions. I can't recall any instance under the previous coalitions where a Minister repeatedly circumvented the instructions of the Prime Minister, without fearing the consequences of his action.

All the previous Prime Ministers, who headed coalition Cabinets, made it clear to their political associates who the boss was and who would take important decisions. They never tolerated anyone who sought to circumvent their instructions. They never let their political allies dictate terms to them.

This is the first time we are seeing a Prime Minister, who tries to earn not the confidence of the people by projecting himself as a strong leader who will not tolerate any nonsense from his coalition partners, but the pity of the people by projecting himself as a helpless leader, who has nothing but to do what his coalition partners ask him to do.

We watched in utter amazement for one hour on February 16 not the rallying cry of a leader, who has realised the magnitude of the rot and who is determined to set it right whatever be the consequences to his position as the Prime Minister, but an exercise in self-pity of a leader who is at the mercy of his coalition partners and does not have the courage to call them to order.

This was the first time we had an opportunity of listening to you on the State of the country in the light of these scams. We were looking forward not to excuses and pretexts to explain away the sins of commission and omission of your government, but to a bold re-assertion of your leadership as the Prime Minister of this great country, who has the courage to face the people of this country in their eyes and reassure them: Thus far and no further.

I have no doubt in my mind that many right-thinking people of India, like me, must have felt ashamed and enraged as they saw the Prime Minister of this country giving out one excuse after another for not being able to govern effectively and for not being able to prevent blatantly wrong decisions and corruption.

You let us down badly, Mr.Prime Minister. You let us down badly.

Warm regards,

Yours sincerely,

B.Raman, Additional Secretary (retd), Cabinet Secretariat, Govt. of India, New Delhi

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Guarding India's Seafront

Is it time to pat ourselves on the back? Can India be sure of preventing another terror attack?

By Col R Hariharan
 
Indian security agencies’ successful handling of a series of events involving lucrative terrorist targets in the last quarter of 2010 showed they are succeeding in setting right their woeful performance during the infamous 26/11 Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT) attack in Mumbai two years back. The tasks faced by the security agencies would have daunted security agencies of even big powers.

The blue ribbon event was the high profile visit of U.S. President Barak Obama, World’s Number one terrorist target. This was followed by the XIX Commonwealth Games, in which 83 countries took part. The quarter also included two other potentially explosive anniversaries - the 26/11 attack and the demolition of Babri masjid by Hindu zealots. There were also two other adds-on to the security nightmare – the long awaited judgement in the Babri Masjid ownership case and the visit of French President Sarkozy of the French burqa ban fame. But all the events passed off peacefully. Glitches if any were minor.  

Of course, the security agencies were kept on tenterhooks by reports of Pakistan-based Jihadi groups preparing to strike at some of the prominent targets in India. However, terrorists were kept at bay apparently due to the alertness of security elements in place. A number of arrests of suspected terrorists were also made.

No doubt success in this crucial period is a direct outcome of the efforts of the Union Home Minister P Chidamabaram to tone up the internal security set up. His multi-pronged approach and broad-based strategies to improve the command and control of security response systems on a networked basis is slowly coming into place. So the coherence in action has become visible. However, the task of providing muscle and teeth to state and central police and paramilitary forces is not complete. So the much needed progress has not yet reached the ground floor.
 
There is no dearth of money for the action plan. The Centre’s allocation for internal security is now poised to go up to Rs 40,852 crore this year, if we go by the first budget supplementary. This represents nearly a fifty per cent increase over last year’s allocation of Rs.25, 923 Crore in 2008-09.

The expenditure is mainly due to the two schemes for modernisation of state police and central paramilitary forces (CPMF). Both the schemes have been extended to 2010-11. The force levels of the three CPMF (BSF, CRPF and SSB) are being increased by 109 additional battalions. The hardware and software to connect the security control centres in state capitals with State Special Branches are in place. And connectivity is expected to be completed by end December 2010. 
 
One Central Academy for Police Training (CAPT) at Bhopal, two Central Detective Training Schools (CDTS) at Lucknow and Ahmedabad and 20 Counter Insurgency and Anti-Terrorist (CIAT) Schools are also being set up. After a review, the sanctioned strength of the IPS to the state cadre has been increased by 717 to 4730.

Is it time to pat ourselves on the back? Can India be sure to prevent another terrorist attack on the scale of 26/11?

It is difficult to confidently answer these questions with surety if we consider our inability to execute time-bound projects. In this respect, the Union Home Ministry’s record is slightly better; at the state-level leadership has not shown the urgency required to revamp their set up to handle terrorist threat.

This is not mere lethargy. States had always resisted carrying out police reforms. Despite judicial direction, politicians do not want to lose their control over law enforcement machinery. Even after the 26/11 disaster, this mind set does not appear to have changed.

Nothing illustrates this better than the attitude of states to change existing systems. Local media in Maharashtra says the state home ministry has not shown a keen interest in providing training to the lowest rank post of police constables. The Special Forces raised with a lot fanfare still carry old weapons and do not have enough body armour. There are huge deficiencies in police strength in many states. Efforts to fill up these vacancies are tardy.

However, the biggest chink in national security is in coastal security. No doubt it is a complex issue mired in round-robin power games played by diverse ministries. Apart from state governments, at the Centre also it involves coordinating the functioning of many agencies and ministries including defence, ports and shipping, fisheries, agriculture, off shore drilling, maritime trade, environmental protection and international relations. So it is not surprising the Union Home Ministry took two years to embark upon forming a multi-dimensional command structure. Four Joint Operation Centres have been set up under the respective naval commanders in chief. A Sagar Prahari Bal under the Navy has been set up to patrol shallow waters of the coast. A thousand sailors equipped with 80 fast interceptor boats are being trained in phases. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for coastal security have been finalized in respect of all coastal states and union territories.

The Centre is optimistic that the first phase of the Coastal Security Scheme will be implemented nationwide by March 2011. Its expectations of states and union territories are that states would establish  73 coastal police stations, provided with  adequate manpower apart from 204 boats and 153 vehicles, and 312 two wheelers. 

In the second phase, the Coastal Security Scheme is even more ambitious with an outlay of Rs.1579.91 crore. It hopes to provide states/UTs more 131 more coastal police stations and boats and infrastructure required to make them operational. The Scheme is also to provide support for equipment, computer systems, vehicles, two-wheelers etc. A uniform system for registration of all boats is being introduced. Action is also being taken for issuing ID cards to all fishermen. There is increased emphasis on technology usage; installation of transponders on vessels to ensure identification and tracking is also being initiated. Radar chains are also being strengthened. 

So where is the problem? It lies in our national inability in executing plans on paper in time. Barring Gujarat, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, other coastal states have made little progress in implementing coastal security projects. Setting up coastal police stations envisaged even in the first phase of the plan is lagging behind. Their infrastructure is not in place. So it is doubtful whether the Coastal Security Scheme would be fully implemented fully even by end 2012.

According to defence analyst Major General Ashok Mehta, “while the Indian navy, the nodal agency for coastal security, has issued elaborate papers on plugging gaps at sea through maritime domain awareness, little has been done in augmenting capabilities of the Coast Guard.”  Only two aircraft or helicopter has been added to the fleet of 48 since 2008 for watching India’s 7,600km coastline.

At the heart of the problem is incompetent political leadership; after all what happened to the Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilas Rao Deshmukh after he messed up the handling of 26/11 terror attack? He was pushed out to a plum post in the Central cabinet as minister for heavy industries. With this law of diminishing return in operation any improvement to national security will come, if and only, when political leadership becomes accountable and demands accountability from the bureaucracy. Otherwise the nation is likely to limp along from year to year explaining why we failed rather than talk of our successes.
Courtesy: GFiles,Vol 4 Issue 11 -  February 2011
URL  http://gfilesindia.com/

Friday, February 4, 2011

Sri Lanka Perspectives – January 2011


By Col R Hariharan 

Politics

Sri Lanka political scene is getting hot as new members are being elected for 330 local bodies throughout the country on March 17, 2011. In these elections, 12.7 million voters would be electing 3,931 members to four Municipal Councils, 39 Urban Councils and 258 Pradeshiya Sabhas.

These elections in the Northern Province have become a prestigious one for President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and its Tamil partner Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) had not fared well in winning voter confidence in the presidential and parliamentary polls and local body elections for Jaffna and Vavuniya. 

Rajapaksa would like to use the local elections to establish the UPFA footprint in the North to legitimise his claim of being the leader of people from all communities. With the work on restoration of infrastructure and rehabilitation of internally displaced population going at a slow pace in the war torn north, the morale of a northern Tamils is low. Another irritant for the Tamils is the visible presence of the army everywhere; the army has been acting as an overlord of the civil administration. To top it all, law and order in Jaffna has deterriorated fast with murders and other criminal acts showing a sharp increase. So as of now UPFA and EPDP’s chances of asserting their presence in these elections in the North appear low.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), the former political proxy of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), contesting now as the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) – the Tamil name of the erstwhile Federal Party – is expected to capture majority of the seats in the elections in this district. They had fared well in the Jaffna local poll and parliamentary elections. The United National Party (UNP) which had some roots in the past in the North hopes to do better. The President would like to strike a deal with ITAK to prevent it from becoming a loose cannon in the power play in the North. So far the ITAK had been elusive. It is using this opportunity to leverage with the President for finalising the much delayed devolution package for Tamil minority. As of now, there is no sign of any quick progress in this regard.

In the East, the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) led by the President’s former ally Pillaiyan has decided to contest on its own symbol. As the three communities – Muslims, Tamils and Sinhalas – are almost in equal numbers, the election results are a wide open question, though UPFA is expected to do better.

The whole local election scene became a comedy of errors as nearly 20 percent of the nominations were rejected on technical grounds and trivial errors by returning officers. Both the UPFA and the main opposition party United National Party (UNP) were mortified to find a large number of their nominations rejected in many parts of the country. This was particularly damaging for the UPFA as its nominations to 35 local councils in 12 districts were rejected. The rejection in 16 local bodies in the Jaffna district including three Urban Councils (Velvettiturai, Point Pedro and Chavakachcheri) and 13 Pradeshiya Sabhas will perhaps become the biggest spoil sport for the UPFA’s efforts to show flag in the North.

Tamil Diaspora

To gain maximum mileage out of the publicity generated by the disastrous visit of President Rajapaks to the Oxford Union last month, pro-separatist segments of Sri Lanka Tamil Diaspora appear to be getting their anti-Rajapaksa act together. Though they are rive with internal differences, they appear to be united in bringing down President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s reputation using his problems in handling the strong adverse international allegations about Sri Lanka army’s war crimes and human rights violations.

The latest salvo was fired when three plaintiffs filed a law suit in a US District court in Washington seeking $ 30 million to compensate relatives of victims of killed in three incidents during the war by Sri Lanka army. The case was filed under the U.S. Torture Victim Protection Act 1991 which provides for victims to seek compensation from individuals in foreign states who commit acts of torture. The President’s spokesman dismissed the case as a publicity stunt by “mercenaries” of the LTTE. 

The Tamils Against Genocide, a Diaspora Tamil organisation, expressed disappointment that the U.S, had not taken action on this issue when President Rajapaksa made a quiet visit to the U.S. said to be for medical check up during the month. The Amnesty International also expressed similar sentiments.

The Eelam sympathisers were shocked when Swiss police arrested ten former LTTE representatives in the country on January 11, 2011. According to knowledgeable Diaspora columnist DBS Jeyaraj, those arrested included the present head of the LTTE in Switzerland Vijaratnam Sivanesan alias Ragu alias Ragupathy, his predecessor Chelliah Kularajasekeram alias Kulam and the influential Swiss Tiger finance chief Chelliah Jeyapalan alias Abdullah. They are facing charges of money laundering and belonging to a criminal organisation. Switzerland is the home of about 32, 000 Sri Lanka Tamils; and the country had been an important source of  LTTE funding.  

India-Sri Lanka relations

The usually cordial relations between India and Sri Lanka came under severe pressure when two Tamil Nadu fishermen were killed within a span of ten days during the month allegedly by the Sri Lankan Navy. Though Sri Lanka vehemently denied the involvement of its navy in the incidents and attributed them to ‘miscreants’ there was widespread anger in Tamil Nadu. In a slightly disturbing aftermath, some fringe elements of pro-LTTE parties in Tamil Nadu raided the Mahabodhi Society in Chennai and attacked a Bhikku and damaged some of the property at the Buddhist temple. This was the first time such an attack on Sinhalas has taken place in Tamil Nadu during the last two decades.

Reflecting the political sensitivities in Tamil Nadu, Government of India has reacted very strongly to the killing of fishermen. Terming the incidents as "very serious" and "unacceptable", India has said that such incidents had "no justification" and called on Sri Lankan authorities to "desist" from the use of force. India lodged a strong protest with Colombo.

In the latest incident one fisherman was killed and two others injured while fishing off Kodiakarai coast on January 22. The man, who had put out to sea with two others from Pushpavanam coastal hamlet, died after Sri Lankan Naval personnel allegedly tied a rope around his neck and pushed him into the water. Earlier, in another incident on January 12, an Indian fisherman was killed in Palk Straits when Sri Lankan Navy allegedly opened fire at three fishermen, who put out to sea from Jagadapattinnam near Pudukottai.

As stated in the Sri Lanka Perspectives December 2010, such incidents gain greater significance as the Congress-DMK is alliance passing through a critical phase due to the 2G scam, and as the Tamil Nadu state elections are nearing. So New Delhi’s strong reaction is not surprising. In a follow up, India’s foreign secretary Ms Nirupama Rao is slated to proceed to Colombo to discuss the issue when she calls upon President Rajapaksa and meets other leaders.

In October 2008, India and Sri Lanka had reached an understanding on “practical arrangements to deal with bona fide Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line.” After that, killing of Indian fishermen, particularly those crossing Sri Lanka maritime boundary had decreased rapidly. In view of this, the latest killings particularly the one said to be on the Indian side of the boundary, need to be investigated fully. The possible involvement of elements opposed to the growth of cordial relations between the two countries in triggering such incidents should not be ruled out.    
Written on January 31, 2011
Courtesy: South Asia Security Trends, February 2011, www.security-risks.com