An Eelam Peoples’ Democratic Front(EPDP) member and its French operational head Arumugam has threatened the Indian government for expressing its concern over Sri Lanka over the military pilling up arms to fight its long standing internal strife with the LTTE. EPDP is a partner in the present government and its leader Douglas Devananda is holding a cabinet portfolio.
In a political discussion programme of pro-government radio broadcasting from a European Country, these strong threatening comments have been made by the EPDP official.
During his comments he stated ‘piling up arms is a legitimate right of the sovereign government and India has no right to express opinion on it’. He had further said, ‘if India attempts to put pressure on Sri Lanka, we will burn and destroy the Indian investments in country and also we will help the Kasmiri extremists by supplying arms to them’.
Arumugam’s comments come just after EPDP’s calculated outburst following its utter defeat in the local elections in the East of Sri Lanka.
However, according Col. R.Hariharan, to a retired Head of Intelligence, Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka 1987-90, “I would not attach too much importance to this statement of an overseas representative of the EPDP. We do not know whether it is the authorised view of the party on the issue. I expect the party leader Douglas Devananda to come out with a clarification. Or he may come out with a "misquoted" explanation to save face. It depends on the equation of the person who made the statement with his leader”
“I do not know what useful purpose will be served by the Indian PM's advisor MK Narayanan's statement. He made a similar statement sometime back also. Every nation has a right to consider its security priorities and take decisions. And Sri Lanka has no other options but to buy weapons from where they are available when it is fighting a war. After all India, for its own very valid internal reasons, is not meeting Sri Lanka's requirements. So MK Narayanan's statement is not likely to stop Sri Lanka from weapons procurement from sources it wants. I am sure MK Narayanan knows this. But we do not know what motivated him to make such statements. There could be a political and or diplomatic reason; otherwise a man in his position does not make statements like this. Both diplomacy and politics act upon indirect and direct drivers. So no point in getting hot under the collar on these statements. India-Sri Lanka relations have grown far too strong to be damaged by a few statements,” Col. R.Hariharan told the Sri Lanka Guardian.
“All these apart, every person has a right to make his views known and face its attendant consequences. Equally it is the right of those affected by it to respond to it as they perceive. This right applies more to sovereign nations like Sri Lanka to take important decisions affecting their national security in their own interest. And buying weapons is one such issue. This does not mean its neighbours who have different perceptions cannot air their views. And such friendly sparring between nations continue. It is all part of the great game of diplomacy. So sit back and enjoy the theatricals,” he added.- Sri Lanka Guardian
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