Modi takes control

Mr.Modi will become India's 15th Prime Minister today .Modi  is a practical politician . Modi was vociferous in his election speeches against Pakistan and UPA's policy of appeasement with Pak. Similarly Modi was critical of SL & PAK for arresting Indian fishermen .But level headed Modi knew election rhetoric's are different from  ground realities and wants to set the rcord straight before  he takes the saddle and is in the driver's seat . He has extended an olive branch to all SAARC leaders for his swearing in ceremony despite objections from some quarters . But Modi's diplomacy paid when both SL & PAK decided to release arrested Indian fishermen in their countries as a goodwill gesture . One sincerely hopes Modi would be  able to turn this initial euphory to something worthwhile in India's relations with these neighbouring nations . While I appreciate the steadfast resolution of politicians like Vaiko on his ideology and political orientation,he must understand diplomatic parleys are required between nations to resolve issues of this nature . The disposition shown by the heads of the two visiting leaders of SL & PAK could augur a new beginning to resolve issues between these nations .Some how I feel Modi is a politician  from India ready for a bigger international stage .

Modi means business and is a shrewd politician.I think he believes in heuristic approaches for problem solving . From what I learnt from newspapers ,he is clubbing related ministries ,may be with a view to deal issues at a single window . He is trying to engage experts in relevant fields under each ministry .I also find a sense of urgency in his approach to get things done rightly and also quickly . He may not vacillate to take decisions if it is beneficial to the nation. I understand he did not hesitate to demolish 600 Hindu temples in Ahmedabad to clear road obstructions . Throughout his hectic election campaigns he was focussed .It is an hallmark of an astute administrator . Now he has to deliver his promises. I was very impressed when he said in one of the election meetings that after 60 months he would give his report card on performance to the people of India .Unless he was so conident of his performance ,I don't think he would have uttered it . In one of the election rallies he said the Chief ministers and Prime minister should work together to make things happen . May be he has an all pervasive development plan for India in mind . I read from papers Modi has an ambitious plan for  24 x 7 power supply across India .  This could surely be the engine for growth .Best wishes to Modi and his team to usher in a new India .

CHOGM 2013 -Will India go the Candian way ?

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting is a biennial meeting of the heads of all commonwealth nations .There are currently 54 member nations.  Every two years the summit is held in different member states. The 2013 CHOGM summit is scheduled to be held during November 10 -17,2013 at Sri Lanka.The head of the member nation holding the summit becomes the chairperson for the next two years. The member nations are the erstwhile colonies of the British empire during its colonial rule.  Queen Elizabeth is the Head of the Commonwealth nations.Since the Ottawa Summit in 1973,the queen has attended all the CHOGM summits . The 87 year old queen has now  restricted her overseas travels .The queen would be represented by the prince of Wales at the 2013 CHOGM summit .

Political parties in Tamilnadu are objecting to India's participation in the CHOGM summit at Sri Lanka .They want India to boycott the summit and are urging PM Manmohan Singh not to attend the summit as a protest against Sri Lanka's human right violations . Tamilnadu congress has also joined  the bandwagon of parties asking for a boycott by India . The Dravidan parties like DMK,AIADMK,MDMK,DMDK  want India to boycott the summit. Similarly the communists,PMK,VCT and umpteen number of small political parties want a total boycott of the CHOGM by India . The Sri Lankan minister G.L.Peries visited Delhi recently to invite PM for the meet .But PM  kept him guessing on India's plans . With elections round the of the corner in 2014 ,what  would India decide ? .So far the only nation to publicly announce a boycott of the summit is Canada.The Canadian PM has categorically said  Canada would boycott the summit .Canada is a country with the largest Tamil population outside India,barring SL. The union government can not ignore or a  turn a blind eye to the unanimous boycott call from Tamilnadu. Already the congress party is in dire straits in Tamilnadu . Congress can not afford to ignore the public sentiments in Tamil nadu on the boycott call. The union government can not continue to remain unruffled over the SL issue and Tamil sentiments in India .

The common man on the street has many unanswered questions on India's role in the 2009 Sri Lankan war and on India's stand on its relations with SL . 

• Why did India extend strategic military support to SL on its war against ethnic Tamil minority community that resulted in the gruesome genocide ?
• Why does India continue to train SL soldiers despite protests from Tamilnadu ?
• Why is India planning to sell 2 war ships to SL despite protests from Tamilnadu ?
• Why is India maintaining a stoic silence to the  killings of Tamil fishermen by SL navy ?.So far 600 fishermen have been killed and thousands grievously injured and crippled for life .

In this connection I would like to draw a parallel to  reaction of Taiwan over the killing of a solitary fisherman by the Philippines coast guard. A 65 year old Taiwan fisherman was killed by bullet shot in the neck by the Philippine coast guards,in May 2013. The Philippines sources  said the Taiwan fishing vessel had entered its waters and the coast guard fired. " This killing prompted calls in Taiwan for tough action against the Philippines. Politicians and editorial  writers said that Taiwan could not afford to suffer in silence out of fear of antagonizing the United States, an ally of the Philippines, and that a soft stance would only mean further international marginalization of the self-governing island " . The Taiwan government immediately made 4 demands on Philippines such as compensation for losses, a prompt and thorough investigation and severe punishment for those responsible, and initiation of fishery agreement negotiations between the two countries.Philippines did not respond positively to the demands within the 72-hour deadline.Then Taiwan government  imposed a total of 11 sanctions on the Philippines, including a hiring freeze on overseas Filipino workers.Philippines depends heavily on the remittance by Filipino workers form Taiwan . Then Philippines  President Benigno Aquino III apologized over the fatal shooting of the Taiwanese fisherman .The president sent an emissary to Taiwan to express apology to the family of the victim and the Taiwanese people . After ensuring a fishery agreement was signed between the 2 nations Taiwan lifted its 11 sanctions against Philippines . Tamil fishermen expects Indian government to provide succour to them like the Taiwanese government . One is at a loss to understand why GOI soft pedals all diplomatic issues with her neighbours . The problem with the union government is, it considers the 600 dead fishermen as Tamil fishermen and not as Indian fishermen.What else could be the reason for such an insensitive,callous and unresponsive government ?.On the plea of geo political strategy if India continues to remain numb and soulless to the fishermen issue,I am afraid the congress party and the union government would only alienate TN from the national mainstream. 

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Apart from the TN politicians and the Tamil diaspora many others have also called for the boycott of the Colombo CHOGM meet .Brad Adams, Asia director of the Human Rights Watch, says that Sri Lanka should be “shunned and not rewarded” by other nations .Recently UN high commissioner for human right Navi Pillay talked about about" lack of accountability, unresolved enforced disappearances and decreasing fundamental freedoms, among other issues" in SL. Brad Adams also said "Holding the summit in Sri Lanka casts serious doubts on the Commonwealth's stated commitment to supporting human rights and democratic reform," .Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, International Crisis Group also have condemned the Rajapaksa regime.British MP's have also called for a boycott of the CHOG summit at SL. All of them echoed the view that Heads of states  attending the summit at Colombo would mean vindicating SL's wrong approach to the Tamil's issues.

Now the host nation of the CHOG meet can have a theme for the meet .The theme for the colombo meet is "“Growth  with Equity; Inclusive Development.” Ironically the Tamils in SL are fighting for what is stated as the Summit theme. The union government would not spell out its stand on attending the CHOGM meet till the last moment fearing backlash in TN and also because of its hesitance to deal with SL in a robust way . Salman Kurshid  is visiting SL ahead of the summit . Will he explain India's stand or make demands to satisfy the dissatisfied Tamil people back home. Some others advise sending a low  level delegation instead of a total boycott. The newly elected Tamil chief Minister of the northern SL wants Indian PM to attend the summit and plead the  case of the SL Tamils. But I feel the policy of appeasement by India is not going to work in India's favour. It is high time India asserts itself as a major power of the South East Asian region.Bowing to political pressure form allies,opposition parties and the popular sentiment in TN , India was forced to vote against  SL at UN on the US sponsored resolution at Geneva.Similarly bowing to public sentiment and political pressure India might take a stand at the last moment .

Indian Navy acts finally to save TN fishermen

I read a news item that  Indian Navy saved a large group of Tamilnadu fishermen when they were allegedly chased by Sri Lankan Navy .It is reported the fishermen were just close to the International Maritime boundary (IMBL).But they were chased by the Sri Lankan Navy.I have wondered many times ,when Sri Lankan Navy is able to chase and arrest Indian fishermen straying in to their waters,why was there no presence of Indian Navy near the IMBL ?.This would have served the twin purpose of preventing Indian fishermen from straying in to Sri Lankan waters and also would have provided the needed succour to Indian fishermen.It is reported, seeing the Indian Navy,the Sri Lankan navy retreated. The fishermen were obviously happy and had a good catch ,it seems.After 500 to 600 Tamilnadu fishermen have lost their lives and a change of guard at the Tamil nadu government,the Indian Navy has finally asserted itself.This should have been done long ago.It was believed the fishermen's issue also contributed to the rout of DMK and Congress in the recent  elections to Tamilnadu assembly.Has the election results prompted the central government to act ?Anyway,all is well,that ends well. One hopes,this exercise by Indian Navy is not an one off affair.This protection should be extended until normalcy returns and Indian fishermen may no longer have to face any threats from Sri Lankan Navy .Indian fishermen should also ensure they do not cross the IMBL and there ae no breaches from their side.

UN Report on Sri Lankan war crimes

On June 2010 UN secrteary Generl Ban Ki Moon appointed a panel to advise him about alleged violations of international humanitarian and human right laws druing the final stages of the armed conflict in SL.The three member committee from three countires namely US,Indonesia and South Afriica have given their report recently.The committee applied international human laws to both LTTE and the SL government .During the final stages of the war ,SL government said it pursued a rescue operation with a policy of 'zero civilian casualty '.But the panel has found both LTTE and the SL government have committed crimes against humanity .The report says between sept 2008 to May 19,2009 SL army used widespread shelling in Vanni area resulting in many civilian deaths.The worst allegations found credible by the panel is that the SL government encouraged innocent civilian population to concentrate on three 'No fire zones' ,and resorted to heavy shelling of these three no fire zones consecutively,while all the time publicly maintaining they would not use heavy weapons.The SL army even shelled UN hub,food distibution lines and Red cross ships coming to pickup wounded civilians .What else is this other than genocide. ? The report also says the SL army systemetically shelled hospitals on frontlines with mortars and artillery.The SL government systemetically deprived food and medical aid to those wounded by the shelling .This is really most shocking and inhuman.The panel aslo says the SL government deliberatley under estimated the civilians caught in the conflict zone. Screening of suspected LTTE activists were done without any external scrutiny and those identified were summarily executed,says the panel report.

The poor Tamil civilians were caught between devil and deep sea. The LTTE for their part refused permissions for civilians to leave the conflict zone and used them as hostages.From Feb 2009,the panel report says LTTE shot civilians at point blank who tried to escape the conflict zone.Apart from these,there were human rights violations by the SL government on media and critics.The panel report has indicted the SL government on this score also.The panel report has also said that UN's political organs and bodies have failed to protect the civilians during the final stages of the war.The UN report also appreciated the courage and resillience of the victims of the war and civil society of SL.The UN panel report has clearly indicted the SL government of war crimes and genocide.SL government requested UN not to make the panel report public as it would damage the reconciliation process.But UN said "The decision to release the report was made as a matter of transparency and in the broader public interest."

UN report has corroborated what every body said about the Sri Lankan war on Tamils as a genocide .Strangely Indian government is silent on the UN report . No official comment has come from the government so far.Rajapakshe wants Lankans to show their solidarity against UN report on May day Procession.Now India is a temporary member in UN security council.On requests from member nations only UN chairman Ban ki Moon appointed the panel to inquire war crimes against SL .The union government and the congress party are conspicuous by their silence on UN report on SL. I don't think India should observe diplomatic niceties and reserve its comments on UN reports on SL war crimes and be a party to Tamils genocide in SL.The government should condemn  unequivocally without mincing words,the war crimes committed by the SL government.It is an outrage against humanity, which no civilised nation would resort to,especially against her own ethnic minority.  Speaking against SL war crimes does not in any way mean approval of the actions of the LTTE . There was of course no justification for an armed violent struggle against SL government and in the process kill many innocents.UN report has indicted the LTTE also .The bloody war has ended . But the point is a genocide perpeterated by a government against its own ethnic race deserves to be conedmned by all right thnking people and the guilty should be brought to book and punished . Surely the SL genocide on Tamils will find a place among the greatest genocides of the world .