Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10NEWDELHI115
2010-01-22 13:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:
INDIAN MEA SHARES VIEWS ON SRI LANKA
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C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 000115
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL CE IN
SUBJECT: INDIAN MEA SHARES VIEWS ON SRI LANKA
Classified By: Political Counselor Uzra Zeya for reasons 1.4 (B,D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 000115
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL CE IN
SUBJECT: INDIAN MEA SHARES VIEWS ON SRI LANKA
Classified By: Political Counselor Uzra Zeya for reasons 1.4 (B,D)
1. (C) SUMMARY: The Indian MEA is optimistic that the January
26 elections will prove a step in the right direction for Sri
Lanka. There is concern in the GOI that the international
community's approach to addressing human rights concerns has
pushed Sri Lanka toward China. India continues to watch
developments in its island neighbor closely and to provide
significant reconstruction assistance. The GOI welcomes the
U.S. engagement in Sri Lanka. END SUMMARY.
The Upcoming Elections in Sri Lanka
--------------
2. (C) Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Joint
Secretary for Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives T.S.
Tirumurthi told us the upcoming January 26 elections in Sri
Lanka would mark Sri Lanka's entrance into a new phase of
solving questions - such as the Tamil question -
democratically. The GOI was confident that if the vote is
closely divided it will motivate the victor to consider the
views of the other camp. Sri Lanka must solve its internal
problems, and the GOI sees these elections as a stepping
stone toward a solution. A First Secretary at the Sri Lankan
High Commission in New Delhi told us there had been much
Indian interest in the upcoming election, with many
journalists passing through the High Commission for a
briefing en route to cover the unfolding events.
Role of the International Community in Sri Lanka
-------------- ---
3. (C) Tirumurthi called on the international community to
accept and work with the victor of the January 26 elections.
He criticized the behavior of "the West" over the past year,
opining that by "shunning" a victorious Sri Lanka over human
rights issues, it had "pushed Sri Lanka into China's arms,"
and opened the region to the influence of China and Iran.
The pattern of Chinese assistance to the needy northern areas
of Sri Lanka would not uphold democratic ideals and human
rights. Indian security, defense, and ethnicity-related
interests are directly affected by Sri Lankan actions. In
this regard, India welcomed U.S. engagement and saw the U.S.
abstention on the IMF vote as a signal of a pragmatic
approach.
Indian Assistance
--------------
4. (C) Though the GOI did not perceive the Chinese role as
ill-intentioned, nor wish to counter it, Tirumurthi
highlighted that India in December extended a $425 million
line of credit to Sri Lanka. This loan will reportedly fund
three rail projects in the Northern Province, to be executed
by a Union Government organization called IRCON
International. Tirumurthi expressed disappointment that the
loan had "gotten no attention" (Note: we found a single,
one-line report in the December 22 edition of the Indian
daily "The Hindu" announcing the loan, but as of January 22
we could find no direct reference to the loan on the MEA
website). The Sri Lankan First Secretary told us that some
of the rail projects were funded in part by the Chinese, so
it would be "very embarrassing" if the Indians did not
complete their section.
5. (C) COMMENT: Tirumurthi's comment that the GOI is not
trying to counter Chinese influence in Sri Lanka is to be
taken with a grain of salt. Our contact at the Sri Lankan
High Commission hit the bull's eye with his comment that
India might be embarassed if they could not match Chinese
contributions to reconstruction. END COMMENT.
ROEMER
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL CE IN
SUBJECT: INDIAN MEA SHARES VIEWS ON SRI LANKA
Classified By: Political Counselor Uzra Zeya for reasons 1.4 (B,D)
1. (C) SUMMARY: The Indian MEA is optimistic that the January
26 elections will prove a step in the right direction for Sri
Lanka. There is concern in the GOI that the international
community's approach to addressing human rights concerns has
pushed Sri Lanka toward China. India continues to watch
developments in its island neighbor closely and to provide
significant reconstruction assistance. The GOI welcomes the
U.S. engagement in Sri Lanka. END SUMMARY.
The Upcoming Elections in Sri Lanka
--------------
2. (C) Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Joint
Secretary for Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives T.S.
Tirumurthi told us the upcoming January 26 elections in Sri
Lanka would mark Sri Lanka's entrance into a new phase of
solving questions - such as the Tamil question -
democratically. The GOI was confident that if the vote is
closely divided it will motivate the victor to consider the
views of the other camp. Sri Lanka must solve its internal
problems, and the GOI sees these elections as a stepping
stone toward a solution. A First Secretary at the Sri Lankan
High Commission in New Delhi told us there had been much
Indian interest in the upcoming election, with many
journalists passing through the High Commission for a
briefing en route to cover the unfolding events.
Role of the International Community in Sri Lanka
-------------- ---
3. (C) Tirumurthi called on the international community to
accept and work with the victor of the January 26 elections.
He criticized the behavior of "the West" over the past year,
opining that by "shunning" a victorious Sri Lanka over human
rights issues, it had "pushed Sri Lanka into China's arms,"
and opened the region to the influence of China and Iran.
The pattern of Chinese assistance to the needy northern areas
of Sri Lanka would not uphold democratic ideals and human
rights. Indian security, defense, and ethnicity-related
interests are directly affected by Sri Lankan actions. In
this regard, India welcomed U.S. engagement and saw the U.S.
abstention on the IMF vote as a signal of a pragmatic
approach.
Indian Assistance
--------------
4. (C) Though the GOI did not perceive the Chinese role as
ill-intentioned, nor wish to counter it, Tirumurthi
highlighted that India in December extended a $425 million
line of credit to Sri Lanka. This loan will reportedly fund
three rail projects in the Northern Province, to be executed
by a Union Government organization called IRCON
International. Tirumurthi expressed disappointment that the
loan had "gotten no attention" (Note: we found a single,
one-line report in the December 22 edition of the Indian
daily "The Hindu" announcing the loan, but as of January 22
we could find no direct reference to the loan on the MEA
website). The Sri Lankan First Secretary told us that some
of the rail projects were funded in part by the Chinese, so
it would be "very embarrassing" if the Indians did not
complete their section.
5. (C) COMMENT: Tirumurthi's comment that the GOI is not
trying to counter Chinese influence in Sri Lanka is to be
taken with a grain of salt. Our contact at the Sri Lankan
High Commission hit the bull's eye with his comment that
India might be embarassed if they could not match Chinese
contributions to reconstruction. END COMMENT.
ROEMER