Help Sri Lanka

Sir, - The Sri Lankan situation has placed the Indian Government on the horns of a dilemma. The question whether India should intervene, and if so, in what manner, is very difficult to decide. If the LTTE should win the battle, it would have serious repercussions on India and South Asia. The LTTE is a notoriously terrorist outfit which has eliminated all the democratic elements among the Tamils in North-East Sri Lanka. It is impossible to tame LTTE into democratic ways. If the Sri Lankan Government wins, the LTTE will become desperate and it will be difficult to imagine what destruction it will wreak in its desperation.

If India stays its hand, other countries will intervene to advance their own interests. There are reports that Sri Lanka is getting arms supplies from abroad (Pakistan, Israel, South Africa and North Korea). This will be, in a way, a diplomatic victory for the other countries at the expense of India, as Colombo addressed the SOS to India in the first instance. Short of military intervention, India should help Colombo in other ways, viz., providing information on LTTE troop movements.

Peace in Sri Lanka is essential for peace in India and South Asia. But is it possible to bring Colombo and the LTTE to the negotiating table for a peaceful political settlement?

N. Krishna Murthy,

Cuddapah (AP)

Sir, - Ms. Malini Parthasarathy's conversation with the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, Mr. Karl F. Inderfurth (The Hindu, May 18) throws light on ways to resolve the Sri Lankan ethnic problem.

It is quite logical on the part of the U.S. to favour a solution within the framework of Sri Lankan unity and its territorial integrity. It has put at rest any speculation that extremism will pay dividends while categorically ruling out a separate Tamil Eelam by asserting: ``We would not, nor do we believe that the international community would, recognise a universal assertion of independence.''

Although Mr. Inderfurth confirms that the U.S. recognises that India is the key outside power, the part already played by the Norwegian special envoy, Mr. Erik Solheim, to bridge the differences between the two parties in Sri Lanka is uppermost in its mind. As sufficient ground has already been covered by the Norwegian Government, it is appropriate that it is allowed to further the cause uninterrupted.

In so far as India is well within the picture and is being consulted, one need not be concerned about the nature of assistance the U.S. may offer in case the situation in Sri Lanka compels the island Government to approach it for assistance on the basis of the ground situation and the extent of humanitarian crisis.

Syed Gowher Ali,

Chennai

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