India not for brokering a ceasefire

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MAY 30. India has conveyed to Sri Lanka that it would not take kindly to any atrocities against southern Tamils, according to an authoritative source in the Vajpayee Government. Nor is India ``in the game of brokering a ceasefire between Colombo and the LTTE''.

According to the source New Delhi would like to keep away from any kind temptation or suggestion to arrange for a ceasefire in Sri Lanka. ``A pit full of most venomous snakes'' is how a very senior official described the concerned parties in the Sri Lankan conflict. As far as New Delhi is concerned ``devolution'' of powers, as envisaged in Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunga's 1995 package, is ``central'' to India's approach in resolving the Sri Lankan crisis. The Indian advice to Ms. Kumaratunga is to garner for her 1995 proposal as large a political consensus as possible. In this context, the Sri Lankan President's reported offer to make the LTTE boss, Mr. V. Prabhakaran, ``chief minister'' of Jaffna is termed a ``non-starter''.

New Delhi's latest assessment of the fighting is that the Sri Lankan forces are performing a little more confidently and competently than a few weeks ago. According to information available to the Indian side, the Sri Lankan army is ``standing up'' to the LTTE,

According to the Foreign Office, the parameters of the Indian approach remain unchanged. As spelled out by the authoritative source, these parameters are: support for Colombo in its effort to preserve unity and integrity of Sri lanka, Sri Lanka has to manage its own affairs, and Colombo must address itself to the management of Tamil sentiments and aspirations. Given these parameters, the conclusion is ``national interest does not warrant the death of a single Indian soldier.''

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Section  : National
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