Date:28/11/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/11/28/stories/2004112806060600.htm

Tamil Nadu

`India, South-East Asia must cooperate to tackle conflicts'

By our Special Correspondent,

CHENNAI, NOV. 27. Experts at an international seminar yesterday stressed the need for regional cooperation between India and Southeast Asia in tackling terrorism and other conflicts in an era of globalisation.

The seminar on security dimensions of India and Southeast Asia looked at the perspectives of Singapore and Sri Lanka, with unique features, on regional cooperation, said V. R. Raghavan, president of the Centre for Security Analysis (CSA) and director, Delhi Policy Group.

Mr. Raghavan said the presentation by Singapore emphasised cooperation between Southeast Asia and India in non-traditional security, in which terrorism was the primary issue, while the Sri Lankan speakers said both sides would have to play a part in helping its Government find a solution to the demands of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Drawing attention to the financial assistance and weapons the LTTE and insurgents of India's North-East get from the Southeast Asia region, they cautioned that the situation was likely to be exploited by forces of international terrorism and fundamentalism.

Another highlight of the seminar was a discussion on globalisation, economic disparities, causes of conflict and terrorism. "While globalisation is an inevitable force, it creates deprivation and economic disparities, causing conflicts," Mr. Raghavan said. Southeast Asia and India, particularly peninsular India, would bear the brunt of these conflicts, it was pointed out. The seminar stressed the need for maintaining stability and equilibrium in the region even while drawing benefits from globalisation, he said.

The third session, which focussed on regional cooperation, was chaired by Sumith Nakandala, Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in India.

An opportunity

Daljit Singh, senior research fellow, Institute of South-East Asian Studies, Singapore, presented a paper on "cooperative security measures between India and Southeast Asia."

C. Arasakumar, chief vigilance officer, National Mineral Development Corporation, said the end of the Cold War and the changing politico-security order in the Asia-Pacific provided an opportunity to develop linkages, bilateral as well as collective, in traditional and non-traditional security issues.

The fourth session, chaired by K. Subramanian, former Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, focussed on economic issues and security. Eric Gonsalves, president, Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, Delhi, spoke on regional organisational linkages of Peninsular India, Southeast Asia and Asia.