India will send 500 specially trained troops to Sri Lanka to help with the demining process in the northern parts of the country. Demining is the process of removal of landmines. According to the United Nation Sri Lanka had 459 known minefields yet to be cleared as of October 2008. Many more were reportedly added during the final armed conflict between the LTTE and Sri Lankan military earlier this year. Demining is crucial to ensure the safe return of displaced persons to their homes. The Sri Lankan government plans to rehabilitate the estimated 300,000 displaced people within the next six months. India has earmarked Rs. 5 billion to help Sri Lanka with the process.
Peace and stability in the island nation is important to Indian interests. It has seen a huge influx of Tamil refugees during the 25 years of conflict. New Delhi would like to dismantle the refugee camps concentrated in the state of Tamil Nadu in southern India. The Tamil Nadu government alone spent more than Rs. 443 million towards relief measures for refugees. But they will not force the refugees to go back. The refugee camps are not only a huge financial burden but they also pose a security risk. Currently there is only one camp which detains 34 recognized militants. This number was as high as 1629 in 1992 when Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by LTTE militants. With the rise in terrorist attacks on Indian territory, prevention is better than regret. The India government’s primary obligation is to the well-being and security of its citizens, and all steps should be taken with that objective.
The rehabilitation process is a chance for India to regain its influence that was affected due to its refusal to sell lethal weapons to the Sri Lankan army during the final years of the conflict. Pakistan and China were willing and threatened to increase their influence in Sri Lanka as they have in Nepal and Bangladesh. Terrorist outfits operating from Pakistan have used Nepal and Bangladesh to launch attacks against India. It is in India’s interests to maintain stable cordial relations with its southern neighbor in contrast to the continuous tensions to its north, west and east.
However, it should not forget its humanitarian responsibility and ensure that conditions for return of refugees are safe. Along with the demining and monetary assistance, India should continue its insistence on finding a peaceful solution to the demands of the Sri Lankan Tamils. India’s Home Minister P. Chidambaram recently called upon the Sri Lankan government to implement the 13th Amendment to its Constitution that will enable transfer of power to regions and give greater autonomy to regional governments. As an exemplary democracy in the region, India should support a democratic process of integration and assimilation of the displaced Tamils into the predominately Sinhalese Sri Lankan society.
