Throttling LTTE’s terror capability

Indian National Security Advisor M. K. Narayanan’s comments on the LTTE’s air and sea capability, which are reflective of the Indian State’s perceptions on these issues, are further confirmation of India’s sensitivity to Sri Lanka’s security concerns and those of the region.

Of these Tiger capacities Narayanan was quoted saying: “We are always concerned about their air and sea capabilities.” Increased Indian patrolling of the sea dividing India and Sri Lanka is prompted, for instance, by the Tigers’ sea capability, we quoted Narayanan as saying. It is of considerable importance that the Indian National Security Advisor also spoke of the need for coordinated patrolling of the sea area concerned, by India and Sri Lanka.

India has always stood for a negotiated political solution of our conflict which would meet the legitimate aspirations of all our communities and has consistently taken-up the position that armed force and terror could never constitute the means of conflict resolution.

These policy parameters are based on India’s traditional commitment to democratic norms and values which define her political culture. In the democratic perspective, peace could only come from political means and not from armed aggression.

Accordingly, India would take keen cognizance of the Tigers’ capability to unleash terror in its varied forms. It is in a position to empathize with the region on this question because it too is witnessing the terrible consequences of the adoption of an armed culture by some domestic groups opposed to democratic, non-violent solutions.

Moreover, the Tigers have unleashed terror on Indian soil and claimed the life of no less a person than former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, besides spawning a plethora of law and order problems for the Indian polity.

Therefore, India could be considered a source of great strength by the world of democracy in the latters confrontation with the forces of terror.

We call on the Lankan State to close ranks with India more firmly in its efforts to contain Tiger terror. There is certainly a case for closer cooperation and coordination between India and Sri Lanka on containing the Tigers’ sea capability.

Such cooperative links between India and Sri Lanka on tackling terror need to be greatly expanded if the Tigers’ terror machine is to be crippled.

Joint intelligence-gathering, we hope, would get into top gear.

Besides, India and Sri Lanka should expend greater efforts in raising awareness, regionally as well as globally, on the multidimensional terror threat posed by the LTTE.

We believe, the world is yet to gauge in full, the LTTE’s capacity to unleash terror in its multiplicity of forms. What is greatly needed is a joint effort, across the length and breadth of the democratic world, to throttle the Tigers’ terror capacity.