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India rules out military intervention in Lanka

Amberish K Diwanji in New Delhi

India has ruled out military assistance to Sri Lanka in the current battle with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. But New Delhi has promised all humanitarian aid that may be required by the embattled island-state.

External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh announced this after the Cabinet Committee on Security met at the residence of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee this evening.

"Military intervention in Sri Lanka is ruled out. The military activity in the Jaffna peninsula is not an aspect we are considering participating in. Sri Lanka is a close and friendly neighbour and we are committed to providing humanitarian assistance as may be called for," Singh said.

Reading out a prepared statement, he said: "The Government of India is monitoring the situation in north Lanka closely. The Government of Sri Lanka has been in touch with the Government of India on the evolving situation.

"The Government of India will be guided in its response to the developments by its continued commitment to a peaceful resolution to the conflict within the framework of a united Sri Lanka where all communities can realise their aspirations.

"India will work to mitigate the hardships inflicted upon the civilians by the conflict by providing such humanitarian measures as become necessary in consultation with Sri Lanka. India is already host to 100,000 Sri Lankan refugees.

"It is India's hope that the peace sought by all Sri Lankans will soon return to a country that is a close and friendly neighbour. India is ready to contribute to making that hope a reality."

Later, answering questions from the media, the external affairs minister categorically said Sri Lanka had not sought any assistance from India, not even humanitarian aid. He dismissed media reports about Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Laxman Kadirgamar calling upon the prime minister to seek India's help.

"Kadirgamar has been in India for the past six weeks for medical treatment. He only made a courtesy call on the prime minister since he is now departing for Geneva. He is not here on a specific mission," Singh said.

But the minister added that the two must have discussed the situation in Lanka, where the LTTE is poised to regain the Jaffna peninsula after having lost it to the Sri Lankan Army a couple of years ago.

He also said Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga has so far not spoken to the Indian prime minister.

Asked if India would help evacuate the 35,000 troops believed to be under siege in Jaffna, Singh replied, "That is not India's problem. Whether we will help is a hypothetical question since Sri Lanka has not sought our help. It is for Sri Lanka to assess the situation and decide their course of action," he said.

He added that so far, Sri Lanka has not asked for any humanitarian or military assistance. "There has been no request to evacuate nor any request to fly in medical assistance. But since our past experience has shown that Colombo requires humanitarian assistance whenever the conflict situation worsens, we are only making our position clear," Singh said.

He added that India is keen to ensure that there should not be another exodus of Sri Lankan refugees to India.

He pointed out that the LTTE, which is held responsible for the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, is still banned by the Indian government.

The CCS meeting was attended by Prime Minister Vajpayee, Singh, Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani, Defence Minister George Fernandes, the three chiefs of the armed forces -- Admiral Sushil Kumar, General Ved Prakash Malik, and Air Chief Marshal Anil Yahwant Tipnis. The officials included Foreign Secretary Lalit Mansingh, Joint Secretary (Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Burma) Leela Ponnappa, and other senior government officers.

Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha skipped the meeting since he was in Parliament to pilot the Finance Bill.

RELATED REPORTS:
Foreign Minister Kadirgamar calls on Vajpayee
As India stays cool, Lanka readies for the long haul

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