Military victory over LTTE THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS THE BROADER GOAL OF RECONCILIATION Shivshankar Menon

It was not for outsiders to tell Sri Lankan leaders how this should be done SAARC certainly has much more potential utility than it is presently displaying Elimination of LTTE was welcome for India India has always had a strong interest in the unity, in

Former Indian Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon, in an exclusive interview with by email, affirms that Sri Lanka is important to India not only on geopolitical reasons but also as a multi-ethnic democracy. The former Foreign Secretary of India was part of the troika mechanism established in India and Sri Lanka for diplomatic engagements for vital and crucial decision making during the last phase of the war that ended in 2009. Recently, he published his book ‘CHOICES (Inside the making of India’s Foreign Policy)’ with one whole chapter devoted to Sri Lanka’s issue. He served as the National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of India from 2010 to May 2104, and as Foreign Secretary from October 2006 to July 2009. Also, he served as India’s envoy to Sri Lanka , China and Israel at different times.

Q What prompted you to write this book’ CHOICES’?

Two reasons. I was impressed by the interest that a diverse group of students showed in these topics when I led a discussion on them in a study group, and thought they might be of wider interest.

Also, in discussing foreign and security policy issues in the media and elsewhere, we increasingly treat them as binary win or lose, black or white, right or wrong issues with a simple and correct solution. I believe very strongly that in a democracy these decisions need to be discussed by the public but that is only meaningful if it is done with an appreciation for the complexity and difficulty of these decisions, most of which are attempts to maximize gain and minimize harm in the fog of events. I hope my book manages to convey something of that complexity to the reader.

Q In it, you have devoted one whole chapter for Sri Lanka’s case. You have mentioned that SL is a virtual aircraft carrier close to India. In that context, how important is SL for India in geopolitics of the Indian Ocean region?

Sri Lanka is very important to India as a neighbour, and not just for the geopolitical reason that you mention but as a multi-ethnic fellow democracy with whom we share interests, values and a common fate as neighbours.

Q In the book, you have said that the United States and Norway tried to negotiate a ceasefire and secure exile for the LTTE leadership, and that is to keep the LTTE alive to fight politically or militarily later. What would have been the reasons for these two powers to do so?

I say that the effect of what was being proposed would have been to keep the LTTE alive politically and possibly militarily. As to why these proposals were made, I am afraid you must ask their authors. I cannot speak for them.

Q In your time, you dealt extensively with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Basil Rajapaksa, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga. What are your impressions?

I think the book makes it clear that we had a professional, productive and good working relationship with our Sri Lankan counterparts and interlocutors. The “troika” mechanism which we started to deal with sensitive and urgent issues, in particular, worked well and showed consistent results.

Q In the book, you have extensively dealt with China-india relations. How important is it for the regional stability?

India’s relationship with China is one of the most important relationships for us bilaterally and in terms of its effect on the region. For about three decades India and China have managed their relationship well and have developed cooperation across a range of fields. The nature of this relationship, which, like any relationship between neighbours will have complex issues, naturally affects the overall political and economic climate in the larger region of which India and China are a dynamic and rapidly growing part.

Q Was it a relief for India that the LTTE was eliminated? If so, please elaborate?

For India, the elimination of the armed terrorist threat that the LTTE posed was welcome. After all they had also killed a former Indian Prime Minister. But, in our view, military victory over the LTTE was also only the first step towards the broader goal of reconciliation and healing after a 26-year civil war in Sri Lanka.

Q In the post war situation, you have said the SL leadership lacked magnanimity in tackling the ethnic issue. How should its leaders have acted in your view?

Reconciliation and healing were the declared goals of all democratic leaders in Sri Lanka after the war. Many of us outside Sri Lanka would have liked to see more progress towards those ends. It was not for outsiders to say how this should be done to Sri Lankan leaders who knew their own reality better than us. But we did not see the same drive and energy in pursuit of reconciliation as we saw in the post-war rehabilitation work which proceeded fast and well.

Q What were the India’s concerns and interests regarding SL in your time in terms of strategic, defence terms and economic terms?

India has always had a strong interest in the unity, integrity, stability and prosperity of Sri Lanka, for the geopolitical reasons that you mentioned at the beginning of this interview, and because it is not possible for India to transform herself and prosper unless the neighbourhood which we share also prospers and is peaceful.

Q How do you look at future role of SAARC?

SAARC is an instrument; the creation of the South Asian States, and it can only be as effective as the States want it to be, or allow it to be. This has varied over time, with some of us more and some of us less enthusiastic or committed to the instrument that we have created to promote our social and economic integration and progress. While SAARC is now at a low ebb, this too can pass. SAARC certainly has much more potential utility than it is presently displaying.

Many of us outside Sri Lanka would have liked to see more progress towards those ends. It was not for outsiders to say how this should be done to Sri Lankan leaders who knew their own reality better than us.