India commits additional USD 100Mn to rehabilitate Tamil Refugees

by Mritunjay | October 19, 2009 at 03:49 am

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Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram on Sunday announced that India is willing to give Sri Lanka an aid to the tune of USD 100Mn to help the island nation settle down the Internally Displaced Tamils (IDTs). Chidambaram said that the India govt. is awaiting a concrete report plan from Sri Lanka on rehabilitation efforts. India had pledged an aid of similar tune in July this year after the Sri Lankan govt. announced its victory in the 25 year long war against the LTTE.

“We announced that another Rs.500 crore would be released. But we are yet to get the project report from the Sri Lankan government,” he (Chidambaram) said.

The war ravaging the Northern Sri Lanka has left more than 260, 000 people homeless who are being kept in military-run camps as of now. Recently a delegation of 10 Indian MPs from the state of Tamil Nadu had visited the camps in Sri Lanka and had presented a report to the government.

Starting October 15, the Sri Lankan govt. under President Rajapakshe has started the process of sending the IDTs back to the areas they had left when war was at its peak. To start of a total of 58,000 Tamils will be move back to their homes and villages during the first phase in 15 days, as assured by Colombo to the Indian MPs' team.

Sri Lankan Tamils are closely related to the Tamils in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu which creates pressure on the Indian govt. to protect them.

"Our concern is that the displaced Tamils should be resettled in their homes as early as possible," the minister (Chidambaram) told reporters in Tamil Nadu.

India at one time has unique influence on Sri Lanka but has stayed away for the past two years since the war intensified. The pressure from Indian Tamil population also ensured that Indian govt. could not help the Sri Lankan govt. openly with military aid in fighting the rebels. This has given opportunity to China and Pakistan to get foot hold in the region.

China is helping Sri Lanka build the Hambantota port, which is viewed by many as Chinese a part of the "String of Pearls" strategy of building relations with countries along sea lanes from the Middle East to the South China Sea.

Update here

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sara star

at 04:02 on October 19th, 2009

This has given opportunity to China and Pakistan to get foot hold in the region.China is helping Sri Lanka build the Hambantota port, which is viewed by many as Chinese a part of the "String of Pearls" strategy of building relations with countries along sea lanes from the Middle East to the South China Sea.

Interesting developments...

“String of Pearls” describes the manifestation of China’s rising geopolitical influence through efforts to increase access to ports and airfields, develop special diplomatic relationships, and modernize military forces that extend from the South China Sea through the Strait of Malacca, across the Indian Ocean, and on to the Arabian Gulf....

Sri Lanka: This is another area where China is trying to influence. Hambantota port is being developed by China and China is a supplier of military wares to Sri Lanka.

I bet they are the ones who own the USA ports too!

Mritunjay

at 04:14 on October 19th, 2009

Thanks for the valuable addition explaining the Strings of Pearls strategy.

israeli.agent

at 07:58 on October 19th, 2009

Ha...!

We here in NP jointly found out that Strings of Pearls is a highly mischievous and naughty term of reference ...!

.Agent.

lalith

at 09:14 on October 19th, 2009

When the Western world turns its face away from Sri Lanka, I suppose they turn elsewhere. Sri Lanka has benn looked down upon by the Westerners as they could not force Sri Lanka to do certain things.

Just see, who tried to block the IMF loan to Sri Lanka. I know for sure that China offered to help out if the IMF loan failed.

The Hambantota harbor is nothing compared to the Trincomalee harbor. It is said that who controls the Trincomalee harbor controls the Indian Ocean. It will be interesting to see who will vie for this. We know that Norway was very interested in this, through Solheim, through Prabhakaran, of course. With the peaceful passing away of Prabhakaran, that dream died.

Let's wait and see. I agree with Sara Star's point though.

a211423

at 09:33 on October 19th, 2009

Thank you lalith for the information on the political developments for control of ports, for it lends a broader perspective to the issues presently.

There is a global reason to provide aid to countries like Sri Lanka and Darfur because internal turmoil provides a heaven for terrorists from which they can launch their activities. China has economic interests in both of these countries, and it also behooves them to participate in stabalization.

Let's hope the distribution of the 100 million puts the 260,000 homeless people as a priority, rather than lining the pockets of the government. Funding like this without oversight can end up as we have seen in the hands of the wrong people, even the militants.

Mritunjay

at 12:26 on October 19th, 2009

I agree to your point:

"Let's hope the distribution of the 100 million puts the 260,000 homeless people as a priority, rather than lining the pockets of the government. Funding like this without oversight can end up as we have seen in the hands of the wrong people, even the militants."

We have seen funds being used for purposes they were not meant to be used. USA has been funding the parties involved in the Afghanistan and Iraq war and in certain cases it has been proved beyond doubt that the funds went to parties who were not the intended recepients.

I believe the Indian govt. is also concerned about this and that's the reason they are asking for a "Plan" before they release the money.

lalith

at 23:22 on October 19th, 2009

How many plans do you want mritunjay?

Plans can be made to suit any situation. The words such as 'incidental expenditure", "10% for unforeseen exigencies", 'administrative costs"(normally, a can of worms), have to be audited for factuality before anybody sees the money.