The Hindu : Front Page : India will not intervene directly in Sri Lankan peace process: Narayanan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 10, 2006

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India will not intervene directly in Sri Lankan peace process: Narayanan

Special Correspondent

Karunanidhi briefed on discussions between the two countries

— Photo: S. R. Raghunathan

CENTRE'S ENVOY: National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan calls on Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi at the Secretariat in Chennai on Wednesday.

CHENNAI: National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan on Wednesday made it clear that the Government of India would not directly intervene in the peace process in Sri Lanka. "But we are using all persuasion."

Interacting with reporters after meeting Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi at the Secretariat, he said India was "an important factor in the thinking of the Sri Lankan Government."

As the island Government had also been sensitive to India's efforts, it agreed to go ahead with devolution of powers to Tamils. But the Sri Lankan Government had problems dealing with the LTTE, he said.

India's persuasive efforts had become important and different countries, including Norway, and the peace-monitoring mission were talking to it, he said.

Mr. Narayanan said he had come to Chennai as the Prime Minister's special envoy to brief the Chief Minister on discussions between India and Sri Lanka during the visit of Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Managala Samaraveera to New Delhi.

During the discussions, India explained its position on ensuring safety and security of the island Tamils and taking steps for devolution of powers, besides stressing the need for making a distinction between the LTTE and Tamils of that country, he said.

`LTTE dangerous'

Asked if the Centre had any second thoughts on the ban on the LTTE in the light of Mr. Karunanidhi's remark that the issue was "debatable," he said, "I don't think the Centre has any doubt on the ban on the LTTE. We regard the LTTE as a dangerous organisation and hence the ban on it."

To a query, Mr. Narayanan said, "I don't think the LTTE will plan a threat in Tamil Nadu. Of course, they would like to have the support of India to some extent."

He had spoken to the Chief Minister about "certain threats that had emanated."

The Chief Secretary to the State Government, who was present at the meeting, would take necessary action, he said.

"There is complete unanimity on the issue of foreign policy between the State Government and the Centre," he said when asked if the Chief Minister asked for a change in the policy with particular reference to Sri Lanka.

Report on terrorist groups

On the strategy of terrorist groups in the wake of the Mumbai blasts, he said the National Security Council Secretariat, which conducted a study on jehadi terrorist groups, prepared a 40-page report, which was important to be shared with Chief Ministers.

It spoke of new techniques employed by the Lashkar-e-Taiba and recruitment of more educated people.

Though there was some unconfirmed information about their attempts to infiltrate into the Armed Forces, the Air Force conducted a thorough enquiry and found that no penetration had taken place, he said.

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