Govt in dilemma over Lanka strategy

NEW DELHI: The Manmohan Singh government seems caught between a rock and a hard place over Sri Lankan military operations against Tamil Tigers as political temperatures rise in Tamil Nadu and Colombo remains reluctant to call off a campaign it feels has the LTTE cornered. The government is looking how to ward off the resignation threat by DMK even as it faces the tough task of persuading the Mahinda Rajapaksa government to take note of India's domestic concerns given LTTE's global reputation as a terrorist organisation with very little faith in any peace process. The DMK is clearly looking for some concessions on part of Colombo. Given the pressure from its southern allies, government is expected to make a statement in Parliament through foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee. The dilemma for the government is sharp as it cannot oppose action against LTTE while it does not want any role in prodding the Tigers towards negotiations. It has quietly suggested to Sri Lanka that it might consider tempering down military operations, an option that the Rajapaksa regime is not yet willing to view with any favour. Sources said the Sri Lankans believed they had LTTE pinned down at Kilinochchi and this was the time to press on. But the nature of operations does not make it easy to distinguish between civilian population and LTTE fighters or supporters and is resulting in heavy collateral damage. Accounts of displacement and deaths are filtering back to Tamil Nadu. Colombo's assessment, largely shared by Indian agencies, is that LTTE is perhaps at its lowest point in a long time. A defeat in the current phase of operations would mean a shift in the momentum towards the Sri Lankan government. Hoping to negotiate at a later date from a position of strength, the Rajapaksa government was going all out against the Tigers. While India is urging restraint, arguing that a distinction must be made between LTTE cadre and non-combatants, the task has been complicated by reports of the terror organization using civilians as human shields.(News-The times of India)