Tamil Nadu has no Dogs in the India-Pakistan Wars over Kashmir

Usha Ramanathan

TAMIL TRIBUNE, September 1999 (ID. 1999-09-02)
Click here for MAIN INDEX to archived articles (main page)
www.tamiltribune.com

Definition

Hindians: People whose mother tongue is Hindi; much of Uttar Pradesh, Madya Pradesh and some surrounding areas in northern India is their homeland. Hindian politicians control and dominate the Indian government because they form the single largest block in the Indian parliament.

OUTLINE 

1. Introduction

2. Kashmir War and the Killings in Tamil Nadu Seas

3. Tamil Nadu Fishermen and the Sri Lankan Navy

4. Tamil Nadu Fishermen and the Mighty Indian Navy

5. Kasmiri Pandits and Tamil Nadu Fishermen

6. Why India refuses to Protect Tamil Nadu Fishermen?

7. Northern Borders with Pakistan and Southern Borders with Sri Lanka

8. Tamil Nadu Fishermen are acceptable Sacrifices for the Protection of the Northern Borders

9. Northern Kashmir and Southern Kachchativu

10. Border Surveillance in the North and in the South

11. Pakistani Air Force in the North and Sri Lankan Navy in the South

12. Tamil Nadu and Indian-Pakistan Wars

13. No Money and No Support for India's Northern Wars until India Protects Tamil Nadu Fishermen

14. Tamil Soldiers Caught in the Kashmir War

15. Final Words

1. Introduction

During the past few months there was much "Indian patriotic fervor" in Tamil Nadu over the India-Pakistan war over Kashmir at Kargil. Tamil Nadu political leaders thundered from platform to platform their loyalty to India and their support to India's war efforts. They asked the public to donate generously to the Kargil War Fund. Movie stars not only donated to the war efforts over Kashmir but also put on benefit shows to collect money for the war fund.

Thanks to the constant barrage of appeals from politicians, newspapers, magazines, radio and television, Tamil people were also caught up in this war over the far off Kashmir. All in all, people of Tamil Nadu donated more money to the Kargil War Fund than any other state although Tamil Nadu is neither the wealthiest nor the most populous state.

2. Kashmir War and the Killings in Tamil Nadu Seas

At the very same that newspapers, magazines, radio and television were full of banner headlines and headline news broadcasts about the far off Kashmir war in India's northern border, there was another little news item very few noticed or cared about. It said that the Sri Lankan Navy shot at fishing boats belonging to Tamil Nadu fishermen and killed one and injured some.

3. Tamil Nadu Fishermen and the Sri Lankan Navy

This is not the first such shooting incident. This is not the first such killing. The Sri Lankan Navy has shot and killed over 100 Tamil Nadu fishermen and injured many more during the past few years while they were fishing in international waters. It is quite possible that some of them strayed into Sri Lankan waters. Any naval officer will tell you that fishing boats could cross maritime-borders inadvertently without the fishermen recognizing it; they do not carry the latest global positioning systems that navies use. No navy has the right to shoot such fishermen and no navy does that to fishermen from friendly neighbors. The Sri Lankan Navy could warn them and even fire warning shots over their boats but it has absolutely no right to shoot and kill our fishermen. All these 100 or so fishermen were not killed in a single incident. There were several hundred different shootings causing these 100 deaths, thousands of injuries and several millions of rupees of property damage (boats, fishing equipment). Many fishermen were so afraid (who won't?) that they stopped going into deeper waters thus losing much of their income because shallow waters yield much less fish. Their families are half starving.

4. Tamil Nadu Fishermen and the Mighty Indian Navy

Tamil Nadu fishing community had repeatedly requested the Tamil Nadu government and the Indian government for protection. The former, of course, is impotent. It cannot do anything. It does not have a navy to protect the fishermen from the Sri Lankan Navy. So the Tamil Nadu chief minister pleads with the Indian government. What does the Indian government do? Nothing! Where are the Indian Navy ships? Why are they not chasing the Sri Lankan Navy ships away? Why are they not retaliating against the Sri Lankan Navy for killing our fishermen? Tamil taxpayer money is used to buy so many first rate war ships for the Indian Navy. Where are those ships when our fishermen are shot at and murdered by the Sri Lankan Navy? The tiny Sri Lankan Navy is no match for the mighty Indian Navy. The very possibility that the Indian Navy may come to the aid of Tamil Nadu fishermen would keep the Sri Lankan Navy from killing our fishermen. Bu the Sri Lankan Navy and the Sri Lankan government know very well that the Indian Navy would not come to the aid of Tamil Nadu fishermen. Though some 100 fishermen have been killed, several hundred injured and many millions of rupees of property loss are incurred, the Indian government has not even issued a warning to the Sri Lankan government and Navy.

5. Kasmiri Pandits and Tamil Nadu Fishermen

Compare Indian Government's reaction to the killings of Tamil Nadu fishermen to its reaction when Pakistan shoots and kills a few Kashmiri Pandits. A few months ago 20 Kashmiri Pandits were killed by the Pakistani army (this was well before the much-publicized Kargil war). Immediately the Indian government ordered the Indian army to retaliate. Referring to this, Professor Theeran said in August 1998, "when 20 Kashmiri Pandits were killed by the Pakistani army, India immediately retaliated by killing several Pakistani soldiers. Why was the same yardstick not used in protecting Tamil Nadu fishermen?" We know India had fought many wars with Pakistan but this shooting happened not during a war but at a relatively quiet time between the two countries. This shooting was not part of an assault on the Indian army or part of an attempt to occupy Indian territory. This is similar in nature to Sri Lankan Navy shooting the Tamil Nadu fishermen in Indian waters. That is why we compare the two incidents. In any case, India's lack of action even after the killing of over 100 Tamilnadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy is deplorable and unacceptable.

We, the people of Tamil Nadu, should compare and contrast what is happening in Kashmir and Tamil Nadu coast, understand the underlying reasons and motivations of the Indian government, and then react to the Indo-Pakistan wars over Kashmir.

6. Why India refuses to Protect Tamil Nadu Fishermen?

Why is the Indian Navy doing nothing to stop the killings of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the tiny Sri Lankan Navy? India has plenty of warships at the Tamil Nadu coast. These ships are faster, more modern and more powerful than the Sri Lankan ships that are murdering our fishermen. India also has helicopters available in Tamil Nadu for naval reconnaissance, and can be used to track the culprit Sri Lankan war ships. If the Indian government gives the order, Indian Navy could easily retaliate against the Sri Lankan ships shooting and killing our fishermen. But no protection is given to the Tamil Nadu fishermen in spite of protest marches, strikes, letter-writing campaigns and fasts from the fishing community, and pleadings from the Tamil Nadu chief minister on behalf of the fishermen. As we said before, the Indian government has not even warned the Sri Lankan Navy that the Indian Navy would use force to protect the fishermen if necessary. Why? We will answer shortly.

7. Northern Borders with Pakistan and Southern Borders with Sri Lanka 

Compare how India jealously guards its northern borders with Pakistan, Bangladesh and China while it totally ignores its southern maritime border with Sri Lanka. Even the slightest incursion into the slow-clad uninhabited mountains along the northern border is confronted immediately with decisive force. Troops are rushed in. Air Force gets into action. Everyone who crossed the border is killed or kicked out. We are not just talking about the recent Kargil war, there were dozens of other minor incursions in the past and the Indian government acted immediately with all the force necessary. I am not finding fault with that as such. My complaint, my grievance, is "why is it that Tamil Nadu fishermen are not protected the same way against the Sri Lankan Navy?"

8. Tamil Nadu Fishermen are expendable Sacrifices for the Protection of the Northern Borders

As far as the Hindi politicians who dominate the Indian government decisions are concerned, Tamil Nadu fishermen, far away from the Hindi lands of Uttar Pradesh, Madya Predesh and surrounding areas, are expendable sacrifices for the protection of the northern borders closer to the Hindi lands. Let me elaborate.

Ever since their birth as independent nations in 1947, India and Pakistan are sworn enemies. They have fought several wars, costly in life and money. There were also many minor skirmishes along the border. India's military strategy as well as its foreign policy is governed by its phobia of Pakistan. India is not in friendly terms with its other northern neighbors either. It has border disputes with China. There were shootouts between the Indian Border Security Forces and the Bangladesh Army even in 1999. The tiny northern neighbor Nepal has difficulties with India for years because India expects it to behave like a subservient client state rather than an equal and sovereign nation. So India is not at all sure that any of these neighbors would support India diplomatically in international and regional forums on disputes with Pakistan. Therein comes Sri Lanka, India's southern neighbor. India wants at least Sri Lanka on its side or at the least neutral on such disputes. India wants at least one neighborly "ally" in its corner so that it is not totally isolated in regional forums. This would explain why India does not want to do anything to upset Sri Lanka. That is why the Indian Navy stands idle even as the Sri Lankan Navy shoots and kills Tamil Nadu fishermen. Sri Lanka continues to kill Tamil Nadu fishermen, destroy their boats and equipment, and disturb their lives and livelihoods with impunity knowing well that India would sacrifice the Tamil Nadu fishermen rather than upset its relationship with Sri Lanka. Why else would the powerful, fast, modern Indian warships stationed in Rameshwaram stand idle even as Tamil Nadu fishermen are hunted and killed by the Sri Lankan Navy not far from Rameshwaram? Why else would the Indian government refuse to warn the Sri Lankan Navy against killing our fishermen?

9. Northern Kashmir and Southern Kachchativu

India would not concede even an inch of its northern territories to any of the northern neighbors. It went to war with Pakistan not only over Kashmir but also over a border dispute on Kutch. It has border disputes with Bangladesh and would not compromise even an inch; India had shootouts with Bangladesh in the border areas. It lost a war with China in 1962 over uninhabited areas in Ladakh that China claims its own. In short, India would quarrel or even to go to war with powerful neighbors over even uninhabited territories closer to Hindi heartland. There is nothing wrong with that as such but look what India does when it comes to territories closer to Tamil Nadu and far away from Hindi heartland.

Kachchativu is a small island near Tamil Nadu. Historically it belonged to Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu fishermen going for deep sea fishing often land in Kachchativu, rest there for a while and dry their nets. This small landmass in the sea is important to their livelihood. India quietly gave away this island to Sri Lanka on June 28, 1974 in spite of protests from Tamil Nadu. Why? India, as we discussed before, wanted to have a "friendly" Sri Lanka; just a few years back, in 1971, Sri Lanka had taken a pro-Pakistani stance during the Bangladesh crisis and India wanted that not to happen again. So it handed over Tamil land (Kachchativu) that was important to our fishermen to Sri Lanka. While Hindian politicians who control and dominate the Indian government would not compromise even inch of territory on the north close to Hindi heartland, they were very generous in handing over Kachchativu that was important to the livelihood of the Tamil Nadu fishing community. As far as Hindian politicians are concerned, the welfare and livelihood of Tamil Nadu fishermen are not important, they can be sacrificed for the good of the Hindi heartland.

Because of protests and supplications from Tamil Nadu, the agreement between India and Sri Lanka included a clause that gives Tamil Nadu fishermen the right to land in Kachchativu, rest and dry their nets there although the island now belonged to Sri Lanka. But Sri Lanka is not honoring that clause. Our fishermen going near the island are shot and killed by the Sri Lankan Navy, a direct violation of the agreement. Dozens of our fishermen have been killed, hundreds injured and millions of rupees worth of properties destroyed. The mighty Indian Navy, which was praised for being alert to the Pakistani Navy during the Kargil war, would not come to the aid of the Tamil Nadu fishermen and enforce the terms of the 1974 India-Sri Lanka agreement on Kachchativu. It is not the navy's fault. Hindian politicians who control the decisions on military and foreign affairs do not want the Indian Navy clashing with the Sri Lankan Navy and souring relations with Sri Lanka. As we said before Hindian politicians are sacrificing the lives and livelihood of Tamil Nadu fishermen in order to have a friendly Sri Lanka on its side in disputes with Pakistan. Tamil Nadu fishermen's lives may be an acceptable price to Hindians but not to us, they are very dear to all Tamil people.

People of Tamil Nadu should consider this discriminatory, callous, step-motherly treatment of Tamils by the Indian government before we go gung-ho over Indian-Pakistan wars. Before we go on euphoria, we should take a moment to ponder how the northern territories and Kashmiri Pandits are protected jealously while Tamil Nadu fishermen are given no protection at all against the Sri Lankan Navy.

I may have no opposition to the Tamil people donating to the Indian military in the Indo-Pak war if the Indian military is equally vigilant in protecting the Tamil Nadu fishermen against the Sri Lankan Navy. It is not doing that. So do not expect me to support the Indian military, do not expect me to go on "an Indian patriotic dance", do not expect me to donate my hard-earned money to the Indian military. First let the Indian government show its sincerity by protecting our fishermen. Then I will start supporting the Indian military in the India-Pakistan wars. Until then, I will sit out and urge all Tamils to sit it out.

10. Border Surveillance in the North and in the South 

India announced in July 1999 that ultra-modern and very expensive surveillance measures would be taken along the India-Pakistan border to monitor Pakistani incursions across India's northern borders. Measures will include electronic surveillance and satellite monitoring, in addition to border army camps, border patrols and watch towers. A very expensive undertaking. While no stones are left unturned to protect the northern borders closer to Hindi heartland, no effort is taken to protect Tamil Nadu fishermen from the Sri Lankan Navy in the south, far away from Hindi lands. We do not need expensive electronic surveillance or satellite monitoring. All we ask is for the Indian Navy to patrol the areas near Kachchativu and other areas where Tamil Nadu fishermen are killed. There are many Indian war ships and coast guard vessels stationed along Tamil Nadu coast not far from the killing fields. But these are purposively kept away from trouble spots in order to prevent confrontation with the Sri Lankan Navy over its shooting of Tamil Nadu fishermen, for reasons explained in Section 8. When the Indian government takes such a callous attitude towards Tamil Nadu fishermen, why should the people of Tamil Nadu get all excited over India's wars in the far off north and donate our hard earned money in the hundreds of millions? I say "no, not until India treats Tamil people as equals and protect our fishermen from the Sri Lankan Navy".

11. Pakistani Air Force in the North and Sri Lankan Navy in the South

In August 1999, Indian Air Force shot down an unarmed Pakistani naval patrol plane because it intruded into Indian airspace. The plane was unarmed, did not shoot anyone or bomb anyone. But the Indian Air Force shot it down because they say that it intruded into Indian territory. Because India and Pakistan are hostile neighbors and fought several wars against each other over half a century, India may have a right to down that plane. I have no problem with that, as such. But compare it with what happens in the south. Armed Sri Lankan Navy ships have killed and continue to kill Tamil Nadu fishermen in the seas and near Kachchativu island. Where are the Indian Air Force planes stationed in Tamil Nadu Air Force Bases? Why are they not bombing the culprit Sri Lankan vessels that kill our fishermen? Where are the Indian war ships stationed in Tamil Nadu Naval Bases? Why are they not coming to the aid of our fishermen? We know why. India does not want to offend Sri Lanka for reasons we discussed in Section 8. India wants Sri Lankan diplomatic support or at least diplomatic neutrality on disputes with Pakistan in the north. If more than one hundred fishermen's life and the livelihoods of many thousands of fishing families are the price to pay, Hindian dominated Indian government is willing to pay it. After all, it is only Tamil life! Who cares?

As long as such a callous attitude prevails among the rulers of India, Tamil Nadu should re-evaluate its support for India's northern wars. Let the Hindian politicians who "govern" India because of their domination of the Indian parliament mend their ways, treat Tamils as equal partners and protect Tamil Nadu fishermen from attacks by the Sri Lankan Navy, then we may support their war with Pakistan. Until then let us cool our "Indian patriotic fervor" over India's northern wars.

12. Tamil Nadu and Indian-Pakistan Wars

There was a war fever in Tamil Nadu during the 1999 Indian-Pakistan war at Kargil over Kashmir. The fact that, at the very same time, the Sri Lankan Navy shot and killed Tamil Nadu fishermen as it was doing for the past few years, and India has done nothing about it went unnoticed by any except the Tamil Nadu fishing community and a few caring Tamil nationalists. Newspapers buried the news about the fishermen deep in their papers, and magazines, radio and television did not even report it. Everyone was competing against each other in showing their patriotism for India by headlining the Kargil war news in the far off north.

Whipped by the constant barrage of publicity and pleadings by political leaders for donations, people of Tamil Nadu donated more than any other state for the Kargil War Fund. But, alas, no one cared or noticed (because there was no media publicity or pleadings by political leaders) that scores of widows in Tamil Nadu fishing communities are in mourning and their children are sobbing for the loss of their fathers. Elderly mothers who lost their sons are weeping. Fishing families are starving because the men could not go deep-sea fishing for fear of the murderous Sri Lankan Navy. Babies cry and cry and go to sleep because they have little to eat. Once happy children in those formerly thriving fishing villages have a sad, empty look in their faces because they are hungry. There were no headlines about the plight of these families. Politicians are busy collecting funds for the far off Kargil war to think about our own fishing communities. There was no collection of donations for them.

Not knowing the plight of these fishing families (because there were no headlines and news bulletins), people of Tamil Nadu listened to the all day, all hour news coverage of the far off Kargil war and donated, donated and donated to the Kargil War Fund. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi handed over checks after checks, each amounting to tens of millions of rupees, to the Indian Prime Minister. No one cared for the dead fishermen. No one cared for the starving fishing communities. Has the Indian government ever given a single rupee to the families of the dead fishermen? No! Has the Indian Prime Minister ever handed over a single check for single rupee to help the Tamil Nadu fishing communities? No! But the people of Tamil Nadu have donated more money than any other state for this northern war, even as our fishermen are not given any protection by the Indian Navy.

Given Indian government's blatant disregard for the lives and livelihood of Tamil Nadu fishermen and its callous and criminal willingness to sacrifice Tamil Nadu fishermen in order to keep Sri Lanka on its side diplomatically on India-Pakistan wars and disputes, I urge the people of Tamil Nadu not to support India's war against Pakistan until the Indian Government orders the Indian Navy to protect Tamil Nadu fishermen from the Sri Lankan Navy. What should have we done during the recent (1999) Kargil war and what should we do in India's future wars with Pakistan? 

13. No Money and No Support for India's Northern Wars until India Protects Tamil Nadu Fishermen

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi proudly stated that people of Tamil Nadu have donated more money to the Kargil War Fund than any other state. He presented check after check, each amounting to tens of millions of rupees, to the Indian Prime Minister. Given the fact that at the very same time the Sri Lankan Navy was shooting and killing our fishermen and the Indian government refused to order the navy to protect our fishermen, Chief Minister Karunanidhi should have told the Indian Prime Minister, "Dear Prime Minister, I have in my hands a check for several million rupees donated by the people of Tamil Nadu for you to carry out the northern war in Kargil. However we are very unhappy about your inaction regarding the continued killings of Tamil Nadu fishermen. Until you order the Indian Navy to protect our fishermen, I cannot hand over all these millions of rupees to you to wage war over Kashmir. This money is not going anywhere. I will send it to you after the Indian Navy starts protecting our fishermen who are as dear to us as the Kashmiri Pandits are to you. If no protection is forthcoming, I will use the donations for the relief of our fishing communities that are suffering because of your inaction." Chief Minister Karunanidhi did not do it. We know that he will not do it because the Hindians will dismiss his government calling him anti-Indian.

Since our Chief Minister is impotent in this regard, I urge the Tamil people to take it in their own hands; do not donate a single rupee to the Indian war efforts over Kashmir until the Indian Navy protects our fishermen. If you wish to donate money, please donate it to the suffering fishing communities (or give it to some other worthwhile charity of your choice).

I urge the Tamil movie stars not to donate money or put on benefit shows to fill India's coffers for its wars over Kashmir until the Indian Navy protects our fishermen. Instead put on benefit shows for the starving fishermen's families.

I read in the newspapers that Tamil fishermen from Ramanathapuram working in Dubai donated a large sum of money to the Kargil War Fund. As a Tamil to Tamil I ask these well-meaning, generous fishermen, "Please do not give anymore money to India's war over Kashmir until your fellow fishermen working in Tamil Nadu are given protection by the Indian Navy. Your brothers here are shot and killed by the Sri Lankan Navy and the Indian Government is refusing to order the Indian Navy to protect them. So why should you donate your hard-earned money to fight a war in Kashmir? Instead donate the money to the families of the fishermen who are afraid to go fishing."

14. Tamil Soldiers Caught in the Kashmir War

I want to make a distinction between donating to the Kargil War Fund and donating money for the families of Tamil soldiers and officers killed and wounded at the Kargil war. By all means donate to these families. Though these soldiers and officers were fighting a far-off war in Kasmir, they are our own, they are our flesh and blood, they are Tamils; we stand by them and their families in their time of need. Donate for these families by all means but make sure that your money goes directly to these families and not to some war fund managed and distributed by the Hindian controlled Indian government.

15. Final Words

Some of those who read this article may say that I am unpatriotic and anti-Indian. Some may say that I am narrow-minded and cannot think beyond Tamil Nadu in an all India perspective. Let me explain my position.

It cannot be a one way street between Tamil Nadu and Indian government. I know that the northern borders and Kashmir are dear to the Hindi politicians who dominate and control the Indian government. They consider any incursion into Indian territory in the north as a potential threat to the Hindi lands itself. I understand. Are they not narrow-minded to concentrate on their own safety, security and welfare in the north and ignore the plight of Tamil Nadu fishermen in the south? Are they not willing to go to costly wars with Pakistan to protect Kasmiri Pandits but refuse to lift even their little finger to protect Tamil Nadu fishermen? That is not acceptable to me. It cannot be always Tamils giving and Hindians taking. It cannot be Tamils always going gung-ho over India's wars with Pakistan and giving millions and millions and the Indian government refusing to protect our fishermen from the Sri Lankan Navy in order to keep Sri Lanka on India's side diplomatically on India-Pakistan disputes. It is the Hindian politicians who are narrow minded and I have no hesitation in urging the Tamil people not to donate to the Indian war efforts in Kashmir until the Indian government protects Tamil Nadu fishermen also. This is fair! This is reasonable! If it is an anti-Indian stand, so be it; let all of Tamil Nadu be "anti-Indian"!

---- 1999-a1d

Your comments on this article or any other matter relating to Tamil are welcome

(e-mail to: tamiltribuneatasia.com Please replace "at" with the @ sign.)

Copyright Ó 2002 by TAMIL TRIBUNE. All rights reserved. No part of this article should be copied or distributed in any form by any means without written permission from TAMIL TRIBUNE.

TT