COLOMBO: India has taken exception the manner in which the Sri Lankan Prime Minister D.B Wijetunga picked up on a reported remark by the high commissioner N.NJhaon the banning of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelan.

Wijetunga in his statement in parliament had virtually begun by “recent interview in the local Sunday Times in which he “the ban is a symbolic Wijetunga seemed to reply that while the Indian ban symbolic the war in Sri Lanka real one. He said “This is not a symbolic fight this is a serious fight.

The statement which was the official Sri Lanka reaction to the jan decision and was directed mainly at Opposition demands for a similar Sri Lankan ban has been read Several times over the country’s radio and television.

The Indian high commission here issued a press statement expressing “surprise” at the inclusion of Jha’s remark in the prime ministers speech. It drew attention when the complete sentence out of the phrase was picked out Jha had said “The ban is a police “gesture with international clarifications.” The Proceeding said the ban would prevent the LTTE from operating in India apart from having the international ramifications. Quoting another sentence from the original news report the Indian high commission said the prime minister’s remarks“without going into the interview as a whole are likely to convey an erroneous impression.”

“Even a casual reading of the high commissioners interview would make it clear that the ban on the LTTE was symbolic of the determination of India to deal with the problem” the statement said adding that in any case Sri Lankan policy should not be based on “misinterpretation” of the Indian government’s resolve on the issue or the high commissioners interview

Recently the government owned “Observer” had front paged a story saying the Indian ban will not be effective for a few months. This paper argued would give Sri Lanka and India a chance to talk to the LTTE.

The high commission statement made clear the Indian ban had come into immediate effect under the provisions of Unlawful Activities (prevention) Act.

Article extracted from this publication >> June 5, 1992