1 by : lieutenant general m f akbar,ndc,psc commandant, national defence college, bangladesh
TRANSCRIPT
“SRI LANKA’S POST CONFLICT SUCCESSES; IMPLICATIONS AND
GAINS IN SECURITY FOR BANGLADESH IN THE CONTEXT OF
REGIONAL STABILITY”
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DEFENCE SEMINAR - 2013
BY :Lieutenant General M F AKBAR,ndc,psc
Commandant, National Defence College, Bangladesh
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DEFENCE SEMINAR - 2013
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Introduction
Sri Lanka’s location beside the sea lanes of the Indian Ocean make the island state strategically very important
Sea lanes constitute the trade artery of Asia that is vital to all the countries including China, Japan and India
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Introduction
US policy has been to ensure the freedom of navigation through the sea lanes
Half of container cargo and 80 percent of seaborne fuel is carried through here. It also contains 40 percent of the off shore fuel output.
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Significance of Indian Ocean Theatre
“More than half the world’s armed conflicts are presently located in the Indian Ocean region ………………....potential nuclear confrontation between India and Pakistan, US interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan, Islamist terrorism, growing incidence of piracy in and around the Horn of Africa, and management of diminishing fishery resources.”
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Significance of Indian Ocean Theatre
“In the long-term the Indian Ocean is going to be massively more significant in global politics than it has ever been before……………that is the function largely of the fact that the Asia-Pacific region is massively more significant.”
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Sri Lanka, the Island State
The importance of Indian Ocean confers strategic significance to Sri Lanka
The island was always considered vital to control the gateway to India and all east-west lanes that connect South East Asia to the West
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Sri Lanka, the Island State
India appended to the India-Sri Lanka accord of July 1987
Trincomalee or any other port of Sri Lanka will not be made available for military use by any country
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India-Sri Lanka accord 1987
Trincomalee oil tank farm will be undertaken as a joint venture between India and Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka's agreement with foreign broadcasting organisations will be reviewed
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Internal Dimensions and Dynamics
Demographics, geography, history and politics converged in rise of nationalism and then intolerance and chauvinism that brought a long insurgency home to Sri Lanka
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Internal Dimensions and Dynamics
Each ethnic group today has a distinct identity with strongly held myths of origin
Sinhala believe that they are Aryans from Bengal, the Tamils claim pure Dravidian origin, and the Muslims aspire to decent from Arabs
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Internal Dimensions and Dynamics
Medieval Sri Lanka’s major accomplishment is the establishment of the Sinhala kingdom
The development of Sinhala nation as the last defenders of Buddhism in India was a very powerful element in their nation building
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Rise of Terrorism-South Asian Perspective
Terrorism is a noxious conflict and its economic costs are enormous
South Asia has a violent history of terrorist incidents and here political and security discourse takes precedence over development
Global terrorism center of gravity had shifted to South Asia making it a region of concern
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Termination of Insurgency New Horizon for Peace in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka under President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s leadership and with valiant efforts of the Sri Lankan armed forces defeated the LTTE
All in region and beyond are grateful for the removal of such a despicable foe of humanity and are more secure because of this outcome
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Termination of Insurgency New Horizon for Peace in Sri Lanka
The continuation of conflict could cause disruptions in shipping with wider ramifications for trade in this region
Remained a threat to economic security of the region
India’s pursuit of Chinese policy of maintaining regional peace would have been jeopardized
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Bangladesh’s Support for Peaceful Sri Lanka A Way Ahead to Regional Stability
The Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government supported Sri Lankan cause on two counts
Bangladesh has always supported Sri Lanka’s war against terrorism and also has pragmatic understanding of the fallout from post conflict transition
Region has more stability by mitigating regional threats to security like arms’ trafficking, smuggling and various forms of human rights violations
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Bangladesh’s Support for Peaceful Sri Lanka A Way Ahead to Regional Stability
Sri Lanka's first king, mentioned in the ancient Pali chronicles, was known to have ancestors from the Vanga Kingdom located in modern Bangladesh
In Sri Lanka, several strands of Buddha’s hair gifted by the Buddhists of Bangladesh,are venerated on Poya Day, a Buddhist public holiday in Sri Lanka
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Bangladesh’s Support for Peaceful Sri Lanka A Way Ahead to Regional Stability
Diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh were formally established in 1972
Sri Lanka Heads of States and Governments since 1979 have made official visits to Bangladesh and they have been reciprocated
Close political relationship is demonstrated by BD support to Srilanka at International Forum
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Bangladesh’s Support for Peaceful Sri Lanka A Way Ahead to Regional Stability
About 15,000 Srilankans are currently employed in Bangladesh
Growing technical co-operation in the production of garments between the two countries
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Bangladesh’s Support for Peaceful Sri Lanka A Way Ahead to Regional Stability
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka participate in the joint peace keeping exercises under the UN department of peacekeeping operations
There are goodwill visits at the level of chiefs of armed forces between the two countries
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Bangladesh’s Support for Peaceful Sri Lanka A Way Ahead to Regional Stability
Bangladesh has greatly benefited from the elimination of LTTE and end of ethnic conflict
Bangladesh army, in the initial stages of the insurgency in Chittagong Hill Tracts, decided not to use heavy guns
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Bangladesh’s Support for Peaceful Sri Lanka A Way Ahead to Regional Stability
The rapprochement between the two communities will take lot of work and time which is more of an intellectual and transformative political process
Every country have respective historical, cultural and political evolution creates conditions that do not allow uniform responses to identical problem
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Bangladesh’s Support for Peaceful Sri Lanka A Way Ahead to Regional Stability
No substantive allegation has been raised against the government of Sri Lanka concerning reconstruction and economic rejuvenation of the region
If the economic growth can be maintained in the region then major reservations concerning reconciliation will disappear within a short time
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Bangladesh’s Support for Peaceful Sri Lanka A Way Ahead to Regional Stability
The ethnic war has ended; the conflict has been submerged. However its currency needs to be neutralized
Avenues and opportunities have to be created to allow the communities to live as neighbors, friends and colleagues
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Parting Words on Way Forward
Developing a common national identity among a heterogeneous population is a very difficult and challenging task and no nation can claim perfection
Difficulties may not deter the perennial quest of nation building
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Parting Words on Way Forward
There has to be total renunciation of violence excluding the exercise of legitimate coercive authority of the state
The precise shape and nature of these elements may vary from country to country because of differences among communities regarding their location, histories, cultures, regional trends, political relationships and other relevant factors
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Parting Words on Way Forward
Sri Lanka has worked with great commitment to carry out reconstruction. There is a genuine national will to revive the affected economies. The trauma of long term conflict can only be effectively managed…..
Sri Lanka is on the right path and we, in Bangladesh, hope for and support successful resolution of this problem
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DEFENCE SEMINAR - 2013
I Wish The People, Government And The Armed Forces Of Sri Lanka A Peaceful,
Prosperous And Happy Future
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DEFENCE SEMINAR - 2013
Thank You