One must congratulate Asian Affairs for focussing on the Sri Lankan situation at an appropriate time. Amongst the three write-ups on the Lankan situation, David Watt's piece 'Uncivil victory' (June 2009) was the most incisive. He has rightly cautioned the international community not to take Tamil resistance lightly. If the Lankan government takes its military victory for granted then Sri Lanka may have to revisit the situation that obtained in the early 1980s.

One must not discount the resolve of the Tamil diaspora to work towards finding an honourable solution to the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan state should not be blinded by its success and commit the mistakes that it committed earlier. So far, it has demonstrated little inclination for a decent constitutional reform which would be acceptable to the Tamil minority in Sri Lanka. After such a convincing military victory it is unlikely that it would ever like to share power with a vanquished Tamil minority.

The Sinhalese people at large are overtaken by a sense of triumphalism and would also not allow the government to concede anything beyond nominal sharing of power with the central administration.

In the meanwhile, there are reports of the government seeking to distribute lands to Sinhalese security forces in the Tamil areas to bring about demographic changes therein. This is likely to aggravate the situation further and compel Tamils to take to guns again, as Watts has pointed out. In the existing circumstances, the international community has a positive role to play. Their excessive reliance on India would amount to little. The Sri Lankan authorities have successfully duped the Indian establishment and firmed up ties with China and Pakistan in strategic areas. India is regarded as a toothless giant, more eager to satiate its fiscal appetite than flex its muscles. India's earlier policy of working actively towards a neighbourhood amenable to its influence has been replaced by a policy of irreverent neglect of strategic issues.

Therefore, international community will have to fashion out an independent policy of approaching Sri Lankan issue.

S. Ramachandran
Toronto (Canada)

Discontent in Iran

Shyam Bhatia's interview with Fariba Marzban (July 2009) was an eye-opener. What the Iranian lady dissident had to say about prison conditions back home was shocking. Is this how the Islamic republic treats its women prisoners? And Ms. Marzban's only fault, as I can make out from the interview, was that she was a political activist and not from an Islamic party or group. She was barely 21 years old when she had to undergo imprisonment and 'coffin torture'. That's inhuman!

The lady has been able to explain why the reformists in Iran were so upset over the disputed elections. The country comes out as a dictatorship, which denies freedom to its people, freedom of speech, of assembly. The election was the 'last chance to make a change' and when people saw that too slipping out they were naturally very angry. If the election outcome was so disputed the Supreme Leader should have ordered an independent, transparent review, and not taken up for the president. That was the way to solve the problem.

President Ahmadinejad may sound a tough leader, one who can withstand powerful international pressures. But after all he is the president of Iranian people. His first job is to see that his own people are happy and free to pursue their ambitions. The most poignant part of Ms. Marzban's interview was when she says that Iranian 'people want to live normal, quiet lives like other people in other countries, studying, working, going on holidays.' Instead they are pushed towards wars for Palestine, against Iraq and in Lebanon too. It is evident Iranians want democracy but they are being denied their wish.

Sukbir Rana
London

Prophetic remarks

In the article 'The game changes' (July 2009) George Friedman talks of the change in U.S. relationship with Israel. This was on account of President Obama's clear statement that the U.S. is not in favour of continued Israeli settlements in occupied territories. Friedman went on to say that the change 'must not be underestimated' and has 'every opportunity of growing into a major breach'. This was almost prophetic.

Sure enough a 'major breach' seems to be in offing. Israel has started building a new housing project in east Jerusalem, which is a cause for major concern for the Palestinians, as they lay claim over east Jerusalem. Israel has also turned down the U.S. demand to stop the construction work at the site. Prime Minister Netanyahu has refused to give up the Israeli right to build anything anywhere in the area saying the entire city belongs to Israel. This is bound to be a major stumbling block in the Middle East peace process and further strain a tense relationship with the U.S.

East Jerusalem is a holy site for Jews, Muslims and Christians alike. Palestin-ians are unlikely to budge on the issue.

Though Obama is the first U.S. president to take such a firm stand on the settlement issue, there is a point beyond which even he will find it difficult to pressurise Israel. The Jew lobby in U.S. is very strong and will oppose the pressure.

Amitabh Tripathi
New Delhi

Walis of Swat

It was a pleasure reading Derek Brown's 'The man who would be Wali' (July 2009). In this small write-up the writer has been able to capture the beautiful ambiance of the Swat valley and the grandeur associated with the former Walis (rulers) of the region. Miangul Aurangzeb comes out as a fine man, given to candour and humour.

It is indeed a pity that Swat, once acclaimed as 'Pakistan's Switzerland', has been ruined by the 'bearded bigots of Taliban'.

Hakimuddin
London

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