The Hindu Editorial Analysis- 18th May 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

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Why in News?

India and Iran signed a 10-year agreement for the operation of the Chabahar port, marking a significant milestone in their cooperation.

About the Agreement

The contract, signed between Indian Ports Global Ltd. (IPGL) and Port and Maritime Organisation (PMO) of Iran, involves substantial investment and development initiatives.

• IPGL will invest approximately $120 million in equipping the Shahid-Behesti terminal, enhancing the port’s efficiency and capacity.
• India has extended a credit window of $250 million for mutually identified projects aimed at improving Chabahar-related infrastructure, emphasizing its commitment to regional development.

Strategic Importance of Chabahar Port to India

• Chabahar port will boost India’s access to Iran, the key gateway to the International North-South Transport Corridor that has sea, rail and road routes between India, Russia, Iran, Europe and Central Asia.
• Chabahar port will be beneficial to India in countering Chinese presence in the Arabian Sea which China is trying to ensure by helping Pakistan develop the Gwadar port.
• India can bypass Pakistan in transporting goods to Afghanistan.

Economic Significance

• Chabahar Port is at an important point on the Arabian Sea, with easy access from India’s west coast.
• Kandla port in Gujarat is the closest port at 550 nautical miles, while the distance between Chabahar and Mumbai is 786 nautical miles.
• Since 2019, the port has handled more than 80,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of container traffic and more than 8 million tonnes of bulk and general cargo.
• The port also offers an alternative route from the Strait of Hormuz for cargo traffic between Central Asian countries and Afghanistan.

About Chabahar Port

• It is Tehran’s first deepwater port being developed with the Indian aid aimed at enhancing connectivity and trade relations.
• Location: It is situated in the Sistan-Balochistan province along Iran’s energy-rich southern coast  in the Gulf of Oman. 
• Indian Involvement: The project to develop Chabahar began in 2002 with a roadmap for strategic cooperation being signed between both countries  
  • A trilateral agreement 2016: Signed between India, Iran and Afghanistan for the development of an international trade corridor, which would include Chabahar as a central transit point.
  • The Shahid Beheshti port’s first phase was inaugurated in December 2017, with India sending its first consignment of wheat to Afghanistan through Chabahar that same year.  
• Operating  Agency: State-owned India Ports Global Limited (IPGL) was incorporated in 2015 for the development of ports overseas. 
• The Chabahar project: It  comprises two distinct ports ie. the Shahid Beheshti and Shahid Kalantari. India’s investment is restricted to the Shahid Beheshti port.  
  • The Shahid Beheshti port is being developed in four phases with a total capacity of  82 million tonnes per year.

Why in News?

A decade-and-a-half cannot heal the deep wounds from a protracted civil war. Tens of thousands of people perished across Sri Lanka’s north and east even as it witnessed enormous destruction. Concerns of truth, accountability and justice linger, while questions of past and future political choices loom large.

Background of the Sri Lanka Civil War

• The ethnic composition of Sri Lanka has played a significant role in the country's history and politics.
• The Sinhalese, who form the majority of the population, migrated from northern India around the 500s BC.
• They maintained contact with the Tamils, who were settled in the southern part of the Indian subcontinent.
• Major migrations of Tamils to Sri Lanka occurred between the 7th and 11th centuries CE.
• During British rule from 1815 to 1948, nearly a million Tamils were brought in to work on coffee, tea, and rubber plantations.
• The British established educational and other infrastructures predominantly in the Tamil-majority northern parts of the country.
• This led to resentment among the Sinhalese population.
• Post-independence, the government introduced policies perceived as discriminatory by the Tamil community, such as declaring Sinhalese the sole official language.
• The Tamils peacefully demanded equal rights.
• Rising ethnic tensions and sectarian violence eventually led to the eruption of the Sri Lankan Civil War.

Factors that led to a civil war in Sri Lanka

The civil war in Sri Lanka, which lasted from 1983 to 2009, was primarily driven by a combination of ethnic, political, and socio-economic factors. The key factors include:

• Ethnic tensions between the majority Sinhalese community and the minority Tamil community, fueled by perceived discrimination and unequal access to resources and opportunities.
• Political grievances regarding power-sharing, language rights, and representation of the Tamil community.
• Rise of separatist movements, such as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), advocating for an independent Tamil homeland.
• Acts of violence, communal riots, and targeted assassinations that further escalated tensions and led to a cycle of retaliation.

Role of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was established in 1976 by Prabhakaran with the objective of creating a separate homeland for Tamils in the northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka. Their first major attack occurred in July 1983, escalating the conflict. The LTTE gradually consolidated its position as the sole representative of the Sri Lankan Tamils, even capturing Jaffna in 1986.

India's Intervention in the Sri Lanka Civil War

• In 1987, Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi decided to intervene in the Sri Lankan conflict due to concerns about separatism in Tamil Nadu and the potential influx of refugees from Sri Lanka.
• This intervention marked a new chapter in India-Sri Lanka relations.
• The Indian Peacekeeping Force (IPKF) was sent to Sri Lanka, but instead of brokering peace, it ended up engaging in combat with the LTTE, resulting in significant casualties.
• The conflict continued even after the withdrawal of the IPKF in 1990, with the LTTE intensifying its operations.
• The conflict claimed the lives of several prominent figures, including Rajiv Gandhi, who was assassinated by the LTTE in 1991, and Sri Lankan President Premadasa, who was killed in 1993.

Consequences of Sri Lanka Civil War

• Human Casualties: The Sri Lanka civil war resulted in significant loss of life, with estimates suggesting tens of thousands of casualties on both sides, including civilians caught in the conflict.

• Displacement and Refugees:

  • The conflict caused widespread displacement, forcing many people to flee their homes and seek refuge in safer areas or other countries.
  • Internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees faced dire living conditions.

• Infrastructure Destruction:

  • The war inflicted severe damage on infrastructure, including roads, schools, hospitals, and homes.
  • Many areas experienced long-lasting consequences, hindering post-war reconstruction efforts.

• Economic Impact:

  • The prolonged conflict had a detrimental impact on the Sri Lankan economy.
  • Productivity declined, foreign investments reduced, and economic development faced substantial setbacks.

• Human Rights Violations:

  • Both government forces and rebel groups were accused of human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings, disappearances, and torture.
  • These violations raised international concerns.

• Social and Cultural Disruption:

  • Communities were torn apart, and social cohesion suffered as a result of the war.
  • Traditional ways of life were disrupted, and the conflict created lasting divisions among ethnic and religious groups.

How did the Sri Lanka civil war end?

• The Sri Lanka civil war officially ended in May 2009 with the defeat of the LTTE, marking a significant milestone in the country's history.
• Government forces launched a major military offensive that resulted in the defeat of the LTTE and the death of its leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran.
• The military offensive faced criticism for its human rights violations and civilian casualties.

Post-War Period:

• The end of the civil war brought about a period of relative stability.
• This period paved the way for post-war reconstruction and reconciliation efforts.
• There was a focus on addressing the root causes of the conflict.

Conclusion

The conflict finally ended in 2009 when the government launched a major offensive against the LTTE. The final stages of the war were marked by intense fighting and significant civilian casualties. The Sri Lankan government announced the death of LTTE leader Prabhakaran and the end of the war on May 19, marking the conclusion of a brutal 26-year conflict.