Himal's take on cross-border news from southern Southasia for the week of 26 February
SOUTHERN SOUTHASIA
Though the once-again President Mahinda Rajapakse is riding on a wave of victory, the question mark on his government’s humanitarian credentials remain. The country – its trade sector, more specifically – is now getting a blow courtesy the European Union, in the form of temporary suspension of preferential trade benefits it had been enjoying.
Sri Lanka, one of 16 international beneficiaries of the EU’s Scheme of Generalised Tarriff Preferences – commonly referred to as GSP+ -- is the only Asian country on the list. Yet recently, it was found guilty of not abiding by UN principles of civil, political and child rights, among others. Back in October 2008, the EU decided to launch an investigation into whether or not Sri Lanka qualified to receive certain benefits that come under the GSP+. Following an exhaustive year-long investigation regarding the execution of human-rights conventions in Sri Lanka, the EU has now come to the conclusion that there has been some serious breach of commitments. EU representatives have thus stated that the country will lose the trade benefits in question after six months.
Sri Lanka’s exports to the EU mostly involve garments and textiles, and those industries will have the roughest ride once the decision comes into effect. Not surprisingly, Colombo has been critical in its response to the announcement, vowing to take steps to have the decision reassessed. For its part, the EU says it is open to dialogue with government officials, and will keep an eye on any relevant progress that Colombo might make in the coming half-year.
Prison yoga (THE MALDIVES/INDIA)
Seeing the bright side of things might not be an option for those behind bars in the Maldives, but they could be finding some solace in the news that the ‘dull side’ is scheduled for a polish. There has been some good news hinting at jail reform. Recently, a high-level delegation from the atolls paid a visit to Delhi’s Tihar Jail, India’s largest prison complex, and came back eager to replicate a number of the reform-and-recreational activities in place there.
Maldivian prisons have been notoriously problematic, suffering from overcrowding, lack of basic sanitation, and poor provisions for clean drinking water, ventilation and timely medical assistance. Beyond logistics, the Maldivian legal system has also been criticised for meting out excessive sentences even for petty crimes. Violence and riots in the prisoners are also fairly regular occurrences.
Reacting to these issues, a presidential message addressing the country’s prisoners was released recently, promising to look into the situation in the jails. Some sentences are to be lightened, with a more overarching jail-reform effort purportedly on the way. Now, some of the programmes in place at Tihar – including yoga and meditation facilities, as well as art classes – will likely be replicated in Maldivian prisons. These intentions are, of course, commendable. But the focus on providing clean drinking water and better ventilation should not be lost in the excitement to implement what some would call hi-fi reforms.
Preparing to power up (SRI LANKA/INDIA)
As soon as the Sri Lankan AG gives the green signal, the path should open up for the joint venture agreement, which may take place as early as the end of February. While the NTPC and the CEB had already signed on the dotted line back in 2006, thence sealing a memorandum of agreement, the parties were, until now, taking their time to work on the nitty-gritty of payment security mechanisms and project site selection. With all that in place, the project is now set to see the light of day.
On the topic of power-projects, India and Bangladesh may also be joining hands to set up one in the latter country. NTPC sources say that its officials will, later this month, pay a visit to Bangladesh to discuss the feasibility of power projects there.
Energising the fleet (REGION)
With many Southasian governments adopting a war mentality on combating ‘terrorism’, most states are keen to foster allies for the battle. Along these lines, the capitals of India and the Maldives are currently in the process of strengthening and formalising their counterterrorism agreements. Fearful of the longstanding rumours that Pakistan-based extremist group Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) is attempting to establish a base in secluded parts of the Maldives – indeed, India’s Intelligence Bureau claims that around a thousand LeT operatives are already active in the atolls – the two countries have decided to join hands in an attempt to prevent future attacks.
With this fact in mind, New Delhi officials have deemed intelligence-sharing with their Maldivian counterparts a must. On the other side, Mohamed Zuhair, press secretary to President Mohamed Nasheed, maintains that while the idea of a thousand operatives in the atolls might well be an exaggeration, he does not categorically rule it out. As things stand, the two countries are gearing up to sign a memorandum of understanding in April to seal the deal.
According to the currently available details, the Maldives will key-in information – through networks being established between coastal radars in the islands of both countries – about suspicious vessels seen at the sea entry-points to India. This plan has already been seen to work in recent cases, though perhaps in a slightly different way than what is now being discussed: in recent months, a number of poaching vessels have been detained after information from fishing boats gave them away.
India’s monumental coastline is clearly susceptible as far as security is concerned. In this context, potential surveillance by 1500 Maldivian fishing vessels could come in very handy.
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