US-India struggle for control in disaster zone

[Judi Lynn]

US-India struggle for control in disaster zone
Colombo, Jan. 3 (Reuters): Sri Lanka’s tsunami devastation has drawn a huge international aid response, but a geopolitical game of influence between India and the US is playing not too subtly in the background, analysts said today.

“There is no innocence in the politics of humanitarian assistance,” said Jayadeva Uyangoda, the head of the department of political science at Colombo University.

Uyangoda said Washington’s decision to send as many as 1,500 Marines and an amphibious assault ship to Sri Lanka was seen in New Delhi as not “merely humanitarian”.

“It is a symbolic intrusion into India’s sphere of influence,” he said.
(snip/...)

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050104/asp/nation/story_4209890.asp

[Inland]

1. Well, it isn't merely symbolic. The US is sending aid. India isn't.

If India wants to act as hegemon, it can find its own aid and send it with their own troops. Until then, STFU.

[Maple]

2. But India IS sending aid

and the US doesn't need to. It can help others who have no aid.

Why is the US insisting on this?

[Tinoire]

3. Hush now Maple

Bush has only the purest intentions at heart ;)

You know the answer as well as most of us do lol but I love your coyness.

India's no fool. They tossed off Anglo-rule and won't fall for that "we're here to help you" crap again. One must really wonder why they're "insisting". If only the US would insist as much to help people in Africa or God forbid, Palestine.

[Inland]

4. Well, I suppose that Sri Lanka asked for it,

doesn't know or doesn't care that it is in India's sphere of influence.

[reorg]

5. word to the search engine challenged:

>>

India sends medical team to Sri Lanka

By V.S. Sambandan

COLOMBO, DEC. 26. An Indian Dornier aircraft touched down at the Ratmalana domestic airport tonight, carrying emergency relief and a medical team. Four more ships are to arrive tomorrow, with more emergency assistance.

"It is in the best traditions of good neighbourly relations and a true expression of being a friend in need. We responded immediately," Mohan Kumar, the acting High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, told The Hindu.

Last May, an Indian ship, INS Sujata, came to the help of the island-nation when floods hit central and southern Sri Lanka. This time, the emergency response from India has been "more rapid."

According to sources, the Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, ordered "immediate" relief for Sri Lanka when the official request was made. Earlier in the day, the President's office made the formal request to the Indian High Commission here. The Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapakse, told The Hindu that he had spoken over telephone to the Indian High Commissioner, Nirupama Rao, requesting assistance.

Two ships are scheduled to reach the eastern Trincomalee port and the southern Galle port tomorrow.

They will be carrying four helicopters, inflatable rafts and other equipment for carrying out relief operations.

<<


http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2004122702621100.htm&date=2004/12/27/&prd=th&

http://tinyurl.com/4pjje


>>

'India prepared to join humanitarian effort'

By Our Diplomatic Correspondent
NEW DELHI, DEC. 30.

... The Foreign Secretary acquainted the other members of the group with the relief and rescue efforts already launched by India for Sri Lanka and Maldives, including substantial assistance being provided through deployment of Indian naval ships, aircraft and helicopters.

"These had been deeply appreciated by Sri Lanka and Maldives and are continuing. This could be expanded further as needed. As far as the disaster in South India and Island territories is concerned, India is confident that we will be able to deal with the challenges with our own resources and international relief therefore could be directed where it is most urgently required," the spokesman said. Another teleconference at the Foreign Secretary level, with Mr. Saran talking to his counterparts in the U.S. Japan and Australia, is likely to take place tomorrow.



'Ilyushin aircraft being sent'

The spokesman said that two Ilyushin-76 aircraft carrying military field hospitals were expected to reach Sri Lanka tomorrow. Earlier, four naval vessels and seven helicopters had been put into operation. "One of these naval vessels — INS Sandhayak — is being converted to a hospital ship. The others are doing work of ferrying the supplies, clearing the harbours and helping the helicopter operations."


Hospital ship

Similarly, another hospital ship, INS Nirupak, was leaving for Sumatra, Indonesia, tonight, carrying emergency rations, medicines, tents and first aid kits. It would have 10 officers and 240 sailors on board. In the Maldives, there are four aircraft and two naval ships already in operation. Supplies had been ferried by aircraft — Avros and Dorniers — and this had been evidently very successful because the Indian High Commission in Male had now said there was no further requirement of supplies excepting such specific items as water canisters.

Two of these aircraft had been placed at the disposal of the Maldivian authorities and the other two were being used for search and rescue operations. They were also being used for airdropping of food and water packages and medical supplies in different places, he added. ...

<<



http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2004123106701100.htm&date=2004/12/31/&prd=th&

http://tinyurl.com/5833u

on edit: additional link

[Inland]

8. And yet

Would India's contribution be net positive if the US acceded to its "sphere of influence" rhetoric?

Given that, it seems to me that India is a positive influence only because the US isn't sensitive to India's position.

[Judi Lynn]

6. Ah, an India expert!

I've heard the useful information in the tailoring profession:

Measure twice, cut once.

Words to live by!

[gorky]

16. "Ah, an India expert!"

Would you care to explain what exactly you mean to a non-native English speaker ?

[Judi Lynn]

17. Explain exactly what I mean?

I meant sarcasm.

Welcome to D. U.

[Bhaisahab]

7. Don't talk like a freeper

Do your homework first. How's it possible for India, the closest neighbor Sri Lanka has, to stay away from relief work?
We've sent seven naval ships to Sri Lanka much before king george was through clearing brush in his trashy little ranch:

India, which dispatched seven Naval ships including one floating hospital to Sri Lanka's south and east immediately after the tsunamis hit on December 26, is very involved in the relief effort, said Chris Weeks, who is in charge of ground operations for humanitarian aid at Colombo's airport.

"Two Indian Air Force MI-8 helicopters have been ferrying large loads of tents to Jaffna in the north and Trincomalee in the east," Mr Weeks, director of the World Economic Forum's Disaster Resource Network, told Reuters.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200501/s1275863.htm

In addition, India's also sent 2 naval ships to Indonesia:

India has launched "Operation Ghambir" to augument relief and rescue efforts in worst-affected Indonesia, a senior defence official said.

"Two ships sailed to Indonesia from our coast on Saturday and will reach there on January four," Admiral Raman Puri, who is heading the Unified Defence relief Operations, told reporters in New Delhi.

He said one of the two ships had been converted into a makeshift hospital which would provide medical assistance to people in that country.
http://in.rediff.com/news/2005/jan/02indon.htm

on edit: link fix

[Inland]

9. How, indeed?

So no comment on the judgment that some in New Delhi resent American aid in India's "sphere of influence"?

[gorky]

15. "How, indeed?"

>>>> So no comment on the judgment that some in New Delhi resent American aid in India's "sphere of influence"?

Learn to read English. The judgement or statement was made by a academician in Sri Lanka ( Jayadeva Uyangoda, the head of the department of political science at Colombo University. ). Nobody in India said , judged or resented about any other country sending aid to Sri Lanka. This story initially appeared in the mouthpiece newspaper of LTTE in Jaffna. The Tamils just wanted to make sure that the Indians don't get too cosy with the SL govt. That spin was re-spinned by the Sinhalese in Colombo who wanted to make sure that India and US will vie for their affection and maybe they will get lucky and be able to use the situation against the Tamils. The Sinhalese and SL Tamil elite have always tried to play outsiders against each other to get a upper hand in their nice little war.

p.s : I often see a subtle racism and dislike for Indians in this forum by some so called liberal democrats. I presume these are American traits that cuts across party lines.

[Inland]

19. Maybe it is your presumptions that cause the trouble.

Yes, I was commenting on somebody else's judgment. Anyone who wants to deny the truth of it can, rather than assuming that I leapt on it out of some anti-Indian bias. Was it true? It seems consistent with the report that the Indian government has declined any aid for its own coast.

[gorky]

21. "Maybe it is your presumptions that cause the trouble."

>>>>>> Yes, I was commenting on somebody else's judgment. Anyone who wants to deny the truth of it can, rather than assuming that I leapt on it out of some anti-Indian bias. Was it true?

You are taking a statement made by a Sri Lankan and attributing it to Indians. Also contrary to clearly evident facts that India was the first country to send relief to SL and Maldives on their request , your first comment was headlined ".....The US is sending aid. India isn't." You accuse India of hegemony based on a false premise while forgetting how your country practices hegemony and violent military intervention all around the world.
The only thing that is true is you are blinded by anti-Indian bias.


>>>>>> It seems consistent with the report that the Indian government has declined any aid for its own coast.
India has declined governmental aid ( and NOT private, UN or NGO aid ) from other countries. These always come with strings attached and are not worth it. For example your govt will send a army of bureaucrats who will want to stay in 5 star hotels , be taken in helicopters and luxury SUV's for a few hours to the disaster area where they can get CNN , FOX and BBC to tape them talk some bullshit and appear as if they are doing all the work. These same people also start complaining about bad infrastructure , bumps during their suv ride and what not. All the while ( at least in India ) it is the local volunteers and army who do all the real relief work like cremating corpses, removing debris, cooking food for refugees, providing medical treatment , cleaning toilets and moving supplies.
Also if India had accepted this money from your govt, either you or somebody like you would be here posting why India is begging for aid when she has stolen all your IT jobs. Sir, we may be a poor people , but we are a proud and strong people who value our freedom and sovereignty.

[IronLionZion]

12. yup and the Indian air force in Andaman and Nicobar islands

were rescuing people over there since the tsunami hit.

I'm Indian, and anyone would be right to question boy george's motives considering his actions in Iraq.

[IronLionZion]

10. India DOES aid a lot of countries

and it's real aid. Bush likes to give billions of our tax dollars to his rich buddies at the Pharmaceutical industry but India gives medicine and prosthetic limbs and stuff. Bush's "aid" mostly helps rich Republican donors.

Bush spends more money obviously, but India gives REAL aid that actually helps people.

[leesa]

20. The US is doing squat. They will probably renege on the offer anyway

which is what they usually do. India is SMART not to let the US into their sphere. Next thing they know they will have 100 US military bases controlling a US occupation.

No one should trust the US after Iraq.

[Stinky The Clown]

11. Carry A Big Stick and Leave Big Footprints

Boy, have we changed the old American paradigms ......

We are the fucking bull in the world's china shop. You can't tell me for one fucking minute that we're there only for humanitarian reasons. And for that matter, neither is India in Sri Lanka for totally altruistic reasons. But it *is* their neighborhood, and they *were* allowed in by Sri Lanka.

We, on the other hand, just showed up, looking for more flowers to be tossed at our feet.

India said on day one they needed no aid, were fully capable of taking care of their own needs, **and** of meeting at some of their neighbor's needs. If India wishes to assert itself as the dominant nation in the region, so be it.

Fuck you, George Bush, you international asshole.

[IronLionZion]

13. Sri Lanka has been in civil war for like 3 decades

and India has peacekeeping troops there so no wonder they are worried about US marines and assault ships. Bush has a history of getting involved in military situations and making them FUBAR.

[HereSince1628]

14. "...intrusion of India's sphere of influence "

there is a nice turn of a phrase.

I remember when those were cold war memes frequently heard from USSR and China

According to the NSS the PLANET is the US' sphere of influence.

[jmatthan]

18. How much of the US $ 350 million will actually materialise?

And if any of it does it will be after a further loan from the Chinese to the US!!

India's Foreign Exchange reserve as of the end of last year was US $ 134 billion, with an increase of over US $ 300 million during the last week of December 2004.

Jacob Matthan
Oulu, Finland