'IPKF mission can never be undermined'

by P. Krishnaswamy

The Indian Peace Keeping Forces (IPKF) arrived in Sri Lanka at the invitation of the Sri Lankan Government and their mission in the island can never be undermined, a Colombo-based Indian diplomat told the Sunday Observer. Responding to controversial remarks recently made by Indian Union External Affairs Minister, General V.K.Singh on IPKF being instructed not to destroy LTTE Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and the decision to dispatch Indian troops for peacekeeping in Sri Lanka being a 'high level policy failure,' a top diplomat said, from time to time, such comments have been made.

During the launching of his autobiography titled 'Courage and Conviction', Singh claimed that during IPKF operations in the neighbouring island, the IPKF had several opportunities to apprehend Velupillai Prabhakaran, but every time, there were instructions to ensure him safe passage.

The Indian diplomat reiterated that the IPKF was mandated by the Sri Lankan Government "to help safeguard the unity and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka" and it was also at the invitation of the Sri Lankan Government that troops were withdrawn. "In the process, over 1,200 IPKF officers and soldiers died and thousands more suffered injury," he said.