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`Operation Sukoon` to lift Indians, Sri Lankans and Nepalese from Lebanon
Thursday, 20 July 2006 - 10:11 PM SL Time
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Amidst reports that at least three Indians were killed in the latest Israeli air raid on Lebanese positions, Indian government has launched `Operation Sukoon` to rescue and repatriate Indians, Sri Lankans and Nepalese from the war zone in Lebanon. Four ships are deployed on the mission and they have reached Beirut with the task of shifting them to Larkana in Cyprus to begin with. If situation warrants they will be brought home, it was officially announced here.
But for the present, Indian government has not decided on pulling out the 672 Indian troops who are part of the United Nations Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
Indian Foreign Office spokesman Navtej Sarna said, the government has received requests from Nepal, Sri Lanka for their citizens also to be put on the ships. `Space permitting that will be done. This is the update on that issue`, he said at his daily briefing.
``The first batch of 1000 Indians living in Lebanon will be taken to Cyprus where they will be given protection,`` Indian Navy spokesman Capt Vinay Garg said. He added the ships are positioned off the Lebanese Coast in the Mediterrarean. It will take about eight hours to reach Cyprus harbour.
There are about 12,000 Indian nationals in Lebanon. The ships deployed can evacuate one thousand people at a time. That means the operation Sukoon will be a week- long affair. Already, 49 Indians and the family members of the Indian Embassy staff in Beirut have moved to Damascus by road.
Excerpts from Indian official briefing:
Spokesperson: Just an update on the issue of possible evacuation of Indians from Lebanon, on which we have been getting several questions. As you know there are four Indian navy ships, which should be reaching Lebanese waters right now, and they will be berthing in the Harbor as soon as they get place. As you can appreciate, there is considerable congestion building up there. So it might not be immediate, but hopefully soon enough'over the next day or so, they should be in position. And then, they will be moving the people who would want to leave the country. There are about, by present counts, a thousand people, and they will be moving them. You may well ask me if they will be moving them directly into India or somewhere else. I cannot tell you at the moment, but if the numbers remain at 900-1000, it is quite possible that the ships would bring them directly back to India.
However, if the numbers are more, then like other countries, there is a possibility that we would be doing the shuttle to Larnaca in Cyprus, from where eventually an airlift would be organized.
Of course, other countries such as Nepal, Sri Lanka'there are requests from them for their citizens also to be put on the ships and that also, space permitting, will be done. This is the update on that issue.
Question: Is India applying enough diplomatic pressure to facilitate the docking of our ships'
Spokesperson: All diplomatic steps necessary for ensuring that our ships are given a berth under safe conditions have been taken.
Question: what are the specific steps'
Spokesperson: Whatever is necessary. We have to talk to the two countries involved, and that is being done.
Question: What specific steps have been taken by the Indian government to ensure the safety of the remaining Indians'
Spokesperson: the Indian government is not in a position there to take steps to ensure the safety of the people. We have issued an advisory to the people who are there, for instance, in South Lebanon that they should move from there and many of them have moved. It is an evolving situation, and the hostilities are taking place there. Naturally it is a dangerous place, so people who want to move, we are facilitating (their movement). Some people have already moved via Damascus, and now these ships have reached the place.
Question: So one would presume that the others who are there will not want to move'
Spokesperson: It is difficult to predict, because it is an evolving situation; it depends which direction the situation takes, what perception the people there have of the danger levels.
Question: Is there any proposal to withdraw the peace troops which are there'
Spokesperson: There are UN peace troops, so this is something that the UN has to take care.
Question: Apart from Sri Lanka and Nepal, has any other country asked for assistance'
Official Spokesperson : So far, I only have these two countries on my brief.
Question: Have we contacted the Syrian government to get them via Syria'
Spokesperson: As I said, some people have already come via Syria. About 100 people or so have already come on the highway from Beirut to Damascus, and have left.
Question: You said the ships can take only about 800-1000 people. Considering the number of Indians there, will that be adequate'
Spokesperson: I just said that this is the capacity of the ships; if the numbers increase, then we are planning to do a shuttle to Larnaca in Cyprus, from where an airlift will be organized. There is only a certain kind of ships which can go there, through the Suez Canal.
Question: There is a talk about international stabilization force. What is our view on that'
Spokesperson: This is a very rapidly evolving situation, and when there are some matters of concern to us, or matters in which we can contribute, to the international community`s thinking on the subject, then we will.
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Mahabala
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20 Jul 2006 15:17:10 GMT Report for Abuse
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| Lanka must hurry to bring all its citizen from those war affected countries in Arab. Not only the people stay in Lebenan, but also from whole Arab. |
srimal111
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20 Jul 2006 15:21:05 GMT Report for Abuse
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Problem is they are taken fron one war to another.
only god knows what LTTE is upto with its himan bombers. Colombo is as dangerious as Lebanan
how are these people going to ear and live in Sri lanka. Who will give them money and jobs ?
But yes bringing them home is a good move
Edited By - srimal111 - 20 Jul 2006 15:26:29 GMT |
Rick
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20 Jul 2006 15:40:53 GMT Report for Abuse
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What a shame to Sri Lanka!
India is sending ships to protect their 12000 citizens, but Sri Lanka having 80000 of its citizens there have not done anything to evacuate them except begging India and UN. You all thick politicians run your country using the money these poor citizen send home, but have not done anything to save them. |
srimal111
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20 Jul 2006 15:45:20 GMT Report for Abuse
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Rick
have not done anything to evacuate them except begging India and UN. You all thick politicians run your country using the money these poor citizen send home, but have not done anything to save them.
where did you hear the begging part ? Sri lanka aint got ships of that nature as we dont require them. Thats why india is helping us.
dont worry about the poor citizens, assuming your a Tiger supporter worry about your children who blowup before they grow up. |
Maninder
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20 Jul 2006 15:56:10 GMT Report for Abuse
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It is not fair to say GoSL haven't done anything. They are working with Indians to evacuate their citizens.
But still they could have done much more.
It is interesting to note that Indian government woke up into action after a female Indian journalist who made to Syria by road and then to Dubai went to press complaining the inaction of Indian embassy in beirut.
This is subcontinental syndrome. Many of Sri Lankans and Indians who are trapped in Lebanon are from poor working class familiies. The politcal higher-ups don't relate to them automatically. (Guess why LTTE uses poor young tamils as suicide bomber against while requesting help from GoSL when leaders suffers from stroke)
Fortunately, in India, it is changing, thanks to consistant electoral politics for the last six decades.
Edited By - Maninder - 20 Jul 2006 15:58:55 GMT |
Ruwani
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20 Jul 2006 15:58:57 GMT Report for Abuse
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What a shame to Sri Lanka!
India is sending ships to protect their 12000 citizens
Nations help out nation you savage. Yes we know that in your jungle humanity is a rare commodity but in the civilized world such things do happen. Btw, how many people have you chopped today? |
Rick
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20 Jul 2006 16:06:59 GMT Report for Abuse
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Srimall
where did you hear the begging part ? Sri lanka aint got ships of that nature as we dont require them. Thats why india is helping us.
Would that mean Sri Lanka is going to pay India for the services? Read the news properly again. India said if the space available only it would consider Napal and Sri Lanka. If you are paying for the services, a customer would not sound like it. You can cheat your uneducated poor villagers saying like this, but not me.
dont worry about the poor citizens, assuming your a Tiger supporter worry about your children who blowup before they grow up.
If you argue in one context you have to argue in that context. What LTTE is to do with this. I never wrote anything in such way that you could assume me as an LTTE supporter. You are stamping me as an LTTE supporter only because you do not have any other basis to counter my arguement. GOSL is dragging the prolonged Tamil issue and promoting war only to divert the attantion of poor people in the south. You are trying to use the same strategy to divert my attntion to this issue. Just talk only about the Lebanan issue. |
Sintamus
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20 Jul 2006 16:07:40 GMT Report for Abuse
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This is a human tragedy that a country created in 1948 bombing and shelling its neighbours killing civilians and destroying infrastructure. People in Lebanon and Palestine have no water or electricity even to treat the wounded in the hospitals. The sewage is not treated and people do not hyave water. US and EU encourage Israel to escalate their bombing and kill more civilians. UN is helpless as might is right, mighty US dictate what is done in every country in the globe. Many Jews I talked to are against this madness.
80,000 Sri Lankans mainly unskilled or semi-skilled labourers are crossing over to Syria on land. Indian war ships agreed to ferry them back to Sri Lanka along with their 12,000 work force. No decision taken yet on the fate of the 600 Indians who are part of the UN peace keepers. Thee is no peace to keep as Israel which supply arms to other notorious governments plan to invade Lebanon. Civilians pay the price for the aggresson of a tiny country with modern weapons. |
BABA
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20 Jul 2006 16:11:43 GMT Report for Abuse
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| India is always Srilanka's friend when ever Srilanka is in trouble.This is a big pain to LTTE.Apologies cannot eraise crimes.Recent train atacks remind India how Srilankans feel about themselves , |
Rick
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20 Jul 2006 16:13:24 GMT Report for Abuse
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Ruwani
Nations help out nation you savage. Yes we know that in your jungle humanity is a rare commodity but in the civilized world such things do happen. Btw, how many people have you chopped today?
What kind of civilization you are talking about? Only a few weeks ago, your fellow in this forum was proud enough to mention it was Premadasa's single order that led India's shameful exit from Sri Lanka in 88, the same country who came to save you. Now you guys are talking about Nation helps other nation. You talk and do this kind of things only when it suits you.
GOSL has been killing thousand Tamils in Sri Lanka and expect Tamil tax payers money in India to save you. Well I do not have a problem with that because I truly feel these poor citizens should be safe guarded. But you guys then need to ensure you do not utter racists statements in this humanitarian issue.
Edited By - Rick - 20 Jul 2006 16:18:24 GMT |
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