..the visiting US Undersecretary of State Thomas Pickering had told the Indian authorities that the partition of Sri Lanka along ethnic lines would have a ''GALLOPING EFFECT'' on the Indian Union. While in Sri Lanka, as well he had left no doubt as to where the United States' interests lay.
''A STATE OF TAMIL EELAM WILL BE RECOGNISED ONLY ON A PLANET OF THE DEAD WHERE THERE ARE NO FOREIGN POWERS,'' he said.
Thomas Pickering
U.S. Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2000/jun2000/indi-j23.shtml