HVK Archives: Show solidarity to beat sanctions
Show solidarity to beat sanctions - The Times of India
Jay Bhattacharjee
()
May 21, 1998
Title: Show solidarity to beat sanctions
Author: Jay Bhattacharjee
Publication: The Times of India
Date: May 21, 1998
A few years back, a tiny Asian country forced President Clinton
to cut a sorrier-than-usual picture. This was when Singapore
stuck to its guns and turned down Clinton's plea that an American
teenager should not be punished after being convicted for
offences committed there.
The major lesson from this is that the international community,
including the lone superpower, has a flexible and porous moral
fibre. Be it Vietnam in the 0s or Rwanda in the '90s world
public opinion is a mirage at best or more often an opportunity
to settle scores. When the Americans (rightly) criticised the
Anglo-French aggression in Suez, Eisenhower conveniently forgot
American skulduggery in Guatemala in 1954.
Similarly, the brouhaha caused by the recent Indian nuclear tests
need not be cataclysmic if we counter it boldly and
imaginatively. This is not to underplay the seriousness of the
steps taken by the US and its allies like Germany and Japan. But
one should not get too exercised if New Zealand and Australia
become hysterical on an issue which does not affect their vital
national interests. South Block must disregard the hot air from
these quarters.
Liberal Audience
There are fundamental factors which India must keep in mind.
First, the Clinton administration does not represent the entire
spectrum of American opinion; there are many elements in a multi-
layered society like the US which would commiserate with our
predicament. To start with, the American Jewish community will
give us a sympathetic hearing if we were to approach its leaders
with a complete dossier. Coincidentally, on the very day of the
tests, before they were announced, an aide to Prime Minister
Vajpayee was advised by analysts that the Indian government must
cultivate American Jewish opinion to counter the anti-Indian bias
of the Oval office and the Pentagon. Similarly, Afro-American
circles would not be averse to the Indian stand if it is clearly
spelt out to them. Also, there is a large liberal audience which
will empathise with India if only we enunciate the common values
binding us to America's founding principles.
Crossing the Atlantic, the picture improves. The Quai d'Orsy
mandarins are pleased that India has adopted a policy which
France advocated for 32 years, since General de Gaulle made the
nuclear force de frappe a cornerstone of national policy. Beyond
the Rhine, Kohl's regime has been an American poodle for so long
that one cannot expect it to behave better. Yet, all is not lost,
since the re-energised Social Democratic opposition can be
persuaded to look at our case objectively
NRI Remittances
It is further east in Russia, where India can have strong
backing. However, we have to woo everyone in its political
spectrum, ranging from Zhirinovsky's nationalists to the
Communists and Yeltsin's group. One factor that will operate in
our favour is the Russian aversion to overt American pressure and
Clinton may have already started on the wrong foot here.
Nearer home, most countries in East Asia may not oppose us if we
explain to them the logic behind the tests. Dr Mahathir, the
perceptive Malaysian PM, has already made his views on Western
economic colonialism clear, and should be approached immediately
for his active support. Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam live under
the shadow of Beijing and would be happy to see a countervailing
force with no ambitions in their part of the world. Seoul has
often taken anti-Japanese positions and may do so now.
By now it is obvious that the American diktat will not operate in
the World Bank and the IMF. The American camp does not have the
requisite 51 per cent majority here and will find it difficult to
drum up sufficient support. The signals from international
business circles are mixed, with few TNCs taking the extreme step
of cancelling their Indian plans. On the other hand, there are
distinct indications that the Indian diaspora may lend a helping
hand. Apart from bank remittances, the interesting aspect is that
NRIs are also seriously looking at share acquisitions in the
bourses. The government must now expedite the grant of
permissions to NRI applicants for stock market investments.
All this does not mean that combating sanctions will be simple.
Tagore's call of Ekla chalo re can lead to a difficult and lonely
path; surely, that is no reason to allow the Jeremiahs to prevail
and to throw in the towel.
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