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(c) UK/Malaysia Air Services Agreement
The Malaysians seem increasingly frustrated by their failure to make progress towards an agreement to increase MAS flights to London. A press campaign
has hinted at punitive action against British commercial interests. Lady Young told Tan Sri Ghazali Shafie on 22 August that we wished to keep discussions at the technical level. Our High Commissioner in Kuala Lumpur repeated this to the Chief Secretary to the Government the following day. The press campaign has died away, at least
for the moment.
22. India:
Internal Developments
On 15 August the State Government in Andhra Pradesh (in South India) was dismissed. Its leader was Mr N T Rama Rao, whose Telugu Desam party beat Congress (I) decisively in the January 1983 elections. His administration enjoyed unquestioned political legitimacy. Its dismissal was a blatant attempt by Mrs Gandhi to seize the political initiative in the State before the approaching General Elections and follows the equally dubious dismissals of the Kashmir and Sikkim. State Governments earlier this year. India's fragmented opposition parties have joined in claiming that democracy is under threat. In Punjab there has been no progress towards a political settlement with the Sikhs. President's rule there has been extended for a further six months; and it is doubtful whether Punjabis will be able to vote in the General Elections. Sikh extremists hijacked an Indian Airlines plane on 24 August but eventually gave themselves up in Dubai.
23. Sri Lanka: Internal Developments
The latest outbreak of violence in Sri Lanka which began on 4 August has subsided. The security forces appear to have contained the Tamil terrorist offensive for the time being. The Government is trying to discipline Sinhala troops responsible for excesses in Tamil areas. The All-Party Conference, which has met intermittently since January in search of a political solution to the Tamil problem, reconvened on 17 August. President Jayewardene's proposal for a Second Chamber with enhanced Tamil representation seems unlikely to satisfy their aspirations. Indian military intervention seems unlikely unless things get dramatically worse, but President Jayewardene remains apprehensive about India's role.
THIS IS A COPY THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR
.......YEARS UNDER FOI EXEMPTION NO....2...)---------
/24. Afghanistan
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