The Hindu : India must review Myanmar policy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 13, 2003

Opinion

Opinion - News Analysis

India must review Myanmar policy

By Soe Myint

In 1988, India was one of the first of Myanmar's neighbours to condemn the military repression against pro-democracy activists during the nation-wide uprising. The Indian Embassy in Yangon encouraged Myanmarese student activists to cross into India, promising shelter and support.

From 1988 to 1990, India followed a policy committed to open support of the forces of democracy and "complete disengagement" with the ruling military junta. The then External Affairs Minister (later Prime Minister), P.V. Narasimha Rao, informed a parliamentary panel in 1989 that "strict instructions" had been given not to turn back any genuine Myanmarese refugees. Strangely enough, it was during the Prime Ministership of Mr. Rao in 1992-93 that India decided to engage with the Myanmarese Generals for "national interests".

Two major factors prompted the Indian policy-makers to review their policy; insurgency problems on the border with Myanmar and the increasing Chinese influence. I disagree with J.N. Dixit, pioneer of India's present engagement policy with the regime adopted following his March 1993 visit to Yangon, when he said in a recent interview that "we should be passionate with our own democracy. We should not take the mission to other countries".

Non-existence of democracy next door is a threat to India's own democracy. This fear is particularly heightened now that the strength of the democratic system is being attacked under the guise of a "war against terrorism".

It is interesting to observe that India has been trying to please the Generals for over eight years, but the results thus far have been negligible. China continues to heavily invest in Myanmar with large amounts of official and unofficial financial and military assistance. India's achievements after all these years of sweet-talking the Generals amounts to the sale of a few mountain guns which Myanmar bought not because it desperately needs India's guns but so that it can tell the world that the world's largest democracy is supporting them.

The Generals are selling the name of India in public and private forums; they claim to have the support of their one billion Indian next-door neighbours.

The Northeast insurgency factor, the Indian military's greatest concern after Kashmir, deserves further scrutiny. After concerted diplomatic efforts, the Generals have announced that they would not allow the Indian insurgents to use Myanmar's soil for anti-India activities. However, it is a known fact that the NSCN-Khaplang and the PLA insurgents have bases and training camps in Myanmar's bordering areas with India. The local commanders are often seen meeting with Indian insurgents. Moreover, India has a huge deficit in trading. So the question without answers remains: why is India so soft with the Generals?

It is encouraging to see that the people of India, particularly the political parties, continue to be supportive towards the democracy movement. Almost all major political parties, including those in the Government and the Opposition, have condemned the latest crackdown by the military junta on the pro-democracy activists and the National League for Democracy that won in the 1990 general elections with a landslide victory.

This is from the Samata Party statement: "While the world was hoping for the early restoration of democratic rule in Myanmar, the military junta has struck another blow against the democratic rights and civil liberties of the Myanmarese people. The Samata Party demands the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi and others who are languishing in jails for their commitment to the restoration of democracy."

The Congress has a similar position. "The Congress is concerned about the whereabouts of Ms. Suu Kyi in Myanmar. Day before yesterday she was injured while campaigning for the restoration of democracy. She is not only a fighter for democracy but also a recipient of the Jawaharlal Nehru Award. The Indian National Congress is concerned about her whereabouts. We urge the authorities in Myanmar to ensure that no harm is done to her person," said the Congress spokesperson, Anand Sharma.

The other major parties such as the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Communist Party of India, the Samajwadi Party and several prominent Indians, including Kuldip Nayar (Member of Parliament) and Nirmala Deshpande, have also called for the immediate release of Ms. Suu Kyi.

So, why has the Indian Government separated itself from the opinions of Indian political leaders and civil society on its Myanmar policy?

The Indian policy-makers definitely need to review their stand on Myanmar and its democracy movement. It is not enough that the Government reacted on the detention of Ms. Suu Kyi with a simple official statement: "We have been watching very closely with concern the recent developments in Myanmar". India needs to do more for the people of Myanmar who have shared decades of friendship with it.

Having a tradition of supporting democracy movements in other parts of the world, the least India could do is to use its influence with the Generals to immediately free the Nobel laureate and the recipient of the 1993 Jawaharlal Nehru Award.

The United Nations special envoy, Razali Ismail, has said that he could do little without the support of regional powers, including India and China. He specifically asked India to be more supportive towards his efforts in bringing national reconciliation and the restoration of democracy in Myanmar. India should carefully heed his request.

(The writer, based in New Delhi, is Editor In-Chief of Mizzima News, an Internet News Service on Myanmar and related issues)

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