By Sanjay Kumar
The red carpet welcome India offered Burma’s leader is aimed at countering China’s influence. He’s holding the two to ransom.
For better or worse, countries will often sacrifice their principles at the altar of geopolitics. It’s a fact no more evident lately than with India, which appears to be disregarding the muzzling of democracy in eastern neighbour Burma (Myanmar) to cosy up to the ruling military junta there.
Just a few years ago, India would’ve made an issue out of the illegal detention of popularly elected National League for Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for long stretches over the past 20 years. In early 2008, for example, an Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman confirmed that Burma had been advised that there was now a greater urgency for political reform and that this process ‘had to be broad-based to include all sections of society including Aung San Suu Kyi.’
But just two years later, such pressure appears to have been abandoned as the world’s largest democracy forgets its place and deepens its relationship with the junta.
The dynamics of this new relationship were on full display during the visit of Burmese leader Gen. Than Shwe, who was in India late last month and met with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. During Than Shwe’s visit, the two leaders issued a joint statement and announced a number of deals, including five accords on counter-terrorism co-operation and soft loans from India that included $60 million for a road construction project and about $10 million for machinery purchases.
Such agreements are ostensibly aimed at winning over the regime in a nation that Freedom House found this year to be among the nine least free countries in the world. Indeed, last year the organisation specifically called on India to exert pressure over Suu Kyi’s trial—in which she was accused of breaking the terms of her house arrest—with Executive Director Jennifer Windsor arguing that:
‘As the world's largest democracy and a regional leader, India has an obligation to defend Suu Kyi and at least attempt to influence the actions of Burma’s ruling junta.’
Photo Credit: Foreign & Commonwealth Office
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Indian
Shame actually on you Sanjay (the author) that u allow your pay check to lord over your conscience. When u (a petty individual) can ditch national obligations to satisfy the thirst of your employers, how dare u qstn India (a nation-state) on pursuing what she considers her interest? But for the Indian democracy, u wudnt have been there to read this comment.
harry
India’s democracy is a joke. its a corrupt inefficient bureaucracy. and the reporter can bash China all you like that isnt going to give india any more influence in the region.
Pot calling the kettle black
Umm.. Harry I believed you missed the memo about corruption in China.
As compared to the corruption in China and the shenanigans of the “princelings” the corrupt Indian politicians look like kindergartners trying to steal lollipops. Also, I would not worry about Indian influence in the region. The South China Sea should be what you should be worried about right now.
UMPF
Avinash’s comment is the only sensible comment we notice. India did intervene in helping Bangladesh gaining independence.It was East Pakistan. Having helped Bangladesh achieve independence, India retreated. So in history, India’s intervention was the only noble intervention, not to take over the role of West Pakistan. That is one of the reasons for India-Pakistan conflict. The tragedy of Burma is slave mentality and intellectual poverty on the part of so-called democrats.
Let us inform you. His Royal Highness the Prince Shwebomin The Crown Prince of Burma left Burma as a ttenager,. just, to study in England. he was the very first person, merely a boy, teenager, who went against the BSPP regime of ShuMaung and refused to served in the government. He paid the highest price for defying the military communist/socialist regime of ShuMaung that bankrupted Burma and brought her to her knees. Does anyone know what the so-called Burmese political activists did? First they suppress his existence. Next they tried to assassinate his character. Then they colluded with a lunatic gorup called Monarchist League to malaign Burma’s purest royalty.
As a matter of fact, he is a nephew of Burma’s most revered man Bogyoke(General)AungSan. AungSan’s grandfather, Prince’s great-grandfather, who was a minister int eh Burmese royal court was beheaded by the English.
If anyone really wants to know the truth about Burma, study Burmese history, not written by the English coloniser but by Burmese historians, plus personal knowledge of His Royal Highness Prince Shwebomin.
Contact us: UNITED MYANMAR PATRIOTIC FRONT
myanmarpatriot9@googlemail.com
UMPF
“The red carpet welcome India offered Burma’s leader is aimed at countering China’s influence. He’s holding the two to ransom.”
THIS IS UTTER AND COMPLETE NONSENSE!At a strategy conference in Washington DC, Burma’s Crown Prince in Exile, HRH The Prince Shwebomin was with the Indian military attache. His Royal Highness gave an impromptu lesson in history to many delegates about Burma and world history. India was duped into believing that Mrs. Michael Aris was a Saint.Far from it. ~she usurped her brother AungSanOo.So India realised the truth.We know that HRH commanded Sen.Gen ThanShwe to cement good relations with every neighbouring countries. THAT IS THE POLICY!Sen.Gen Than Shwe was advised to go to Sri lanka too. India has sympathies for Burma because India shared same humiliations by the English coloniser. Also China is sympathetic to Burma for the same reason. Sanjay Kumar fails to see the bigger picture. What is happening in Burma is that SPDC, having supplanted the socialist regime, is trying to get out of the long shadow of colonialism. This is something so-called democracy activists of Burma completely miss out. As for SuuKyi8, she is a traitor through and through. Shameless! She will be told so before long.
Leave BURMA alone!It is up to Burmese people to sort out their own problems. did anyone interfere in India’s struggle for democracy? And who caused the partitioning and the consequences?
Atanu Raha
The Burmese military seems to be nothing less than a terrorist regime. Wish I could understand how people could be so brainless when in power.
Possibly, they have wrong eating habits. After all, we are what we eat. Wonder what they live on. Power, power and more power. As an Indian, I wish I could personally put the military regime down, but then I am no superman.
Chris
Thank you for this article, I fully agree. We cannot sneak away from responsibility when ever it serves our selfishness and at other times expect that the whole world cares about our own problems when we are in trouble. The people of Burma are suffering, and they are fighting hard. I admire them for that, and the world can learn from their courage and firm belief in humanity. Some of us have simply been luckier than others. There is no reason to look down on others only because generations before us have done the work for us. Especially people who in history have shared a similar destiny should support each other. And yes, the question about credibility is well put, and an urgent one, judged from an external perspective. This question needs to be addressed to all countries. There is no rational argument why to exclude India. Who longs for power beyond its borders will have to accept also responsibility beyond its borders. It’s a universal rule.
avinash
We welcome this policy, nothing wrong in following one’s national interest, this is a welcome shift in India’s policy stand.
Democracy will never come to Burma if the people there do not fight for it, India will support them in that case. But India can not set up democracy there, that also amounts to intervention.