Why should India condemn Burma?

by Mungpi
Tuesday, 21 July 2009 18:50

New Delhi (mizzima) – Amidst the rhetoric of international outcry over the trial against Burma’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, if India, the world’s largest democracy and Burma’s neighbor, remains silent, it comes as no surprise.

India, by remaining silent, is only keeping promises made time and again to Burma's military rulers in exchange for increased business and trade opportunities, security along its porous border and a stronger foothold inside Southeast Asia.

While some critics might say the bilateral relationship between the neighbors, evolving since the early 1990s, has proved a failure, the Indian government believes otherwise, as it has gained access to large natural gas reserves in addition to obtaining rights to mining and the development of a seaport.

Furthermore, since bilateral relations began to thaw, trade has gradually increased, with a goal of one billion dollars in bilateral trade set for next year.

Indo-Burmese bilateral trade, which was earlier below US$ 300 million per year, increased to US$ 901.3 million for fiscal year 2007-08 – with Indian imports from Burma accounting for US$ 727.85 million of the total.

But all this comes at a price, India's silence and relatively uncritical stance about political developments in Burma as well as calculated support for Burma's military rulers in the international arena.

During a visit to Burma in March 2006, former Indian President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam reconfirmed to Burma’s Military Supremo, Senior General Than Shwe, that India would maintain its support for the regime in the international arena, including in the United Nations, International Labor Organization and the UN Human Rights Commission.

In leaked meeting minutes between the two heads-of-state received by Mizzima, Kalam assured Than Shwe that India would not question Burma’s political developments and that India supports the regime’s seven-step roadmap to democracy.

In exchange for India’s promise, Than Shwe assured Kalam that Burma would flush out Indian insurgents from its soil, with the additional benefit of allowing for construction of a road between the Indo-Burmese border town of Tamu and Kalewa.

But Than Shwe also demanded India to further assist in constructing roads connecting the towns of Teddim and Falam with Rih in Chin state, bordering India's state of Mizoram.

The Burmese General said in order to counter insurgents operating along the border, Burma needs the support of India in constructing roads and asked for more heavy vehicles including bull-dozers for construction.

However, despite Than Shwe’s claims, sources along the Indo-Burmese border say Indian insurgents, particularly Manipuri militants, have negotiated with Burmese military officials and are taking cover in Burma's Sagaing Division, with a few high-ranking officials even owning houses.

During the meeting, both heads-of-state agreed to move ahead with bilateral projects, including the development of Sittwe port in Arakan state as part of the Kaladan Multi-model Project and construction of the Htamanti Hydro-project in northwestern Burma’s Sagaing Division – the latter to supply electricity for Indian nickel and copper mining initiatives inside Burma.

Than Shwe, in exchange for India’s promise to support his regime, also assured Kalam that India will get a foothold in the production and import of natural gas from Burma’s offshore gas fields situated off the western Arakan coast.

Than Shwe said though Burma had earlier signed a Memorandum of Understanding with China on the sale of gas, India can still receive a contract too, since Burma has the potential of finding more reserves at other sites.

“As Burma has abundant natural gas reserves, it is in a position to supply both China and India,” Than Shwe told Kalam.

He also asked Indian companies to help in establishing an Information and Communication Technology Park (ICT-Park) near the country’s second largest city of Mandalay.

All of the agreements were followed by the signings of contracts and Memorandums of Understanding between relevant ministries during several rounds of diplomatic exchanges by high-ranking officials from both countries.

In line with India's “Look east policy”, all of the projects will be undertaken on Burmese soil while India will provide the necessary technical and financial assistance.

For the Kaladan Multi-model Project, India has agreed to invest US$ 90 million out of the estimated budget of US$ 100 million, with Burma contributing the remaining US$ 10 million.

But since it was India’s initiative, Kalam during his meeting with Than Shwe agreed to provide the US$ 10 million needed to fulfill Burma's responsibility to the project as a loan at a minimum rate of interest.

The Kaladan project, which will connect India’s northeastern state of Mizoram with Burma’s Sittwe port in Arakan state, will allow India direct access not only to Burma but also to Southeast Asia in general.

All of this is in addition to India and Burma establishing biannual military level meetings to discuss cross border security issues, including matters related to insurgency operations.

With several projects now running, India definitely has its reasons for remaining silent over the ongoing trial against detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and to back-up the junta in any international arena, as the arrangement serves to benefit both countries.