Is Myanmar Shipping Away From India? ASEAN Issue

Table of Contents

ABOUT ASEAN

10 Members

OBJECTIVE

To promote regional stability, economic growth, social progress, cultural development, active collaboration in greater utilisation of resources, also promote Southeast Asian studies and cooperation in regional as well as international issues.

A brief History of Myanmar

When British imperialists annexed what is today’s Myanmar during the 19th century, they called it Burma after the dominant Burman (Bamar) ethnic group, and administered it as a province of colonial India.

When British imperialists annexed what is today’s Myanmar during the 19th century, they called it Burma after the dominant Burman (Bamar) ethnic group, and administered it as a province of colonial India.
Even after the country became independent in 1948,it retained the same name, becoming the ‘Union of Burma’.
In 1962, the military took over from a civilian government for the first time, and amended the official name in 1974 to the ‘Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma’.
Then in 1988, Myanmar’s armed forces again took power in the country, after suppressing a popular uprising that led to the deaths of thousands, and reversed the official name to ‘Union of Burma’.
The Myanmar military grabbed power in a coup last year– the third time in the nation’s historysince its independence from British rule in 1948.
Elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi was jailed followed by mass protest and killings

Flaws in Constitution

Military drafted the 2008 Constitution, and put it to a questionable referendum in April that year.
The Constitution was the military’s “roadmap to democracy”, which it had been forced to adopt under increasing pressure from the west.
Under its provisions, the military reserves for itself 25 % of seats in both Houses of Parliament, to which it appoints serving military officials.
Also, a political party which is a proxy for the military contests elections.

International reaction to the coup

The United Nations has warned of a deepening humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, with “an intensification of violence and a rapid rise in poverty”.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has accused the security forces of a “reign of terror”.
The US, UK and European Union have imposed sanctions on military officials.
China blocked a UN Security Council statement condemning the coup, but has backed calls for a return to democratic norms.

India’s demands

Myanmar’s return to democracy at the earliest.
Release of detainees and prisoners.
Resolution of issues through dialogue.
Complete cessation of all violence.

RECENT SCENARIO

With ongoing political turmoil in Myanmar and international pressure over Myanmar military junta regime, India is not in favour of inviting Myanmar Foreign Minister to the India-ASEAN Foreign Minister’s meetinghosted by the External Affairs Minister.
India has decided follow the consensus of ASEAN countries,to invite only a “non-political”, “non-military” representative to the ASEAN Foreign Ministers and US-ASEAN meetings.

India is supporting ASEAN initiative on Myanmar and the ‘Five-Point Consensus’ :-

Immediate cessation of violence.
Dialogue among all stakeholders in Myanmar for a peaceful solution.
The appointment of a special Asean envoy to facilitate mediation.
Aid to Myanmar.
A visit to the country by the envoy.

Though the “Five Point Consensus” presented to General Min Aung Hlaing at ASEAN’s Jakarta Summit in 2021 also failed to stabilize the country.

IS INDIA MYANMAR BARRING FROM ASEAN MEETING UNDER US’ INFLUENCE ?

India shares long land and maritime borders with Myanmar, & also sees the country as a strategic corridor to Southeast Asia.
Yet, as the host of the June 16-17 “ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting”, New Delhi is giving Myanmar the cold shoulder.

Double Standards

India will host the foreign minister of Thailand, where the army chief who staged a coup in 2014 remains in power in civilian garb, but not Myanmar’s foreign minister after the military there seized power 16 months ago.
The military has long dominated politics in Myanmar and Thailand
But Washington, while seeking to isolate and squeeze Myanmar, has deepened cooperation with the Thai government, despite its crackdown on pro-democracy protests.

Suspicious Promotion of Non democratic Governments by US

The 10 ASEAN nations have traditionally favored a policy of engagement and noninterference, which explained the presence of Myanmar military chief Min Aung Hlaing at its April 2021 leaders’ meeting in Jakarta that emphasized “the ASEAN family.”
But the irony is In the name of promoting democratic rights, U.S. President Joe Biden’s Myanmar policy has sought to win the cooperation of ASEAN, most of whose member states are under authoritarian rule.

Brunei- an absolutist monarchy
Vietnam and Laos – Communist ruled
Singapore – governed by only one party since independence
Cambodia – the ruling party holds all the parliamentary seats.

Indeed, Bidean invited only three ASEAN states — Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia — to his democracy summit last December, while at his recent special summit with ASEAN leaders, Myanmar was represented by an empty chair.
Similar by India for this year’s Delhi Meeting , stated by Economic Times

Bigger Paradox

India’s security over the years has come under pressure from specious U.S. distinctions between “good” and “bad” terrorists and “good” and “bad” autocrats.

Despite Pakistan‘s politically dominant military maintaining a close nexus with terrorist groups, Washington still retains that state as a “major non-NATO ally,” a special status conferred on 17 other countries but not India.

Sanctions affecting Neighbourhood

Biden’s sanctions against Myanmar affect that country’s neighbors in the same way the U.S., would be affected if it sought to punish and isolate Mexico.
Still, without consulting Myanmar’s neighbors that face an influx of refugees, Biden has stepped up his sanctions against Myanmar, while he eases sanctions on Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.
India’s yielding to U.S. pressure has already affected it’s relationship with Iran.
The U.S. used its Iran sanctions to deprive India of cheaper oil and turn it into the one amongst world’s largest importer of American energy

This development has allowed India’s rival, China, to become Iran’s almost exclusive buyer of oil at a heavy discount, as well as becoming top security partner and investor.

Importance of Myanmar for India

1) China’s Interest

China attempts to use Naypyidaw to enter India’s sphere of influence in the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean & also spread insurgency in North –east Indian states.
Ever since the coup, China’s economic grip over Myanmar has become tighter with a special focus on projects critical for the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor.

2) Various Projects

As part of India’sSAGAR Vision, India developed the Sittwe port in Myanmar’s Rakhine state
The port is meant to be India’s answer to the Chinese-fronted Kyaukpyu port,which is intended to cement China’s geostrategic footprint in Rakhine.

Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMMTTP), connects North East India with Kolkata through the Sittwe Port of Myanmar via the Bay of Bengal and is nearing completion in Mizoram.

It is also constructing the 1,360-km long India-Myanmar-Thailand highway – both necessary to contain China in its sphere of influence.

3) Act East Policy

Myanmar is the only country that sits at the intersection of India’s “Neighborhood First” policyand its “Act East” policy.

3) Rohingya Muslims

4) Immigration

Illegal Immigration needs check

The 1643-km-long Indo-Myanmar border, which facilitates cross-border movement of militants, illegal arms and drugs, is extremely porous.
The border runs along hilly and inhospitable terrain and provides cover to the activities of various Indian Insurgent Groups (IIGs).

5) Tourism

India’s “Buddhist Circuit”initiative, which seeks to double foreign tourist arrivals by connecting ancient Buddhist heritage sites across different states in India, should resonate with Buddhist-majority Myanmar.

6) Resources

Under US’s influence, India must not let a resource rich nation slip into the hands of China
According to a report by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) and Shashank Mattoo, India should follow ASEAN and Japan’s example of suggesting both sides ‘urging for political reconciliation’.

Q) Which of the following statements is/are correct about Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project?

Myanmar, Bangladesh and India are involved in the project.
The project is being piloted and funded by the Ministry of External Affairs (India).

a.Only 1
b.Only 2
c. Both
d. None
ANSWER: Only 2
Explanation:

The Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project is a project that will connect the eastern Indian seaport of Kolkata with Sittwe seaport in Myanmar by sea.
Then it will link Sittwe seaport to Lashio in Myanmar via Kaladan river boat route.
Lashio will be connected to Mizoram in India by road transport.