India’s Policy: No Aid to Transitions in Burma

Mizzima News

March 23, 2005

With its "wait and see" policy and its duplicitous approach, it is doubtful that India will act in the political transition of Burma.

By dealing with the current military regime of Burma and rhetorically supporting the Burmese democracy movement, India has been playing a 'double game' with Burma said Renaud Egreteau, a French researcher on International Relations, in a seminar held on "Burma's political transitions and its implications for India," on March 21.

Speaking to an audience of senior diplomats and intellectuals at the Indian International Centre in New Delhi, Renaud discussed changes in India's Burma policy.

"Insurgencies in India's North-eastern region, the China factor and inclusion of Burma into India's "Look east" policy are the three factors that shape India's New Burma policy," explained Renaud.

The Indian embassy in Rangoon was one of the first to support the Burmese democracy movement, which emerged in 1988 with a student-led general uprising. Since then India had isolated the country and frozen all bilateral relations. However, India took a major turn in its Burma policy in 1993 with a discreet and unprecedented visit to Rangoon by the then Secretary of Foreign Affairs Mr J.N. Dixit.

Renaud further explained that fear of loosing a foothold in Burma while the Chinese are infiltrating the country made India unwilling to continue waiting for the restoration of democracy in Burma.

Moreover, as a strategic in location, India sees Burma as a gateway for closer cooperation with Southeast Asian countries. Additionally, India also wants the Burmese junta's help in containing the insurgency issue of the Northeastern region.

A social science scholar, Renaud Egreteau is based in Bangkok, Thailand, and is currently working on issues of Burma in India's Chinese policy and published a book titled "Wooing the Generals – India's New Burma Policy" in 2003.

Meanwhile, on March 23 External Affairs Minister, K. Natwar Singh, will begin a four-day visit to Burma to further strengthen bilateral relations.

Singh is expected to hold extensive discussions with his counterpart, U Nyan Win, on bilateral, regional and global issues and will also call on Senior General Than Shwe and Prime Minister Soe Win.

India has extended a seven million dollar line of credit (LoC) for two telecom projects and also announced a grant of three million dollars for implementation of IT-related projects in Burma.