By: Nava Thakuria

Surrounded by Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet (China), Burma (also known as Myanmar) and Bangladesh, the region's land connectivity with mainland India is achieved through only three per cent of the boundary line.

The union government has drafted many plans and proposals to transform the region into a business hub in South and Southeast Asia. New Delhi's 'Look East' policy is meant for the economic benefit of the indigenous people of the region. The multi-million dollar Kaladan project, which is designed to develop the Sittwe port in the Arakan coast of western Burma and connect it with Mizoram, is a high agenda for the government. Moreover, the Indo-Burma gas pipeline, though in cold storage presently, was projected as a big opportunity for the Northeast (particularly after Bangladesh showed reluctance in allowing the pipeline to pass through its territory).

Things went well for New Delhi until the sudden uprising in adjoining Burma. While New Delhi invited critical comments from international communities including the UN and EU for its junta (Burmese) - appeasing policy, the real challenge has surfaced from the alienated region, where public meetings, rallies and other initiatives have received support, condemning the military rulers of Burma and visibly supporting the pro-democracy icon, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

In a recent conference in Manipur, a Burma-bordering State in the Northeast, it was unanimously decided to extend support to the people of Burma in their struggle for democracy. Organised by the Naga Peoples' Movement for Human Rights at Ukhrul, the conference, which was attended by different social organisations, representatives of Churches, NGOs and institutions also called upon the Burmese junta to resolve the long pending issues in a democratic and peaceful way.

Earlier the State witnessed a solidarity meeting, which strongly urged New Delhi to withdraw all kinds of its engagement with the junta. Attended by a hundred participants including prominent legislators, political activists, human rights activists, peace activists and others, the meeting resolved to convey its unconditional support to the pro-democracy movement in Burma.

Earlier, thousands Christians in Manipur joined in a prayer campaign for freedom and democracy in Burma. Organised by the Myanmar Christian Fellowships, which is comprised of Burmese Christians in exile too, they expressed solidarity with Suu Kyi and prayed to the almighty for the release of all political prisoners including the great lady.

Similarly, civil society groups of Meghalaya, Nagaland and Assam observed a 'global day of action' for a free Burma with different activities. The simultaneous demonstration in these states highlighted the common concern for the agitating monks and peaceful protestors of Burma, who were brutally suppressed by the Burmese regime. Nearly 20,000 people assembled at Mawphlang, near Shillong and urged the centre to intervene in the Burmese crisis and apply diplomatic pressure on the junta for initiating a dialogue with the democratic forces.

In Nagaland, another Burma-bordering State, indigenous people held a rally demanding tougher action against the Burmese group of Generals and sought immediate intervention by the UN in the prolonged Burmese crisis. Organised by influential civil society groups like Naga Hoho, Naga Students' Federation, Naga People's Movement for Human Rights, Nagaland Baptist Church Council and others, the rally showcased placards reading 'Stop Crackdown on Peaceful Demonstrators', 'Free Burmese people from the Junta', 'Do not repeat the 1988 Massacre'.

Likewise in Assam, hundreds participated in a Candle Light Vigil to express solidarity with the struggling Burmese people. Organised by the North East Peoples' Initiative, the programme attracted hundreds to spread the message of support to the Nobel Laureate-lady, who has been under arrest for the last four years in Rangoon. Guwahati earlier witnessed a citizens' meeting, which urged the central government to create diplomatic pressure on the Burmese junta to refrain from repressive measures against those carrying on the democracy movement'. Organised by the Journalists' Forum, Assam, the meeting also resolved to call upon the government 'not to remain silent on the happenings in the neighbouring country and do the needful within its powers to facilitate a peaceful transition to democracy'.

India, which supported the pro-democracy movement in Burma till the early nineties, is concerned over growing Chinese influence in that country. New Delhi later changed its Burma policy and decided to engage the junta in greater economic cooperation. Another major concern for New Delhi is insurgency in the Northeast. Armed groups are using the jungles of northern Burma for their training camps. India's argument is it cannot ignore the junta since it is supporting its efforts in dealing with the insurgents along the 1,600-km porous Indo-Burma border.

But the ground reality is that public resentment against New Delhi in the Northeast is usually high. The indigenous people here strongly believe that the Union government exploits the region keeping an eye on oil, coal, tea and forest resources of the region, but always turns a deaf ear to the perennial problems of the Northeastern states.

It will be a challenge for New Delhi to deal with the public resentment that is growing in its alienated Northeast region.

Nava Thakuria is an independent journalist based in Guwahati, Northeast India, whose main interest is in socio-political developments of Northeast India and neighbouring Bhutan, Burma and Bangladesh.