Indian navy chief's visit to sell weapons

Text of report by Norway-based Burmese Democratic Voice of Burma website on 21 January

[Newsreader] It has been learned that Chief of Naval Staff of the Indian Navy is currently visiting Burma and discussing weapons sale with the SPDC [State Peace and Development Council] leaders. Indian newspapers have already carried reports about India's plan to sell weapons to the SPDC military junta since last month. DVB [Democratic Voice of Burma] correspondent Khin Maung Soe Minn filed this report.

[Correspondent Khin Maung Soe Minn - recording] Indian newspapers have already carried reports since last month that Admiral Arun Prakash, chief of Naval Staff of the Indian Navy, plans to meet with the SPDC leaders to sell naval sea reconnaissance planes and sea to air missiles. It is also tipped that the Indian Navy might reach an agreement to assist the Burmese Navy build naval vessels. Some Indian dailies assume the junta might show the visiting Indian Chief of Naval Staff the facilities at Cocos Island, which is close to India's Andaman Island, to convince him that there are no Chinese radar and eavesdropping station there. Regarding the matter DVB contacted the Indian Naval Headquarters. Indian navy spokesman Commander Vinay Garg said he could not say anything on that matter. He said the Indian delegation is on a goodwill visit to Burma at the invitation of the Burmese junta. He added that the delegation might hold talks on bilateral cooperation.

Dr Tint Swe, minister of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma who is based in New Delhi, said it would create a very concerned situation if India really decides to sell naval weapons to the Burmese military junta.

[Dr Tint Swe] My first concern is if you look at the history of the military junta, they use weapons against those that oppose them. The second point is when nations that are more advanced than an undeveloped country like Burma attempt to sell either weapons or other technologies they tend to sell only third rate weapons which that country does not need. Simply speaking, India is trying to sell the weapons they do not use anymore to our country. In other words, the money for the weapons will come from the Burmese taxpayers and the sale of the nation's natural resources. My personal concern is buying the weapons is not going to benefit the national economy but rather create a tense atmosphere.

[Khin Maung Soe Minn] While the Chief of Naval Staff of the Indian Navy is visiting Rangoon, it has been learned that two Indian naval vessels - the guided missile destroyer INS Ranjit and the missile corvette INS Kuthar - have docked at Rangoon port. The two Indian naval vessels are expected to join SPDC naval vessels in a joint naval exercise. The Indian navy held a joint naval exercise codenamed "Milan 2006" on 9-14 January involving navies from several nations including the SPDC navy. Furthermore, it was learned that two Indian destroyers went to Burma and joined in a naval exercise on 12 December 2005.