Democracy or hypocrisy?

Mizzima News

March 9, 2006

Just days after United States president George W. Bush and Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh jointly declared their solidarity with Aung San Suu Kyi, India has launched a bold new attempt to schmooze Burma’s military.

Indian president APJ Abdul Kalam, along with other high-level Indian officials, is in Rangoon relishing the junta’s hospitality. His visit marks the highest-level diplomatic interaction between the two countries in almost two decades.

In the past ten years relations between Burma and India have warmed considerably and India’s ‘Look East’ policy has meant greater trade and cooperation. India’s leaders are obviously worried by the close ties between Burma’s generals and China and have chosen engagement for economic benefit over promoting democracy and human rights.

And if the junta is embracing a visit from the leader of the world’s biggest democracy, they must be sure they have nothing to fear in terms of political pressure.

In fact, India has helped the Burmese military attack and oppress pro-democracy activists on the India-Burma border. Indian authorities have also been accused of killing Arakan rebels and attacking ethnic Chin.

Burma’s generals are clearly convinced that India is about as concerned with democracy in Burma as they are.

Instead of calling for the release of political prisoners in Burma, president Kalam is set to talk about military and strategic cooperation, oil and gas and security.

According to sources, India is also planning to offer Burma the specialist assistance needed to build war ships, train military personnel and sell the generals three nice new naval aircraft at a discounted price.

It is ironic that India promotes itself as a bastion of freedom in Asia but is dealing with Burma in much the same way as long-time rights abusers in China.

At last India has sacrificed her democratic ideals for a slice of western-style hypocrisy.