Burma's Red Carpet for the Indians

March 08, 2006 - The Irrawaddy

As Indian President A P J Abdul Kalam arrived in Rangoon on Wednesday, few observers expected his talks with the ruling generals to include moves towards democracy, human rights or any other of the controversial issues for which Burma is assailed by the international community. It is also doubtful whether the issue of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's prolonged detention will be raised.

Bilateral relations between the two neighbors are becoming warmer these days, with India trying to offset Burma's close links with its other giant neighbor, China, and seeking a new bridge to Southeast Asia , and both countries talking of military cooperation. Significantly, Kalam's visit closely followed Indian Vice Admiral Arun Pradesh's trip to Rangoon in January.

Rangoon laid out the red carpet for the president, with the state-owned press calling him "one of the most distinguished scientists … transforming India into a developed nation by 2020." Evading a political agenda, talks will focus on energy, cooperation in satellite links, trade and generally cementing what New Delhi characterizes as a need to "engage" Burma.

Only last week, at the end of President George Bush's visit to India, a joint India-US press release mentioned a need for a restoration of democracy in Burma, and Suu Kyi's release. But the Burmese regime is not expecting the two issues to crop up during Kalam's current two-day visit.

On Tuesday, Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran told reporters in New Delhi that his government prefers engagement with Burma: "There are very good reasons why India must remain engaged with Myanmar [ Burma.]" In a signal that India is also concerned about Burma's move to democracy, and Suu Kyi, he added that Suu Kyi's "welfare and release would be very hepful in the process of [restoring] democracy."

When Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met his Burmese counterpart Gen Soe Win while both attended the East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur, he reportedly urged the regime to release Suu Kyi. But it appears India has no intention of dictating to the generals, preferring a softly-softly approach, despite its earlier stance of siding with Burma's pro-democracy movement.

Military cooperation between the two countries was first given a boost during Burmese supreme Snr-Gen Than Shwe's visit to India in 2004, when both sides agreed to jointly combat "terrorist activities" in their northern border region. Several Indian insurgency movements operate in this area.

This year, it appears cooperation is shifting to prospects of Burma buying Indian warships and aircraft at "friendly prices," and India also providing military training.

Ironically, while the Burmese generals are putting out the welcome mat for Indian dignitaries, an Asean delegation led by Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar is still having to cool its heels waiting to be allowed to visit fellow member Burma.

The delegation was proposed at Asean's summit in Kuala Lumpur before the East Asia Summit in December. It was tasked with monitoring Burma's progress on it professed path to democracy, and was originally destined to visit Rangoon in January. But the visit has been twice postponed by the Burmese junta's insistence it has been too busy moving the capital north to Pyinmana.

But the generals are not too busy to talk to visitors talking about arms and buying Burmese natural gas.