Assam chief minister for reopening Stilwell Road

Narinjara News: 17 November, 2006

The chief minister of Assam Mr. Tarun Gogoi is keen on reopening the historic Stilwell Road for revival of trade links between Northeast India and South East Asian countries. He emphasized on the need for connectivity between the Northeast and South East Asian nations including Burma at a meeting New Delhi on Wednesday.

He was addressing the 53rd meeting of the North Eastern Council in New Delhi on November 15.

"To boost industrial growth in Northeast and to make it sustainable, we must look to South East Asian markets which have tremendous potential," Mr. Gogoi said. The NEC meeting, which was chaired by the Indian Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar, was also attended by other chief ministers and governors of northeastern states.

The Stilwell Road, starting in Ledo in Assam snakes through the Pangsau pass in Burma and reaches Kunming in the Yunnan province of South China. It is being viewed as a means to boost trade between India and South East Asian countries. The 1,726-kilometre road, which was initially known as Ledo Road, was later renamed after the American General Joseph Warren Stilwell (March 19, 1883-October 12, 1946).

During World War II, when Japan occupied Burma and invaded China, the situation compelled British soldiers to retreat to Assam. Meanwhile, the Japanese blocked road communication to China. Following the urgent need to maintain supplies to Chinese Nationalist Forces, the road was built by the Allied and Chinese forces under the command of US Army General Joseph Stilwell.

The major portion of the road is in Burma (1,033 km) with 632 km in China and a small stretch in India (61 km). Unfortunately, the stretch of road in Burma has not been maintained and in many places the road disappears. Mr Gogoi, while talking to scribes in Guwahati a few days ago voiced the need for reopening the ancient road. He felt that the Union government in New Delhi should take up the matter with the government of Burma for necessary steps for restoration of the road.

In fact, it was the Kunming Initiative that inspired Northeast India to raise the issue of reopening of the trade route. In August 1999, China, India, Burma and Bangladesh authorities met in China's Yunnan province and approved an agreement. Known as the Kunming Initiative, it decided to improve communications between India's Northeast and South-Western China. The possibilities of developing rail, water and air links among the participating countries were discussed and specific emphasis was laid to revive the old Southern Silk Route.

However, New Delhi is still treading slowly. The central government is apprehensive that reopening the road would pose a security threat to Northeast India as the road would connect the Kachin province of Burma , which is infamous for its armed groups that nurture many Northeast Indian insurgent outfits. The jungles on both sides of the Stilwell Road (primarily inside Burma) are still hideouts for many armed groups from the Northeast. It is feared that the road would provide easier passage to the insurgents groups. Moreover, it might also increase the volume of illegal drugs that comes to India from the Golden Triangle.