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Democracy or Hypocrisy

                                                                                                                                Prof. Kanbawza Win  

Within days of President George W Bush's visit and the joint declaration of India and US where the two countries declare their solidarity for the restoration of democracy and the release of the Burmese people’s leader Daw Aung San Su Kyi, India has embark on a grand effort to the engage the military regime. President APJ Abdul Kalam, accompanied by Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran and other senior officers are now in Rangoon relishing the Burmese food and hospitality. Thus, making it the highest-level contact between India and the Burmese military regime, after almost two decades, why only now? No Indian President has visited Burma since Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited Yangon in 1987.  

            It has been quite sometimes that India has betrayed the historic noble cause for prevalence of democracy and human rights in Burma and has been warming up with the Burmese Junta, in an unprecedented manner as part of its 'Look East' policy. Obviously she was alarmed that Burma has been completely in the embrace of China and is trying to woo back the Generals, who are sorely afraid of the phrase “Democracy and Human Rights.” The Indian leaders knew very well that the Generals have no policy whatever except to stay in power as long as they can. Hence this visit seems to indicate that the Indian leaders have convinced the ruthless generals that they have nothing to fear from democracy or self determination. The India government has proved this by cracking down on the Burmese democracy movement and the ethnic resistance movements in the Indo-Burma border. They have attacked the ethnic Chin (CNF) from the back and killed some of the Arakanese leaders in their custody. What more they have cooperated with the Burmese military intelligence to apprehend the pro democracy movement seeking asylum in the Indo-Burma border. As far as Burma is concerned, the Indian leaders did not have any thought about democracy or human rights. Perhaps the Burmese phrase of Indian mentality has proved to be true. 

            According to sources, India is expected to firm up a string of offers to the Military Junta when President Kalam visits the strategically-located country that has for long been pampered by both China and India. Burma is a critical playground for the growing Sino-Indian competition for spheres of influence in the region. Well founded sources said India would offer specialist assistance to build war ships, training of more military personnel of the Burmese military in Indian institutions, and at least three naval aircraft at "friendly prices" from Indian Navy. Despite recent objections by the British government against Indian Navy's move to gift three Islander aircraft to Burmese regime at "friendly price", sources said, the aircraft would definitely delivered. But if the British-made Islander multi-utility aircraft are gifted to the military junta then the spare parts supply would be snapped under the European Union codes.

            India would be also providing the Burmese navy with expertise in building naval ships in their dockyards. Personnel from India's naval ship building yards would soon be in Rangoon for assisting them. Definitely India would also offer military training for the Burmese men in uniform, by increasing the number of personnel trained in Indian military institutions.  

            It is paradoxical that the Indian leaders felt no guilt or ashamed in their approach to realpolitik vis a vis China even as they opted to be the Asian leader. These military assistance would be among a series of efforts from the Indian side to step up its influence in Burma, which for sometime now been exhibiting an eagerness to move away from the shadows of China. At last India has sacrificed democracy at the altar of hypocrisy. 

Prof. Kanbawza Win (Chiang Mai)

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Comments

Dr. Habib Siddiqui said _

Thet Oo Maung said _

Thanks for Dr.Win, your article showed India betrayed Democracy for its self interest. But, it is surely that India can't compete and prevent China's influence on Burma's affairs. SPDC generals are afraid of China, but not India, because China can threaten and shake up SPDC or Burma. India is always behind China when running political and economic sectors in Burma. India can't hold its stand and maintain its dignity when it gets favor from Mr. Bush and within a few days, it plays shamelessly relating closely with SPDC generals. What is India's role and its foreign policy? India got a big lesson from SPDC generals when the Generals stopped Gas agreement and India lost Billions of Rupees. This showed who is the real Boss of SPDC.

If Mahatma Gandhi see this scene, what will he say?

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