India won't denounce Myanmar poll process
November 09, 2010 20:35 IST
As the Indian government basked in what official sources described as the United States' 'unequivocal endorsement' of India's claims to a permanent seat on the 'high table' at the United Nations Security Council, there would be no quid pro quo from New Delhi in terms of a positional shift on issues like democracy in Myanmar.
India, among the few countries to actively engage with the closed military regime that governs Myanmar, will not join the chorus of western voices condemning or criticising the just concluded 'polling' process in that country, in which the main opposition National League for Democracy led by Nobel Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was barred from contesting.
Instead, sources said, India's position on the military regime in Myanmar and the kind of 'democratic' changes that are being ushered in there, could be considered more in sync with the Association of South East Asian Nations than the western, developed democracies.
"Our approach (to engagement with Myanmar) synchronises with ASEAN," an official said.
US President Barack Obama, in a speech to Parliament on Monday, had said the Indian government 'shied away' from condemning the suppression of democracy and human rights in countries like Myanmar.
Obama had, also in that speech, expressed 'clear political support' for a permanent seat for India in a reformed UNSC and urged India to raise its voice for democracy and human rights of those who could not get their voices heard, like the political opposition in Myanmar, including Suu Kyi, who has been imprisoned in her home in Rangoon (Yangon) for 15 years.
Suu Kyi studied in India and has a host of well wishers in this country.
"We have to deal with Myanmar as an immediate neighbour," an official said.
India shares a border of over 1600 km with Myanmar, along some of its most sensitive north-eastern states, which have lingering anti-Indian_div_1"> insurgent movements functioning.
The military regime in Myanmar has assisted India in its efforts to rein in some of these insurgencies and helped stabilise the situation there by not allowing insurgents safe havens in that country.
"When we look east, the first place we see is Myanmar," an official said.
"It is not on the dark side of the moon," the official said, implying that India did not have the luxury of distance to dictate democratic values to Myanmar.
Also, with China increasing its stakes across Myanmar, India has a major strategic stake in ensuring that it remains engaged with whoever is in power in that country.
India is also developing a range of strategic infrastructure assets in Myanmar including development of the deep water port in Sittwe and building connectivity with South East Asia with road links through Myanmar.
"We can't pretend to be brain dead" while China spreads its influence and develops infrastructure in Myanmar and the region, sources said.
The government has to pragmatically ensure its national interest, sources said.
However, at every opportunity, including when Myanmar's leader General Than Shwe last visited India in August, the Indian government urges the military junta to release Suu Kyi and other political prisoners and move toward genuine democratic reform.
"While we don't need lessons in democracy from anyone, we will be guided by our national interests in the way we conduct our foreign policy," an official said.
Also, sources said, regimes like the one in Myanmar are more responsive to what was called "private persuasion" and not "public condemnation."
According to a former envoy to Myanmar, "Our publicly tom-tomming the issue could further endanger Suu Kyi."
