A little-known issue that is rarely spoken of in public, but is invariably raised during India-Myanmar official discussions is about the status of the large number of Persons of Indian Origin living in Myanmar. Shubha Singh reports.
Leaders of only a few Asian countries have visited Myanmar in the new era. Notably, China is not among them. Dr Manmohan Singh's visit, the first by a prime minister since 1987, is imbued with larger regional significance, says Rajiv Bhatia.
Over 600,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled Myanmar's violence hit Rakhine state to neighbouring Bangladesh since August when the military intensified crackdown against alleged militant outfits of Rohingya Muslims.
The leader of Myanmar's National League for Democracy Aung San Suu Kyi was sworn in to Myanmar's parliament on Wednesday. Suu Kyi's has been an advocate of democracy in Myanmar and was elected as a parliamentarian.
Differences among the Association of South-East Asian Nations came to the fore on Tuesday night when 10 heads of governments aborted a briefing by United Nations Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari on the Myanmar situation after Prime Minister Gen Thein Sein strongly opposed the move.
The Government of India is in constant touch with its counterpart in Myanmar for opening a trade route to link the land locked North-East Indian states to markets in ASEAN countries, through Myanmar. The Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), R S Gujral, had disclosed that discussion with the Myanmar government was on regarding opening of the trade route through that country. He hoped that it would come through for the benefit of exporters from the landlocked North East.
Amid growing world pressure on India over Myanmar issue, United Nations special envoy Ibrahim Gambari on Monday met Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon who emphasized that New Delhi favoured democracy in the neighbouring country, but opposed coercion.
Although Suu Kyi has won an overwhelming victory, it is not going to be easy to translate this victory into political gains.
A number of secret nuclear and missile sites are being built with the help of North Korean technicians in Myanmar. A Myanmar officer quoted in a cable from the United States embassy said he had witnessed North Korean technicians helping construct an underground facility in foothills located more than 480 km north-west of Rangoon."The North Koreans, aided by Myanmar workers, are constructing a concrete-reinforced underground facility.
Musharraf said, "After 50 years you are trying to whip up anti-Pakistan feelings in Bangladesh... is this a very peaceful attitude...without any whatsoever rhyme or reason."
When the internal security situation spirals out of the control of the provincial law and order machinery, the CAPFs can be called in, providing a security buffer before the Army is deployed.
In all, 61 companies have been pre-qualified to bid for 11 shallow water and 19 deepwater blocks in an international tender, according to Myanmar's Energy Ministry.
India on Monday raised with Myanmar the incident of bomb blasts in holy town of Bodh Gaya in the backdrop of reports that the attack was a reaction of alleged violence against Muslims in that country.
Bharti Airtel has bid for telecom licence in Myanmar as India's biggest private telecom company looks to expand its overseas operations.
Graphic visuals of violence and the distressing conditions in which the displaced people are living have further inflamed public opinion in some countries, reports Shubha Singh.
'These are just to deflect from the leaked audio tapes of the chief minister which prove his culpability in the ethnic violence against the Kukis that has gripped the state for more than 17 months.'
The Rohingyas were illegal immigrants and not refugees who had applied for asylum in India, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday.
Doval, who is said to have been closely involved in planning Tuesday's operation along the India-Myanmar border, will undertake the visit
The security forces had launched the operation following specific input about the presence of NSCN-K rebels near Votnu village in the district.
After participating in the BRICS-BIMSTEC Outreach Summit in Goa, Myanmarese leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi arrived in Delhi for an official three-day trip to India.
How can a film that has a character declare that secularism is an illness be taken seriously, asks Deepa Gahlot.
Young men attend a punk show during the water festival at a music bar in Yangon. Myanmar celebrates the New Year Water Festival of Thingyan during the month of Tagu, which usually falls around mid-April
Seeking to elevate India's ties with resource-rich Myanmar, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived in Myanmar on Sunday on a historic visit during which the two sides will chart out a roadmap and take initiatives to bolster relations in several areas, including energy, trade and connectivity.
Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-K leader S S Khaplang, whose outfit carried out the June 4 attack on the Army in Manipur, is believed to be ill and convalescing in a Yangon hospital.
We hope that the government of India will convey to Than Shwe during his visit concerns shared by the international community, said State Department spokesman Richard Boucher.
The Moreh gate in Manipur at Myanmar border was sealed Monday after two persons were killed and four injured in twin blasts in Namphalong, Myanmar, Sunday.
The Myanmar govt has declared that it would go to the extent of scrapping its ceasefire with National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang if the underground group is found to be misusing its ceasefire agreement and allowing other Indian insurgent groups to stay in its designated 'Naga zone' in Myanmar which enjoys benefits of ceasefire including permission to move freely with no fear of arrest.
Airtel already offers services in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and 17 African countries apart from India.
Describing India and Myanmar as "natural partners", Prime Minister Manmohan Singh tonight suggested using the huge untapped potential of the economic relationship between the two countries for mutual benefit.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday held talks with Myanmar President Thein Sein as India suggested the two countries should work out a joint strategy to tackle terrorism and insurgency along their border and enhance security cooperation.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Tuesday
Marking a historic trip to Myanmar, a senior United States lawmaker on Saturday met pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi as well as the country's military ruler Than Shew and secured the release of an American, who had been jailed for secretly visiting the residence of the detained leader. Democrat Senator Jim Webb became the first senior US official to meet the reclusive Myanmar general in the capital Naypyidaw.
India is not "rethinking" supporting investments from China, said Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday, referring to a proposal made in the Economic Survey 2024. The survey by India's chief economic advisor last week said India had two "choices" to benefit from the so-called China plus one strategy, either by integrating into that country's supply chain or by promoting foreign direct investment (FDI). "Chief economic advisor's report speaks about new ideas and gives out their own thinking. It is not at all binding on the government and there is no rethinking to support Chinese investments in the country," Goyal told reporters in Delhi.
Accusing the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon of "failing" to release the Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and political prisoners in Myanmar, a rights group has dubbed his recent trip a "complete failure."
Hosts Mumbai City FC suffered their third defeat in a row after going down 0-2 to North East United FC in a lop-sided Indian Super League game, in Mumbai, on Wednesday.
