The three –day visit of External Affairs Minister S M Krishna to Naypyitaw and Yangon from June 20 was the first high level contact with Myanmar since the country has seen an official transition to civilian rule. The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) is a party of the generals in civvies, and the Thein Sein government is in a hurry to bridge the development deficit. So it is no surprise that Sein – Krishna talks focused on what India could do to help Myanmar in areas that matter in creating large scale employment close to the villages. India has developed expertise in agriculture and small and medium enterprises that have a direct bearing on rural population. Information Technology, Hydro-electricity and capacity-building are among the other areas that India is extending its help to several countries.
Are these big deals? Frankly, it is difficult to reply in the affirmative. In fact, these deals which are still in embryonic stage are small change when compared to the big contracts China has bagged even before the government in Nay Pyi Taw made its sartorial change.
Krishna signed a MOU with Vice President Tin Aung Myint Oo for setting up an industrial training centre. It will come up at Myingyan in central Myanmar. He used the occasion to handover documents relating to 500-ton Food Security Shelter India has built and cash donation for the March 2011 earthquake victims in Tarlay in eastern Myanmar.
It will be patently unfair to compare what India and China are doing or plan to do in Myanmar. China’s forays into Myanmar are a part of its quest to secure its energy interests, and towards that end ensuring peace in the restive border belt. India’s engagement with Myanmar is a part of its Look East Policy. Its mission was and is not unidirectional. It is there to share its expertise and help a friendly neighbour to grow out of the shadows of darkness. If the enterprise offers dividends well it is a bonus but it is not the unvarnished goal post.
Against this backdrop, the present level of engagement which ranges from road works to drilling for oil exploration is impressive. The Rhi-Tiddim will connect Manipur state directly to Tiddim in Chin state of Myanmar for border trade. Both sides have reason to be happy at the progress made on the Kaladan multi-modal transport project, work on which started after several hiccups in December 2010. It has now reached the construction stage. Now on the drawing board is a trilateral highway to Thailand.
India and Myanmar have security cooperation to mutual advantage. India’s four north-eastern states share rugged mountainous border with Myanmar. During Krishna’s discussions with President Thein Sein and foreign minister U Wunna Maung Lwin, Myanmar gave ‘firm assurances’ that its territory would not used for anti-India activities. The discussions also covered issues relating to connectivity and people-to-people contacts and parliamentary exchanges.
The point to be noted is India’s engagement with Myanmar continues strongly, despite western leaders, including US President Barrack Obama, openly criticising the relationship during his address to Indian parliamentarians.What should guide nations in building bilateral relations is goodwill and mutual trust, and not pre-conditions to improve relations. Sanctions as a tool to force change have limited shelf-life.
Small things carry big meaning and give bigger relief to individuals and nations alike. For instance, the name Myanmar. The West persists with the old name, Burma in its official dealings. Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin makes a point when he says ‘Using the correct name of the country shows equality and mutual respect’.
Interestingly, change in government’s complexion in Delhi did not lead to changes in policy towards Myanmar which underscores another facet of India – continuity in the foreign policy which lays emphasis on quiet diplomacy.
Foreign secretary Nirupama Rao, who accompanied Krishna, called on the democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi. India has an abiding interest in her health and work. Suu Kyi was released last Novermber after seven years in detention. There are still some 2000 political prisoners in Myanmar.
