Indian forces can enter Myanmar to hunt terrorists

[sathya]

Aizwal: Indian security forces can enter Myanmar to hunt for terrorists after taking due permission from Myanmarese authorities, it was decided in Aizawl on Monday. And to boost their crackdown on Indian separatists hiding in Myanmar, it was also decided that Myanmarese security officials have promised to learn English or Hindi to overcome communication problems.

The decisions to curb trans-border movement of terrorists, arms smuggling and prevent drug trafficking came at a meeting of officers from the Indian home ministry and Myanmar's Chin state.

Both sides agreed to improve border security and share information on cross-border terrorism, a Mizoram home department official said.

The meeting took place in eastern Mizoram's Champhai town on Friday.

The official said: "Myanmar authorities have agreed to allow Indian security forces to enter Myanmar territory along the border after getting permission from the (local) army post commander."

The Indian delegation was led by home ministry's joint secretary S. Singh and the Myanmar officials headed by U. Nay Wing, the army commander of Chin state.

According to Indian officials, several militants from the northeast have taken shelter in Myanmar and Bangladesh and have set up bases and training camps.

"After the Bangladesh crackdown against northeast militants, many Indian guerrillas took shelter in the jungles and hills of Myanmar," a Border Security Force (BSF) official said.

The official said that though Mizoram was the only state in the region free of separatist activities, militants from other states occasionally used its borders for safe passage.

The next meeting of the border liaison officers will be held in Myanmar in April 2011 to review the progress of the joint action.

Mizoram has a 404-km border with Myanmar and a 318-km border with Bangladesh.

Four Indian states - Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram - share the 1,640-km border with Myanmar manned by Assam Rifles. The dense forests in most parts make the border porous and highly vulnerable.

-IANS

 

[Tshering22]

That's a terrific news. Kind of sends the world especially some countries obsessed with bigoted human rights, that we have an independent policy and don't need anyone's prodding in how to follow it. This development will go a long way in eradicating terrorism in my region as my people are getting fed up of till-now GOI's negligence. Burmese junta despite so much pressure by our US-puppy-boy MMS government earlier to "allow democracy" is responding really positively and this is an indication that they want to form a strategic partnership with us and not just remain in China's basket alone.

On the occasion of this cooperation (whenever the future assault against terrorists is launched), I think we should establish and deepen military cooperation with Burma if necessary clandestinely. Since they spend so much on military, I am of the idea to offer them Arjun MBTs (even Mk.1) now itself since their requirements are quite similar to ours and yet not as advanced. Also, non-strategic missiles like Akash and Nag should be encouraged under the condition of anonymity initially.

Such open pacts offer excellent chances for our government to wean Burmese off being excessively dependent on Chinese influence alone--which I assume a lot of Burmese generals would agree in private with. Despite their brutal treatment of Buddhist monks which I highly disapprove and detest, I think it is time to maybe treat them positively enough to let them also breathe free and give a chance to the junta. Maybe the opening up might make them a wee bit softer and more civilized towards their own people as well and in turn result in a benevolent twist of authoritarian ruling, a credit for which India should take.

Chinese see propping up of sanctioned regimes through clandestine military support and hence keeping them in their darkness; we should do the opposite, give them a chance to open up to the world. Then perhaps the junta's frustrations might lighten up by seeing the acceptance of world countries of them and maybe it would have a positive effect. And this is possible since they are not fundamentalist theocrats nor are fanatic communists but sanely religious Burmese people themselves with military power that's all.

 

[civfanatic]

It will be better for us if we just clandestinely overthrow the junta - which has one of the worst records of human abuse in the world - and replace it with a pro-Indian government. After all, the present junta gov is far more pro-Chinese than pro-Indian.

But since the GoI would never even consider such a drastic move (although Antony is reportedly in favor of taking action against the junta), this is the next best thing.

 

[Tshering22]

It will be better for us if we just clandestinely overthrow the junta - which has one of the worst records of human abuse in the world - and replace it with a pro-Indian government. After all, the present junta gov is far more pro-Chinese than pro-Indian.

But since the GoI would never even consider such a drastic move (although Antony is reportedly in favor of taking action against the junta), this is the next best thing.

And since when and why the hell would we start caring for the bigoted human rights around the world and be their puppy boys? The same bigots allege Indian forces of atrocities on "poor Kashmiris" as if Kashmir is a separate nation; these same losers allege Israel of "abuse of innnocent palestinians" when Israeli Arabs have the best standard of living in the middle east. Whereas thousands are being massacred by Islamist factions in Somalia, Sudan and Ethiopia everyday, raped in mass and stoned to death by barbaric factions and all this is conveniently ignored by these rights bigots.

Junta is only sticking to China because it is natural for them to do so; the whole world backed by corporatist USA is obsessed with putting them under their boot. So naturally the junta would go where they find a soft refuge and China is just doing that taking advantage of "don't listen to them democracy 'US puppets' " propaganda. WE need to undo that and make the truth come out that all aren't US puppets and some even want Burma to open up to the world and become like another prospering Thailand. Remember that Burma has a huge border with us and getting them off Chinese bandwagon to ensure that China doesn't have a 100% loyal servant will be a very smart approach by GOI even if we don't earn 100% Burmese allegiance and only their neutral friendship.

This "Change of regimes" is the biggest mistake USA, China and Soviet Union have played in the past which has only generated hatred in the long run and unfortunately filling these developing countries' people with enough hatred to initially making them support any tom **** and harry "anti superpower" regime and reduce themselves into a rogue state. Attempting to change the Burmese regime that too when we have such a weakling, coward, corrupt and disloyal government in the center would be the biggest blunder we can do in the field of diplomacy. Instead, we should use the sam approach that we use in African countries to enter and influence the Burmese people and Burmese nation as a whole: use private firms to tie up with their nationalized industries and use cost effective techniques to provide better services to Burmese people. Roads, businesses, railways, airways, IT sector, etc.

This will work even under an authoritarian regime; because it has a 2 fold effect:

- By allowing a country to enter their country and do good, the junta will gradually gain a bit more positive image of its people; something that junta would welcome;

- Even in the event of a future political turmoil should the junta be overthrown later and replaced with US-puppet style democracy, both the people of Burma as well as the Burmese military will have a positive attitude still towards India since we "didn't meddle in their internal affairs and kept our side of bargain".

You see the advantage of using the "Approach Africa" approach here?

This is what I am talking about. Compared to Western companies, our companies are much more cost effective (though not as much as Chinese). Despite Chinese dominance, every regime no matter how rogue would prefer to have an alternate basket or 2 to put its eggs into. Countries like DPRK and Pakistan have none other than China; while WE can be that 'alternate basket' for Burma, Laos and Cambodia. Remember that African nations that have more Indian prevalence have a more positive image of us compared to the state-organized ransacking that Chinese state-firms are doing in African mines.

Burma, Laos and Cambodia are also easier to handle since they share the same way of life as we do and culturally it is easier to link up with these countries. The "soft power" image of India which we have generally in Africa won us maximum favour from African countries in terms of reward for non-permanent UNSC seat that we hold today. The same image can be used here. We have 3 countries here who would definitely want to have a non-exploiting and reliable "backup basket" other than China; and we can be that exactly, something which Western firms cannot enjoy. Stepping up cooperation with Southeast starting with Burma and Vietnam is the only way into the future of keeping Dragon in check. Just to ensure that we have their neighbourhood on an equal term to they having ours.

This would only create more harmony and an untold clout of India which is not aggressive and at the same time favours our country yet retaining all our respect in the eyes of Lao, Burmese and Cambodian people.

 

[Oracle]

Great news! Safe havens of terrorists should be eliminated at whatever cost it takes for the GoI. Tshering - we should not sell MBT or LCAs to Myanmar as they have disputes with Bangladesh, which in recent times has also helped the GoI in nailing the top brass of ULFA. Let diplomacy take it's turn, I'm sure there is some candy for Myanmar in this whole process.

 

[Tshering22]

^^ Bangladesh follows a policy of 'neutrality in friendship' vis-a-vis China with us, Oracle. This is REALPOLITIK. Often our conscience tends to get into the way without realizing the practical irrelevance of it. Ties with Burma aren't exactly a zero sum game and that is something Bnagladesh must be made to understand. We are having ties with either of them which is independent of another. Take the situation of France with us and Pakistan. France still retained excellent ties with both countries while selling both weapons. Bangladesh is selecting Chinese weapons due to their recent fascination in them and it is their choice since it is their money. Burmese are also doing so; but when we step in, we create a variety and a factor of non-100%-dependency to Burmese.

This is reality of today's politics, which Bangladeshis know very well but our fellow Indians don't know. We can offer assistance to Bangladeshis as well but remember that we do have some frictions with them already and so do they with us. Everything has an "on and off" relationship in the world. Our offering of weapons to Burmese won't be a 0-Sum game we can explain to Bangladesh as we are "neutral and independent and seek friendship with all". Get the idea?

This is why we also must make sure that we make ourselves the most coveted prize of the region that other countries should compete with each other to obtain. Chinese are doing that and they are ahead of us right now in it. Meaning that we have to prove ourselves to be "The parallel alternative" in strategic circles of South and Southeast Asia.

 

[Oracle]

GoI should also stress more on border towns like Dimapur, which is a place of smuggling, piracy and is a terrorist corridor.

 

[pmaitra]

^^ Bangladesh follows a policy of 'neutrality in friendship' vis-a-vis China with us, Oracle. This is REALPOLITIK. Often our conscience tends to get into the way without realizing the practical irrelevance of it. Ties with Burma aren't exactly a zero sum game and that is something Bnagladesh must be made to understand. We are having ties with either of them which is independent of another. Take the situation of France with us and Pakistan. France still retained excellent ties with both countries while selling both weapons. Bangladesh is selecting Chinese weapons due to their recent fascination in them and it is their choice since it is their money. Burmese are also doing so; but when we step in, we create a variety and a factor of non-100%-dependency to Burmese.

This is reality of today's politics, which Bangladeshis know very well but our fellow Indians don't know. We can offer assistance to Bangladeshis as well but remember that we do have some frictions with them already and so do they with us. Everything has an "on and off" relationship in the world. Our offering of weapons to Burmese won't be a 0-Sum game we can explain to Bangladesh as we are "neutral and independent and seek friendship with all". Get the idea?

This is why we also must make sure that we make ourselves the most coveted prize of the region that other countries should compete with each other to obtain. Chinese are doing that and they are ahead of us right now in it. Meaning that we have to prove ourselves to be "The parallel alternative" in strategic circles of South and Southeast Asia.

Very well written.

If I may add, Bangladesh follows a policy of 'chaos-and-confusion' which is a consequence of the legendary 'War-of-the-Begums', i.e., the fight between Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia. This is not very atypical of the kind of destructive politics one can see between Buddhadeb Bhattacharya and Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal or between Karunanidhi and Jayalalitha in Tamil Nadu.

When there is Awami League government in Bangladesh, relationship improves drastically and the Bangladeshi Army hunts down terrorists and insurgents wanted by India and hands them over to India. India in turn gifts away trade agreements and aid packages to Bangladesh. However, when Bangladesh Nationalist Party comes to power, things turn less rosy between the two neighbours and Bangladesh tries to cosy up to PRC instead.

This is just my humble observation that I do not believe that this is 'realpolitik' in the correct sense of the word. Maybe that explains the "on and off" [sic] relationship between India and Bangladesh. However, pragmatism has always been part and parcel of most countries' foreign policies. Nonetheless, I agree with most of what you have stated.

 

[pmaitra]

Regarding 'hot-pursuit' being allowed to Indian Forces by Myanmar with due permission, indeed, it is good news. However, one must realise that for this gesture to be fruitful, the permission must not be 'too-late-too-little'. The permission should be given within hours. Also, it is not clear if Indian helicopters can be deployed inside Myanmar for a short period of time. Is there any provision of a permanent 'attaché' of the Myanmar Army staying on the Indian side of, and close to, the Indo-Myanmar frontier so that permissions can be obtained within minutes instead of having to route it through the diplomatic bottlenecks of Delhi and Yangon (Naypyidaw?)?

Moreover, India has to reciprocate by doing things, such as, but not limited to, not raising human rights issues related to the Junta, giving trade concessions, doling out hard cash etc.. Myanmar knows very well that it can squeeze things out of India simply by getting closer to PRC. India needs to do a smart balancing job. We should not be expecting a honeymoon of sorts here.

 

[shuvo@y2k10]

this is indeed a great news for india.we do not need to be obsessed with human rights like western countries who themselves are historically responsible for loot,colonialism,imperialism,mass murder,world wars,holocaust etc.our focus should solely be on our national interest-which demands we maintain a healthy relationship with junta.any attempt to overtrow the junta may backfire on us and give advantage to the chinese.

 

[sandeepdg]

After Bhutan, now Myanmar. This is indeed a great news for our security forces fighting NE terrorist groups. With this initiative, the groups like ULFA are fast running out of safe-havens in India's vicinity. Hope, Bangladesh also learns something from this takes a similar initiative vis-a-vis NE terrorists.

 

[sandeepdg]

I think we should leave the junta to their own business, and don't follow in the US in the role of a global policeman ! Look what it does to their image the world over. It is a sovereign nation, and its up to its people to decide ways to meet the challenges posed by the rule of Myanmar's military junta.