Head of Myanmar Military Junta General Thanshew’s impending visit to India is being anxiously and enthusiastically awaited by India. General Thanshew, the Military dictator is likely to be accorded a red-carpet welcome by our government. The mineral-rich neighbouring nation promises enormous potential for our country, it is reported. Another neighbouring country, Peoples’ Republic of China is already one of the trusted friends of that nation. Now that with the visit of General Thanshew, both China and India are going to engage in a healthy competition to extract maximum benefits from the mineral-rich country.
As far as India is concerned some other important reasons lie behind in keeping the military ruled country’s leaders in good humour. The cardinal one being Myanmar remains a secret haven of North- East based terrorist organizations especially ULFA’s hard-core terrorists. A bonhomie with Myanmar would help a lot to deport those elements into India who are bent upon wreaking mayhem in the North-East. An improved and robust relationship with Myanmar could provide India with a golden opportunity to nab those militants and bring them to justice.
With Sheikh Hasina, daughter of Founder leader of Bangladesh, Banga Bandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rehman who was ruthlessly assassinated by a section of military personnel in a bloody coup, occupying the saddle who keeps a warm and cordial relationship with India right from the beginning unlike her predecessor Khalida Zia, the first step she had taken was the deportment of India’s most wanted hard-core terrorists who had directed all their activities from the Bangladeshi soil against our nation.
Non-interference in other country’s internal affairs is supposed to be a violation of hitherto observed international norms and principles. India also holds the same view point and our nation is supposed - to be more correct - believed to be, against any nation interfering in our internal affairs. Thus we are made to believe.
Non-interference in a country’s internal matters is not desirable or cannot be allowed. With our hands on our heart can we state before the world that we are free from any interference by any country? Believing it is a kind of befooling ourselves. Back channel interference and intense pressure by a ‘so-called’ super power is widely known across the spectrum. Most often we succumb to the pressure of USA to hold talks with our neighbour and traditional rival Pakistan and discuss issues of concern to both countries. US always wants Pakistan, its ‘all weather friend’ to be kept in good humour to fulfill or materialize their ulterior motives. With such ulterior motives in mind the US rulers knowing fully well Pakistan’s antagonism towards India and its connivance with terrorists by generously funding those elements providing training to them and all logistical support, still continues to pump in billions of US dollars. A nation notorious across the world as ‘epicentre of terrorism’ continues to be nurtured and nourished by the super power.
The self-proclaimed greatest democracy on earth still keeps no qualms in maintaining harmonious relationships with military ruled countries when such relationships suit its interests. Otherwise what reasons it has to point out for keeping a warm relationship with Pakistan while it was under the dictatorship of General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf and other such dictators.
Preaching the greatness and sacredness of democracy and its coveted values frequently and simultaneously sustaining warm friendships with even the ruthless dictators is laughable to say the least.
On learning about General Thanshew’s visit to India this week US reportedly expressed its concerns and took time to advise Indian leaders to insist upon establishing democracy in that country.
USA’s apprehensions have nothing to do with dictatorship prevailing in that country and establishing democracy there and if that was the case why it keeps up friendly ties with a few other dictatorships for protecting its long-term interests in mind.
Same is the case with India, World’s largest democracy. Be it democracy or dictatorship, its own interests occupy the front seat, sermons and platitudes notwithstanding.
Similar is the case with each nation big or small, developed, developing or under-developed, each has its own interests to protect.
America’s concerns in Thanshew’s ensuing visit to India to warm up ties and signing pacts in different fields have to do with some other reasons. China poised to become the most developed country in the not too distant future is already a trusted friend of Myanmar which incidentally is also India’s neighbouring country. Strengthening of ties among East Asian nations are detrimental to USA’s interests, thus they feel and fear. Such a comity of relationships they can’t ever digest keeping in view, their dreams of continuing at the topmost position always.
All said and done, one sad truth persists. Aung-San-Syuuki, the crusader for democracy in Myanmar since decades still languishes in solitary confinement for the last 15 years while a minority runs the country with iron-hand with the Nobel laureates and her Party NLD (National League for Democracy) which enjoys a majority support left in the lurch. With no end to military dictatorship in sight, the Myanmar citizen’s cry, still a cry in the wilderness.
Thinking on personal lines in the present global scenario means in the era of neo-liberalisation – though showing a declining trend now – each person in our daily life looks upon the other one as a tool to achieve his/her selfish motives with no sincerity or love whatsoever in mind. Sort of utilitarian approach is gradually gripping the world. Same is the case with relationships between nations.
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