The Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi, India expressed its unwavering support for Myanmar’s transition towards a federal democracy. The message was delivered by Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra who held a Foreign Office Consultation with a Myamarie delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister of Myanmar U Lwin Oo. This comes at a time when anti-junta resistance forces in Myanmar are gaining ground and achieving significant military victories.
In response to these challenges, India has called on Myanmar to restore its federal democracy and has voiced its deep concern over the ongoing conflict.
Foreign Office Consultations (FOC)
The meeting, which was the 20th round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between the two countries, saw a wide range of issues being discussed. These included the situation along the India-Myanmar border, security concerns, trade, commerce, connectivity, and the status of bilateral development projects in Myanmar. The Indian delegation was led by foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra, while deputy foreign minister Lwin Oo headed the Myanmar side.
India’s commitment to supporting people-centric socio-economic developmental projects in Myanmar was also reiterated. This includes projects under the Rakhine State Development Programma and the Border Area Development Programma, aimed at benefiting the people of Myanmar.
Issue of rising Militarism in Myanmar
The meeting took place against the backdrop of several successes by the anti-junta resistance forces. These diverse groups have managed to capture areas around the only two official land border crossing points between India and Myanmar and overrun dozens of military bases.
Myanmar’s activists have urged members of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) grouping to boycott a conference being organized by the junta in Naypyitaw on December 15. Despite the ongoing crisis, India has maintained ties with Myanmar’s military regime, primarily due to concerns about the activities of anti-India militant groups operating across the border. This delicate balance underscores the complexity of the situation and the challenges that lie ahead in the pursuit of peace and democracy.
Myanmar’s civil war gets too close to India’s border for comfort.
The civil unrest in Myanmar, sparked by a military takeover, has sent shockwaves across its border with India. Reports of unauthorized crossings into India’s Manipur State by members of the Kuki-Chin ethnic group from Myanmar have stirred up ethnic tensions, leading to violent clashes and the tragic loss of over 80 lives.
1300 Myanmar refuge.
In the wake of the turmoil in Myanmar, approximately 1300 individuals have sought sanctuary in Kamjong, a district in Manipur, India that shares a border with Myanmar. These individuals, fleeing the violent confrontations between the Myanmar army and rebel groups, have found temporary homes in the villages of Phaikoh, Human Thana, K Ashang Khullen Aze, Namlee, and Wanglee.
Situation On Boarder.
Manipur, sharing a 398-km-long border with Myanmar, has become a refuge for those escaping the conflict. The Assam Rifles are vigilantly monitoring the border to regulate cross-border movement. However, the absence of a proper border fence in Kamjong district poses a challenge in preventing unauthorized crossings.
Problems
The escalating crisis in Myanmar has led to a significant influx of Myanmar nationals into Manipur. Earlier this year, around 718 individuals, including men, women, and children, were reported to have taken shelter in Manipur’s border districts. The state had even contemplated setting up a temporary shelter home to accommodate around 5,000 people, reflecting the scale of the humanitarian crisis. This situation underscores the dire circumstances in Myanmar and the resilience of its people in seeking safety and peace.
This turmoil poses a threat to the stability of the region and could potentially impact India’s economic and security interests in Southeast Asia. India finds itself in a delicate position, grappling with the growing influence of China in Myanmar and managing security concerns along its extensive 1,700-km border with Myanmar.
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