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Ties with Myanmar




Letter to Editor
The Hindu, Saturday, April 27, 1996.
 
"Ties with Myanmar"
 
Sir,
 
This is with reference to Mr. V. Jayanth's article "Ties with 
Myanmar" (The Hind, March 1996). The rational for justifying the 
proposed Indian trade with SLORC military regime is one which 
has been severely criticized by the pro-democracy movement in 
Myanmar. Though the article claims that it is possible for Indian 
traders "without mixing politics with business" to "establish 
strategically important (development) relationship for the benefit of 
both people" of Indian and Myanmar, such a view is criticized by 
pro-democracy campaigner, Tun Myint. He says that those who 
believe money making business has nothing to do with politics of 
Myanmar are giving an excuse to themselves.
 
It has been suggested that too much time has been lost already an 
India can engage itself "constructively" without offending the pro-
democracy movement, which will not oppose the benefits that the 
people of Myanmar may get out of such ties. But the pro-democracy 
leader, Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition has been (essentially 
only) to "showpiece" projects like hotels and office complexes. She 
recently reiterated that business and other organizations which 
considered trading with the SLORC regime were clearly "taking 
sides against democracy". She also stated that the policy of 
"constructive engagement " with the military regime is "flawed" 
because it concentrates on current economic prospects at the expense 
of political change. The p-democracy movement is actively opposed 
to "constructive engagement", to the point of calling for "sanctions" 
and boycott" of those firms. Lobbying initiatives by the Myanmar 
pro-democracy groups in the United States, Japan, Europe and 
South East Asia seek to enforce tough sanctions legislation against 
business outlets seeking to trade with the SLORC junta.
 
Desmond Fernandes, London
Camp: Bangalore