India, Myanmar road opened

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The Hindu: India, Myanmar road opened
The Hindustan Times: India-Myanmar road inaugurated
The Hindu: Important milestone says Jaswant
                       India, Myanmar road opened

The Hindu (New Delhi)
February 14, 2001

By Amit Baruah

KALEMYO/ TAMU (MYANMAR), FEB. 13. Often the subject of criticism in its
neighbourhood, New Delhi today showed that its expertise and resources
could be used to promote better relations with the Government and people
of Myanmar.

A Rs. 90-crore ``gift'' to Myanmar in the form of 160-km
Tamu-Kalewa-Kalemyo road was inaugurated by the External Affairs
Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh, in the presence of senior Myanmar
Ministers. Built by the Border Road Organisation over three years, the
project was commissioned and funded entirely by the Ministry of External
Affairs.

Though a small beginning, the road which links the Indian town of Moreh
in Manipur to central Myanmar will soon connect Mandalay, making it
theoretically possible to drive from the north-east to the second
largest city in Myanmar - Mandalay.

That the possibilities of such a road are immense was evident from the
Myanmar Construction Minister, Major-General Saw Tun's message about the
new road.

``This 100 miles stretch of road will become a vital section of the
designated Asian Highway running from Singapore to Istanbul passing
through Myanmar and India,'' the Minister said.

Whether the highway project materialises or not, the message from the
new road link (which is an upgradation of a Second World War road) is
clear - if India is to integrate with Southeast Asia in a meaningful
way, then Myanmar is the path to more trade and more links.

The External Affairs Minister took with him from Moreh, several
Ministers from the north-eastern States, indicating a desire to be
forward-looking in linking a neglected part of India with Myanmar and,
possibly, the rest of Southeast Asia.

For India-Myanmar relations, the road project reflects that the
engagement with the ruling State Peace and Development Council has
fructified into something solid.

The Tamu-Kalewa-Kalemyo road means that ordinary people can travel
around freely, and goods and traffic movement, which used to take days,
can now go through in a matter of hours.

Another aspect of the road is that the response time of Myanmar security
forces to Indian insurgents operating in the area is going to improve by
leaps and bounds.

However, the India-Myanmar Friendship Road, as it is known, will, above
all, win India a lot of goodwill in this part of the world.

The project, itself was conceived way back in March 1993.

The ruling council had pulled out all stops for the inauguration which
took place both at Tamu (on the border with Manipur) and at Kalemyo.
Hundreds of children and residents were at hand to greet Mr. Singh.

Speaking in Kalemyo, the Myanmar Deputy Prime Minister and Military
Affairs Minister, Lt. Gen. Tin Hla, said: ``Today is a red letter day in
the annals of our history. We celebrate not only the opening of a new
road linking our two countries and the handing over of construction
machinery for Monywa-Kalewa road (which will link Mandalay) but also the
strengthening (of) the long-standing bonds of friendship existing
between our two countries.''

Lt. Gen. Tin Hla said Myanmar had benefited from the expertise and
experience of Indian engineers involved with the road project. ``On our
part, we are constructing a road from Monywa to Kalewa to link up with
the new Tamu-Kalay (Kalemyo) road... the new road is bound to bring
about economic development to the border... we firmly believe that the
cooperation between the Government (of) Myanmar and India will benefit
our two peoples.''

===================================================



                     India-Myanmar road inaugurated

The Hindustan Times (New Delhi)
February 14, 2001

Shishir Gupta
(Kalemyo (Myanmar), February 13)

INDO-MYANMAR relations took a quantum jump amidst pomp and pageantry on
Tuesday with the inauguration of the 160-kilometer long
Tamu-Kalemyo-Kalewa road, a vital land bridge linking Imphal with
Yangon.

External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh called the road a visible proof
of India's "strong desire and commitment to develop and diversify its
relations with Myanmar." He said by providing a link from the
Indo-Myanmar border to central Myanmar, this road could promote
exchanges in trade, travel and tourism.

Mr Singh, who described the bilateral relations between the two
countries in glowing terms, perhaps was swayed by the royal treatment
his delegation was given by the Myanmar regime.

Greeting the Minister at the small dusty border town of Tamu were
thousands of people holding flags of the two countries with
schoolchildren dancing and exercising along the road. In fact, virtually
all the population of Tamu, Kalewa and Kalemyo town had come out to
cheer the ministerial cavalcade that drove through some hill sections of
the newly inaugurated road. While older residents were lustily waving
flags, the younger lot performed traditional animal costume dances and
aerobic exercises to peppy beat as delegations of the two countries
passed them by.

The importance Yangon now attaches to its ties with New Delhi was also
evident by the fact that Lt. Gen. Tin Oo, number four in Myanmarese
hierarchy, Major Gen. Soe Win, Commander, North-West Command, Deputy
Prime Minister Tin Hla, Foreign Minister U Win Aung and Maj. Gen. Saw
Tun, Minister of Construction, were present to greet the Indian Foreign
Minister.

The Indian delegation comprised Ministers from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh,
Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram; Border Roads Chief Lt. Gen. A K Puri,
Dimapur Corps Commander Lt. Gen. T S Shergil, Additional Secretaries
from Home and External Affairs Ministry.

While Maj. Gen. Soe Win described the road as a "highway of friendship",
Deputy Prime Minister Tin Hla said the inauguration was a "red letter
day in the annals of our history" and was a monument to "commemorate
mutual cooperation and excellent friendship" between the people of the
two countries.

The road which is the first project of infrastructural cooperation
between the two countries, is of strategic significance as it gives
India connectivity to the commercial markets in south-east Asia. The
1273-kilometer road link between Tamu (just across the Moreh border) and
Yangon would be completed as soon as a bridge is constructed over the
mighty Chindwin river in the Kalemyoo district. In the past decades,
cross-border trade between the two countries flourished through the
southern silk route (linking Szechuan-Myanmar-North-East states) and the
Ledo (Assam)-Myitkyina (Myanmar)-Poshan (China) axis.

By building the Tamu-Kalewa road, the two countries hope to revive
cross-border trade with an aim to develop its neglected border regions.
The idea is to encourage cross-border movement of people and provide
outlets for local produce.

With the Tamu road dedicated to the people of Myanmar, New Delhi hopes
this project will help expediting joint ventures such as the Tamanthi
hydel project on Chindwin and the Kaladan river navigation project.

===================================================

                    Important milestone says Jaswant

The Hindu (New Delhi)
February 14, 2001

By Amit Baruah

MANDALAY (Myanmar), FEB. 13. The External Affairs Minister, Mr. Jaswant
Singh, today said India considered it a "privilege" to be a partner in
the socio-economic development of Myanmar. Speaking at the inauguration
of the Tamu-Kalewa-Kalemyo road, Mr. Singh described it as an "important
milestone" in India-Myanmar relations.

"The (the road) is the first major project in the field of
infrastructure cooperation between our two countries that has been
completed. The significance of this road is its continuation of the
great tradition of social and spiritual linkages between our two
neighbouring countries," he said.

Addressing a large public gathering in Kalemyo, south-east of Mandalay,
Mr. Singh, who rubbed shoulders with the generals in the Myanmar
Government, referred to his career in the Army.

"As a student of these (World War-II) campaigns, brought upon our
countries by others ? and as a soldier myself ? I am today keenly
conscious of the memory of others from afar who made a prize of our
lands and our resources.

Mr. Singh said India and Myanmar shared a long land border,
"historically, these areas have suffered on account of inaccessibility
and inadequate infrastructure. We believe that the development of these
border regions would be faster and more effective if our two countries
joined hands in this endeavour."

"There are several cross-border cooperation projects which could
transform the economies of these regions. The Tamu-Kalemyo-Kalewa road
is the first of its kind. By providing a link from the India border to
central Myanmar, to the cultural and commercial centre of your country,
this road can promote exchanges in trade, travel and tourism, not only
between people living along the border but also in the interior regions
of India and Myanmar. The full potential of the border trading point at
Tamu-Moreh may now be realized as a result of this road. Let us use it
well and to good purpose."

Mir. Singh said since independence, India had been happy to share its
experiences, skills and technology with friendly development countries.
"In more recent years, there has been a rapid expansion in our
political, cultural, scientific and technical exchanges. The visit to
India by Gen. Maung Aye, Vice-Chairman, the State Peace and Development
Council last November was an important landmark in the growth of our
understanding. Today, the Tamu-Kalemyo-Kalewa road also stands as
visible proof of India's strong desire to develop and diversify its
relations with Myanmar.




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<b><font color="#CC0000"><font size=+1>The Hindu: India, Myanmar road opened</font></font></b>
<br><b><font color="#CC0000"><font size=+1>The Hindustan Times: India-Myanmar
road inaugurated</font></font></b>
<br><b><font color="#CC0000"><font size=+1>The Hindu: Important milestone
says Jaswant</font></font></b>
<center><b><font color="#0000FF"><font size=+3>India, Myanmar road opened</font></font></b></center>

<p><font color="#CC0000"><font size=+1>The Hindu (New Delhi)</font></font>
<br><font color="#CC0000"><font size=+1>February 14, 2001</font></font>
<p><font size=+1>By <font color="#800000">Amit Baruah</font></font>
<p><font size=+1><font color="#CC0000">KALEMYO/ TAMU (MYANMAR), FEB. 13.</font>
Often the subject of criticism in its neighbourhood, New Delhi today showed
that its expertise and resources could be used to promote better relations
with the Government and people of Myanmar.</font>
<p><font size=+1>A Rs. 90-crore ``gift'' to Myanmar in the form of 160-km
Tamu-Kalewa-Kalemyo road was inaugurated by the External Affairs Minister,
Mr. Jaswant Singh, in the presence of senior Myanmar Ministers. Built by
the Border Road Organisation over three years, the project was commissioned
and funded entirely by the Ministry of External Affairs.</font>
<p><font size=+1>Though a small beginning, the road which links the Indian
town of Moreh in Manipur to central Myanmar will soon connect Mandalay,
making it theoretically possible to drive from the north-east to the second
largest city in Myanmar - Mandalay.</font>
<p><font size=+1>That the possibilities of such a road are immense was
evident from the Myanmar Construction Minister, Major-General Saw Tun's
message about the new road.</font>
<p><font size=+1>``This 100 miles stretch of road will become a vital section
of the designated Asian Highway running from Singapore to Istanbul passing
through Myanmar and India,'' the Minister said.</font>
<p><font size=+1>Whether the highway project materialises or not, the message
from the new road link (which is an upgradation of a Second World War road)
is clear - if India is to integrate with Southeast Asia in a meaningful
way, then Myanmar is the path to more trade and more links.</font>
<p><font size=+1>The External Affairs Minister took with him from Moreh,
several Ministers from the north-eastern States, indicating a desire to
be forward-looking in linking a neglected part of India with Myanmar and,
possibly, the rest of Southeast Asia.</font>
<p><font size=+1>For India-Myanmar relations, the road project reflects
that the engagement with the ruling State Peace and Development Council
has fructified into something solid.</font>
<p><font size=+1>The Tamu-Kalewa-Kalemyo road means that ordinary people
can travel around freely, and goods and traffic movement, which used to
take days, can now go through in a matter of hours.</font>
<p><font size=+1>Another aspect of the road is that the response time of
Myanmar security forces to Indian insurgents operating in the area is going
to improve by leaps and bounds.</font>
<p><font size=+1>However, the India-Myanmar Friendship Road, as it is known,
will, above all, win India a lot of goodwill in this part of the world.</font>
<p><font size=+1>The project, itself was conceived way back in March 1993.</font>
<p><font size=+1>The ruling council had pulled out all stops for the inauguration
which took place both at Tamu (on the border with Manipur) and at Kalemyo.
Hundreds of children and residents were at hand to greet Mr. Singh.</font>
<p><font size=+1>Speaking in Kalemyo, the Myanmar Deputy Prime Minister
and Military Affairs Minister, Lt. Gen. Tin Hla, said: ``Today is a red
letter day in the annals of our history. We celebrate not only the opening
of a new road linking our two countries and the handing over of construction
machinery for Monywa-Kalewa road (which will link Mandalay) but also the
strengthening (of) the long-standing bonds of friendship existing between
our two countries.''</font>
<p><font size=+1>Lt. Gen. Tin Hla said Myanmar had benefited from the expertise
and experience of Indian engineers involved with the road project. ``On
our part, we are constructing a road from Monywa to Kalewa to link up with
the new Tamu-Kalay (Kalemyo) road... the new road is bound to bring about
economic development to the border... we firmly believe that the cooperation
between the Government (of) Myanmar and India will benefit our two peoples.''</font>
<p><font size=+1>===================================================</font>
<br>&nbsp;
<br>&nbsp;
<br>
<br>
<center>
<p><b><u><font color="#0000FF"><font size=+3>India-Myanmar road inaugurated</font></font></u></b></center>

<p><font color="#CC0000"><font size=+1>The Hindustan Times (New Delhi)</font></font>
<br><font color="#CC0000"><font size=+1>February 14, 2001</font></font>
<p><font color="#800000"><font size=+1>Shishir Gupta</font></font>
<br><font color="#CC0000"><font size=+1>(Kalemyo (Myanmar), February 13)</font></font>
<p><font size=+1><font color="#CC0000">INDO-MYANMAR</font> relations took
a quantum jump amidst pomp and pageantry on Tuesday with the inauguration
of the 160-kilometer long Tamu-Kalemyo-Kalewa road, a vital land bridge
linking Imphal with Yangon.</font>
<p><font size=+1>External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh called the road
a visible proof of India's "strong desire and commitment to develop and
diversify its relations with Myanmar." He said by providing a link from
the Indo-Myanmar border to central Myanmar, this road could promote exchanges
in trade, travel and tourism.</font>
<p><font size=+1>Mr Singh, who described the bilateral relations between
the two countries in glowing terms, perhaps was swayed by the royal treatment
his delegation was given by the Myanmar regime.</font>
<p><font size=+1>Greeting the Minister at the small dusty border town of
Tamu were thousands of people holding flags of the two countries with schoolchildren
dancing and exercising along the road. In fact, virtually all the population
of Tamu, Kalewa and Kalemyo town had come out to cheer the ministerial
cavalcade that drove through some hill sections of the newly inaugurated
road. While older residents were lustily waving flags, the younger lot
performed traditional animal costume dances and aerobic exercises to peppy
beat as delegations of the two countries passed them by.</font>
<p><font size=+1>The importance Yangon now attaches to its ties with New
Delhi was also evident by the fact that Lt. Gen. Tin Oo, number four in
Myanmarese hierarchy, Major Gen. Soe Win, Commander, North-West Command,
Deputy Prime Minister Tin Hla, Foreign Minister U Win Aung and Maj. Gen.
Saw Tun, Minister of Construction, were present to greet the Indian Foreign
Minister.</font>
<p><font size=+1>The Indian delegation comprised Ministers from Assam,
Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram; Border Roads Chief Lt.
Gen. A K Puri, Dimapur Corps Commander Lt. Gen. T S Shergil, Additional
Secretaries from Home and External Affairs Ministry.</font>
<p><font size=+1>While Maj. Gen. Soe Win described the road as a "highway
of friendship", Deputy Prime Minister Tin Hla said the inauguration was
a "red letter day in the annals of our history" and was a monument to "commemorate
mutual cooperation and excellent friendship" between the people of the
two countries.</font>
<p><font size=+1>The road which is the first project of infrastructural
cooperation between the two countries, is of strategic significance as
it gives India connectivity to the commercial markets in south-east Asia.
The 1273-kilometer road link between Tamu (just across the Moreh border)
and Yangon would be completed as soon as a bridge is constructed over the
mighty Chindwin river in the Kalemyoo district. In the past decades, cross-border
trade between the two countries flourished through the southern silk route
(linking Szechuan-Myanmar-North-East states) and the Ledo (Assam)-Myitkyina
(Myanmar)-Poshan (China) axis.</font>
<p><font size=+1>By building the Tamu-Kalewa road, the two countries hope
to revive cross-border trade with an aim to develop its neglected border
regions. The idea is to encourage cross-border movement of people and provide
outlets for local produce.</font>
<p><font size=+1>With the Tamu road dedicated to the people of Myanmar,
New Delhi hopes this project will help expediting joint ventures such as
the Tamanthi hydel project on Chindwin and the Kaladan river navigation
project.</font>
<p><font color="#330033"><font size=+1>===================================================</font></font>
<center>
<p><b><u><font color="#0000FF"><font size=+3>Important milestone says Jaswant</font></font></u></b></center>

<p><font color="#CC0000"><font size=+1>The Hindu (New Delhi)</font></font>
<br><font color="#CC0000"><font size=+1>February 14, 2001</font></font>
<p><font size=+1>By <font color="#800000">Amit Baruah</font></font>
<p><font size=+1><font color="#CC0000">MANDALAY (Myanmar), FEB. 13.</font>
The External Affairs Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh, today said India considered
it a "privilege" to be a partner in the socio-economic development of Myanmar.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Tamu-Kalewa-Kalemyo road, Mr. Singh
described it as an "important milestone" in India-Myanmar relations.</font>
<p><font size=+1>"The (the road) is the first major project in the field
of infrastructure cooperation between our two countries that has been completed.
The significance of this road is its continuation of the great tradition
of social and spiritual linkages between our two neighbouring countries,"
he said.</font>
<p><font size=+1>Addressing a large public gathering in Kalemyo, south-east
of Mandalay, Mr. Singh, who rubbed shoulders with the generals in the Myanmar
Government, referred to his career in the Army.</font>
<p><font size=+1>"As a student of these (World War-II) campaigns, brought
upon our countries by others ? and as a soldier myself ? I am today keenly
conscious of the memory of others from afar who made a prize of our lands
and our resources.</font>
<p><font size=+1>Mr. Singh said India and Myanmar shared a long land border,
"historically, these areas have suffered on account of inaccessibility
and inadequate infrastructure. We believe that the development of these
border regions would be faster and more effective if our two countries
joined hands in this endeavour."</font>
<p><font size=+1>"There are several cross-border cooperation projects which
could transform the economies of these regions. The Tamu-Kalemyo-Kalewa
road is the first of its kind. By providing a link from the India border
to central Myanmar, to the cultural and commercial centre of your country,
this road can promote exchanges in trade, travel and tourism, not only
between people living along the border but also in the interior regions
of India and Myanmar. The full potential of the border trading point at
Tamu-Moreh may now be realized as a result of this road. Let us use it
well and to good purpose."</font>
<p><font size=+1>Mir. Singh said since independence, India had been happy
to share its experiences, skills and technology with friendly development
countries. "In more recent years, there has been a rapid expansion in our
political, cultural, scientific and technical exchanges. The visit to India
by Gen. Maung Aye, Vice-Chairman, the State Peace and Development Council
last November was an important landmark in the growth of our understanding.
Today, the Tamu-Kalemyo-Kalewa road also stands as visible proof of India's
strong desire to develop and diversify its relations with Myanmar.</font>
<br>&nbsp;
<p>&nbsp;</html>

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