On Its Own Terms?
India embraces Myanmar on its own terms (Sudha Ramachandran, Asia Times)
BANGALORE - Even as India was reaffirming its growing ties with Myanmar at the seventh round of consultations between the foreign offices of the two countries, the US and other countries have been moving forward at the United Nations to have Myanmar's military rulers censured by the Security Council.
The US-led move comes in the wake of the decision by Myanmar's ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) to extend Aung San Suu Kyi's house arrest. Suu Kyi, a Nobel laureate and leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD), has been under house arrest since May 2003.
[snip]
The proposed resolution in the Security Council would therefore be unprecedented. But even as the US is considering this resolution, for some of Myanmar's neighbors it is business as usual with the generals. India, for instance, seems unfazed by the proposed US move.
Recently, Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran was in Myanmar, firming up energy and economic ties. "The talks covered the entire gamut of India-Myanmar bilateral relations, with special emphasis on issues such as security, energy, trade and economic cooperation and infrastructure projects," a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs said.
Indian officials are not worried about the proposed US resolution in the Security Council. China and Russia - both veto-wielding permanent members - and Japan, a non-permanent member, have already signaled their opposition. "I don't consider the situation in Myanmar as a situation that poses a threat to international peace and security," Japan"s ambassador to the UN is reported to have told the Security Council.
While India is banking on the Chinese veto to prevent the US resolution from being adopted, it was China's growing influence in Myanmar that in fact prompted India to begin engaging the generals there.
India desperately needs Burma's natural gas. China desperately needs Burma's natural gas. Both countries have inked deals for the same. They aren't going to jeopardize those deals by supporting "strong action" (whatever) from the UN.
The Japanese ambassador's comment is, of course, true in a limited sense, but it's still kind of despicable to be so indifferent to the junta's behavior and, in particular, its treatment of the opposition. Maybe Japan is looking to get in on Burma's hydrocarbon action as well.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 06/28/06 13:36 | International | Technorati
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Burma. Awesome.
Posted by Tom Hanna @ 15:27 on 06/29/06
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