Engage & Not Isolate Myanmar: Modi Tells East Asia Summit

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Modi Stresses On Peaceful Solution To Myanmar Civil War

By Manish Anand

New Delhi, October 11: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday told the 19^th East Asia Summit that Myanmar should not be isolated. Modi argued that Myanmar should be engaged.

“We support the ASEAN approach on the situation in Myanmar. We also support the ‘Five-point Consensus’,” said Modi in his address to the 19^th East Asia Summit in Laos.

The ASEAN had unveiled the ‘Five-point Consensus’ in 2021 as a collective approach of the east Asian nations towards Myanmar. The ‘Five-point Consensus’ has made no headways in addressing issues in Myanmar per strategic affairs analysts.

Also Read: Military rule in Myanmar fueled Manipur unrest Amit Shah

“At the same time, we believe that it is important to maintain humanitarian assistance and appropriate steps should also be taken for the restoration of democracy. We believe that, for this, Myanmar should be engaged, not isolated,” added Modi.

The prime minister stressed that “as a neighbouring country, India will continue to fulfil its responsibility”. The ruling Janta is fast losing grounds in Myanmar. Insurgents are expanding their dominations in Myanmar per independent reports from the region. The military Junta has refused to talk to the rebels.

The Junta had jailed the democratically-elected president Aung San Suy Kyi. She was handed over 33-year jail term by the military ruler. Afterwards, her jail term was reduced to 27 years.

But lately the grip of the military dictators in Myanmar is loosening. The rebels are inflicting heavy casualty on the military personnel per local reports.

The 19^th East Asia Summit has accorded the raging civil war in Myanmar top priority in deliberations. Reuters quoted former Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, saying that “ASEAN’s inability to address difficult issues in a timely way may reflect a deeper difference emerging within the regional grouping. Both the South China Sea issue and Myanmar constitute litmus tests for ASEAN’s relevance”.

Also Read: Amid Manipur tension India to scrap free movement of people with Myanmar

India has own concerns with the ongoing civil war. The rebels from Myanmar are often reported to be crossing over to the forested areas of Mizoram and Manipur.

The Manipur Police recently denied reports of Myanmar’s rebels entering the state. Reports of rocket and drone attacks in the civilian areas of Manipur had also come forth.

India is barbing border with Myanmar. Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah had told parliament last year that India will full fence the border with Myanmar.

India has been maintaining contacts with Myanmar. India per diplomatic circle wants a peaceful resolution of the democratic aspirations of the people in Myanmar. But the military rule has deepened ethnic divide in Myanmar.

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About The Author

Manish Anand

Manish Anand is a senior journalist with more than two decades of hardcore reporting on beats such as Prime Minister’s Office, Parliament, BJP, Congress, Planning Commission, NITI Aayog, and scores of Union Ministries.

His past has been with The New Indian Express, The Asian Age/Deccan Chronicle, and The Statesman.

For about 15 years, Manish was also a regular commentator and host for talks on AIR on foreign affairs.

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