evolution

Here’s another sad international situation that no one has seemed willing to do anything about: Burma leader starts India visit (BBC).

Burma’s head of state begins a visit to India on Sunday, the first such trip in nearly 25 years.

Senior General Than Shwe’s rare journey out of Burma goes ahead despite his country’s Prime Minister Khin Nyunt being ousted earlier this week.

The visit has been condemned by pro-democracy groups, which say it marks a major setback to Burmese human rights.

Around 150 protesters, mainly women and children, held a demonstration in Delhi on Saturday.

“It’s a national shame to roll out red carpet for murderer Than Shwe,” read one banner they held.

Burma - referred to as Myanmar by its military junta - has been criticised worldwide for resisting democracy and detaining the opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

India, which once openly supported Aung San Suu Kyi, has been quietly wooing the Burmese military leadership in recent years.

President of the All Burma Students’ League, Myind Aye, told BBC News Online: “We are totally opposed to this visit.”

Than Shwe

It is the first visit by a Burmese leader in nearly 25 years

He said Burmese pro-democracy activists were invited to come to India in 1988 by the then Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, before Indian policy changed.

“We have not got any assistance from the Indian government. We have been totally ignored.”

Trade interests

The BBC’s Subir Bhaumik says the Burmese junta attaches great significance to the visit because it is being hosted by the world’s largest democracy, helping to legitimise its position.

Analysts say India is keen to engage Burma to offset China’s influence in the region.

Delhi has pushed trade and investment initiatives with Burma since the 1990s as part of its “Look East” policy.

“In recent years, the relationship has grown and diversified, based on the mutual desire to establish a long-term cooperative partnership,” India’s Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

India is also likely to raise its concerns over an increasing flow of arms and drugs from Burma into its volatile north-east where several separatist rebel groups are active.

I’m not too impressed with the world’s largest democracy’s handling of this matter.

This entry was posted on Sunday, October 24th, 2004 at 10:50 and is filed under politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.