Making India-Myanmar Relations Meaningful

 Col R Hariharan 

Myanmar President Thein Sein’s visit to India from October 12th to 15th had only limited visibility in Indian media that has become characteristic of news relating to Myanmar.  Unlike the earlier visits of Myanmar’s heads of state, Thein Sein’s visit is of special interest on two counts – the changing political environment in Myanmar and India’s slow assertion of its strategic perception. In the near term, these developments might compel India to take A relook at its Myanmar policy and reshape it in keeping with the changes taking place both within and outside Myanmar. 

What is the ‘Real Axis of Evil’?

The phrase ‘Axis of Evil’ coined in the wake of rise of Al Qaeda, means many things to many people. But what is the real ‘Axis of Evil’ that India should be worried about?

Well-known counter-terrorism expert B Raman’s examines this core concern while discussing the issue of terrorism in the context of India-Pakistan relations in his mail interview with Jahanzeb Aslam  published in Newsweek Pakistan. His comment “India is fully capable of dealing with Pakistan and has no concerns. What we are worried about is the increasing strategic threat from the developing Sino-Pakistani axis….This developing axis is the real axis of evil.” is noteworthy. Excerpts of the interview titled “The Real Axis of Evil”  is reproduced here for your reading. 

Excerpts:

What has India’s role been in the U.S.-led war on terror?

India’s primary role is exchange of intelligence, knowledge, experience and capabilities, and mutual assistance in legal matters with interested countries, including the U.S.

Is Myanmar-China relation entering a tricky phase?

  By Col. R. Hariharan 

Myanmar’s recent decision to suspend the construction of the Chinese-aided Irrawaddy Myitsone hydroelectric dam project in Kachin State comes as a pleasant surprise, whatever be the reasons behind the Myanmar decision. 

However, the moot point is, whether the three-decade old relationship carefully nurtured by both sides is entering a new tricky phase? 

China’s immediate reaction to the announcement by the Myanmar President Thein Sein was tinged with irritability in the midst of polite bureaucratic wordings.   It would indicate China was not probably consulted before Myanmar President went public with the decision.  This is clearly a case of proverbial Chinese loss of face. 

Sri Lanka Perspectives – September 2011

By Col R Hariharan

President Rajapaksa’s address to UN General Assembly

For Sri Lankans, the highlight of the month was President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s address at the UN General Assembly. In his speech, the President skirted the human rights issues and allegations of war crimes for which Sri Lanka had come under strong criticism. Similarly he gave a broad brush to the Tamil political question also. He focused on the rehabilitation and developmental activity undertaken by his government in the postwar period. He averred “the remarkable growth of 22% of the economy of the Northern Province” was a clear indication of the success achieved” by his government’s initiatives on development in the North.  The President cited the moving up of Sri Lanka from the 52^nd to 79^th rank in the assessment by the World Economic Forum as a testimony to overall economic progress made by his country.

Army's Deepening Crisis of Amorality

When I see the present state of our Army, I cannot but agree with Gen Baljit Singh who has highlighted the growing amorality within the Army [in the article reproduced below].  I have my own recollection of the days when the Army scrupulously stuck to its straight path ;  it was applauded by the public for it. But sadly those days appear to become part of our regimental histories. Perhaps the Army's record of  punishing the guilty is better than the civil services; but that is no consolation for any army.  Indian Army had always proudly set its own high standards and lived up to it. Is  it not time for the Army bosses look at themselves and set an example and clean up the scene before the stink hits the ceiling?

Army's Deepening Crisis of Amorality

 

By Lt Gen (Retd) Baljit Singh


Of late, the Indian Army’s proud image has been severely dented. The discerning Indians as well as the aam-admi is beginning to question whether those who lead the Indian Army are men of straw? A few years ago, a Maj General commanding an infantry Division pleaded guilty of misappropriating CSD liquor and was cashiered with seven years RI in a civil jail. About a year later, another Maj General was served a show-cause notice for acts of omission and commission while ironically he headed the Army’s Judicial Department. In 2009, the CBI filed a charge-sheet against yet another Maj General (since retired) and his spouse for possessing assets to the tune of 3.37 crores while in service, grossly disproportionate to their known incomes and family inheritances. In 2010 a General Court Martial cashiered a Lt Colonel and sentenced him to three years rigorous imprisonment for irregularities upward of ten crore. And now 30 officers are facing trial; surely a dubious record for any army. 

 

First takeaways from Delhi blast

By Col. R Hariharan

Terrorists have struck once again in Delhi taking the historical count of such attacks to more than a dozen. Apart from the tragic loss of lives of innocent public, the repeated terror attacks in Delhi have exposed the soft underbelly of India's fight against terrorism.

Unfortunately in our country one can almost predict the immediate response to terrorist attacks because it is so pedestrian - Prime Minister assures the nation terrorists would be brought to book, opposition leaders blame the government for its soft attitude to terrorism, media blames the police, and everyone calls it intelligence failure.

Lashkar terrorists struck Mumbai and went on a rampage on a fateful day - November 26, 2008 - many probably expected India to react like the U.S. did after 9/11 Al Qaeda attacks. But India is not the U.S.

Sri Lanks Perspectives - August 2011

By Col R Hariharan

Overview

President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s announcement that the state of emergency in force in the island nation since 2005 would be allowed to lapse in September 2011 was the key development during the month of August. Sri Lanka government showed its mounting concern over erosion of its international image due to unrelenting international focus on its lack of accountability over human rights violations and alleged war crimes in the last stages of war.

In particular, the increasingly vocal expression of concerns by India and the U.S. showed that Sri Lanka would have to come up with concrete measures to convince the international community of its sincerity on tackling the subject. A strategy for doing this appears to be eluding Sri Lanka still. At the same time, Indian government is under tremendous pressure for proactive action on Tamil issues including the alleged Sri Lankan war crimes which were discussed in Indian parliament. This could further increase the international momentum building against Sri Lanka as the issue might figure in the meeting of the High Commission for Human Rights at Geneva in September 2011.