Junta is in town, rebels with George

The All Burma Students League has two rooms in the defence minister’s bungalow. A model of a naval ship presented to the defence minister rests on a mantleplace above posters of Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the “legendary comrade” Che Guvera.

“There are times that 20-25 Burmese students live here but presently there are only five. The others are out organising the protests,” he says. The Burmese students are against India selling arms and ammunition to the Myanmarese junta. “The arms and ammunition would be used against the pro-democracy protestors. India is the world’s biggest democracy and such a step would damage the credibility of democracy in India,” he adds.

In 1992 when he along with six others came to Delhi and met Fernandes, they found a supporter for their cause in him. He not only permitted them to stay at his house but they also held several discussions on pro-democracy movements. “Now we understand the minister’s position. But then, ideology and power do not go together in Indian politics,” he says sagely.

Than’s easy manner and quick smile which reaches his eyes instantly endear his to his “fellow freedom fighters”. And he says they try not to get in the minister’s way.

But he finds it difficult to answer why India should not cosy up to the military junta in order to check the insurgents in the northeast. Or explain the dilemma of the minister who at heart supports the pro-democracy movement but whose military wants to have very close relations with the junta to safeguard its own territory from insurgents. Fernandes was unavailable for comment but sources said that the minister is not meeting the Myanmarese General.

There was tension between India and Myanmar when allegations surfaced that during Fernandes’ first stint as defence minister that arms were being supplied to the pro-democracy movement in Myanmar. The minister also came in for criticism when it was alleged that part of those weapons were reaching the northeast insurgents in India and were being used against the Indian Army.

These students, however, find those allegations untrue. “He (Fernandes) understands our point,”says Than and hands over a statement which says that India is laying a red-carpet welcome to a Burmese General who is among others responsible for bloodbath of 10,000 peaceful demonstrators in Burma 12 years ago.

The Indian Army is constructing a road in Burma and the “students” warn that neither Indian nor Burmese goods would be traded and instead opium, heroin and HIV/AIDS would be imported to India.

The chat with Than is interrupted by phone calls as he plans the demonstration. Police are trying to round up protesters before they hold a demonstration, but for the time being they are safe in the defence minister’s house.