Tags:
Journalism of Courage
China inaugurates gas pipelines. India inaugurates rice silos. Now,that may be too reductive a study in contrast,but it should be on the mind of External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna as he engages with the new,nominally civilian government in Myanmar. Of course,theres nothing ignoble about the rice silos being built in the wake of Cyclone Nargis,they are every bit humanitarian and part of economic diplomacy. Nevertheless,there are larger aspects to Indias economic and strategic diplomacy in Myanmar that need to be foregrounded and pursued urgently issues which have seen India shaky at the worst,slow and indecisive at best. Notwithstanding international criticism,India had rightly engaged with the junta that ruled till recently,given the rapid strides China was making in this key common neighbour. But unlike China,which would prefer a weak state in Myanmar,Indias relationship is layered,envisioning a strong and united nation central to its Look East policy.
Indias interests constitute security,energy natural gas resources and hydel projects,infrastructure and connectivity,communications and information technology. Myanmar,with its own insurgency problems,is crucial to the security of Indias Northeast. It also bears the potential to transform the economic fortunes of the seven landlocked states. While the Kaladan multi-modal transportation project has reached construction stage,an MoU will be signed on linking Manipur to Tiddim. A trans-Asian road system through Myanmar and the maritime gateway for Indias Northeast via the Sitwe port need speedier work. There will be several other MoUs signed,such as the one on an industrial park. However,what is being closely watched is the NHPCs delivery on the revival of two hydel power projects,wherein delays on the Indian side were criticised by the Indian ambassador to Myanmar.
