Myanmar hands over 22 insurgent cadres to India, Tilak bust to be installed in Mandalay

New Delhi: As part of multiple initiatives to boost ties between India and its key eastern neighbour Myanmar, the two sides on Monday discussed plans to install a bust of Lokmanya Balgangadhar Tilak in Mandalay to commemorate his 100th death anniversary.

During his incarceration in Mandalay jail, Lokmanya Tilak wrote 'Gita Rahasya', an exposition of the Bhagavad Gita.

The Myanmar side expressed appreciation for Indian assistance in the preservation of cultural heritage, including the repair and conservation of Bagan pagodas that had been damaged in the 2016 earthquake. 

The matters figured at the talks during the two-day visit of Chief of Army Staff, Gen. M M Naravane and Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla to Myanmar on Sunday and Monday.

Other areas of cooperation in culture discussed included translation of Indian epics into the Burmese language.

In a crucial success vis-a-vis 'maintenance of security and stability' in border areas, Myanmar on Monday handed over "22 cadres of Indian Insurgent Groups to India".

"The two sides discussed maintenance of security and stability in their border areas and reiterated their mutual commitment not to allow their respective territories to be used for activities inimical to each other. The Indian side expressed their appreciation to Myanmar for handing over 22 cadres of Indian Insurgent Groups to India," an MEA statement said.

It may be pointed out that crucial diplomatic engagement with Myanmar came within days after September 28 when the centre extended a ban on the Naga militant group NSCN (Khaplang) and also said that the group has been engaged in "unlawful and violent activities".

The Home ministry notification also said the NSCN-K is continuously embarking on a drive for the recruitment of cadres to continue its terrorist activities, establishing camps and hideouts across the international borders. The NSCN  (K) is also aligning itself with other groups like the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and some organisations in Manipur.

During the visit, Gen Naravane and Foreign Secretary Shringla also met Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and the Commander in Chief of Defense Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. 

The military-civil wing (foreign ministry) diplomatic initiative was vital given certain sensitivity and strategic importance attached to the relations between two countries.

"Glad to read composite team under COAS Gen Naravane & Foreign Secy Shringla visiting Myanmar for wide discussions. Very appropriate keeping in view political structure in neighboring nation. Turfs have no place except making available knowledge/experience for national interests," former army chief Gen (Retd) Ved Malik has said in a tweet. 

During the visit, in yet another milestone, India announced a grant of USD 2 million for the construction of the border haat bridge at Byanyu/Sarsichauk in Chin State that will provide increased economic connectivity between Mizoram and Myanmar. 

A quota of 1.5 lakh tonnes of Urad for import from Myanmar by India till March 31, 2021 was also announced. 

The Centre of Excellence in Software Development and Training in Myitkyina, was virtually inaugurated. 

Foreign Secretary also inaugurated the Embassy Liaison Office in Nay Pyi Taw along with U Soe Han, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar.

Meanwhile, sources said India as a close friend, partner, and neighbor of both Bangladesh and Myanmar "has a deep and abiding interest" to see an early stabilization of the situation in the Rakhine State.  

India supports safe, sustainable, and speedy repatriation of displaced persons from Bangladesh to Rakhine State based on the understanding between Bangladesh and Myanmar. 

The Indian government is also extending socio-economic development assistance for projects pertaining to health, education, agriculture, and allied activities to Rakhine State through a grant-in-aid of USD 5 million per annum. 

Myanmar appreciated India’s decision to provide debt service relief under the G-20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative, for the period up to December 31, 2020.

Both sides also discussed progress in the ongoing Indian-assisted infrastructure projects such as the Trilateral Highway 

and the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project. They exchanged views on an early initiation of work on 

fresh initiatives such as the upgradation of Yamethin Women's Police Academy, Basic Technical Training School and 

measures to provide long term sustainability to projects.

They also agreed to work towards operationalization of Sittwe Port in the Rakhine State in the first quarter of 2021.

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China named and shamed for Covid19, policies of 'exploitation & coercion'

New Delhi/Tokyo:

Unlike the United States, India has declined to name China vis-a-vis the ties between two

countries and the border standoff but made it clear that New Delhi wants “like-minded countries 

to coordinate responses to various challenges”. 

"Our objective remains advancing the security and the economic interests of all countries having legitimate and 

vital interests in the region," External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said in his opening remarks at the

second Quad Ministerial Meeting in Tokyo on Tuesday. 

 

He also said: "As vibrant and pluralistic democracies with shared values, our nations have collectively affirmed 

the importance of maintaining a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific". 

Without naming any country but seen as a veiled attack on Beijing, Dr Jaishankar said, India would remain "committed to upholding the rules-based international order, underpinned by the rule of law, transparency, freedom of navigation 

in the international seas, respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty and peaceful resolution of disputes".

For his part, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was at his combative best and

accused China's governing Communist Party of "exploitation, corruption and coercion".

Essentially remaining forthright in blaming China for the pandemic “that came from Wuhan”, he said this

was “made infinitely worse by the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) cover-up”.  

“We’ve seen it in the south, in the East China Sea, the Mekong, the Himalayas, the Taiwan Straits. These are just a few examples,” Pompeo said. 

He urged three other Indo-Pacific democracies - India, Australia and Japan - to unite against coercions from China.

“As partners in this Quad, it is more critical now than ever that we collaborate to protect our people and 

partners from the CCP’s exploitation, corruption and coercion". 

The four leading democracies US, India, Australia and Japan, which hosted the meet,

reaffirmed to create a free and open Indo-Pacific region and create resilient supply chains 

trying to send a strong message to Beijing for its aggressive policies.

“The Foreign Ministers exchanged views about regional issues of mutual interest, and issues related 

to connectivity; humanitarian assistance and disaster relief; maritime safety and security; health security, and 

counter terrorism," a statement said. 

The Quad also reiterated their firm support to ASEAN centrality and highlighted their readiness to work towards realizing a common vision for the Indo-Pacific.

The Quad, which was an informal grouping in 2007, was championed by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and was

generally aimed at seeking enhanced co-operation between the four democracies vis-a-vis a rapidly rising 'aggressive'

China.

Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu, too, spoke of a rules based order in the maritime domain 

and the need to take on board countries like France and Germany.

A new regime has taken charge in Japan recently and reports suggest Chinese Foreign Minister Wang 

Yi is likely to visit Tokyo soon. 

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