Myanmar coup and its impact on India "EMPOWER IAS"

 

 

In news:

• India has sealed all entry points along the border with the southeast Asian neighbour and is closely monitoring to prevent any Myanmar nationals from entering the country.

 

 

Issue: Problem with refugees

• At least 1,000 people from the adjoining Chin State of Myanmar are said to have crossed over to Mizoram, fearing a military crackdown.
• The Mizoram government favours providing refuge to the Chins that are ethnically related to the majority Mizos in the State.
• However, the Ministry of Home Affairs has made it clear that “India is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol theron”.

 

When did the refugees start arriving?

• Mizoram began feeling the heat a month after the military coup when three police personnel crossed over to Lungkawlh village in Serchhip district.
• The influx of Myanmar nationals was reported from Hnahthial, Champhai, Saitual and Serchhip districts.
• Most of the refugees waded across the Tiau River that runs along much of Mizoram’s 510-km border with Myanmar.

 

Is this the first time this has happened?

• Extremism, counter-insurgency and sectarian violence have driven people out of Myanmar into India in the past as well.
• More than 1,200 Buddhists and Christians from Myanmar’s Arakan State had taken refuge in Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district in 2017.
• They fled their homes after the Myanmar Army clashed with the extremist Arakan Army.
• The refugees stayed back for more than a year. Thousands of Chins are said to be living in Mizoram for more than 40 years now.

 

How porous is the border?

• Unlike India’s border with Pakistan and Bangladesh, much of the border with Myanmar is without any fence.
• The Assam Rifles personnel guard the border but a tough terrain comes in the way of maintaining airtight vigil.
• There have been calls to fence the border. Fencing the border would also help in checking the movement of extremist groups to and from Myanmar.
• Some are against the idea, insisting that a fence would make the “free movement” of border residents into each other’s country difficult.
• The two countries had in 2018 agreed to streamline the movement of people within 16 km of the border on either side.

 

Mizoram welcomes the refugees

• As a humanitarian gesture, the Mizoram government has issued a standard operating procedure (SOP) to Deputy Commissioners of border districts to facilitate the entry of refugees and migrants.
• The SOP stated that all Myanmar nationals entering Mizoram in connection with the political developments in the country shall be properly identified.
• The government said those facing a threat to their lives should be treated as refugees, given medical care, relief and rehabilitation and security.

 

Where do the Centre and Mizoram stand now?

• The SOP was revoked on March 6 after the Centre conveyed its displeasure to the State over the development.
• The State governments have no powers to grant “refugee status to any foreigner”.

 

An analysis: India-Myanmar Relations

• India and Myanmar have shared cultural roots and historical relations, apart from the strategic, economic, social and political ties.
• Myanmar is a member of both Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which is an organization of East Asian nations as well as the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) which bridges South and South-East Asia.
• Connectivity projects through Myanmar help India overcome its Chicken-neck dilemma (Siliguri Corridor). Myanmar is also necessary for the development of North-Eastern India.
• Myanmar stands at the confluence of India’s Neighbourhood First and Act East Policy and India-Myanmar partnership is at the heart of India’s vision to create a connected and cooperative neighbourhood.
• Recently, India and Myanmar had signed 10 agreements with a focus on socio-economic development of Myanmar, during Myanmar President U Win Myint’s visit to India.
• Myanmar's growing closeness with China and the recent proposal of China Myanmar Economic Corridor is a cause of concern for India amidst growing India-China tension.

India’s interests

• The geographically strategic location of Myanmar makes it a bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia.
• India needs a good working relationship with the Myanmar government for its diplomatic and strategic initiatives.
• This is especially due to China’s nefarious designs in Myanmar, which wants to develop it as a geopolitical base against India.
• Despite Myanmar being ruled by military junta over the years, India has developed close ties and shares a good relationship with Tatmadaw.

(a) Strategic relations

• Last year, despite facing shortage of its own, India handed over INS Sindhuvir, a submarine, to the Myanmar Navy.
• Tatmadaw responded well to Indian overtures and even allowed India to conduct counter-interagency operations against Indian insurgents groups in Myanmar border areas.
• Both nations seek to cooperate to counteract drug trafficking and insurgent groups operating in the border areas.

 

(b) Economic relations

• • India and Myanmar are leading members of BIMSTEC, SAARC and the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, along with Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand, helping India develop its influence and ties amongst Southeast Asian nations.
  • Some of the sanctioned projects include:
  • India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral highway
  • Kaladan Multi-modal transit transport network
  • Planned Special Economic Zone at the Sittwe deep-water port
  • Also, the Myanmar government recently hinted at delaying and cancelling BRI projects and developing some big ticket projects with India. (c) HADR operations
• India responded promptly and effectively in rendering assistance after natural disaster in Myanmar such as the earthquake in Shan state (2010) Cyclone Mora (2017), and Komen (2015).
• India offered to help in capacity building in disaster risk mitigation as well as strengthening Myanmar’s National Disaster Response Mechanism.

 

Challenges

• Internal Security is a major concern for India; Indo-Myanmar border is porous and lightly policed which is exploited by terrorist outfits and insurgent groups from North Eastern part of India eg. supply of trained cadres, arms trafficking.
• Bilateral trade between India and Myanmar still falls short of expectations.
• Overtime trust deficit has widened between India-Myanmar because of the Indian reputation for delaying implementation of various projects.
• China has asserted itself through its soft power as well as through its trade and economic relations with Myanmar by taking up large infrastructure projects.
• As China’s growing influence in the region is a potential threat to India, New Delhi would like to enhance India’s presence by developing infrastructure and connectivity projects in the country.
• India has found it difficult to counter Chinese influence in Myanmar.