By M.R. Narayan Swamy, IANS
Singapore : Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday told Myanmar’s military rulers to move ahead expeditiously with a broad-based reconciliation process to end lingering unrest in the country.
The prime minister conveyed this to his Myanmar counterpart, General Thein Sein, in his first major engagement after arriving here on a two-day visit to attend the India-Asean Summit as also the East Asia Summit.
An Indian external affairs ministry spokesman said that during the 30-minute meeting, Manmohan Singh and Gen Thein Sein reviewed bilateral and regional issues as well as the military crackdown on mass protests in Myanmar since August.
The general, who recently became the prime minister, briefed the Indian leader about the “internal developments” in Myanmar and the military junta’s attempts to carry out political reforms and national reconciliation.
“The prime minister conveyed India’s position that the reform process should be broad based and include (jailed opposition leader) Aung San Suu Kyi and various ethnic nationalities and that it should be carried forward expeditiously towards a satisfactory solution,” spokesman Navtej Sarna told reporters.
Manmohan Singh also reiterated India’s support to the efforts of UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari to engage the government of Myanmar on behalf of the international community to facilitate the process of reconciliation.
Manmohan Singh and Thein Sein also discussed various Indian economic and other infrastructure projects underway in Myanmar.
Earlier, while on board Air India One while flying from New Delhi, Manmohan Singh said the situation in Myanmar “has an important bearing on our own country.
“As we know, a number of insurgent groups take advantage of the insecurity in Myanmar to indulge in unlawful activities in our northeast. Therefore, we have a strong interest in a stable, prosperous and peaceful Myanmar.”
Manmohan Singh voiced hope that the dialogue process now on in Myanmar between the military and opposition figures “will reach a satisfactory outcome”.
IANS reported last week that both the Myanmar junta and the UN have praised India for its quiet diplomacy vis-à-vis the troubled Asian country.
India has refused to join Western calls to impose sanctions against Myanmar while at the same time arguing passionately on behalf of the opposition groups in that country, including Aung San Suu Kyi.
US President George W. Bush has urged China and India to put pressure on the Myanmar junta, but New Delhi has avoided what it feels is a trap, preferring to deal with the situation in its own way.
The Indian assessment is that lasting peace in Myanmar is possible only when the military reaches reconciliation not just with the mainstream opposition but also with the various ethnic groups that are active in different parts of the country.