India must show respect to Suu Kyi

Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi’s recent visit to India, her first official visit to this country since the National League for Democracy took over the reins of power in Myanmar in March, saw the two sides sign three agreements in the banking, insurance and power sectors. These are likely to give economic cooperation a fillip. Importantly, India’s bid to reach a regional consensus in fighting cross-border terrorism received a shot in the arm from Myanmar. The joint statement issued at the end of Suu Kyi’s visit called for holding “to account terror organisations, networks and also states that encourage, support or finance terrorism in any way.”

A recent terror attack on police facilities in Myanmar’s strife-torn Rakhine province is believed to have been organised by a man who received training in Pakistan. While this is likely to have prompted Myanmar’s understanding of and support to India’s concerns over support to terrorism emanating from other countries, the two countries have co-operated for at least two decades now in tackling insurgent groups taking sanctuary in each other’s territory. The joint statement reiterated “commitment not to allow insurgent groups to use their soil for hostile activities against the other side” and promised further coordination and exchange of information between their border forces towards securing the common borders.

However, Indian insensitivity cast a shadow over Suu Kyi’s visit. Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju tweeted about India’s earlier surgical strikes.

While he did not refer to Myanmar by name, it was obvious that he was referring to India’s assault last year on camps run by Northeastern insurgents in Myanmar. Minister of state for Information and Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore had boasted then about the assault, embarrassing the Myanmar government and diminishing it in the eyes of its people. Rijiju’s tweet served to remind the world of that unpleasant incident. It was undiplomatic and in poor taste, particularly since Suu Kyi was in India, a guest invited to attend the BIMSTEC meeting with BRICS at Goa. She is said to have told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that such boastful violation of Myanmar’s territorial sovereignty is untenable. Indeed, the need to maintain “mutual respect for the already demarcated boundary between the two countries" found mention in the joint statement. Suu Kyi also pointed out that isolation of countries (read Pakistan) will not help tackle terrorism, a point that India would do well to take note of.
India is working on building strong ties with Myanmar. But meaningful cooperation is possible only where there is mutual respect for each other’s concerns and sensitivities. Suu Kyi’s visit should serve as a wake-up call.