The recent statement of the Union Minister for Development of the North
East Region (DONER), PR Kyndiah that the North-East Region is no more
"sensitive" but "strategic" to not only the entire country but also the
neighboring countries---like China, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and
Myanmar---has full of sense.
The people of the Northeast region are mostly mongoloid races like that
of China, Bhutan, and Myanmar and inhabited in the frontline areas
bordering China, Myanmar, Bhutan and Bangladesh. Many similarities are
there between the people of the Northeast India and the Southeast Asian
countries. According to history, most of the northeastern people
originated from the central Asia as well.
Therefore it will not be very difficult for the Governments of Myanmar,
China, and Bhutan to play politics with India through northeast
militants. When the Bangladesh became soft to northeastern militants, where
was the question that these Mongoloid governments in neighboring
countries would not go soft to them?
Many Naga villages are there in Northwest of Myanmar, so also Meeteis
in Myanmar’s Mandalay and Rangoon. The Kukis spread throughout the
northeast region as much as Myanmar side. Even numbers of Meetei villages
are there in Bangladesh’s Sylhet and Dhaka areas. Because of these
existing historical bonds between the people of the northeastern region with
the neighboring countries, things have become more complex for New
Delhi to tackle the militancy problems of the region.
That is why what the DONER Minister’s describing the region as
"strategic" to not only the entire country but also the neighboring countries
has undercurrent meanings.
At the same time, India has its security problems with China, Pakistan,
Bangladesh and Myanmar. Unfortunately this largest democratic country
in the world is surrounded by monarchical, military and despotic regimes
and the current Royal coup in Nepal is more compounded to diplomatic
juggernaut of India.
Look the kind of regime in Pakistan where even its
own political leaders (Ex-PMs) are not allowed coming in and still in
exile. Myanmar needs no explanation about. The Juntas have been ruling
the country since 1962. The Bangladesh Government is fragile and Bhutan
is a small Kingdom.
These countries surround the northeastern region leaving the chicken
neck area in Siliguri like a spinal cord to the rest of the country.
There are maximum advantages for the northeast militants in their struggle
for sovereignty due to these unfriendly environments prevailing in the
neighboring countries.
India has serious concern on China’s increasing naval presence in
Myanmar. Myanmar had granted such facilities to China and New Delhi feels
that China could use Coco Islands of Myanmar as missile pads against
certain Indian targets. This is a great worrisome for India.
New Delhi has been worrying for quite some time, as most of the
northeast insurgent organizations have been operating from inside the
territories of Myanmar, Bhutan and Bangladesh.
There have been talks with
Yangon, Dhaka and Thimphu not to allow northeast militants using their soil
to launch anti-India campaign. The insurgency problems of the region
can’t be effectively tackled without the cooperation and support of
Myanmar.
New Delhi could convince Thimphu to crack down against ULFA and KLO
holed up in its soil. Yangon is currently engaged cracking down northeast
militants holed up in their territory. Dhaka is yet to respond to New
Delhi’s demand.
Bhutan is a small country and too small to refuse India’s demand but
New Delhi just cannot do Bhutan type in neighboring countries like
Myanmar and Bangladesh. India will need lot of diplomatic channels and a
serious deal is necessary.
Although Yangon had responded by cracking down
some of the militant bases holed up in its soil, it is impossible for
them to wipe out all because of the vast inaccessible thick forest
stretching along the international border. And Bangladesh being a Muslim
country will not be that much easy to be convinced by New Delhi just to
wipe out northeast militants from its soil.
They have their own politics.
We have seen unprecedented swelling up of illegal Bangladeshi migrants
in the region, spreading like a wildfire, threatening the future
demography of the region. So long the illegal Bangladeshi migrants live in
this region, it will be foolish for New Delhi to expect Dhaka to crush
northeast militants holed up there.
India’s "Look East Policy" which worries actually Beijing because it
cut short latter’s expansionist policy with the Southeast Asian countries
mainly Myanmar. The Indo-ASEAN car rally has really generated
tremendous amount of "goodwill mission" with the Southeast Asian countries.
The
idea of "Indo-ASEAN Car Rally" was to make grounds for partnership in
the economic developments of the sub-continent and the "Look East
Policy" was in that direction and certainly, the northeast region will act as
an "Economic bridge" between the rest of the country and the Southeast
Asian countries.
The moot point is whether the Government of India is only trying to
become closer with the Southeast Asian countries by using northeast region
as a "conduit" for its economic development. If so, it will be
disastrous in the long run. You cannot have "Look East Policy" or "Indo-ASEAN
Car Rally" only to please neighboring countries. But the core issue is
how to make the people of the region aware that New Delhi is equally
concerned for their security and well-being.
In view of this, Kindiah’s comment on the strategic position of the
northeast to not only the neighboring countries but also the whole of the
country is correct. But the tragedy is whether the rest of the country
is aware of such position prevailing in this highly sensitive part of
the country, though the DONER Minister chooses to describe it as no more
"sensitive."
The gap between the region and the rest of the country due to prolonged
negligence by the Government of India coupled with insurgency problems
should be filled up. The Minister for DONER, Kyndiah, who happens to be
from the Northeast, should act as a key player towards this.
He should
try to keep the Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh and other
key Union Ministers informed time to time about the necessity of the
region. He should be able to feed them the correct picture of the region
and explain them that a blue print for the long-term development of the
whole region is need of the hour.
The "Look East Policy" and "Indo-ASEAN Car rally," are excellent steps
of the Government of India for the developments of the Southeast Asian
countries but the people of the region are not depending on this but to
the Government.
Such (Look East Policy and Indo-ASEAN Car Rally) are
secondary and if the region is "strategic" for the entire country as well
as neighboring countries, then develop the region at par with the rest
of the country. Let them feel the sense of oneness and belongingness
and see the result. But you cannot simply call it "strategic" for the
country as well as neighboring countries while ignoring the human values
of the region.
* Oken Jeet Sandham, the editor og NEPS writes regularly to e-pao.net
The writer can be contacted at [email protected]
This article was webcasted on February 07, 2005.
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