MU seminar on India-Myanmar-China Relations
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Imphal, April 28 2012:
"Myanmar will have to draw lessons from neighboring India and realize that inclusive co-option of ethnic minorities by turning them into the stakeholders of the Union is the road to a future strong and stable Myanmar", stated Subir Bhaumik, well-known journalist and editor of the Seven Sisters Post, presenting a paper "Burma's by-election: whither reconciliation" at the National Seminar on India-Myanmar-China Relations, organized by Centre for Myanmar Studies (CMYS), Manipur University.
On the second day of the seminar which started from April 27 and which will come to an end on April 30, there were four academic sessions in which 21 papers were presented by learned scholars and resource persons.
In the Academic Session I A : India-Myanmar-China relations and implications, moderated by professor N Joykumar, Tenshubam Hemo Singh focused on the triangular relations of India-Myanmar-China from the political and military perspectives in his paper "China's relations with India and Myanmar in the region" .
Udai Bhanu Singh's paper "Prospects for Myanmar-China Relations in the transitional phase" threw light on how China has sought to exercise effective diplomatic pressure on Myanmar at both bilateral and multilateral levels, and the interesting developments unfolding before our eyes with the opening up of Myanmar currently in progress.
The paper "China-Myanmar relations and its implications for India" presented by Puyam Rakesh Singh notes that the partnership of China and Myanmar which took a turn since 1989, when both the countries began facing western economic sanctions and isolation, have wider implications for India thereby creating a shift in India's policy towards Myanmar since early 1990s, beginning with economic interests in its eastern and southeastern Asian neighbors, 'Look East Policy' being reflective of India's wider strategic interests and other security concerns affecting the country especially in the Northeast.
C Mathew Kamei and Hidam Ajit Meetei in their paper "China-Myanmar relations and its implications on India" states that the geo-strategic China-Myanmar relations has strong implications on India and it will pose a threat to India through increase in small arms trade, drug trafficking and refugee menace and increase activities of insurgents.
In the Academic Session I B : Myanmar and her recent developments, moderated by professor E Bijoykumar, the paper "India vis-�-vis China : comparing and contrasting the development trajectories of India and China", by Chinglen Maisnam (Bobo) attempts to present how India and China, two emerging Asian powers, as immediate neighbors but vying with each other for stronger hold in Myanmar, help the country in the political transition process.
Subir Bhaumik's paper "Burma's by-election : whither reconciliation" states that the sweeping by-poll victories of the National League for Democracy (NLD) in Myanmar has opened a new vista for ethnic reconciliation and democracy in Burma and India must assist in the process because it has much to gain from ethnic reconciliation and end of conflict in areas dominated by armed minority groups because "if armed groups such as the KIO finally bid farewell to arms and join the democratic process, it will begin a game-changer process that could turn the militarized spaces all along India's northeastern frontiers into zones of peace and growth, where Indian capital can penetrate to register its economic presence and rebel groups from northeast India will be faced with a loss of sanctuaries and a raison d'etre for continuing their own struggles" .
Dr.Tint Swe presenting his paper "Aung San Suu Kyi and new Burma" stated that there should not be any more hegemony in new Burma, where the presence of the West will be welcome, but reasonable adjustment cannot be done without Aung San Suu Kyi.
He added that the "Look East Policy" which was agreed with the military junta should have to be amended in order to make it realistic.
In the Academic Session II A : Regional perspectives of India-Myanmar-China relations, moderated by professor K Saratchandra, 5 papers were presented and in the Academic Session II B : North East India in the web of India-Myanmar-China, moderated by professor E Bijoykumar, 6 papers were presented.
Around 20 papers will be presented in the seminar tomorrow in 4 sessions, which touch on wide ranging topics like insurgency, border trade and social and cultural backgrounds.
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