New Delhi: India has reiterated its support for the return of democracy in Myanmar, which has been under military rule since February 2021 after the junta toppled the civilian government of democracy torchbearer Aung San Suu Kyi.
India held its 20th round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) with Myanmar in New Delhi Wednesday, during which Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra and Myanmar Deputy Foreign Minister U Lwin Oo also discussed several other issues ranging from border security, transnational crimes to trade, connectivity and bilateral development projects.
The meeting came after India expressed “concern” over the violence in the border last month, as Myanmar’s anti-military resistance forces attacked security outposts in the Chin state, which saw thousands cross over to India for safety.
Earlier Wednesday, the Chin rebel group chief Dr Sui Khar also appreciated India’s gesture to help the displaced population, who have taken shelter in Mizoram and Manipur.
The day before, Myanmar’s junta (military) chief had called on ethnic armed groups battling the military across the country to find a political solution, according to state media.
At the FOC, delegates also discussed India’s involvement in connectivity projects and those under the Rakhine State Development Programme and the Border Area Development Programme.
Some of these projects include the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project and the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway Project. India expressed its continued support for such “people-centric socio-economic developmental projects” in the country.
The meeting comes at a time when the junta is facing its biggest threat since its takeover in February 2021. Last month, resistance forces seized control near the Chin state. Myanmarese soldiers as well as civilians have reportedly fled into Mizoram as fighting continues in Rikhawdar — less than 10 km from the Mizoram border town of Zokhawthar.
The anti-junta resistance forces from diverse ethnic groups have so far defeated Myanmar’s military in different parts of the country, including in strategic regions located near borders with China and India. Myanmar has dozens of ethnic minority armed groups, many of which hold territory in the country’s border regions and have fought the military over the last 70 years, since gaining Independence from the British.
The pro-democracy armed groups have also captured areas around the two official land border crossing points between India and Myanmar and destroyed dozens of military bases.
Reports said the military has suffered casualties over the past week in Rakhine, Kachin, Shan and Karenni states and Magwe and Sagaing regions.
In late October, three groups launched a joint offensive across northern Shan state, capturing towns and seizing vital trade hubs on the China border. More than 250 civilians, including children, are feared to have died since October while 500,000 people have been displaced, according to the UN.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
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