Surajit Khaund, Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)

January 19, 2004

Putting an end to all speculation on the possible reopening of the famous Stilwell Road, Burma today indicated that it is not in a mood to fulfill the wishes of north-east Indian state governments. The Burmese Director of Border Trade, Kyaw Dun, appealed to the Indian government to go slow in regards to the Stilwell road project. If opened, the road would provide access to a vital transportation link from India, through Burma and into China and south-east Asia

Kyaw Dun, along with the other five members of an official party from Burma, arrived in Assam in India’s north-east to participate in an international conference on regional co-operation. They argued that the project is so huge that it requires more time to study the feasibility of the project. “Instead of reopening the road we should concentrate more on other trade activities”, Kyaw Dun said.

Mizzima news group recently published an article revealing that the Burmese Junta was not in a mood to consider the reopening of the road. This is primarily because extended stretches of the famous Stilwell Road fall under Kachin rebel controlled areas where the Burmese Government exerts limited control. As a result, the Junta has been stalling the process of reopening despite repeated requests from north-east India.

Kyaw Dun did say that the Burmese Government would extend all possible help to the Indian government in their efforts to boost trade with south-east Asian countries. “We are ready to help the Indian government to start any new trade activity in the region”, he stated.

The Burmese position in regards to the Stilwell Road has provided an initial setback to the Assam government, organisers of the three-day conference. The north-east Indian state government of Assam has been lobbying hard for the reopening of the road with an eye to gear up trade with Burma and link directly into south-east Asia. The conference is being attended by huge delegations from China and Bangladesh, both of which are expected to back a resolution in favour of the Stilwell Road being reopened.

Kyaw Dun assured the gathering that he would take up the matter of the Stilwell Road opening with his government upon his return to Rangoon.

Visa problem for the Chinese delegation: At a time when the Indian government is trying to boost trade its Asian neighbours, several members of the Chinese delegation to the conference in Assam were barred from participating due to their visas not being cleared in time.

According to the organisers, among those unable to have their visas cleared by the Indian External Affairs Ministry were Professor Wang Chongli, director of the Institute of South Asian Studies at the Yunan Academy of Social Sciences, and two other academics: Hu Zhongpeng and Ziang Maoxia. All had applied for their visas in time but the External Affairs Ministry turned down their request at the eleventh hour and they were therefore unable to participate in the conference. No reason was given for the refusal to grant the visas.