Burma Development Depends on Giant Neighbours

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

January 21, 2004

The Burmese Director of Border Trade, Kyaw Dun, believes that the relationship between India and China is the key to the success of greater regional cooperation. Kyaw Dun has encouraged both countries to work together and to continue to improve their diplomatic ties.

The border trade director, who arrived in the north-eastern Indian state of Assam to participate in the International Conference on Regional Cooperation, told this Mizzima correspondent that the entire world is closely monitoring the ever-strengthening diplomatic relationship between India and China. “We are also monitoring the relationship. If both countries can improve their relationship, then the entire South East Asian region including (Burma), Laos and Bangladesh would benefit”, he said. Kyaw Dun did not elaborate with details on how improved Indian-Chinese relations would have such a positive regional impact.

Kyaw Dun confessed that despite the two trade pacts signed by India and Burma since 1971, the small increase in trade activity between the countries has not been encouraging. “We must take bolder step in this regard to boost trade”, he said.

One of the main issues discussed at the conference has been the potential reopening of the Stilwell Road that traverses across Burma, joining India to China and the rest of South East Asia. 2225km of the Stilwell Road are inside Burma and much of it has fallen into total disrepair. For the road to be reopened it requires the full cooperation of the Burmese regime. Kyaw Dun voices the Burmese position: “We are also in favour of reopening of the road in order to gear up trade between the countries, but … we should handle the issue carefully”.

Asked what the major concerns were for Burma if the road were to be reopened, Kyaw Dun said that the problem of insurgents operating in that region needs to be resolved. “It is true that a huge stretch of the road falls in the [rebel] Kachin area, but we have already signed a pact with the underground group from Kachin. Moreover, like the Indian government, we have been holding talks with the underground groups in our country. We are optimistic that we will obtain a fruitful result in the near future”, he said.

When asked whether the Burmese government had engaged in any military operations directed against the bases of north-east Indian militants taking shelter in the border area, Kyaw Dun parried the question. His broad answer was that the Junta did launch operations against the north-east Indian ultras from time to time, but the inaccessible terrain in that region caused a serious problem. “We want a permanent solution to the underground problem in the near future”, he added.

Giving more details about the current state India-Burma relations, the border trade director confirmed that his government was very keen to improve their relationship with India by opening trade points. Kyaw Dun pointed out that since the visit to Rangoon by the Indian Vice-President in 2003, the Burmese government has taken a series of step in order to strengthen relations with India.