ANALYSIS
Myanmar: President Kovind’s visit gives fresh impetus to India ties
Sreeparna Banerjee
The recent visit of Ram Nath Kovind, President of India, to Myanmar (10 –14 December 2018) ended on a renewed note of cooperation and mutual respect between both the nations. A number of MoUs were signed and many new opportunities opened for Myanmar as well as India. The ‘Enterprise India Show’ was also inaugurated during President Kovind’s visit, which witnessed participation of Indian industries to network, partner and explores business opportunities in Myanmar.
The Indian President launched the mobile app on agri-tech while dedicating the Advanced Centre for Agricultural Research and Education (ACARE) in Yezin Agricultural University to the people of Myanmar. Since agriculture forms the backbone of Myanmar, such efforts magnifies commitment of India to assist Myanmar in capacity building and providing technical assistance in the all-important agriculture sector.
Visa on arrival
A number of MoUs were also signed between both the sides in the areas of judicial and education cooperation. The most significant step of all has been the announcement of visa on arrival facility for Indian tourists by the Myanmar government. This facility will be available to all Indian tourists entering the country through the Nay Pyi Taw, Yangon and Mandalay international airports. This step has helped to strengthen people to people ties between both the nations.
Earlier in August, the operationalisation of the landmark agreement on Land Border Crossing between India and Myanmar took place with the simultaneous opening of international entry-exit checkpoints at the Tamu, Myanmar – Moreh, India and the Rihkhawdar, Chin State –Zowkhawtar, Mizoram. A Free Movement Regime (FMR) is already in place in the Indo-Burma border region to the three points of Moreh (Manipur), Zokhawathar (Mizoram) and Pangsau Pass (Arunachal Pradesh,) which allows the tribes/ethnic groups residing along the border to travel up to 16 km on both sides of the international border.
Indian citizens who wished to go beyond obtained a special land permit by Myanmar authorities. Indian citizens could travel to Tamu for a day visit with a pass costing Rs 20. To travel further on either side, cross-border visitors needed special permits. For Indians, the process had to be initiated by a Myanmar-based travel agent or some government employee of Myanmar. The report further stated that under the new regime, local residents will continue to have the right to cross over with a border pass within 16 km. For all others with a passport and visa, the crossing points will be open routinely to travel anywhere in the other country.
Buddhist pilgrims, medical tourists and students often travel to India. Thousands of Manipuris live in and around Mandalay; going to Imphal for them until now meant taking a flight from Yangon to Kolkata. With the opening of the border crossing, the 110-km journey from Imphal to Moreh will take about three hours, and from Tamu to Mandalay another four. A pilgrim from Mandalay need not go to Yangon anymore, and instead could head to Imphal by road and then fly to Bodh Gaya.
Thus, the residents of India's Northeast region are slowly beginning to reap the benefits of the Land-border Crossing Agreement. On top of this, the visa on arrival has been a welcome step for all those wishing to visit the beautiful nation of Myanmar. Also everyone is looking forward to the completion of the motor vehicle agreement.
Impending MoUs
Both sides agreed to sign at the earliest the MoU for Cooperation on Combating Timber-Trafficking and Conservation of Tigers and Other Wildlife. Timber-trafficking remains one of the most important issues in Myanmar. The nation has developed a legal framework and tracking system to control the timber trade, under which all wood is considered legal if it has the hammer stamps of the state-owned Myanmar Timber Enterprise (under the Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forests), and is exported via Yangon’s seaports.
However, available information suggests that Myanmar’s illicit timber exploitation and trafficking represents a great cause for concern within the region. According to one recent report, illegal cross border trade of timber, particularly to China, is not only occurring in vast quantities, but has also continued to occur for more than two decades. Bans have been issued by the government on the export of raw logs but to no avail. In reality it is a known fact that this trafficking is due to corruption amongst government officials.
Also, much of Myanmar’s illegal logging work is done at the individual and village level. Some villages are so well-organized that each participating person has a specific job and efforts to conceal illegal activity are coordinated and well-organized. It has been reported that since April 2018 alone, the Magway Region Forestry Department reported 276 illegal logging cases, 656 tons of illegal timber, and 59 vehicles. The smuggled timber was mostly teak and hardwood.
Extinct wildlife
Myanmar’s location between India and China, and an inadequate law enforcement response, not only in Myanmar, but also across the borders in Thailand and China, has resulted in Myanmar functioning as a wildlife trafficking corridor. Several large, open wildlife markets are reported to exist at border towns such as Mong La (Shan State, on the Myanmar-China border), Tachilek (Shan State, on the Myanmar-Thailand border), and Three Pagoda Pass (Kayin State, on the Myanmar-Thailand border), as well as in the interior at Kyaiktiyo (also known as Golden Rock, in Mon State).
Many globally threatened species have been recorded in Myanmar, including Indochinese tigers, Asian elephants, Asiatic black bears, red pandas, gaurs, and several primate species. A number of globally threatened species have not had any confirmed sightings in recent years, such as the Javan rhinoceros and the Sumatran rhinoceros, and may be locally extinct. Increases to commercial hunting and the wildlife trade, both for local markets and for trade to China, as well as logging and habitat loss, pose serious threats to many of Myanmar’s species.
Skins, skulls, skeletons, claws, teeth, and paws are some of the wild cat body parts regularly observed for sale at wildlife markets in Myanmar. There are no known captive tiger breeding facilities in Myanmar, with the exception of a few zoos, and as such it is possible that tiger parts in markets may be sourced from the wild in Myanmar and India, or from captive populations in Thailand and China.
Flesh for trade
Years of ethnic violence and armed conflicts in northeast India have made it a human trafficking hotspot. The region is a source, destination and transit point for girls being trafficked into brothels or domestic servitude. Traditionally, traffickers have used Nepal as a transit point to send women to the Gulf countries. But trafficking through Myanmar is now on the rise. Moreh is the first stop for girls trafficked from the north-eastern states. The border crossing is easy because agents have family and friends along border villages, who shelter the girls and get them to cross. Once they cross over, they are told not to reveal their Indian identities and then they are just lost. One of the residents in Manipur has confessed to have trafficked more than 100 girls through Myanmar in the past two years. This trend is on a rise and now authorities are now looking up to plausible solutions for the same.
In this regard, the MoU on Bilateral Cooperation for Prevention of Trafficking in Persons; Rescue, Recovery, Repatriation and Re-integration of Victims of Trafficking is underway. The completion of the MoUs along with the operationalisation is the need of hour.
The writer is a Research Assistant at Observer Research Foundation, Kolkata
Pakistan: Will Kartarpur Corridor help ease relations?
Sohini Bose
Every day many Indian Sikh devotees gather near the India-Pakistan border fence area to catch a glimpse of the Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara located on the other side of the border and offer their prayers. For almost 25 million Sikhs, this shrine is the holiest and visiting it is almost a religious obligation. However, despite being located at a distance of only four kilometres from the India-Pakistan international border in the Narowal district of Punjab, Pakistan, many Indian devotees have found it difficult to make a pilgrimage to the shrine.
However, the present turn of events suggests that the decade old demand of the Sikh devotees to construct a corridor linking Dera Baba Nanak on the Indian side with Kartarpur Sahib on the Pakistani side may soon be realised. The Pakistani government has promised the construction of the Kartarpur Corridor; a road link and a bridge which will allow Sikh pilgrims to visit the holy site. This is to become operational next year to mark the 550
th birth anniversary of the Guru Nanak. However, that path towards realisation of this Corridor has not been very smooth as may be understood from the following sub-section.
Bottom of Form
Top of Form
Bottom of Form
Historical backdrop
In 1539 when Guru Nanak died, the Hindus and Muslims built mausoleums in this area to honour his memory. However, an eventual change in the course of River Ravi washed away these structures and a shrine named the Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara was rebuilt in its place with financial assistance from the Maharaja of Patiala.
Later on in 1947 with the Radcliffe line of partition being drawn between India and Pakistan, two of the tombs fell on the Pakistan side while one fell on the Indian side. Consequently the shrine of Kartarpur Sahib fell on the Pakistani side and the Dehra Baba Nanak on the Indian side. Indian pilgrims continued to informally cross the border and visit the shrine of Kartarpur Sahib via a bridge but that was destroyed in 1965.
Four years later in 1969, on the occasion of the 500
th birthday of Guru Nanak, the then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi approached the Pakistan government with the proposal of land swapping so that the shrine which now fell within Pakistani territory could become a part of India. This however did not materialise and for decades, the Kartarpur Gurdwara remained relatively isolated.
In 1999, another Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee proposed the creation of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor on the Delhi-Lahore bus ride during the Sada-e-Sarhad peace initiative with Pakistan. His Pakistani counterpart, Prime Minister Nawaz Shariff responded positively to this proposal. A year later in 2000, Pakistan allowed Indian Sikh pilgrims to visit the shrine free of a visa and a passport. Further progress was made as a new bridge was promised to be constructed connecting the two shrines to facilitate pilgrimage. However this too remained to become a reality until recently.
New efforts
Words about the revival of the project were revived when in A
ugust 2018, Punjab minister and former cricketer Navjot Sidhu attended the swearing-in-ceremony of the new Pakistani Prime Minister and ex-Captain of the Pakistani cricket team, Imran Khan. Sidhu reported that according to Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, the Pakistani government was planning to open the Kartarpur Corridor, linking Kartarpur Sahib with the neighbouring Indian border on the occasion of the Sikh Guru’s 550
th birth anniversary.
However, this raised points of conflict within India and especially within Punjab. A discord brewed between Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and the Minister of Local Government, Tourism, Cultural Affairs, and Museums of the State of Punjab, Navjot Singh Sidhu. While the former still bears an overall critical attitude towards the Pakistan army and refuses to visit Pakistan unless the country stops its acts of violence on India, Sidhu sought special permit from the Central Government to visit Pakistan. However, history suggests that such a prominent action in easing bilateral ties with India is not likely to be the work of any Pakistani civilian government. It is perhaps an initiative by the country’s prominent military establishment. It is being hoped that perhaps the Pakistani army has understood the futility of fighting proxy wars with India and seeks to normalise relations. Therefore some circles believe General Bajwa is primarily responsible for the talks of reviving the Kartarpur Corridor while the new Prime Minister acts more as a symbolic head.
Indeed Khan had used the slogan “Modi ka jo yar who Ghaddar hay” (a friend of Modi is a traitor) in his election campaigns and had vowed to only engage in peace negotiations with India strictly according to his terms and conditions. However more recently Khan relented that both the countries have made mistakes in the past and that it would be impossible to progress harmoniously without breaking away from the shackles of a history of rivalry. Hence he stated that Islamabad was interested on initiating a dialogue for resolution of conflicts between India and Pakistan.
At the Indian front, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also approved the creation of the corridor from Dera Baba Nanak to the Pakistan border. Union Minister Arun Jaitley stated that the corridor will be three to four kilometres long and visa arrangements will be made. The ground breaking ceremony has already been performed in the village of Gurdaspur Mann. Pakistan is responsible for launching its part of the project.
However, though the realisation of the Kartarpur Corridor will be an achievement, it must be understood that Indo-Pak relations will remain complicated, multilayered and influenced by global players, who do not want peace. It may also be expected in some circles that New Delhi will reciprocate by opening the border on the Kashmir side. Moreover, the realisation of the corridor itself may become questionable if power changes hands in the Indian elections. Such determinants are yet to decide the fate of this long standing demand. Therefore, how far the Kartarpur Corridor will ease ties between the two countries remains debatable.
The writer is a Research Assistant at Observer Research Foundation, Kolkata
COUNTRY REPORTS
Afghanistan
Calling back troops
US President Donald Trump is apparently planning to withdraw more than 5000 soldiers from Afghanistan and verbal reports have already been issued to put the withdrawal plans to action. Timelines for the same have also been discussed and it could start within weeks or a few months. This comes just as the US and Taliban have ended their talks in Abu Dhabi. According to the Taliban, the talk had focused on withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan.
US takes up ‘next step’
After his return from the meeting between US and Taliban in Abu Dhabi, the US Special Representative for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, met Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani and the Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah. They discussed the next steps regarding an intra-Afghan dialogue during the meeting. In his Twitter handle, Khalilzad had earlier stated that the interaction in the United Arab Emirates with the Afghan and other international partners had been productive towards ending the conflict in Afghanistan.
Bangladesh
Khaleda cannot contest polls
The High Court this week rejected a writ petition that challenged the cancellation of former Bangladesh PM Khaleda Zia's candidacy. Begum Zia, Chairperson of Bangladesh Nationalist Party archival of ruling Awami League, is currently serving a 10-year jail sentence following her conviction in a corruption case. Begum Zia had filed nomination papers for the upcoming parliamentary elections on December 30. However, her candidature was rejected in consonance with the law in Bangladesh that prohibits anyone who is serving a jail term of more than two years from contesting elections.
48th Victory Day
The 48
th ‘Victory Day’ was celebrated this week with much fanfare across the country. Several functions were organised but public and government to mark this day. Prime Minister and President visited then National memorial to pay homage to the martyrs who sacrificed lives for the liberation of the Bangladesh Pakistani occupation forces. Bangladesh gained its liberation after a nine-month-long bloody war against the Pakistani forces in 1971. In recognition to India’s support to Bangladesh in its liberation, the government honours soldiers of Indian Army who sacrificed livers in Bangladesh’s liberation. Indian Army has fought alongside with Bangladeshi freedom fighters in 1971 War.
Bhutan
PM to visit India
Prime Minister Lotay Tshering will pay a state visit to New Delhi for three days beginning 27 December. During the visit Tshering is likely to discuss the tariff on the flagship 750-megawatt Mangdechhu hydropower project in Bhutan, which is being built with India’s assistance. Bhutan to negotiate with India to fix the tariff at Nu.4.50 per unit at least as the internal revenue of 12th plan will depend it.
National Day celebrated
The 111
th National Day was celebrated with much pomp and gaiety at Samste. In his address to the nation, King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck cautioned against public servants complacency and failing from discharging their duty, adding that they could become impedements to national development and progress.
Assembly agenda
The first session of the third National Assembly, which will begin on January 2. The main highlights of the session will be 12th Five-Year Plan and the annual budget 2018-19 as the government is expected to roll out some of its election pledges as part of its fiscal programmes.
India
Congress leader convicted for ’84 riots
The Delhi High Court on 21 December dismissed former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar’s plea seeking time till January 30 to surrender after being recently sentenced to life imprisonment in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.A bench of Justices S Muralidhar and Vinod Goel said it saw no grounds to grant him the relief and rejected his application.
Cong CMs in three States
Senior Congress leader
Ashok Gehlot took oath as the Rajasthan chief minister in Jaipur’s Albert Hall while Sachin Pilot was sworn in as the deputy CM. Likewise, another Congress veteran
Kamal Nath took over in Madhya Pradesh and
Bhupesh Baghel in Chhattisgarh — after the Congress
wrested the three states from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) a week ago. Another senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel was appointed as the new chief minister of Chhattisgarh, ending the suspense after days of intense deliberations.
Don’t ‘politicise’ Rafale
IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa, in a press conference called French-made Rafale fighter a game-changer and said the Supreme Court has given a "fine judgment" on petitions against the deal with France on the military aircraft. He also cautioned against politicisation of defence purchases, suggesting that this had earlier led to the delay in the Army acquiring the Bofors gun.
Maldives
Coalition concerns
With Parliament polls now fixed for 6 April, the ruling four-party coalition that brought President Mohamed Ibrahim ‘Ibu’ Solih to power in September seems headed for a split. Solih’s MDP-leader of the coalition leader and former President Mohammed ‘Anni’ Nasheed has reiterated the party’s decision to contest all seats, and has received nominations for primaries to all 87 seats. Friday’s meeting of the coalition leadership with President Solih present ended ‘inconclusively’ with Nasheed later indicated that they stood by the earlier decision. Recalling the coalition’s written agreement signed ahead of the 23 September presidential polls, leaders of the other three coalition partners have variously declared their continuing support to the Solih leadership, as if urging the latter to take the leader to make his own party fall in line with the agreed formula for seat-sharing.
Myanmar
Attack on local Buddhist
Myanmar forces are conducting new rounds of "clearance operations" in conflict-hit Rakhine state after four local Buddhists were attacked and two killed, with one of the incidents blamed on Rohingya Muslims. The violence occurred around the evening of 17 December along Pyu Ma creek in northern Rakhine state's Maungdaw township, the same area where forces waged a bloody crackdown against the Rohingya last year. Tensions are high in northern Rakhine as the government seeks to kickstart a repatriation process but Rohingya in Bangladesh have refused to take part without being guaranteed rights, citizenship and safety.
Illegal trafficking
Myanmar's rich biodiversity continues to be damaged by illegal trade and the killing of elephants and other wild animals. Of the over 20 wild elephants that died from January through September, 17 were killed by poachers, according to the Forest Department. More than 46 elephants were slaughtered last year, and poachers killed 84 of the 165 wild elephants that died from 2010 to 2017, it said. Most of the poaching occurred in Ayeyarwady and Yangon regions.
Nepal
‘Hindu revivalism’ on cards?
The Rashtriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) is bent on bringing about a rejuvenation of monarchy and Hindu State in the country. Consequently, a peaceful demonstration has been suggested. In this regard, the former Deputy Prime Minister has been trying to reinstall identity based politics rather than any party or government. The extent of its fruitfulness is however, doubtful.
Fast-tracking water project
The completion of the Melamchi Water Supply Project (MWSP) has been instructed by the Finance Committee to the government within the stipulated time, without incurring extra costs. Financially being supported by an Italian company, the project had faced a setback due to economic constraints. The delay has been for around two to three years. With 95 percent progress till date, fingers remain crossed on its final embodiment.
Pakistan
SC seeks amendment
The Pakistani Supreme Court has requested Parliament to amend the accountability law, which allows voluntary return of plundered money by February next year. According to Chief Justice Sheik Azmat Saeed this provision amounts to confession of the offense but does not undo the crime. He further added that if the Parliament left the mater unheeded, the court itself would pass an order in this regard. Meanwhile a parliamentary committee is working to overhaul the National Accountability Ordinance.
Land-grab probe
The district administration of Islamabad has constituted a committee under Deputy Commissioner Hazma Shafqaat to investigate land-grabbing allegations made by the residents of the Noon village. The request for the formation of such a body was made by the Senior Superintendent of Police (Operations). Nine people have lodged complaints about a group occupying their land by pressurising the owners. The committee is thus set to redress the land issues of the village and surrounding areas.
Sri Lanka
New Cabinet sworn in
Only days after swearing in Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesiinghe, this time for the second time after the ‘constitutional crisis that he himself had triggered, President Maithripala Sirisena administered oath of office to his new Cabinet of Ministers, and followed it up with a second group of non-Cabinet Ministers, State and Deputy Ministers, another two days later. Noticeably, Wickremesinghe has brought back ‘bonds scam’ tainted former Finance/Foreign Minister, Ravi Karunanayake, and also the junior Tamil Minister, Vijayakala Maheswaran, who was dropped earlier for her allegedly ‘pro-LTTE speech’ for which, he was later arrested before being let out on bail.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Afghanistan
Opinion Pieces
Mujib Mashal, “Taliban Talks Covered Fate of U.S. Military Presence in Afghanistan, Envoy Says”, The New York Times, 20 December 2018
Moh. Salem Naji, “The Role of Regional Players in Afghan Peace Process”, Daily Outlook Afghanistan, 17 December 2018
Editorials
Daily Outlook Afghanistan, “Education Sector Requires Attention”, 17 December 2018
Daily Outlook Afghanistan, “Trilateral Dialogue – Light at the End of the Tunnel”, 16 December 2018
Bangladesh
Opinion Pieces
Gwen Robinson, “The rise and rise of Bangladesh”, Asian Review, 19 December 2018
Badiuzzaman Bay, “Poll Violence: Who will bell the cat?”, The Daily Star, 21 December 2018
Bhutan
Opinion Pieces
Ugyen Penjore, “Celebrating progress and prosperity in Samste”, Kunesel, 17 December 2018
Editorials
The Bhutanese, “111th National Day”, 15 December 2018
India
Opinion Pieces
Capt. Amrinder Singh, “General, the slip is showing”, The Tribune, 19 December 2018
Ajay Vir Jhakar, ”Constituency Of Farmers”, The Indian Express, 12 December 2018
Editorials
The Quint, “Sohrabuddin Fake “Encounter Case: CBI Court Acquits All 22 Accused”, 21 December 2018
Maldives
Opinion Pieces
N Sathiya Moorthy, “Need to avoid process hiccups in Indian aid relations”, www.orfonline.org, 20 December 2018
Dr Harsh V Pant, “Restoring balance”, www.orfonline.org, The Hindu, 19 December 2018
Myanmar
Opinion Pieces
Lawi Weng, “Army’s Willingness to Sit Down with FPNCC Members Shows China’s Growing Clout”, The Irrawaddy, 18 December 2018
Naing Ko Ko, “Can Myanmar Profit From the Trade and Currency Wars?”, The Irrawaddy, 17 December 2018
Nepal
Opinion Pieces
Bimal Pratap Shah, “Watch your democracy”, Republica, 20 December 2018
Mohna Ansari, “Justice, interrupted”, The Kathmandu Post, 21 December 2018
Editorials
The Kathmandu Post, “Fowl play”, 19 December 2018
The Kathmandu Post, “Roll Call”, 14 December 2018
Pakistan
Opinion Pieces
I.A. Rehman, “The real threat to Thar”, Dawn, 20 December 2018
Morial Shah, “No magic”, The Express Tribune, 20 December 2018
Editorial
Dawn, “Drug-addicted students”, 21 December 2018
The Express Tribune, “Affordable healthcare”, 21 December 2018
Sri Lanka
Opinion Pieces
Rajan Philips, “Ranil’s last chance and Ravi’s perpetual reward”, The Island, 23 December 2018
Kumar David, “What to do and what not to do next”, The Island, 23 December 2018
D B S Jeyaraj, “Mahinda Rajapaksa may be down, but not certainly out”, Daily Mirror Online, 22 December 2018
Prof Rajiva Wijesinha, “Confused and confusing 19-A”, The Island, 21 December 2018
Kusal Perera, “The politics of Amendments”, Daily Mirror Online, 21 December 2018
M S M Ayub, “Political crisis drags racism to the fore”, Daily Mirror Online, 21 December 2018
Kelum Bandara, “Political crisis not yet over”, Daily Mirror Online, 20 December 2018
N Sathiya Moorthy, “Cohabitation and constitutional crisis”, 18 December 2018
Ameen Izzadeen, “Abolish the executive presidency or reduce its power further”, Daily Mirror Online, 18 December 2018
C A Chandraprema, “A UNP Government under a hostile President”, The Island, 18 December 2018
N Sathiya Moorthy, “Mahinda cuts his losses, but...”, www.orfonline.org, 17 December 2018
Jehan Perera, “Resolve national question with President’s support”, The Island, 17 December 2018
N Sathiya Moorthy, “What does post-crisis situation mean for India?”, www.orfonline.org, 17 December 2018
Contributors
Afghanistan & Pakistan: Sohini Bose
Bangladesh: Joyeeta Bhattacharjee
Bhutan: Mihir Bhonsale
India: Ketan Mehta
Maldives & Sri Lanka: N Sathiya Moorthy
Myanmar: Sreeparna Banerjee
Nepal: Sohini Nayak
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