Why India is selling weapons to Burma
In need of help against separatist fighters, India ignores a EU-US weapons ban.
from the July 23, 2007 edition
Page 2 of 3
"It is an ill-timed and ill-thought initiative," says Suhas Chakma, the director of the Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) in New Delhi. "The government of India should be responding to the call of the international community including ASEAN to [promote democracy] in Burma and not sell arms to the junta to give it further legitimacy."
Other Indian weapons sales
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This would not be the first time India has sold weapons to Burma. In August 2006, the Indian Navy transferred two BN-2 Defender Islander maritime surveillance aircraft and deck-based air-defense guns.
In September, India's Defense Secretary, Shekhar Dutt, after a two-day official trip to Burma, announced the sale of 105-mm light artillery guns and T-55 tanks being phased out by Indian Army.
And in January this year, the Indian naval chief, Admiral Arun Prakash, visited Yangon in Burma. He announced India's plans to also sell the junta two British-built Islander surveillance aircraft.
India says it needs Burma's help. There are at least 20,000 guerrillas from five major militant groups in India's northeast – all fighting the Indian government for sovereignty or independence – who have training camps in the dense jungles of Sagaing in northern Burma.
New Delhi has been deliberating with Yangon over plans for a military offensive against such groups.
Counterinsurgency operations in India's northeast, says an official from India's Ministry of Defense under conditions of anonymity, cannot succeed unless neighboring countries refrain from supporting the separatist groups based on their territories.
When India's foreign minster, Pranab Mukherjee, visited Burma in January this year, the junta agreed to India's proposal to institutionalize cooperation between their armies for operations against insurgent groups in the northeast.
In December 2006, India's home minister, Shivraj Patil, and his Burmese counterpart, Maj. Gen. Maung Oo, met in New Delhi, and the Burmese agreed to set up a "police liaison post" at the border.
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