India may claim to be the world’s largest democracy but certainly doesn’t act like it. At a time when all of the world’s other major democracies are condemning Burma for its brutal crackdown on democracy advocates and protesting peaceful monks, India is instead showering Burma with money.
India is close to signing an agreement with the Burmese military junta to develop the port of Sittwe, officials in Delhi have said.
India will put $103m into the project, despite international calls for sanctions against the military rulers.
Analysts say Delhi has been reluctant to criticise the generals because of its strategic interests in the area.
The two countries share a border of about 1,600km (1,000 miles) and Sittwe, in Burma’s Arakan province, is 160km from India’s Mizoram state.
“We are now in a final stages of negotiations and the agreement should be through within a month,” said an Indian foreign ministry official, who did not wish to be named.
Under the agreement, India will invest $103m to develop the port and put in place facilities to use the Kaladan river.
Goods will then be easily shipped from ports in eastern India and taken to the landlocked north-east Indian states in smaller vessels.
Re: Shame, Shame - India rewards Burma for democracy crackdown with $100 million
there is nothing wrong in it. India is committed to its own people for democracy. not for Burmese...
if Burmese want democracy, let them fight for it against present government and earn it. why should India interfere?? It's always an indian policy to repsect the right of other nation to solve their internal problem.
nevertheless, this deal is gonna benefit people of both nation equally. burma will get technical and logistics support from India for development of their port whereas India will get easy access to north eastern states. It's a nice move by Indian economist to develop underdeveloped north eastern states and take them at par with main land. Bravo.
Secondly, by imposing sanction, u can not topple the miliarty govt. they are rich enough to sustain themselves. It will only masses and people will die of hunger. what is use of such sanction which will bring democracy but let the people die of hunger.
lastly, one has to remember that instrument of govt, whether democracy, socialism or military dictatorships is choice of people of the nation and no external force should be use to change it forcefully. It's the nation's people. only.
Re: Shame, Shame - India rewards Burma for democracy crackdown with $100 million
good on india to help out myanmar. as for democracy, it is not for everyone. military rule suits nations that aren’t progressive-minded. does that mean progressive nations should shut them out?
Re: Shame, Shame - India rewards Burma for democracy crackdown with $100 million
lastly, one has to remember that instrument of govt, whether democracy, socialism or military dictatorships is choice of people of the nation and no external force should be use to change it forcefully. It's the nation's people. only.
Its the choice of the people to get killed/ thrown in jail while protesting peacfully?
Re: Shame, Shame - India rewards Burma for democracy crackdown with $100 million
Maddy, there is nothing in the world called "pro-democracy" when it comes to other regimes, just look at our very own country how other countries who are "preaching" democracy around the globe have supported dictatorship in last 8 years as well as 1977-1988.
Re: Shame, Shame - India rewards Burma for democracy crackdown with $100 million
Whats wrong in this. The port will actually help Burmese people. It will open up Burma to the world. This will also increase the Indian influence there. The money is not going into Military rulers pocket.
If the world puts sanctions on Burma then what happens, the poor people get poorer and their famlies and kids starv. The military ruler will still get all the aisho aaram.
Re: Shame, Shame - India rewards Burma for democracy crackdown with $100 million
^ We don't claim to be the "biggest democracy" and the hope of NAM etc..
You can't force people to democracy and with Gods grace the people of Burma will get it one day. Besides as I said before, the port opens up Burma to the world. When there is more transaction then changes happen. If a country is closed people will never know what freedom means.
Democracy cannot be brought about by force. Democracy means will of the people, then how can you force it on others. Iraq is a living example.
Re: Shame, Shame - India rewards Burma for democracy crackdown with $100 million
Sanctions and complete isolation never worked and there are a number of examples:
North Korea - they simply got what they need by getting whatever they need from China; USA simply lost a lot of time by taking a rigid isolation stand which provided time for the N.Korean regime to buy nuclear technology from Pakistan and then USA had to come to the table and make deals anyway.
Iraq - after years of sanctions and isolation all that happened was Saddam Hussein bought whatever he wanted from Russia, France and Germany. An incensed USA attacked and everyone knows the results which are still unfolding
Iran - similar story unfolding
So why should India, the largest and greatest democracy in the world ever, with one of the most balanced development agenda, shirk from WORKING with Burma/Myanmar with whom we share so many religious, cultural and historical ties?
Yes we will encourage democracy and whatever credibility we build with Myanmar through these development programs will only enhance the impact of such encouragement.
So before criticising our action please consider these and other obvious facts and you will realize this is a courageous stand that India is taking by not simply jumping at the whim and fancy of a unipolar director in Washington DC.
Re: Shame, Shame - India rewards Burma for democracy crackdown with $100 million
and shame shame on every country thats making financial deals with pak...we have dictatorship aswell and a brutal one too.
LOL... ours doesn't kill peaceful religious protesters, and ours is supported by a parliament elected in non rigged elections that give entire parts of the country to non-government parties.
Compare ours to Burma and ours doesn't even look like a dictatorship at all.
Re: Shame, Shame - India rewards Burma for democracy crackdown with $100 million
LOL... ours doesn't kill peaceful religious protesters, and ours is supported by a parliament elected in non rigged elections that give entire parts of the country to non-government parties.
I absolutely agree with mAd_ScIeNtIsT. Democratic nations must not deal with any kind of dictatorial regims, military rulers or religious juntas and psudo-democracies.
Re: Shame, Shame - India rewards Burma for democracy crackdown with $100 million
^ if we live in a time of principles and fairness doctrines and theories, sure democracies should not associate with dictatorships. But then in such a world dictatorship wouldn't exist in the first place.
Not engaging tyrants and dictators is not a virtue but an act of cowardice.
