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Execution of Pro-democracy Activists in Myanmar: Why Delhi is Unable to go Beyond Expressing Concern?
Opinion | Articles | Pamreihor Khashimwo | 16-Aug-2022
India expressed ‘deep concern’ over the detention of top Myanmar and the military takeover in February 2021. Since then Myanmar’s position in the world has declined significantly. The military junta’s execution of four political activists on July 25, 2022, marked a new low. Political activists being put to death is a blatant infraction of the laws and norms that govern civilised behaviour in the world community. In June when the decision to execute four pro-democracy activists detained since 2021 on charges of supporting terrorism and arming people to overthrow the military junta in Myanmar was announced, there were scepticism all around as it was likely to adversely affect Myanmar’s relationship with the rest of the world. Therefore, there were hopes that the Junta may not decide to go that far.
Following the February 2021 take over, countries like United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Canada, and Australia slapped sanctions on a number of generals, imposing travel bans, freezing their asset, denying financial, legal, and medical services. Russia and China opposed sanctions, and India’s external affairs minister S. Jaishankar joined the chorus, declaring that India did not support sanctions but trusted ASEAN’s stance on Myanmar and its engagement efforts. Delhi even made an effort to communicate with the military junta by dispatching its foreign secretary to Myanmar in 2021.
It may be mentioned that two of the four people who were executed were prominent opponents of the military dictatorship. Rapper and hip-hop artist U Phyo Zeya Thaw belonged to the National League for Democracy. He has been a member of parliament since 2012 and was close to Aung San Suu Kyi, the party’s leader. Ko Jimmy was a seasoned democratic activist who took part in the “88 Movement,” a student-led rebellion against General Ne Win’s military dictatorship. Therefore, they were not ordinary common men, but staunch and hard core protagonists of democratic movement in Myanmar. The June 2022 execution was also the first official killing in the last 25 years though several other detainees have been handed down death penalties.
While several countries, as well as world bodies - the United Nations and the European Union, had strongly condemned the action, India’s response has been a lukewarm expression of concern and nothing beyond. New Delhi’s decision to bar the junta from June 16, 2022, during special ASEAN-India Dialogue summit of foreign ministers also was seen as the outcome pressures from India’s Quad allies and not an independent stand. On the other hand, regional organisations, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, have condemned the execution in no uncertain terms.
As a matter of fact, ASEAN, an organisation known for hands-off approach to member states’ internal politics, took to an unusual move and issued a strong statement against the execution despite the current ASEAN Chairman being the Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who is known to be a close ally of Myanmar. Amongst the Quadrilateral coalition, India was conspicuous in her silence beyond expressing “deep concerns” over the executions of four pro-democracy activists, which was not expected from a country looked up by others as largest functioning democracy.
The junta’s blatant disregard for the rule of law through the executions of political activists was unprecedented. The defiance is a cruel reminder to countries like India, that while extending a deceptive hand of friendship, the military regime is doing what it considered was appropriate to perpetuate its control over the people of Myanmar. Therefore, as a country which took so much pride in her own democracy and encouraging other in her neighbourhood to follow suit, the silence of India was deafening and regrettable. It is inappropriate politically, morally and strategically. It is ill-conceived on the part of a country aspiring to assume regional leadership in an emerging geopolitical setting, wherein the Military regime care hood about what the rest of the world think of them.
Key reasons why New Delhi may be reluctant to displease the Myanmar military could be for the following reasons. One, the security concerns in Northeast India, with several North East Insurgent groups operating from the Myanmar soil. Secondly, New Delhi may also be concerned about China exploiting the western world action against Myanmar. However, realistically speaking these fears are misplaced and unfounded. For several years now, Myanmar military has never done anything substantial to contain Indian insurgents’ activity on their soil. Secondly, with or without the western sanction, the Myanmar military is already under the control of China.
It is interesting to note that while the Indian government is doing everything possible to ensure that the Junta was able to carry out their games plans, New Delhi is also pushing for restoration of democracy in Myanmar. This is bizarre to say the least, because empowered Military regime will never favour the return of democracy since it is a question of existential issue. Also with such apathy to suffering of people in Myanmar, management of security on the Indo-Myanmar border may become more complex as many ethnic groups in provinces along the border on the Myanmar side has affinity with groups on this side of the border.
Therefore, if India is to successfully push its Myanmar policy on development, cooperation, mutual trust on security and social security, and above all to ensure the success of ‘Act East’ policy, a consistent stand on Myanmar on the current crisis is imperative. The push for return of democracy must be prioritised. And to be able to do that, military hand-holding will not serve any purpose. The civil society in Myanmar has to be convinced that India is doing all it can to support the democratic movement, and towards this end, maintaining a mute silence on issue as serious as execution of democratic forces will not be well received.
In recent years, there has been number of high-level interaction between the two countries, but without much result. Many bilateral agreements are still not being implemented on time, and many promises remained unfulfilled. This too has resulted into serious credibility issue. If at all India is serious above matching up with China’s strategy in Myanmar, leave alone outmanoeuvring, our policy needs to be consistent, realistic and driven by sound rationale and farsightedness. Simply maintaining a convenient silence, and being lukewarm on issues as serious as the execution of democratic forces will not lead anywhere. Delhi shall have to walk the talk and win the confidence of the people in Myanmar – more so, on the population along the border.
(The writer is a Research Associate & Research Coordinator in Department of African Studies, Delhi University. He can be reached on khashimwo.jnu@gmail.com. Views expressed are personal)
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