Myanmar: India must suspend military support

Mukul Sharma
The Hindu, 7 October

It will be a concrete step in aid of the democratic movement in Myanmar.

The military cracks down on protesters and takes an increasingly prominent position on the streets of Yangon. Hundreds of arrests are made and there are worrying reports of a rising death toll. Thousands of protesters continue to organise marches. There are protests around the world.

In this situation, the world expects a more meaningful reaction from the Indian Government. New Delhi must increase the pressure on Yangon if the mounting human rights crisis in the country is to be reversed and further bloodshed averted. The Indian Government should immediately suspend the supply to Myanmar of all direct and indirect transfers of military and security equipment, munitions, and expertise, including transfers that are claimed to be ‘non-lethal.’ It should maintain these cessations until the Government of Myanmar takes concrete, independently verified steps to improve the democratic situation, including the release of all prisoners of conscience. India has many a time visited other countries of concern, most recently Nepal. Why should it not do the same for the people in Myanmar whose rights have been trampled upon for so long?

Myanmar should face a comprehensive arms embargo. Since September 25, its security forces have raided monasteries, beaten and arrested hundreds of protesters, including monks and other public figures, used teargas, baton charges and warning shots to disperse protesters and fired at fleeing protesters and journalists. At least nine persons have been killed. Many monks were injured in the beating; one monk suffered a gunshot wound to his head. There is a grave risk that the military and security forces will react with more violence to the continuing mass protests by those calling for democratic reforms.

The government of Myanmar and its military, security and police forces of around 400,000 personnel have a well-documented record of serious human rights violations. China has been the principal source of arms supplies to the Myanmar security forces, followed by India, Serbia, Russia, Ukraine, and other countries. The Indian government should come clean at this moment as Myanmar has had a very dubious track record on arms transfer in the recent past.

In January 2007, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee promised to give a “favourable response” to the Myanmar Government’s request for military equipment (Bruce Loudon, ‘India to snub U.S. on Burma arms embargo,’ The Australian, January 23, 2007; ‘India to supply military equipment to Myanmar,’ The Hindu, January 22, 2007). And in April 2007 it was reported that Indian and Myanmar security forces were “conducting joint military operations along the 1,643-km Indo-Myanmar border to neutralise insurgent groups.” (‘Defence Relations With Myanmar Surge; Progress Made During Vice Admiral Thane’s Visit,’ India Defence, April 3, 2007, http://www.india-defence.com/reports/2996 ). India has not reported to the United Nations any arms transfers to Myanmar. Myanmarese military cooperation with the Indian Government in dealing with these groups has been reportedly linked with an Indian offer to supply military hardware such as tanks, aircraft, artillery guns, radar, small arms, and advanced light helicopters. (‘Indian Navy to Transfer BN2 Maritime Surveillance Aircraft to Myanmar,’ India Defence, May 12, 2007, http://www.india-defence.com/reports/3179 ; Rahul Bedi, ‘Indian training missions underline desire for greater strategic influence,’ Jane’s Defence Weekly, May 9, 2007.) Amnesty International, Saferworld, and other non-governmental organisations in the European Union (EU) published a report in July 2007 outlining in detail concerns about the potential transfer from India to Myanmar of attack helicopters that are highly likely to contain components, technology and munitions originating from EU member states and the United States.

The EU and the U.S. imposed arms embargoes on Myanmar in 1988 and 1993 respectively. In 1996, the EU upgraded its arms embargo to an EU Common Position, and noted with concern “the absence of progress towards democratisation and at the continuing violation of human rights in Burma/Myanmar.” The embargo, renewed in 2002 and again in 2006, is legally binding and requires all EU member states to implement and enforce its provisions at the national level. It bans the direct and indirect provision of technical or financial assistance, brokering, and other services related to military activities and military and related material.

Indirect transfers of military components are covered within the scope of the embargo, yet there is no comprehensive EU-wide control system in place to ensure that governments effectively implement and enforce their embargo commitments.

The current situation demands resolute interventions to prevent the massive repression. Stopping all Indian military support, and the involvement of their agencies, companies and nationals in the direct or indirect supply to Myanmar of any military, police or security equipment, will be a concrete step in support of the democratic movement of Myanmar.

(Mukul Sharma is Director, Amnesty International India.)
(Mukul Sharma is Director, Amnesty International India.)