Two months after coup, India attends navy parade in Myanmar

INDIA WAS amongst eight nations that attended an annual navy parade in Myanmar’s capital Naypitaw on March 27 — almost two months after the navy staged a coup to depose the Aung San Suu Kyi authorities and launched a lethal crackdown towards protesters demanding the return of democratic rule.
Russia, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand additionally despatched representatives to Myanmar to be a part of the parade to mark Tatmadaw Day on Saturday, media studies stated.
A senior official in South Block advised The Indian Express that “since diplomatic relations between both the countries continue, diplomatic commitments are also continuing”.
The Myanmar navy’s crackdown, together with firing at protesters and utilizing tear fuel, is estimated to have led to almost 500 deaths and drawn condemnation from internationally. It has additionally led to a refugee inflow into neighbouring Mizoram, largely by policemen who’ve fled the crackdown.
The annual parade occurred a day after the navy chiefs of almost a dozen nations condemned the extreme use of power by the Myanmarese navy towards the protesters. In a press release issued Friday, General Mark A Milley, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, joined fellow chiefs in condemning using deadly power towards protesters.
The assertion stated that Milley joined “chiefs of defence from Australia, Canada, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, the Kingdom of Denmark, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom in calling on the military junta in Burma — also called Myanmar — to follow international standards of military professionalism”.

It stated that as “Chiefs of Defence, we condemn the use of lethal force against unarmed people by the Myanmar Armed Forces and associated security services,” and that “a professional military follows international standards for conduct and is responsible for protecting — not harming — the people it serves”.
It urged the Tatmadaw, the armed forces of Myanmar, “to cease violence and work to restore respect and credibility with the people of Myanmar that it has lost through its actions” and stated that the assertion “follows concerns voiced by other countries in the region…”
Since its preliminary assertion quickly after the coup, India has maintained silence on the problem. On February 1, the External Affairs Ministry had said: “We have noted the developments in Myanmar with deep concern. India has always been steadfast in its support to the process of democratic transition in Myanmar. We believe that the rule of law and the democratic process must be upheld. We are monitoring the situation closely.”
Since then, even because the Mizoram authorities had issued a directive to help refugees fleeing Myanmar, the Union Government has knowledgeable bordering states and the Assam Rifles to dam the influx of Myanmar nationals, and deport those who had are available.
India has historically loved an in depth relationship with the regimes in energy in Myanmar, particularly the navy. In October 2020, Army Chief General M M Naravane and Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla had visited the nation to reinforce bilateral ties. They had met the nation’s then state counsellor, Aung San Suu Kyi, and the navy management.

India had additionally handed over a submarine to Myanmar, which was formally inducted in December.
Speaking at a seminar in February, the Army Chief had spoken concerning the proximity of the militaries of the 2 international locations. He had said that “while relentless operations by the security forces and proactive government policies have laid the foundation, favourable external environment with Myanmar and Bangladesh has struck at the roots of insurgent organisations”.
Naravane had additionally stated {that a} “series of operations under Operation Sunrise with Myanmar Army has witnessed growing cooperation and synergy between the soldiers on ground with reasonable operational dividends”.