Johny G Rengma
[dropcap]I[/dropcap]t is not without good reason we can say North-East India is the bridgehead between India and Myanmar; and on its part Myanmar is truly the crucial bridge between India and Southeast Asia.
It’s the recognition of this reality by the Government of India under NDA that the then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had laid crystal clear emphasis towards the “Look East policy”. That the BJP pursues matter of national importance with a far-sighted vision is understood from the fact that under Vajpayee regime a series of attempts were made to leapfrog the national and regional economy and participate in the new trend of globalization.Over the years as a Naga and a concerned political activist from northeast I have been trying to study the significance of the policy and the role of people and the North-Eastern States like Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram those bordering Myanmar.
North-East India and North-West Myanmar are multi-ethnic regions with the Nagas, Kukis and other ethnic groups. The fact that we share age-old historical, cultural and religious ties for us in north-east India, common borders and cultural affinities make Myanmar very close to our hearts.
But it is also a fact that the Naga areas of Myanmar have remained under developed. Our focus therefore, should be given to explore possibilities of how people-to-people contacts could be increased and how to tap the commercial potentials between the two regions which can be utilized to strengthen overall India-Myanmar ties.
My personal discussions with our party president Rajnath Singhji has yet again made it clear that BJP sees Look East Policy as championed by our great former Prime Minister Vajpayeeji as a key cornerstone of our diplomatic endeavours.
I ought to mention here that the government of Atal Behari Vajpayee had taken a key step to offer a unilateral “open skies” policy to specified Southeast Asian airlines, who were allowed to operate daily flights to the Indian metropolitan centres. Now taking this forward, the Manipur capital Imphal’s Tulihal Airport is making debut on international aviation map. I heartily welcome this forward looking step.
But having said these we should not miss the point that Naga areas in Myanmar remain under developed due to plethora of reasons. These ought to be looked into urgently as under development is perhaps encouraging various northeast militant groups take shelter there and exploit the situation.
It goes without saying that the region – northeast India and Naga inhabited areas of Myanmar - has the world’s largest bio-diversity, a treasure trove of rare medicinal plants and herbs. These can be channelised as major attractions for investors in the region. North-East India along with Myanmar is also endowed with suitable climatic and soil conditions where varieties of fruits, spices, vegetables and other plantation crops such as tea, rubber etc. can be grown commercially. Besides there are also rich forests and other resources like oil, natural gas and water resources having huge potential for hydro-electricity.
As regard to Nagaland State in particular, it is only natural that all efforts must be made to promote border trade. And on this the suggestion made by the Neiphiu government in Nagaland for opening of border trade routes from Chenmoho (Nagaland) to Yangchong (Myanmar), Pangsha (Nagaland) to Hempu (Myanmar) and Monyakshu (Nagaland) to Yangching (Myanmar) would be relevant. India and Myanmar signed a border trade agreement in 1994 but we have miles to go on this front.
It is worth mentioning here that under Myanmar government’s provisions, the Naga Self-Administered Zone was stipulated by the 2008 constitution. It is a self-administered zone consisting of important townships including Leshi, Lahe and Namyun falling under Sagaing Division. The official name was announced by decree on August 20, 2010. The zone is to be self-administered by the Naga people. Its administrative seat is the town of Lahe.
This implies that Nagas in Myanmar too have established their toehold politically in that country but they are looking forward to us, the Nagas and the citizens of North-East India to extend a hand of friendship and support to them.
True statesmanship needs balancing the experience of the past against the claims of future. The tested saying perhaps applies best to the situation vis-à-vis Indo-Myanmar relation especially in terms of harmonious relation between Nagas in Myanmar and other Naga groups and various North-East tribal groups in northeast of India.
Equity is also an issue. From a primordial economy, the northeast India today is a telling picture of a different world. It’s ‘westernized’ in developments and in the last six decades, the northeast region has evolved from a coherent but tribal values and custom-ridden social system to a forward looking mobile society.
It’s time we take interest in the welfare of the Nagas in western Myanmar.
A recent survey report said the majority of North-East India’s population is living in corners that require piped water supply, improved roads and the modern housing and entrepreneurship policies. We need to bring out these necessary changes for Nagas in Myanmar as well.
In this context, I welcome and support the demand made by the Neiphiu Rio-led DAN government in Nagaland border areas of Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram should be connected to Myanmar by road as this will help easy mobility of people, resources and cultural exchange between these States and Myanmar.
The writer is National Vicce
President Scheduled Tribe Wing.
