ARE RSS FRATERNAL TIES WITH MILITARY JUNTA BEHIND INDIA’S SOFT STAND ON SLAUGHTER OF PEOPLE IN MYANMAR?
If a shameful act means an action which is
criminal and nauseating; it would be an understatement to describe the attitude
of the present RSS-BJP rulers of India towards the demolition of democracy and
large scale killing of the people of Myanmar by the military [tatmadaw] junta
which took power through a coup on February 1, 2021 after renegading on the election
results in which the party of Aung San Suu Kyi, National
League for Democracy was a clear winner. The ruthless rule by the military in Myanmar (formerly named Burma) is not a new
phenomenon. Last time it lasted almost for 5 decades; from 1962 to 2011 and now
has resumed in 2021.
BLOOD
BATH BY THE MILITARY RULERS
According
to the latest tally by the renowned nonprofit Assistance Association for
Political Prisoners, at least 500 people, mostly young, have been killed in
Myanmar since the military coup on February 1. At least six children between
the ages of 10 and 16 were among those killed on Saturday, Myanmar's Armed
Forces Day. So far more than forty three children have been killed by the military
firing squads.
[https://abcnews.go.com/International/myanmars-military-junta-reportedly-killed-43-children-coup/story?id=76832443]
How
military rulers were killings with impunity was made clear by a joint statement
of Alice Wairimu Nderitu, UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, and
Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights which demanded that
the Myanmar military must "immediately stop killing the very people it has
the duty to serve and protect." The UN Special Rapporteur for Myanmar
said the army was carrying out "mass murder" and called on the world
to isolate the junta and halt its access to weapons.
[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-56612247
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/03/28/asia/myanmar-protests-violence-intl-hnk/index.html]
INDIA
JOINED PAKISTAN & CHINA IN CELEBRATING MILITARY DAY WHEN THE MASSACRE WAS
ON
A
number of human rights’ activists and political analysts have reasons to
claim that RSS-BJP rulers of India are not doing even minimum to stop the mass
slaughter of the Myanmarese. It seems to be the
continuation of the support which was offered during the genocide of the
Rohingyas earlier. According to a leading English daily of India, two months
after the coup India joined Russia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and
the two sworn enemies, China and Pakistan in sending a high-level military
delegation to participate in the celebration of the ‘Tatmadaw Day’ [Military
Day] on March 27, 2021. It is the most prominent state function of Myanmar.
India joined the celebration exactly
on the day which witnessed maximum killings of the common people, most of them
youth, since the coup. It is not that Indian government did not know about the
critical situation in Myanmar. A day before the annual parade in which the Indian
military delegation joined the celebration, military chiefs of USA, 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 had released a statement which read: “as Chiefs of Defence, we condemn the use of
lethal force against unarmed people by the Myanmar Armed Forces and associated
security services…a professional military follows international standards for
conduct and is responsible for protecting — not harming — the people it
serves”.
The
presence of Indian military delegation at the killer Myanmar army’s annual day
was not sudden or unexpected. India under PM Modi developed a close
relationship with the Myanmar military. In October 2020, Army Chief General M M
Naravane and Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla had visited the country to
enhance bilateral ties. They had met not only the country’s then state
counsellor, Aung San Suu Kyi but also the military leadership. In fact, the
Indian Army chief Speaking at a seminar in February, had spoken about the
proximity of the militaries of the two countries resulting in growing
cooperation and “synergy between the soldiers on ground with reasonable
operational dividends”.
INDIA’S SHAM DEFENCE OF ITS TIES WITH THE KILLER MILITARY JUNTA
It is true that Indian government released press notes on Myanmar. On
February 1, stating that
“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.”
It took more than a month for India
to come out with the 2nd statement. On April 2, the Ministry of
External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi at a media briefing stated: “Let
me be very clear, we condemn any use of violence…We believe that the rule of
law should prevail. We stand for the restoration of democracy in Myanmar.” He
also demanded release of political prisoners.
When asked whether
India would allow people from Myanmar to cross over through the border between
the two countries, he said India was dealing the matter “as per laws and
humanitarian considerations”.
[https://scroll.in/latest/991286/india-stands-for-restoration-of-democracy-in-myanmar-says-foreign-ministry-condemns-violence]
There was no call to stop
immediately mass killings and burning of villages and localities of the
protestors. The foreign ministry spokesperson indulged in jugglery of words.
Shocked by the brazen denial to the persecuted Myanmarese
to take refuge in India, a leading academician, Pratap Bhanu Mehta
wrote:
“By sidelining even the most basic
humanitarian impulses in its response to Myanmar crisis, India will neither
realise its ideals nor its strategic objectives. The Chief Minister of
Mizoram, Zoramthanga, was correct in writing to the Centre that India cannot
ignore the humanitarian crisis unfolding in our backyard, and remain “indifferent”
to the suffering of those crossing the border. The Manipur government has,
thankfully, withdrawn a shameful circular that would have prohibited providing
meaningful assistance to victims of political persecution.
“This
circular, if enacted, would have been terrible for India’s image. But how we
deal with the victims of this crisis should not be just driven by an exercise
in image management, but take the larger humanitarian and political view. The
humanitarian case for providing some kind of safe haven for refugees is too
obvious to be stated. Surely the real test of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ is not
opportunistic displays of noblesse oblige, it is adherence to basic norms of
decency…”
PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS
& BUDDHISTS REFUGEES NOT ALLOWED ENTRY
The RSS-BJP rulers who
miss no opportunity to declare their love for the dictum, ‘world is a family’
have shamelessly refused entry to mass of Christians, indigenous tribes (who
worship tribal gods/goddesses) and some Buddhist refugees forced to leave
Myanmar due to military repression. Heartless government of India declared
Indian police and army manning the Myanmar borders to thwart any attempt by the
refugees to seek shelter in India. It was heartening to note that Mizoram chief
minister refused to oblige.
[https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/india-slams-doors-on-myanmar-refugees]
Importantly, the persecution in
Myanmar exposes the huge chinks in the much hyped Citizenship Amendment Act
2019 which gave right to Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim minorities
in the neighbouring Muslim countries. It, shockingly, betrayed persecuted
Tamilians in Sri Lanka and now India would not come to the rescue of non-Muslim
minorities in Myanmar.
RSS
FRIENDSHIP WITH THE MYANMAR MILITARY RULERS
These
are not Mussolini and Hitler only who have been favourites of the RSS. In fact,
diverse totalitarian ideologies and regimes of the 20th century have been favourite
of the RSS. One of the most ruthless ruling gang, the junta which is ruling Myanmar
today has always been a darling of it. According to a report in the official
organ of the RSS, Organiser dated February 28-March 5, 2000, filed by
its own correspondent in Burma:
“The 50th anniversary of the Sanatan Dharma Swayamsevak
Sangh (SDSS-The RSS counterpart in Myanmar) was held at the National Theatre on
Mayoma Kyaung Street, Yagnon, recently. Secretary-2 of the State Peace and
Development Council, Lt. Gen. Tin Oo attended the meeting. The programme was
attended by ministers and senior military officers. Minister for Commerce,
Brig. Gen. Pyi Sone; Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, Maj.
Gen. Sein Htwa; Minister for Health, Maj. Gen. Ket Sein were among the
prominent persons who attended the function.”
This
report appeared with three photographs. In one photograph five military
Generals including second in command of the military junta, Lt. Gen. Tin Oo, are
seen standing on the stage in the midst of SDSS leadership wearing khaki shorts
[RSS attire which is changed to brown trousers now]. In the other photograph
leading lights of the Burmese military junta were seen sitting in the front row
of the auditorium.
The
Vishwa Hindu Parishad website describes Sanatan Dharma Swayamsevak
Sangh as its main Hindu organization in Myanmar. The other being Central Hindu
Board.[https://vhp.org/vhp-at-glance/hindus-abroad/ accessed on 05-04-2021]
With
these old links with the Myanmar military rulers the inimical attitude of the
RSS-BJP Indian rulers towards the persecuted Rohingyas in Myanmar was neither
accidental nor sudden. Indian government led by Modi falling in line with the
Myanmar rulers refused to admit that genocide of the Rohingyas is taking place.
Thousands of persecuted Rohingyas who escaped to India to save themselves from
genocide are being forced to leave India.
Shamsul
Islam
05-04-2021
Link for some of S. Islam's writings in
English, Hindi, Urdu, Marathi, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, Punjabi, Gujarati
and video interviews/debates:
http://du-in.academia.edu/ShamsulIslam
Facebook:
https://facebook.com/shamsul.islam.332
Twitter: @shamsforjustice
http://shamsforpeace.blogspot.com/
Email: notoinjustice@gmail.com
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