US wearing colored spectacles; See two similar things differently

Sep 28 : The Western countries are known to wear colored spectacles and they see two similar things differently.

Myanmar has come into the focus since the protest by Buddhist monks.

This has geared a lot of political movements across the world; America through United Nation is building the pressure to restore Democracy in Myanmar.

Not that there concerns are doubtful but a bit surprising when the western countries keep mum on the atrocities and human rights derailment in Pakistan.

May be the suppression of democracy by the military government in Myanmar are different from the suppression of democracy in Pakistan and that difference is only visible to them.

US President George Bush, who won’t even murmur on the protest in Pakistan, came up for the protesters in Myanmar and said “Every civilized nation has a responsibility to stand up for people suffering under a brutal military regime like the one that has ruled Burma for too long. I call on all nations that have influence with the regime to join us in supporting the aspirations of the Burmese people and to tell the Burmese Junta to cease using force on its own people, who are peacefully expressing their desire for change,".

"The world is watching the people of Burma take to the streets to demand their freedom, and the American people stand in solidarity with these brave individuals. We feel admiration and compassion for the monks and peaceful protesters calling for democracy," Bush said in a statement in Washington.

US on Myanmar and Pakistan

Myanmar is facing international boycott for the brutal regime in its soil since 1960’s. It is penalized for having close links with China, and does not have any geopolitical interest for US in the regions.

The manner the present military Junta has survived the sanction and suppressed the struggle for democracy is a known fact.

Pakistan is always applauded for it plays a role to serve the strategic interests of America and west. Again Pakistan’s relation to China has never come to a scan.

Role of India

India will be looked to play a role in pressurising Myanmar by international community. Even India like the western countries declared that no relationship could be maintained with Myanmar because of army rule and lack of democratic institution.

Again the attitude was contrast towards Pakistan which too has similar political crisis under military rule. India’s silence was also questionable.

India had anti-Myanmar sentiments from 1960’s to 1990’s, there was internal unrest, and the policies against expulsion of ethnic Indians soured the relationship between the two countries.

But things get changed during the P.V. Narasimha Rao government, whose ‘look east’ policy helped to nourish the soured relation between two countries.

India realised Myanmar’s Geo-Political, Geo-economical importance. Myanmar is the second largest country among India’s neighbours, and the most important that Myanmar can play a role to bridge India and South-East Asia.

Myanmar has vast natural resources, and no developed industrial set up, India can help by providing technological support. Economic cooperation with Myanmar can speed up the process of development in North Eastern states of India, as Myanmar can be the way to reach the South East Asian market.

India’s step has clearly marked the motives, of non interference in the internal politics of Myanmar. Various delegates went to Myanmar, Jaswant Singh during NDA regime and Abdul Kalam when he was the President of India but they never mentioned Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been in house arrest since more then ten years.

Since Myanmar is significant in cooperating India against the Insurgents.

India should realise that ostracizing Myanmar has not helped India so far, and along with strengthening economic and political ties it must and should help restoration of democracy in Myanmar.

With the growing multidimensional Chinese influence on Myanmar India will only loose another chance to China if it fails to help to create a peaceful and stable environment in its neighborhood under the pressure of Western countries.

India should look beyond economic goals…