Jonathan
News, 19 May 2024 (Photo by The Wire)
Justice
For Myanmar (JFM) has urged India to immediately ban the transfer of all arms,
associated technology & equipment and fuel to the Myanmar military junta
and also cease all military training.
The
governments and companies, which have business relationships with the Indian
military and defense industry, should use their leverage to urge a ban on all
support for the unta, said JFM in a statement issued on 16 May.
Mentionable
is that the Indian government in New Delhi has been actively inviting members
of the junta for various defense related events and training programs.
A recent
statement from India’s defense ministry revealed that more than 1000 cadets,
including 21 from ‘friendly foreign countries’ participated in a graduation
ceremony of Indian cadets on 30 November 2023.
According
to the statement, cadets from Myanmar were also present on the occasion.
Myanmar
navy chief later participated in Goa Maritime Conclave (GMC) hosted by the
Indian navy under the auspices of the Naval War College, Goa.
Make in
India Exhibition, which was organized alongside the conclave as part of India’s
Atma Nirbharta initiative, aimed to showcase the country’s domestic
shipbuilding industry.
In June
2023, Indian defence secretary Giridhar Aramane paid an official visit to
Myanmar and held discussions with the coup leader and war criminal Min Aung
Hlaing in Naypyidaw.
He also
met junta’s western-sanctioned defence minister Mya Tun Oo and discussed with
Myanmar navy head Moe Aung and defence industry chief Khan Myint Than.
India’s
military cooperation with Myanmar follows a consistent trend of support,
particularly notable during and after the military’s clearance operations
against the Rohingya population. Many examples of this cooperation can be
mentioned like in 2020, a tabletop exercise involving the Indian and Myanmar
air forces was organised in Prayagraj (India).
Similarly
in 2018, a mobile training team consisting of seven officers and two
sailors was dispatched to Myanmar for three months to train 60 Myanmar soldiers
on shipyard management, logistics and engineering (said Indian defence
ministry’s own account).
Moreover, New
Delhi hosted India Myanmar Bilateral Army Exercises (IMBAX) in 2017
and 2019. In 2017, India conducted a tailored four-week training program on low
intensity counter offensive for 35 Myanmar military personnel at the counter
insurgency and jungle warfare school in Vairengte, as part of the defense
cooperation initiatives.
