Imphal. April 28 NNN: \u201cMyanmar will have to draw lessons from neighboring India and realize that inclusive co-option of ethnic minorities by turning them into the stakeholders of the Union is the road to a future strong and stable Myanmar\u201d, stated Subir Bhaumik, well-known journalist and editor of the Seven Sisters Post, presenting a paper \u201cBurma\u2019s by-election : whither reconciliation\u201d at the National Seminar on India-Myanmar-China Relations, organized by Centre for Myanmar Studies (CMYS), Manipur University, Imphal.
\nOn the second day of the seminar which started from April 27 and which will come to an end on April 30, there were 4 academic sessions in which 21 papers were presented by learned scholars and resource persons.
\n In the Academic Session I A : India-Myanmar-China relations and implications, moderated by professor N Joykumar, Tenshubam Hemo Singh focused on the triangular relations of India-Myanmar-China from the political and military perspectives in his paper \u201cChina\u2019s relations with India and Myanmar in the region\u201d. Udai Bhanu Singh\u2019s paper \u201cProspects for Myanmar-China Relations in the transitional phase\u201d throws light on how China has sought to exercise effective diplomatic pressure on Myanmar at both bilateral and multilateral levels, and the interesting developments unfolding before our eyes with the opening up of Myanmar currently in progress. The paper \u201cChina-Myanmar relations and its implications for India\u201d presented by Puyam Rakesh Singh notes that the partnership of China and Myanmar which took a turn since 1989, when both the countries began facing western economic sanctions and isolation, have wider implications for India thereby creating a shift in India\u2019s policy towards Myanmar since early 1990s, beginning with economic interests in its eastern and southeastern Asian neighbors, \u2018Look East Policy\u2019 being reflective of India\u2019s wider strategic interests and other security concerns affecting the country especially in the Northeast. C Mathew Kamei and Hidam Ajit Meetei in their paper \u201cChina-Myanmar relations and its implications on India\u201d states that the geo-strategic China-Myanmar relations has strong implications on India and it will pose a threat to India through increase in small arms trade, drug trafficking and refugee menace and increase activities of insurgents.
\n In the Academic Session I B : Myanmar and her recent developments, moderated by professor E Bijoykumar, the paper \u201cIndia vis-\u00e0-vis China : comparing and contrasting the development trajectories of India and China\u201d, by Chinglen Maisnam (Bobo) attempts to present how India and China, two emerging Asian powers, as immediate neighbors but vying with each other for stronger hold in Myanmar, help the country in the political transition process. Subir Bhaumik\u2019s paper \u201cBurma\u2019s by-election : whither reconciliation\u201d states that the sweeping by-poll victories of the National League for Democracy (NLD) in Myanmar has opened a new vista for ethnic reconciliation and democracy in Burma and India must assist in the process.
\n because it has much to gain from ethnic reconciliation and end of conflict in areas
\ndominated by armed minority groups because \u201cif armed groups such as the KIO finally bid farewell to
\narms and join the democratic process, it will begin a game-changer process that could turn the militarized
\nspaces all along India\u2019s northeastern frontiers into zones of peace and growth, where Indian capital can
\npenetrate to register its economic presence and rebel groups from northeast India will be faced with a
\nloss of sanctuaries and a raison d\u2019etre for continuing their own struggles\u201d. Dr. Tint Swe presenting his
\npaper \u201cAung San Suu Kyi and new Burma\u201d stated that there should not be any more hegemony in new
\nBurma, where the presence of the West will be welcome, but reasonable adjustment cannot be done
\nwithout Aung San Suu Kyi. He added that the \u201cLook East Policy\u201d which was agreed with the military junta
\nshould have to be amended in order to make it realistic.
\n In the Academic Session II A : Regional perspectives of India-Myanmar-China relations, moderated by
\nprofessor K Saratchandra, 5 papers were presented and in the Academic Session II B : North East India in
\nthe web of India-Myanmar-China, moderated by professor E Bijoykumar, 6 papers were presented.
\nAround 20 papers will be presented tomorrow in 4 sessions, which touch on wide ranging topics like
\ninsurgency, border trade and social and cultural backgrounds.<\/p>\n\n