Foreign Minister Calls On India To Follow ASEAN Policy On Burma

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi has raised concerns about the Indian government’s passive normalization of relations with Myanmar, reports the Hindu (Chennai).

Marsudi called on India and other nations to respect the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) policy on Burma, noting that taking a different path could make the organization's democracy efforts "less effective."

She urged New Delhi and other governments to follow ASEAN's five-point consensus, which calls for an immediate end to violence; dialogue among warring parties; mediation by an ASEAN envoy; provision of humanitarian aid; and visits by ASEAN envoys to all parties.

The minister made her comments following Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra’s visit to Burma in late November, during which he failed to meet with members of other political parties and only engaged with the military junta.

ASEAN is concerned that their support from India might empower and embolden the military government in its crackdown on opposition forces.

New Delhi says it wants stable relations with Burma due to their long, shared border and strategic importance amid its regional rivalry with China.