India: An all – time good friend to Myanmar
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Tun Mon Thet (NP News) - Sep 25
India sent emergency humanitarian assistance to Myanmar on 17 September to respond to the recent flood which caused widespread devastation, especially in central and northern parts of the country.
This Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief to Myanmar by India was a part of India’s Operation Sadbhav, as the first responder to Typhoon Yagi hit the Southeast Asian region.
The India Air Force (IAF) carried 32 tonnes of humanitarian assistance materials and the Indian Navy brought 21 tonnes of relief materials to Myanmar both edible and non-edible in Operation Sadbhav.
The Indian Embassy in Myanmar announced that the pharmaceutical products involved first aid items, antibiotics, anti-histamines, analgesics, and intravenous fluids for commonly spread infections and diseases. Food items include instant noodles, rice, milk powder, drinking water, ready-to-eat meals, high-energy biscuits, multi-micronutrient food, cooking oil, sugar, canned fish, canned meat, tea, salt, and spices. Non-food items are tarpaulin, tents, bleaching powder, disinfectant fluid, soaps, detergent powder, hygiene kits, dignity kits, crutches, wheelchairs, chain saws, dilator sets, towels, shirts, blankets, sandals, fuel tanks, solar lamps, portable generators, and water pumps.
The two neighbouring countries have shared-relationships in multi-sectors such as history, politics, culture, ethnicities, similar legal enactments, and religion for thousands of years since the British colonial period. Sharing the borderline over 1,000 miles, India and Myanmar started the bilateral diplomatic tie in 1948 after the latter gained independence.
Since then, India consistently behaves as an all-weather friend to Myanmar especially when the Southeast Asian country is being trapped or struggling in certain circumstances.
Never backing any insurgent group in Myanmar in the whole era of history, India continuously and steadfastly supported the Myanmar Union government in successive administrations to maintain the solidarity of the central power.
From 1948 to 1958 when Myanmar was threatened by civil insurrections after fresh independence, India provided considerable support to the newly formed Myanmar government according to its objective to extend moral and material support to newly independent countries to ensure stabilizing in their political environments back in the post-World War II era.
In around 1950, Indian then-Prime Minister Nehru disclosed the Indian stance of non-interfering to Myanmar’s internal affairs, stating that: “it is not the purpose of us and we did not take all measures to intervene in other countries, but whenever possible, we will be willing to help them without any conditions attached to any interference.”
What is more, India also encouraged other commonwealth countries to provide timely aid to Myanmar in terms of arms and economic assistance at that time when Myanmar was fighting the civil war so as to have Myanmar preserve its sovereignty. And thus, India’s continuous support to Myanmar in terms of politics, economics, and military played a key contribution in building peace, and political and social stability after independence.
A remarkable and heart-touching incident that we learned about bilateral relations was in 1947. Indian then-Prime Minister Nehru showed a warm welcome and care to Myanmar’s independence leader Major General Aung San on the latter’s trip to London to discuss Myanmar to attain independence. As Nehru noticed Aung San’s outfit would not enough protect him in the coldest months of London, he had his tailors make a warm coat for Aung San to resist the chill weather of London when discussing independence for Myanmar with Atlee.
Also in 2020 and 2021 when Myanmar was grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic plus the political tension, India did not ignore to help Myanmar in terms of disease-fighting as it formulated the “Vaccine Friendship” in the region. India helped Myanmar by providing thousands of test kits, preventive items, and medicines in addition to millions of India-made COVID-19 vaccines even after 2021.
Last but not least, India maintains a friendly relationship in the bilateral military tie too no matter what situations in the global stage with regard to Myanmar.