New Delhi: After an ethnic armed group claimed to have taken over the military junta’s headquarters in Myanmar’s Rakhine province on Friday, December 20, India highlighted that its development projects in the volatile state were “grant-based” and “intended to serve the interests” of Myanmar’s people.
This came after informal consultations were held in Bangkok on December 19 by Myanmar’s neighbours over the escalating civil war in the country.
On Friday, the Arakan Army (AA) announced its capture of the regional army headquarters in Rakhine state, marking a significant victory in its ongoing fight against the junta. This setback adds to the series of losses faced by the military government since the ‘Brotherhood alliance’ of rebel forces, including the Arakan Army, began seizing military bases and strategic facilities.
Also read: Myanmar’s Brotherhood Alliance Takes Control of Entire Kokang Region From the Military Junta
This is the second military command headquarters to fall to the rebel alliance, following the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA)’s seizure of the North Eastern Command headquarters in Lashio, Shan State, in August. According to some reports, the junta has control of less than half of Myanmar’s territory.
“We are following developments in Myanmar very closely. We understand that the fighting has intensified and we are following the the evolving situation very closely,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, who also sought to remind that India had relocated its personnel posted in Sittwe to Yangon due too the security situation.
“We also have several development cooperation projects there, which continue to continue to go forward and and I must also emphasise that these projects are all grant-based projects from India, and they are intended to serve the interest of the people of Myanmar. And this is an aspect which people who are there will keep these in mind as the situation evolves,” said the Indian spokesperson.
The Rakhine province hosts the India-funded Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, which is crucial for connecting India’s landlocked Northeast to southeast Asia but has faced significant delays.
A route map of the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project. Photo: Wikipedia/RaviC – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The waterways section was completed at a cost of Rs 982.99 crore. However, the road link connecting Mizoram to the Sittwe seaport remains unfinished. According to the latest statement from MEA in parliament, earthwork has been completed on only 20 kilometres of the 109.2-kilometre road link. As of November-end, India has spent Rs 356 crore on this stretch. The latest deadline for completion is July 2025.
Thailand meeting
Earlier on Thursday, Indian foreign secretary Vikram Misri took part in a meeting hosted by Thailand in Bangkok. The meeting also included Myanmar’s neighbours China, Bangladesh, and Lao PDR, and a junta government representative. Thailand also hosted a separate discussion of ASEAN members on the implementation of the ‘five-point’ consensus’ which has not made any progress till now, on Friday.
According to Indian foreign ministry spokesperson, India reiterated its call for “cessation of violence and a peaceful resolution of the ethnic issue through the establishment of a genuine federal democracy”.
“We call for cessation of violence and a peaceful resolution of the ethnic issue through the establishment of a genuine federal democracy. This process should be Myanmar-led and Myanmar-owned and should take into account the views of all stakeholders to ensure an inclusive peace and return to stability in Myanmar. The land boundary neighbours of Myanmar have a particular set of concerns as well,” he said.
A press readout from the Thai foreign ministry stated that Myanmar’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister Than Shwe briefed the gathering about preparations for holding general elections in 2025, which included registration of political parties and invitations for foreign election observers. However, ethnic groups have largely opposed the elections being held under junta supervision.
The Thai foreign minister Maris Sangiampongs told reporters in Bangkok that “neighbouring countries said we support Myanmar in finding solutions but the election must be inclusive for various stakeholders in the count”. He added that Myanmar’s neighbours will advise, but not interfere.
The Thai foreign minister held separate discussions with both India and Myanmar on “the reopening of Asian Highway-1, which is significant for border trade and connectivity between Southeast Asia and South Asia”.
The Chinese foreign ministry in its readout called on “neighbouring countries to work with the Myanmar government to strengthen border management and control, jointly combat cross-border crimes, and safeguard the common interests of all countries”.
