In his first meeting with Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing since the February 2021 coup, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday pushed for early restoration of the democratic process in the country through “inclusive and credible elections”.
This is the first time that India has called for elections in Myanmar at the highest level.
During the meeting on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok, Modi also called for inclusive dialogue to end the civil war in Myanmar. He offered to ramp up aid in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that killed over 3,000 people.
The PM also called for the post-earthquake ceasefire to be made permanent, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing had met Modi in New Delhi in July 2019. He was then chief of Myanmar’s Army.
The MEA said in a statement that Modi “underlined the importance of early restoration of a democratic process through inclusive and credible elections, adding that India supported efforts aimed at fostering trust and advancing a Myanmar-owned and Myanmar-led transition towards a peaceful, stable and democratic future”.
“Alluding to the human cost of the ongoing ethnic violence in Myanmar, PM underlined that there was no military solution to the conflict and stressed that enduring peace could only be achieved through an inclusive dialogue,” the statement said.
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The leaders discussed the earthquake in Myanmar, including India’s aid efforts. The chief of Myanmar’s military government “expressed his gratitude for India’s assistance efforts”.
India has deployed military field hospitals in Mandalay, which was near the epicentre of the earthquake. It has also sent National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel who are assisting in the relief work in Myanmar.
The junta chief also attended an official dinner for leaders of the BIMSTEC nations. The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs said BIMSTEC members discussed disaster management during ministerial meetings on Thursday.
According to the MEA, Prime Minister Modi “appreciated the support extended by Myanmar for the rescue and repatriation of Indian nationals from cyber-scam centres along the Myanmar–Thailand border. Both sides agreed on the need to cooperate in addressing insurgent activities, transnational crimes and human trafficking along the India-Myanmar border.”
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PM arrives in Colombo
Colombo: PM Narendra Modi landed in Sri Lanka capital Colombo on Friday evening. He was received by five ministers including Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa and Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar. Modi will meet President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Saturday. PTI
