September 5, 2017
DhakaTribune
The two-day visit comes as renewed violence in Myanmar's
Rakhine state forces thousands of Rohingya Muslims to seek refuge in
Bangladesh, with many drowning as they attempt to cross the border river in
makeshift boats.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has kicked off his
visit to Myanmar Tuesday and is expected to discuss the exodus of the Rohingyas
with the government.
The two-day visit comes as renewed violence in Myanmar’s
Rakhine state forces thousands of Rohingya Muslims to seek refuge in
Bangladesh, with many drowning as they attempt to cross the border river in
makeshift boats.
Modi arrived in the capital Naypyidaw on Tuesday on his
way back from China where he had attended the BRICS summit, which also includes
Russia, Brazil and South Africa.
“We will be discussing how India can help them in
addressing the situation that is prevailing in the state,” Sripriya
Ranganathan, a senior official in India’s External Affairs Ministry, told
reporters in New Delhi on last Friday, reports AFP.
“Lot of countries are impacted… but ultimately it’s for
the government of Myanmar to address the situation,” she said.
Modi is scheduled to visit both Naypitaw and Yangon, the
former capital of Myanmar. He will also travel to Bagan to announce Indian
funding for the conservation of 11th-century temples in the ancient town.
As India’s gateway to South-East Asia, Myanmar forms a
crucial component of Modi’s “Act East” policy, intended to develop commercial
and strategic ties with the region.
China is still the largest foreign investor in Myanmar,
having total investments in the country of $18.5bn, far in excess of India’s
$2bn.
Rights groups including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty
International have called on New Delhi to reconsider its plan to deport the
Rohingya, saying it should abide by its international obligations.
But Ranganathan said, “in so far as illegal immigrants
are concerned there is a long standing and established procedure on the basis
of Indian law which we will continue to follow, there is absolutely no change.”
Despite being home to thousands of refugees, India is not
a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention or the 1967 Protocol Relating to the
Status of Refugees and maintains that it has no obligation to shelter the
Rohingyas.
Kiren Rijiju, India’s state minister for Home Affairs, on
August 14 shot back at international agencies and human rights groups that were
seeking to “demonise” India because of its decision to deport the refugees.
“India is the most humane nation in the world. Millions
of refugees live in India,” he said, adding that the country would follow due
process in organising the deportations.
“We are not going to shoot them nor are we planning to
throw them in the ocean,” he said.
The Indian government has also sent out instructions to
states, urging local authorities to identify and deport Rohingya refugees.
“These illegal immigrants not only infringe on the rights
of Indian citizens but also pose grave security challenges,” the home
ministry’s circular to states said.
It is not yet clear where the deported refugees will go.
Both Bangladesh and Myanmar have expressed their unwillingness to take them.
On Monday, India’s Supreme Court will heard plea by two
Rohingya refugees, Mohammad Salimullah and Mohammad Shaqir, who petitioned that
their lives would be in danger if they are sent back to Myanmar.
An argument was made that their deportation violates
international human rights norms and Article 21 of the Indian constitution.
Previous legal judgments have held that Article 21, which protects life and
personal liberty, also applies to foreigners in India.
India, however, has chosen to side with the Myanmar
government as part of its plan to woo the strategically-located country, which
is also being courted by China.
On last Wednesday, soon after the latest spate of
violence in Rakhine, Raveesh Kumar, spokesman for India’s External Affairs
Ministry, said New Delhi extends “strong support at this challenging moment” to
the government of Myanmar.
“India is seriously concerned by reports of renewed
violence and attacks by terrorists in … Rakhine,” Kumar said. “We are deeply
saddened at the loss of lives among members of the Myanmar security forces.”
He did not mention the Rohingyas.