Manmohan Singh: Ladies and gentlemen, I have had a very productive and fruitful two-day visit to Myanmar. I had the opportunity of fairly detailed discussions with President Thein Sein. I also had the privilege of having a fairly long conversation with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
Our relations with Myanmar have taken a new turn after the visit of the President of Myanmar to India in October, and what we have discussed and agreed upon yesterday has further strengthened our multifaceted relationship with a friendly neighbour that Myanmar is.
I believe Foreign Secretary has briefed you about the details of what we have been talking, what we have agreed upon, and what is the way forward. I will be very happy to answer any questions that you may have.
Good evening, Mr. Prime Minister. You seem to have had a historic visit. What do you say would be the single biggest message that you delivered to the Myanmar government?
That India is very appreciative of the efforts being made by the President of Myanmar for national reconciliation and democratisation, and it is our fond hope that this process will be carried forward for the good of the people of Myanmar as a whole.
Sir, is there a common thread between the discussions you had with President Thein Sein and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi?
I had a whole range of issues being discussed between me and the President of Myanmar. But most of my discussion with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was concentrated on the process of national reconciliation and how development can be made more inclusive, how the process of development can be really made people-friendly, and have greater transparency. She is now a legislator, and she was telling me the difficulties that the ordinary people find in accessing various services being provided by the Government. And I said we have the same problem, and despite long experience we do not claim that we have all the answers to these problems. I also said to her that our problems are very similar, judging from what she told me, and that we would be very happy to engage with the Government and people and civil society of Myanmar. Not that we have something to tell Myanmar what to do or what not to do but to work out joint common pathways to find productive, mutually acceptable solutions to these difficult problems of development and inclusion.
Sir, in the Northeast there are four states which border Myanmar. There are lots of concerns about insurgent groups who operate from areas across the border in Myanmar. Was this issue discussed?
I had a detailed discussion with His Excellency the President on this issue, the problems that Indian insurgent groups pose to us in taking shelter in Myanmar to evade arrest and to commit acts of violence. And I have assurance from the President of Myanmar that they would make every effort to ensure that Myanmar territory is not used for anti-Indian operations, and that we should strengthen cooperation in ensuring that our borders on both sides are as peaceful as is humanly possible.
As you did during your visit to Dhaka when you carried with yourself Northeastern Chief Ministers, don’t you think similar venture this time would have given greater dividends because many states have common borders with Myanmar?
I do recognize problems are very similar, and what I discussed would have been of interest to all the Northeastern states. I am conscious of that fact. But quite frankly, I felt that we had not prepared for this visit that fully as to find out practical, pragmatic solutions to the problems of border management. Therefore, I thought that we should first discuss basic principles and modalities and that should take place sooner or later.
Sir, kuch din pahle team Anna ke jo log hain, unhone puri ki puri press conference karke, bakaida charge sheet karke, jisme 15 cabinet mantriyo ke naam hai, apka bhi naam tha, lag bhag puurii senior team ke khilaaf a arop lagaaye hain. Sarkar ki taraf se abhi tak koi jawab nahi aaya hai. Kya aap in tamaam aaropo par jawab dena chaahenge jo ki sarkar par lagaaye ja rahe hai aur jis tarah ki bhaashaa boli jaa rahi hai?