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A man looks on at homes destroyed after air and artillery strikes in Mung Lai Hkyet displacement camp, in Laiza, Myanmar. File.
| Photo Credit: AP
The raging conflict in Myanmar will feature prominently in discussions between visiting Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the weekend, sources said. Mr. Subianto, who will be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations, began his official meetings by calling on External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and meeting industry bigwigs on Friday (January 24, 2025).
The inclusion of the prevailing scenario in Myanmar in the official agenda is significant as both India and Indonesia have been trying to stitch up a dialogue process among various domestic stakeholders in the conflict-torn southeast Asian country. Sources further mentioned that the two sides will discuss several “regional issues including the tension around the South China Sea” during the official talks that will be held in Hyderabad House on Saturday.
Facilitating dialogue
India recently hosted a number of ethnic armed organisations from Myanmar as well as members of the exiled National Unity Government at the Indian Council of World Affairs, soon after Indonesia also hosted such groups. The chain of engagements indicated that both the countries are trying to establish dialogue between the military junta in Nay Pyi Taw and the ethnic armed organisations that have captured large amounts of territory of Myanmar, including vast tracts of land near its borders with India’s northeastern States.
The situation in Myanmar has escalated over the last year, with the military junta losing control over areas in Chin state, Rakhine, and the Sagaing region. Maungdaw near the Indo-Bangladesh frontier was the latest town to fall to the Arakan Army in December 2024.
The Myanmar issue has been on the table of the ASEAN since the military coup of February 2021 and it is understood that the Indonesian president will continue the discussion on “regional issues” in Malaysia, which is his next destination after India. “Close cooperation with friendly countries has always been our priority to build a stronger and more prosperous region together,” Mr. Subianto said on Thursday.
Met Adani, Tata officials
In a pre-departure statement, Mr. Subianto had said his India visit would be used for “strengthening cooperation in areas such as security, maritime, and digital technology development.” On Friday, the visiting President met with industry bigwigs including Gautam Adani of the Adani group, representatives of the Tatas, and the telecom majors. Sources indicated that Indian and Indonesian officials are finetuning MoUs in areas as diverse as medical tourism, traditional medicine, culture, and private investments from India.
Mr. Jaishankar, who met with the Indonesian leader on Friday afternoon, said the visit would help nurture the “multifaceted bilateral ties” between the two major countries that are bound by strong cultural and maritime links as well as a common tradition of anti-colonial struggle. “President Prabowo’s participation as Chief Guest in India’s 76th Republic Day will be a fitting celebration of our cherished friendship,” the External Affairs Minister said after the meeting.
Published – January 24, 2025 09:42 pm IST
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