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India Calls for Democratic Transition in Myanmar

New Delhi has long been advocating for the “complete secession” of violence and Myanmar’s transition towards “inclusive federal democracy.”…reports Asian Lite News

Expressing concern over the “deteriorating” situation in Myanmar, where the military seized power in a coup three years ago, India has urged for an early resolution to the conflict with the return of peace and stability in the country.

“We are concerned with the deteriorating situation in Myanmar, which has direct implications for usas a neighbouring country and a friend of Myanmar. We want an early resolution of the issue through dialogue,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Thursday.

The Ministry of External Affairs, in its weekly press briefing, also emphasised that New Delhi has long been advocating for the “complete secession” of violence and Myanmar’s transition towards “inclusive federal democracy.”

On February 1 2021, the military junta seized power in a coup ousting the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel laureate.

“India has been long advocating for the complete secession of violence and Myanmar’s transition towards inclusive federal democracy. We want an early resolution to the conflict through early dialogue, return of peace and stability in the country,” Jaiswal said.

Notably, a fresh uptick was noticed in incidents of violence in Myanmar recently. This came after three ethnic minority forces launched a coordinated offensive last October, capturing some towns and military posts. The experts called it the ‘biggest test’ for junta since taking power in 2021.

This also led to a huge influx of people from Myanmar into the state of Mizoram along the Indo-Myanmar border after the Myanmar army launched airstrikes in the bordering areas.

India has expressed concern about the issue and called for the end of violence and the resolution of the situation through constructive dialogue.

“Our position on the ongoing situation in Myanmar is very clear. We want secession of the violence and the resolution of the situation through constructive dialogue. We reiterate our call for the return of peace, stability and democracy in Myanmar,” the then MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.

“There has been a movement of Myanmar nationals to the Indian side. We are deeply concerned with such incidents close to our border,” Bagchi said.

Earlier today, several countries imposed sanctions against the military regime.

The US designated four individuals and two entities linked to Myanmar’s military regime. It said that the country’s military has continued to carry out a “campaign of violence and repression” against the people of Myanmar.

“We are taking this action to target the regime’s sources of revenue, which support military activities against civilians. The action also targets those who provide material and support for the production of arms in Burma (Myanmar),” said US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.

The US reiterated its call for the Myanmar military to change course and create space for meaningful and inclusive dialogue towards a future democratic Myanmar.

The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs on behalf of the European Union also condemned sexual and gender-based violence and the restriction of fundamental freedoms by the military regime.

The joint statement reiterated their call for the Commander-in-Chief and the military to change course, immediately ceasing violence against civilians, releasing all unjustly detained political prisoners, allowing full humanitarian access, and creating space for inclusive dialogue with all stakeholders.

Australia also imposed additional targeted sanctions on five entities with direct links to the Myanmar military regime to limit the regime’s access to the funds and materials that enable it to continue to “commit atrocities against its own people”.

Australia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Penny Wong, in a statement said the sanctions are a response to the regime’s ongoing repression of the people of Myanmar, escalating violence, and the continuing deterioration of the political, humanitarian and security situation. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Myanmar hands over three Chinese warlords to Beijing

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Myanmar hands over three Chinese warlords to Beijing

This is the latest twist in the stunning downfall of the military-backed Chinese mafia in Myanmar….reports Asian Lite News

Myanmar has handed over three Chinese warlords to Beijing, who were notorious for trafficking thousands of foreign nationals to forcibly run scams, a media report said.

Bai Suocheng, Wei Chaoren and Liu Zhengxiang led three of four families which ruled Laukkaing on Myanmar’s north-eastern border with China, BBC reported.

They were were taken to China on a chartered flight, with seven others, the report said. This is the latest twist in the stunning downfall of the military-backed Chinese mafia in Myanmar.

And it’s yet another blow for Myanmar’s military regime, whose power is waning, BBC reported. Myanmar’s army, which had been locked in a brutal stalemate since it sized power in early 2021, is now losing as it battles well-organised ethnic armies on more than one front.

General Min Aung Hlaing is known to have supported the Chinese mafia in Laukkaing. For years, China had been pressing his regime to rein in the scam centres, where people are trapped and forced to run telephone and online scams targeting victims everywhere, BBC reported.

China’s unease at what was happening across its border encouraged three insurgent armies to launch coordinated attacks against the military in late October last year – and it hastened the fall of the mafia families.

The four families took over control of Laukkaing in 2009. Liu Guoxi, who led the fourth family, died in 2020. Over the years, their reign turned a poor Burmese border town into a den of criminal activity, especially for lucrative scam centres. The UN estimates that hundreds of thousands of people have been trafficked into these centres across South East Asia, BBC reported.

ALSO READ: Myanmar Extends State of Emergency

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Myanmar Extends State of Emergency

The extension was made in accordance with the Section 425 of the State Constitution due to unusual circumstances in the country…reports Asian Lite News

 Myanmar’s National Defence and Security Council (NDSC) has extended the state of emergency in the Southeast Asian country for six more months, the council’s information team said.

According to media report, Acting President U Myint Swe declared the extension of the state of emergency for six months during the NDSC’s meeting on Wednesday as quoted by Xinhua news agency report.

The extension was made in accordance with the Section 425 of the State Constitution due to unusual circumstances in the country, the report said.

The meeting also discussed matters on combating telecom frauds, development of the country and promotion of education sector, preparation for the general election and preparation for national census, the report added.

Myanmar declared the state of emergency in February 2021 for one year and then extended it four times until January 31 this year.

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Myanmar Soldiers in Mizoram Flown Back Home

Officials said that a Myanmar Air Force aircraft landed at the Lengpui airport here in the afternoon to take back the soldiers….reports Asian Lite News

As many as 184 of the 276 Myanmarese soldiers, who fled to Mizoram on January 17 after their camps were captured by armed pro-democracy ethnic groups, were flown back home on a Myanmar military aircraft on Monday, officials said.

Officials said that a Myanmar Air Force aircraft landed at the Lengpui airport here in the afternoon to take back the soldiers.

“A Myanmar Air Force transport plane from Mandalay (Myanmar) landed at Lengpui airport and evacuated 184 Myanmar soldiers to Sittwe (Akyab) in two sorties. Before the departure of the Myanmarese soldiers, the Indian authorities have completed all necessary formalities,” a senior official told IANS.

The remaining 92 Myanmar soldiers would be airlifted on Tuesday, the official said.

The 276 Myanmar Army personnel took refuge in Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district on January 17 after their camps were captured by the Arakan Army militants.

The Myanmar soldiers, with their arms and ammunition, reached Bandukbanga village, situated on the Mizoram-Myanmar-Bangladesh border trijunction, in Lawngtlai and were taken to Assam Rifles’ Parva camp in the district.

“Necessary formalities including collection of biometric details of the Myanmar military personnel have been conducted. Necessary medical support was also given to the soldiers.” the official said.

With the latest influx, the number of soldiers who fled Myanmar since November 13 last year and reached India, has touched 636.

Earlier, Indian Air Force helicopters airlifted some of these soldiers to Manipur’s Moreh and handed them over to the Myanmar Army authorities from the border town.

On January 2 and 9, a total of 151 Myanmarese soldiers were flown back home on a Myanmar military aircraft that came to Lengpui airport.

Fierce gun battles between the Myanmar Army, popularly known as Tatmadaw, and the armed fighters resumed in October last year in areas close to the Indian border leading to the fresh influx of soldiers and civilians into Indian territories. Due to the fighting between the Army and the pro-democracy forces thousands of Myanmar citizens including women and children also fled to Mizoram in the recent months.

The first influx from Myanmar happened in February 2021 after the Military junta seized power there. Since then, over 32,000 people, including women and children, have taken shelter in the northeastern state from Myanmar.

ALSO READ: India To Fence Myanmar Border

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India To Fence Myanmar Border

Shah applauded the Assam Police for fighting against different issues including infiltration and drug smuggling….reports Asian Lite News

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that the Indo-Myanmar border will be fenced like the Indo-Bangladesh border to curb the influx of illegal migrants and insurgents.

Addressing the passing out parade ceremony of Assam Police Commandos, Shah said, ” Indo-Myanmar border is to be fenced like the Indo-Bangladesh border. The Centre, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has decided to fence the Indo-Myanmar border to curb the influx of illegal migrants and insurgents.”

“We are also thinking of ending the free-movement facility with Myanmar,” Shah added.

Shah applauded the Assam Police for fighting against different issues including infiltration and drug smuggling.

“Assam has always been affected by infiltration issues that have been going on for 10 decades, Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, drug smuggling, etc., but Assam Police has a glorious history of fighting and winning against these issues,” he said.

The Union Minister also launched a scathing attack on the Congress’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra and said that people who lost their family members due to insurgency in Congress rule are opposing the yatra.

“Rahul Gandhi has launched Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra recently, I asked a few media personnel here today, what happened in Assam. During Congress rule, thousands of youths lost their lives, extremism prevailed in Assam. The family members of those people who lost lives during Congress rule objected to Congress Yatra and demanded justice,” Shah said.

Meanwhile, the 1,643-km-long India-Myanmar border, spanning Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh, currently operates under the Free Movement Regime (FMR), permits individuals living near the India-Myanmar border to travel 16 km into each other’s territories without a visa. Initiated in 2018, the FMR policy was a component of India’s Act East policy.

As per FMR policy, those belonging to the hill tribes, being citizens of either India or Myanmar and residing within a 16 km radius on either side of the border, can cross with a border pass valid for one year, allowing a stay of up to two weeks per visit.

Allegations claim that following the military coup in Myanmar on February 1, 2021, a considerable number of Myanmar’s tribal population crossed into India, particularly Manipur and Mizoram, and remained illegally. It’s alleged that these individuals sought refuge on Indian territory and subsequently engaged in unlawful activities, notably drug smuggling.

In September 2023, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh appealed to the Centre to terminate the FMR. The state government contends that insurgents exploit this regime to advance their activities.

Manipur shares approximately 390 km of a porous border with Myanmar, with only about 10 km fenced as of now. In July last year, the state government disclosed data indicating that approximately 700 illegal immigrants had entered the state.

Additionally, following the military coup in Myanmar on February 1, 2021, Mizoram has witnessed an influx of thousands of anti-Junta rebels. Government estimates suggest that several thousand refugees have settled in various parts of Mizoram since the coup.

Mizoram has a porous border spanning 510 kilometres with Myanmar.

The Manipur Chief Minister mentioned incidents where individuals from Myanmar attempted to enter his state but retreated upon encountering a substantial presence of security personnel. Manipur shares a 398-kilometer border with Myanmar.

Arunachal Pradesh shares a 520-kilometer border with Myanmar, whereas Nagaland’s border with the country spans 215 kilometres. (ANI)

Mizoram CM opposes Centre’s move

Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Saturday opposed Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s announcement to fence the India-Myanmar border and reconsider the existing Free Movement Regime (FMR) between the two countries.

The Mizoram CM, hours after the Home Minister’s announcement, said in Aizawl, that his government does not have the authority to stop the Central government from erecting border fencing along the India-Myanmar border and scrapping the FMR but the state government would oppose both the move.

Lalduhoma said that the border with Myanmar in Mizoram was “unilaterally imposed” by the British without consulting the people and the Mizo-Zo-Chin community people living on both sides of the border do not accept the boundary.

“If the Central government fences the India-Myanmar border and withdraws the FMR, the state government has no authority to prevent it and we only can oppose the steps,” the Chief Minister told the media.

The Union Home Minister while addressing the passing-out parade of 2,551 commandos of Assam Police in Guwahati on Saturday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has decided that India-Myanmar border would also be fenced on the lines of India-Bangladesh border.

He said that the Central government has been re-considering the existing agreement between Myanmar and India for free movement.

The FMR allows citizens residing close to both sides of the border to move 16 km into each other’s territory without passport or visa. Lalduhoma said that Mizoram government and different other organisations in the state were opposed to the fencing of the India-Myanmar border and scrapping of the FMR as Mizos of Mizoram share similar ethnic and cultural ties with the people of the Chin-Zo community in Myanmar.

The Chief Minister said that during his last month’s visit to Delhi, he had discussed both the fencing and the FMR issues with PM Modi, Home Minister Shah and External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, and they did not oppose his appeal on both the issues. Around 32,000 people from Myanmar, mostly from the Chin state, have taken refuge in Mizoram following the military coup in the neighbouring country in February 2021.

Mizoram’s most influential civil society organisation Young Mizo Association (CYMA) and the state’s students’ body Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) have also been opposing the Centre’s decision to fence the border and scrap the FMR.

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, however, had earlier requested the Union Home Ministry to cancel the FMR and fence the India-Myanmar with Manipur.

ALSO READ: India to Repatriate 276 Myanmar Soldiers From Mizoram

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Suicide Bomber Targets Governor’s Office in Nimroz

The residents of Zaranj city reported an explosion in the afternoon of January 14….reports Asian Lite News

A suicide bomber targeted the office of the governor in Nimroz province in Afghanistan on Sunday, as reported by Khaama Press.

The residents of Zaranj city reported an explosion in the afternoon of January 14.

According to the witnesses, they heard gunfire from the vicinity of the Taliban governor’s office after the explosion occurred.

However, the Taliban has not issued any statement or has commented on the incident, as reported by Khaama Press.

Earlier on Thursday, an explosion in Kabul killed two people and injured 12.

The spokesman for the Kabul security department, Khalid Zadran said, “The incident was attributed to a grenade blast in PD 18.”

These incidents are followed by a recent bomb blast in Kabul that killed at least three people, as reported by Khaama Press.

Earlier, another explosion happened late Saturday, that resulted in the death or injury of 25 people, specifically targeting the Hazara community in Kabul’s Dasht-e Barchi area.

However, the explosion in Nimroz province has raised concerns among the local population.

Reportedly, many are waiting for the official confirmation about the incident.

Notably, security concerns have been raised in Afghanistan as authorities investigate the cause of the explosion at the Taliban governor’s office in Zaranj city.

Moreover, the repeated instances of violence and explosions in Afghanistan showcase the ongoing security challenges that the people of Afghanistan face.

Since the Taliban assumed control of Afghanistan, ensuring security has been a significant challenge for the group. Terrorist attacks continue to occur in the country, resulting in the loss of innocent civilian lives. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Nauru Adopts One-China Policy, Ends Ties with Taiwan

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Malaysia Grapples with Devastating Floods

Kota Tinggi, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Rescuers use a boat to evacuate people as parts of the town area are submerged due to continuous rainfall in Kota Tinggi of south Malaysia's Johor state, Jan. 4, 2021. (Photo by Thomas Yong/The Star/Handout via Xinhua/IANS)

The east coast states of Kelantan and Terengganu are the worst hit, with more than 6,370 people being held in 39 flood relief centres…reports Asian Lite News

Floods displaced more than 6,500 people in four states in Malaysia following heavy rains on Sunday.

The east coast states of Kelantan and Terengganu are the worst hit, with more than 6,370 people being held in 39 flood relief centres, according to the Social Welfare Department.

Meanwhile, the west coast states of Perak and Selangor recorded 85 and 50 flood victims, respectively, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Meteorological Department has issued warnings of heavy rains due to the northeast monsoon, which typically lasts from October to March, with strong winds and rough seas expected in northern states and the country’s east coast.

ALSO READ: UAE, Malaysia Advance Deal On 10GW Clean Energy Projects

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Rohingya Exodus: Asia’s Largest Since Vietnam War

When the largest wave of Rohingyas — 700,000 people, as per UN reports — fled Myanmar in 2017, this human exodus was the largest in Asia since the Vietnam War….writes Kavya Dubey

The world learnt of the Rohingyas in August 2017 when violence on a large scale, unprecedented human rights violations and armed attacks drove thousands from this ethnic community out of their homes in Myanmar’s Rakhine state.

Widely called a genocide, the Rohingya massacre is the ongoing persecution of the Rohingya people that are predominantly Muslim, by Myanmar’s military. This genocide has had two phases: The military crackdown that occurred from October 2016 to January 2017; and the second phase which is going on since August 2017.

When the largest wave of Rohingyas — 700,000 people, as per UN reports — fled Myanmar in 2017, this human exodus was the largest in Asia since the Vietnam War.

Over 960,000 of them fled to Bangladesh and a majority of them live in the Cox Bazar area, a port city, making it the world’s largest refugee camp. Several others fled to India, Thailand, Malaysia, and other parts of South and Southeast Asia to escape the ethnic cleansing.

The community, regarded by the UN as among “the most persecuted minorities in the world”, and “amongst the world’s least wanted”, have officially been denied Burmese citizenship since the Burmese nationality law was enacted in 1982. They have however been persecuted and marginalised since long before this legislation.

Some of the restrictions on them include signing a document to commit to not having more than two children, not being allowed to travel without official permission, no right to receive higher education nor essential services and means of support.

The persecution of Rohingya Muslims goes back to at least the 1970s, with their persecution at the hands of Buddhist Nationalists and the Burmese government.

The present refugee crisis was spurred by the crackdown by the Myanmar armed forces against the Rohingyas in the northwestern region of the country (Rakhine). This act of the military has been called ethnic cleansing and genocide by different UN agencies, International Criminal Court officials, human rights groups, journalists, governments etc.

Evidence against the Myanmar government of carrying out the genocide includes wide-scale violation of human rights, extrajudicial killings, gang rapes, infanticide, committing arson on Rohingya properties and institutions, as stated by the UN. The Burmese government, however, dismissed it and called it “exaggerations”.

It was in August 2017 when the persecution of the Rohingyas was launched in retaliation against the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army attacks on Myanmar border posts.

In late September 2017, a seven-member panel of the Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal, an international human rights organisation based in Italy, found the Burmese military and authority guilty of genocide against the Rohingya and the Kachin minority groups (another ethnicity).

Refugees in the Kutupalong Rohingya Refugee Camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, in July, 2018. (Photo: UN/IANS)

Celebrated political figure and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi was criticised for her silence over the issue and for supporting the military’s actions.

In August 2018, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights declared that Burmese military generals should be tried for genocide. On 23 January 2020, the International Court of Justice ordered Myanmar to prevent genocidal violence against its Rohingya minority and to preserve evidence of past attacks.

The Rohingyas seek subsistence in the far off places they are moved to, and it is Bangladesh that has the largest concentration of them.

In May this year, when Cyclone Mocha, a most severe storm in the region in recent times, struck Bangladesh and Myanmar, it caused widespread destruction and had a devastating impact on infrastructure and millions of people across the two countries.

The storm impacted 2.3 million people in Bangladesh, which included 930,000 Rohingya refugees. The damage could not be repaired due to the monsoon rains that followed, leaving the refugees without shelter, exposed in the rain.

Arrangements for their food and water supplies, along with reasonable accommodation with proper amenities, remain a major challenge.

The Rohingya refugees continue to lack legal status, livelihood opportunities and with their movement beyond the camps restricted, leaving them entirely dependent on humanitarian assistance coming from anywhere

And until aid arrives and eases their survival a little, weather-related hazards continue to be a danger.

The only way forward is a political dialogue for their voluntary repatriation, but these stateless people living off humanitarian aid will eventually become a burden on their host countries, and there may come a time when they have to choose between their own citizens and these refugees.

ALSO READ: Aid Dwindles, Rohingya Crisis Deepens

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Indonesia’s Tourism Fund to Ignite Visitor Allure

The tourism fund, set to be launched in early 2024, would manage an initial fund at 2 trillion rupiahs ($129 million) to support the promotion of tourism events…reports Asian Lite News


A minister stated that the Indonesian government is presently creating a tourism fund to foster sustainable tourism development and enhance visitor attraction in the country.

Minister for Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno said the tourism fund, set to be launched in early 2024, would manage an initial fund at 2 trillion rupiahs ($129 million) to support the promotion of tourism events and improve the nation branding of Indonesia’s tourism in the global market, reports Xinhua news agency.

“We will use the fund to support both national and international events, such as sports, music, and cultural arts, which will be held here in Indonesia.

“This also includes high-level summits that may not directly be related to tourism, because international conferences also bring economic impacts,” Uno told reporters.

Bali or Bvlgari, why millennials choose travel experiences over material possessions.(photo:IANSLIFE)

There will be at least three international-scale events to be hosted by Indonesia in 2024, namely BWF Badminton World Tour-Indonesia Masters, the 10th World Water Forum and Indonesia MotoGP in Mandalika.

That agenda, Uno said, was expected to help the post-Covid recovery in Indonesia’s tourism sector.

According to the Indonesia Statistics (BPS), from January to October, Indonesia recorded 9.49 million tourist arrivals, higher than the government’s target of 7.4 million at the beginning of this year.

ALSO READ: Indonesia Opens New Abu Dhabi Embassy

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Rahul to Visit Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam

Gandhi will be visiting Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam…reports Asian Lite News

Congress MP from Wayanad, Rahul Gandhi is likely to travel to four countries starting from December 9.

According to sources, Gandhi will be visiting Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam.

According to the sources, Rahul Gandhi will meet the Indian diaspora in Singapore and Malaysia while in Indonesia he will be meeting the diplomats.

“The Congress leader is likely to meet the Vietnam Communist Party leaders,” the sources added.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been summoned by MP/MLA court on December 16 in connection with a 2018 case over using derogatory remarks against Union Home Minister Amit Shah in a Bengaluru conference.

The complaint was filed by the then BJP District Vice President, Vijay Mishra.

Santosh Kumar Pandey, lawyer appeared for Vijay Mishra said that Congress MP Rahul Gandhi can be given a maximum punishment of 2 years if sufficient evidence is found against him.

“Congress leader Rahul Gandhi held a press conference in Bengaluru. About 5 years ago, Amit Shah who is currently the Home Minister, objectionable remarks were made against him. On August 4, 2018, this case was filed in the District and Sessions Court of MP-MLA Court Sultanpur. On which on Monday, Judge Yogesh Kumar Yadav of MP MLA Court Sultanpur has summoned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on December 16. This statement came from Rahul Gandhi during the Karnataka elections in Bengaluru in 2018,” Santosh Kumar Pandey told ANI.

Meanwhile, after leading a high-octane campaign in five states of Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi has reached Kerala’s Wayanad, his Parliamentary constituency, on a four-day trip.

Party leaders said that Gandhi, who arrived in Wayanad on Tuesday night, will stay there till December 1 and participate in several programmes.

On Tuesday — the last day of campaigning in Telangana — Rahul Gandhi interacted with gig workers, sanitary workers and auto drivers and heard their problems.

He also held a joint road show with his sister and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra besides addressing a joint public meeting.

The leader will be returning home on December 1 night, three days prior to the Parliament’s Winter Session on December 4.

In the past 45 days, he has addressed several public meetings in the five states which went to the polls recently. (ANI/IANS)

ALSO READ: India Condemns Terrorism and Civilian Loss in Israel-Hamas Conflict at UN Assembly