Dispute resolution, strategic partnership to better serve Bangladesh, Myanmar
Friday, 13 November 2009
Shah Mohammed Saifuddin
THE strategic and security policy of Bangladesh, governed by the principles of friendship with all and enmity with none, stresses preventive diplomacy to engage in constructive dialogue to reduce the risk of conflicts and resolve disputes in an amicable manner. So, one should not be surprised that Bangladesh is very reluctant to view its neighbours as sources of security threats, although it is having some bilateral issues with India and Myanmar, due to the aggressive policy pursued by them.
Indeed, Bangladesh is having some bilateral issues with its two immediate neighbours, India, and Myanmar due to the aggressive policy they pursue. The issues of land and maritime border demarcation, refugee influx, smuggling of illegal drugs and small arms, and human trafficking pose danger to Bangladesh. Despite its policy of harmonious and peaceful coexistence with neighbors, Bangladesh should not be oblivious of the risks to peace and stability on the border. It should, therefore, take cognizance of factors that could create threats to its national security from Myanmar.
Bangladesh, to tackle its bilateral issues with Myanmar, should form strategic partnership with the neighbour for mutual benefit.
Unless tackled, the bilateral issues between Bangladesh and Myanmar could give rise to conflicts between the two countries.
The issue of demarcation of the maritime boundary with Myanmar has of late come to the fore. The need to demarcate the maritime boundary on just and equitable basis can hardly be overemphasised. A failure in delineating the maritime border could reduce Bangladesh's outlet to the sea to make it a virtually landlocked country. The outlet to the sea has a great strategic significance for littoral Bangladesh.
The recent intrusion of the Myanmar navy into Bangladesh's sea territories was uncalled for and contrary to the spirit of peaceful coexistence.
Myanmar had sent naval ships inside Bangladesh waters ignoring the fact that the maritime boundary between the two countries is yet to be demarcated. Myanmar should not have ventured into exploring for oil and gas in the disputed waters.
Myanmar forces its Rohingya population into Bangladesh from time to time. According to the New York Times (NYT), this year, more than a quarter-million Rohingyas were pushed from western Myanmar into southern Bangladesh. The newcomers, largely from the Rakhine State in Myanmar, are often so traumatised that they are unable to tell aid workers what they have fled. The continuous pushing of the Rohingyas into Bangladesh by Myanmar could lead to a conflict, unless the issue is properly handled. The following table and graph explain the problem of influx of the Myanmar refugees into Bangladesh.
Account of Rohingya Influx and Repatriation
Illegal small arms smuggling from Myanmar has been a source of problem for Bangladesh. Unless Myanmar stops the arms smuggling, it would create serious threats to Bangladesh's security.
Because of long military rule, self-imposed isolation, and economic embargo by the international community, the Myanmar junta relies heavily on poppy cultivation and illegal drug trading for revenue. Myanmar, the world's second largest opium producer, remains a source of illegal smuggling. Bangladesh faces an imminent danger unless this danger is tackled effectively.
The Myanmar border security force, known as NASAKA, involved in all sorts of human rights violation, illegal smuggling, killing, and other criminal activities, has been a source of worries for Bangladesh. Abducting Bangladeshi woodcutters and fishermen and demanding money as ransom for their release have become a habit of NASAKA. According to union parishad chairman Firoz Ahmed, ""They have been attacking us frequently, firing at fishermen and beating them, and also looting their valuables. In many cases, they kidnap our fishermen and release them after taking ransoms".
NASAKA has been destroying cross border peace, stability, and tranquility.
Cooperation between the armed forces of Bangladesh and the USA is misconstrued by isolationist Myanmar's ruling junta as a threat to its national security.
It is believed that Myanmar is secretly developing nuclear weapons. A nuclear powered Myanmar could pose a threat to regional peace, security and stability. The US secretary of state Hilary Clinton warned the world about Myanmar's nuclear programme, saying, ""It would be destabilising for the region. It would pose a direct threat to Burma's neighbours. If Myanmar succeeds to surreptitiously acquire nuclear technology, it will change the regional balance of power situation and Bangladesh, being the closest and a non-nuclear neighbour, will be the worst victim of this change.
The writer works for Bangladesh Strategic and Development Forum
THE strategic and security policy of Bangladesh, governed by the principles of friendship with all and enmity with none, stresses preventive diplomacy to engage in constructive dialogue to reduce the risk of conflicts and resolve disputes in an amicable manner. So, one should not be surprised that Bangladesh is very reluctant to view its neighbours as sources of security threats, although it is having some bilateral issues with India and Myanmar, due to the aggressive policy pursued by them.
Indeed, Bangladesh is having some bilateral issues with its two immediate neighbours, India, and Myanmar due to the aggressive policy they pursue. The issues of land and maritime border demarcation, refugee influx, smuggling of illegal drugs and small arms, and human trafficking pose danger to Bangladesh. Despite its policy of harmonious and peaceful coexistence with neighbors, Bangladesh should not be oblivious of the risks to peace and stability on the border. It should, therefore, take cognizance of factors that could create threats to its national security from Myanmar.
Bangladesh, to tackle its bilateral issues with Myanmar, should form strategic partnership with the neighbour for mutual benefit.
Unless tackled, the bilateral issues between Bangladesh and Myanmar could give rise to conflicts between the two countries.
The issue of demarcation of the maritime boundary with Myanmar has of late come to the fore. The need to demarcate the maritime boundary on just and equitable basis can hardly be overemphasised. A failure in delineating the maritime border could reduce Bangladesh's outlet to the sea to make it a virtually landlocked country. The outlet to the sea has a great strategic significance for littoral Bangladesh.
The recent intrusion of the Myanmar navy into Bangladesh's sea territories was uncalled for and contrary to the spirit of peaceful coexistence.
Myanmar had sent naval ships inside Bangladesh waters ignoring the fact that the maritime boundary between the two countries is yet to be demarcated. Myanmar should not have ventured into exploring for oil and gas in the disputed waters.
Myanmar forces its Rohingya population into Bangladesh from time to time. According to the New York Times (NYT), this year, more than a quarter-million Rohingyas were pushed from western Myanmar into southern Bangladesh. The newcomers, largely from the Rakhine State in Myanmar, are often so traumatised that they are unable to tell aid workers what they have fled. The continuous pushing of the Rohingyas into Bangladesh by Myanmar could lead to a conflict, unless the issue is properly handled. The following table and graph explain the problem of influx of the Myanmar refugees into Bangladesh.
Account of Rohingya Influx and Repatriation
| Year | 1991-1992 | 1992-1995 | 1996 | 1997-1998 | 1998-1999 | 1999-2000 |
| Influx | 250,000 | --- | 10000 | 30000 | --- | --- |
| Repatriation | --- | >212000 | 23,000 | 10,000 | 106 | 1,130 |
Because of long military rule, self-imposed isolation, and economic embargo by the international community, the Myanmar junta relies heavily on poppy cultivation and illegal drug trading for revenue. Myanmar, the world's second largest opium producer, remains a source of illegal smuggling. Bangladesh faces an imminent danger unless this danger is tackled effectively.
The Myanmar border security force, known as NASAKA, involved in all sorts of human rights violation, illegal smuggling, killing, and other criminal activities, has been a source of worries for Bangladesh. Abducting Bangladeshi woodcutters and fishermen and demanding money as ransom for their release have become a habit of NASAKA. According to union parishad chairman Firoz Ahmed, ""They have been attacking us frequently, firing at fishermen and beating them, and also looting their valuables. In many cases, they kidnap our fishermen and release them after taking ransoms".
NASAKA has been destroying cross border peace, stability, and tranquility.
Cooperation between the armed forces of Bangladesh and the USA is misconstrued by isolationist Myanmar's ruling junta as a threat to its national security.
It is believed that Myanmar is secretly developing nuclear weapons. A nuclear powered Myanmar could pose a threat to regional peace, security and stability. The US secretary of state Hilary Clinton warned the world about Myanmar's nuclear programme, saying, ""It would be destabilising for the region. It would pose a direct threat to Burma's neighbours. If Myanmar succeeds to surreptitiously acquire nuclear technology, it will change the regional balance of power situation and Bangladesh, being the closest and a non-nuclear neighbour, will be the worst victim of this change.
The writer works for Bangladesh Strategic and Development Forum