Myanmar's surprise action
Wednesday, 5 November 2008
THE news that neighbouring Myanmar has arbitrarily deployed four ships for exploring oil and gas inside Bangladesh maritime boundary under the protection of its naval warships would come as both shock and surprise to most Bangladeshis. It was only recently one of the very influential members of the Myanmar's ruling military junta paid a goodwill visit to Bangladesh and a good number of bilateral issues, including the maritime boundary issue, were discussed in an atmosphere of mutual trust and cooperation. Besides, the two countries are scheduled to hold discussions soon on bilateral issues again during this month.
Bangladesh has also despatched its three naval ships to the area where exploration work has started. A warning was also issued, calling upon the authorities in Myanmar to withdraw their ships. But as the Myanmar navy ignored the warning, the Bangladesh foreign office summoned the Myanmar ambassador in Bangladesh last Sunday and handed over a protest note to him, demanding withdrawal of the exploration ships from the area until clear demarcation of the maritime boundary is made through mutual understanding. The actions-sending of naval ships and protesting the Myanmar action through diplomatic channel, would be considered justified. But the administration has to give satisfactory reply to a few questions concerning its indifference to the issues of maritime boundary demarcation and early start of exploration work in the Bay of Bengal, which is now thought to be a large reservoir of gas and oil. The discovery of 100 trillion cubic feet of gas in 2005-06 by India and 7.0 trillion by Myanmar almost during the same time is thought to have triggered a regional oil and gas politics. Unofficial estimates put the probable gas reserve in the offshore areas of the Bay at around 200 trillion cubic feet.
India also has maritime boundary demarcation problem with Bangladesh. Neither Myanmar nor India has filed their claim to the UN under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The deadline for filing such claim in case of Myanmar is on May 21 and India June 29 next year. Bangladesh also has to file its claim by July 27, 2011. There is no denying that there exists some overlapping of territorial boundaries among the three neighbours because of their curvy coastline. But the countries involved should have avoided encroachment, particularly in areas considered to be 'disputed' until the issues are settled either through mutual discussion or under the direct mediation of the UN agency concerned. Both India and Myanmar have lodged protests soon after the invitation of bids from international oil companies by Bangladesh to conduct oil and gas exploration in its offshore blocks. But, interestingly, both the countries have been conducting exploration work in areas the ownership of which is yet to be settled.
After a long gap of 28 years, expert delegations of Bangladesh and India have had talks over their maritime boundary problems recently. But the talks ended without any result. More problems are likely to crop up in the coming days over maritime boundary between the neighbours. The government, while expediting the process of resolving the maritime boundary problems through mutual discussions, should make every efforts to establish firmly the country's sovereign right over its own territory. However, it is high time for the government to make all-out preparations to face the issue, both at bilateral and international levels.
Bangladesh has also despatched its three naval ships to the area where exploration work has started. A warning was also issued, calling upon the authorities in Myanmar to withdraw their ships. But as the Myanmar navy ignored the warning, the Bangladesh foreign office summoned the Myanmar ambassador in Bangladesh last Sunday and handed over a protest note to him, demanding withdrawal of the exploration ships from the area until clear demarcation of the maritime boundary is made through mutual understanding. The actions-sending of naval ships and protesting the Myanmar action through diplomatic channel, would be considered justified. But the administration has to give satisfactory reply to a few questions concerning its indifference to the issues of maritime boundary demarcation and early start of exploration work in the Bay of Bengal, which is now thought to be a large reservoir of gas and oil. The discovery of 100 trillion cubic feet of gas in 2005-06 by India and 7.0 trillion by Myanmar almost during the same time is thought to have triggered a regional oil and gas politics. Unofficial estimates put the probable gas reserve in the offshore areas of the Bay at around 200 trillion cubic feet.
India also has maritime boundary demarcation problem with Bangladesh. Neither Myanmar nor India has filed their claim to the UN under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The deadline for filing such claim in case of Myanmar is on May 21 and India June 29 next year. Bangladesh also has to file its claim by July 27, 2011. There is no denying that there exists some overlapping of territorial boundaries among the three neighbours because of their curvy coastline. But the countries involved should have avoided encroachment, particularly in areas considered to be 'disputed' until the issues are settled either through mutual discussion or under the direct mediation of the UN agency concerned. Both India and Myanmar have lodged protests soon after the invitation of bids from international oil companies by Bangladesh to conduct oil and gas exploration in its offshore blocks. But, interestingly, both the countries have been conducting exploration work in areas the ownership of which is yet to be settled.
After a long gap of 28 years, expert delegations of Bangladesh and India have had talks over their maritime boundary problems recently. But the talks ended without any result. More problems are likely to crop up in the coming days over maritime boundary between the neighbours. The government, while expediting the process of resolving the maritime boundary problems through mutual discussions, should make every efforts to establish firmly the country's sovereign right over its own territory. However, it is high time for the government to make all-out preparations to face the issue, both at bilateral and international levels.