OBAMA TO ENGAGE IN MYANMAR- MANIPUR'S HISTORICAL NEIGHBOUR

Guwahati
9 November,2008
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Barack Hussein Obama,the US president-elect might change his predecessor's apathy to Myanmar[Burma] by pro-actively engaging in the Asean that Condolizza Rice marginalised.Asean is ten ,and the new administration could not peripheralise ten Asian states- the Asean entity in terms of economic and security relationship.Could it be bilateral or multilateral is a choice of the new dispensation- a choice has to be there.Burma's neighbours- Manipur et.al. are unquiet for more than half a century.Obama would know gradually, where Manipur does exist in proximity of Burma,yet try to overlook it as an Intra-Indian imbroglio.

For political reasons,both the SPDC military junta as well as the NLD leadership have greeted the president-elect.The junta doubts if Obama would change Bush's indifference ,and the opposition desires a multilateral approach to Myanmar.The NLD states," we want the US to work with the international community and the United Nations[on Burma]."

In retrospect,both Obama and his VP- mate Biden had supported US sanctions against Burma.In September 2007, Obama denounced the military junta for the latter's attack on peaceful demonstrators in Burma.
His adviros Samantha,P has proposed multilateral approach to the country's political and economic unrest. He cannot afford to take on a hardline stance against the present Burmese dispensation,once on the shaddle of power, for he would require- sooner or later - an engagement with the Asean.
Bush administration and Condolizza Rice skipped annual Asean forum indicating lack of concern ,that really is one for the US.The US would, as in the past, voluntarily by default leave the entire Burmese political and security space to either Russia or China or both, in the changing political equations. Obma advisor Robert Gelbard has already hinted at the imminent Russian and Chinese move towards re-enforcing a'regional architecture'.

The 'axis of evil ' -the pet forteign policy theory of Bush administration might not remain a tag to the new dispensation, particularly in a situation, which the US strtegists, would look forward to a possible 'change from within' in Myanmar.Had Myanmar been restive, her next door neighbour- Manipur had been relatively unquiet in Indian political architecture.Obama would have a concern on Burma and evade a feeble concern on Burma's next door neighbour.