New Delhi, Dec 20 (UNI) In the wake of reports of the Arakan Army making rapid advances in Myanmar, India said today that it is following the developments there very closely and has relocated its people from Sittwe to Yangon.
MEA spokespersons Randhir Jaiswal said at a briefing here: “We are following the evolving situation and due to it we have relocated our people from Sittwe to Yangon. Our consulate in Sittwe continues to be functional, and our development projects continue to go forward. They are all grant based projects to serve the people of Myanmar.”
Asked about Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s visit to Bangkok, Thailand, to participate in the land boundary neighbours of Myanmar talks on Thursday, he said that the FS explained India’s position at the talks, and called for cessation of violence, peace and establishment of a genuine federal democracy, which is Myanmar led and owned and takes into consideration the wishes of the people of Myanmar.
Myanmar has been wracked by violence since the army ousted the government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, leading to violent pro-democracy protests, and the establishment of an armed resistance movement.
Thursday’s discussions in Bangkok were attended by foreign ministers and high-level representatives from Myanmar and its neighbours, Laos, China, India, Bangladesh and host Thailand.
Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa described their talks as important because it was the first time that Myanmar and all five of its neighbours had met together.
The six nations attending Thursday’s meeting “agreed that direct engagement with Myanmar is critical and necessary,” said Thailand’s Maris. “They see the value of meeting regularly. And they share the same understanding, more so than other countries, because they are direct neighbors directly impacted by the situation in Myanmar.”
Besides FS Misri, the talks were attended by Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Advisor to the interim government Touhid Hossain, Myanmar Foreign Minister Than Swe, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong, Thailand FM Maris Sangiampongsa and Laos FM Thongsavanh Phomvihane.
