LEP : Pragmatic realization still a long way
Source: The Sangai Express
New Delhi, November 08, 2013:
While several infrastructure for trade and commerce have been initiated under the Look East Policy (LEP), several doubts and concerns were raised in a seminar held on Look East policy and Internal Security in New Delhi today as part of a two day NE festival that began here.
The policy envisages to develop the NE as a gateway to South East Asia.
Joint Secretary of the Home Ministry Shambu Singh feels that investment in this border State will contain Myanmmar, who he said are not responsive to India's request for cooperation in insurgency problems.
Investment to attract the neighbour will bring down insurgency he said.
The Joint Secretary pointed out that unless the NE people come out of Identity politics, inclusive, vested interest, the LEP will not be a success.
On the issue of AFSPA Singh said it is a compulsion for the Government who he said is not in a position to deal with insurgency without the Act.
Former Home Secretary GK Pillai, who took a cautious note on the LEP reasoned that "all the major infrastructure are in the border ports where all goods are going to Mainland India." Favoring removal of AFSPA, the former Home secretary cited Nagaland where no major violence has been witnessed for the past years but AFSPA was still being implemented and still declared a disturbed area.
Illegal migration, a key issue in Northeast, Pillai opined that a work permit for migrants will be one solution to dealing with migrants.
ULFA leader Shashadhar Choudhary, who also took part in the discussion strongly placed his negative take on the huge infrastructure, and development envisaged under the LEP, which he said is a mere deterrent.
He was critical of India's relation with its neighbours � Bangladesh and Myanmar, which he said is a poor diplomacy.
He also strongly argued for resolution and solution on land document and border issue.
Meanwhile , PC Haldar, one of the key peace interlocutor with various armed groups in NE, said there has been considerable potential in peace dialogue.
According to the interlocutor, armed militancy comes from grievances.
The negotiations stand on the Government side is for an executable and durable agreement which will be beneficial for the socio economic advancement of common people.
The challenges beside the many groups with varied interest is the hierarchy in the Government which the interlocutor admitted is the hindrance in the peace process.
Taking a reflective note on Policies and the Northeast region at large, popular Assamese actor, Victor Benerjee stated that the problem is not security but a cultural insecurity which he said is diminishing amongst the Northeasterners themselves.
On a positive note, Ambassador to Myanmar, Gautam Bandhopadhyay emphasised on the strength like product and service in this border States.
Mentioning the role of Shija Hospitals in Imphal and tremendous response in Myanmar, the Ambassador said health sector can be one way of bridging relation and progress.
Liberalizing Hospitals, relax visa and immigration will undercut the grievances and bring down insurgency, said the Ambassador.
The LEP is an approach of the Foreign Ministry with the South East Asian countries, an evolving policy for an attention, integration, geo politics.
It is designed to fit in the North East region under the External Affairs policy in whole vision of India's interest towards the South East Asia said Former Foreign Secretary, Ranjan Mathai.
Underlining the importance of Myanmar in this Policy vision, Mathai said that the LEP was as leverage in the ASEAN - India dynamics.
Comment
