Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Sunday the country's remote north-east, home to some 30 rebel groups and racked by violence, could become a gateway to increased trade with Southeast Asia. Singh, on the second leg of a three-day visit to the region rich in oil, tea and timber and comprising seven states, also invited insurgents to lay down their arms and enter talks with the government to end over five decades of strife.
"This century is going to be Asia's century and China and India are going to be its major economies," Singh told a rally in Assam's main city of Guwahati.
He said India's "Look East" policy was paying dividends with the firming up of trade links with Southeast Asia and the Far East.
"Assam and the north-east can be the springboard from which we (can) launch into intense economic integration with our neighbours," Singh said.
"Assam can become an entry-point, a centre of commerce and trade, where goods, ideas and people from many lands (can) meet and interact, both economically and intellectually."
Assam is the largest state in the region bordering China, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Myanmar.
The rebel groups in the region are variously seeking secession, greater autonomy or independence. They say New Delhi exploits the area for its natural resources.
Violence in the region has claimed some 50,000 lives since India's independence in 1947.
India alleges the rebels operate from well-entrenched forest bases in neighbouring countries.
Singh made the invitation to join peace talks during a meeting earlier Sunday with the media in Imphal, capital of restive Manipur state.
"I am giving an open invitation to all young men and women who have taken to arms to come for talks with us so that we can usher in peace and prosperity in the north-east. Our government is willing to talk to anybody who shuns violence," Singh said.
He said his government had received "positive overtures" from the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), an influential separatist group fighting for an independent homeland in Assam.
And Myanmar had assured New Delhi it would crack down on separatists who have bases in its territory.
"Myanmar's prime minister General Than Shwe has assured (us of) his country's pledge not to allow his country to be used by insurgents for any attacks directed against India," Singh said referring to Shwe's visit to New Delhi last month.
Indian intelligence officials say at least five militant groups active in the north-east have training camps in the thick jungles of north Myanmar.
Singh said his visit was aimed at beginning a "new process" of hope and peace, but played down expectations of massive financial packages.
"I am not here to give money or announce packages but would definitely respond to demands for projects submitted to us by the state governments," Singh said.
During his Wednesday-Thursday trip to occupied Kashmir, Singh had offered 5.3 billion dollars for development and announced the end of a ban on recruitment to government jobs.
On Monday, Singh is due to flag off the first India-Asean car rally from Guwahati. The rally will cover 10 countries and is ultimately aimed at fostering better trade ties between India and other Southeast Asia countries.
Comments
Comments are closed.