NGO: India Should Close Airspace to Myanmar Warplanes

Image copyright: fortifyrights

The Facts

  • International human rights group Fortify Rights issued a statement on Thursday urging India to stop Myanmar's warplanes from entering its airspace on claims that it had "dropped bombs on both sides of the Myanmar-India border" this week.

  • This comes as Myanmar military junta fighters reportedly destroyed a healthcare clinic on Wednesday by bombing the Chin National Front (CNF) headquarters in Mt Victoria. This occurred a day after five CNF members were allegedly killed and many others injured.


The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

India has retained its strong economic and military relationship with the junta despite the evidence of the military's atrocities showing up on India's border through thousands of refugees. If India wishes to prevent a refugee crisis, it should back efforts to democratize Myanmar rather than allow the junta to violently push its citizens over the border.

Establishment-critical narrative

These calls for action are empty. India's military relationship with Myanmar is the same as it was back in 2008. Even after that so-called "free and fair election," Myanmar's military still received 25% of seats in the legislature — enough to veto any substantive political change. There's no reason to think there will be a change today.


Establishment split

CRITICAL

PRO