27 May 1990: 30 years ago today, Burma voted in first free elections since 1950s.

After supporting 1988 democratic uprising, India welcomed the victory of Aung San Su Kyi's NLD.

But as Myanmar military reasserted dominance, Delhi was forced to adjust + engage.

Thread: 1/15

Run-up: India tried to engage isolationist Burma throughout the 1980s, eg economic relations recalls @Sreeniv. Military support: Gen. Sundarji visit 1986, Tatmadaw refused cooperation even as China expands influence. Also no response to Indian offer to Burma joining SAARC. 2/15

Dec. 1987 visit by Rajiv Gandhi final attempt, fails in outreach, tipping point: a bizarre meeting with Gen. Ne Win, where he dismisses every Indian offer/initiatives in an "avuncular" tone.

Natwar Singh recalls it as one of most bizarre meetings in his diplomatic career. 3/15

After this: Ne Win seen as part of problem, not solution to better India-Burma relations. So no surprise that it was not only instinctive "values" that led Delhi to support 1988/8/8 democratic uprising. India's strong support of democratization mainly a matter of interest. 4/15

India came out strongly to support uprising, from diplomatic statements to actual logistics/financial support for students, dissidents.

Amb. IP Singh: “Indian Embassy, under instruction from Delhi, took a firm stand in support of Burmese people’s demand for democracy." 5/15

EAM Rao, @ UNGA, Oct 88:
“[we] watched with growing concern the trials and tribulations faced by the people of Burma… India always scrupulously avoided interfering in the internal affairs of other countries ...[but] we cannot but sympathise with democratic aspirations.” 6/15

In parallel to the political + diplomatic track, there was also a complex security [intel/military] and cross-border dynamic playing out with various insurgencies operating across India-Burma border.

@PaliwalAvi doing great work on this and other angles for his next book. 7/15

May 27, 1990: Elections held in Myanmar. Massive victory for NLD, 392 of the 485 seats contested, 75% of votes. NLD goes into offensive, makes unilateral impositions on SLORC/Tatmadaw, hints at Nuremberg-style trial. May have reasserted junta, annuls elections, detains ASSK. 8/15

MEA reaction:
“Despite this clear [pro-democracy] verdict, power has not been transferred to the elected representatives ... We hope this will be done soon so that normalcy can return in the country, facilitating the revival and strengthening of our bilateral relations” 9/15

Delhi meeting, June 20:

P N Haksar: we "rejoice that the people of Burma are overwhelmingly asserting their desire for liberty and political democracy”

K R Narayanan: “special task of Indians to extend their support for the democratic processes now being initiated.” 10/15

J N Dixit becomes Foreign Secretary in Nov. 1991, recalls:
“dilemma (of) dealing with the contradictory demands of being supportive of democratic forces [in Burma], and interacting with the de facto government.” 11/15

1992: Under PM Rao's instructions, Dixit begins outreach to Myanmar military. First diplomatic consultations. Sept: India supports MY re-entry to NAM at Jakarta summit. 1993: Dixit leads a secretive delegation to Yangon. Maritime boundary agreement signed (IN-MY-TH). 12/15

After that: @bhatia_rk recalls in his book a "two-track policy": India "would continue to extend moral and political support to the democratic forces and leaders, and it would also engage military government in order to improve and upgrade G2G relations" 13/15

But could Delhi have its cake and eat it, too? Mixed signals from Delhi were not always welcome in Yangon. Many ups and downs followed, of which the 1993-95 Nehru prize for ASSK, and aborted joint COIN op is probably the greatest blow.

Policy split, including in govt. 14/15

Full normalization only in 1999, with dual econ-diplo track (Amb. Shyam Saran) + defence diplomacy via Shillong (CoAS: @Vedmalik1).

All this shows how India not driven by values VERSUS interests, but both connected to geostrategic, economic and cross-border assessments.
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