Along came the Chinaman : The neighbourhood games

The Myanmar Story

In the contemporary history of mankind, never ever was any year hated so much as 2020! The entire globe united, joined hands to face a common menace. The pandemic of Corona! A disease which took lives of thousands , apart from crippling the economy of countries across the globe. This malicious menace was gifted to the world by one country. China and its communist government. A government which hid key details of the disease from the world.

After all, China has never cared for human lives. For those who do not believe, they just need to see a three decade old video of their “humanitarian gestures” at a place in Beijing called Tianmen Square

For us, China just didn’t stop at unleashing the deadly disease, thus crippling our economy but rather went on to embark on a deadly and cowardly intrusion in our territory in Ladakh, which resulted in the martyrdom of 20 of Indian soldiers. Of course, in what must have been completely unexpected by them and dealing a blow to the Chinese arrogance, Indian soldiers killed more than 50 of PLA soldiers. In hand to hand combat! At the dead of a chilly night in high altitude mountains of Ladakh.

The intent here is not to discuss either Corona or the Chinese attack on India.  But rather to discuss the coexistence of two superpowers.

This is not the first time when India faced a totally unsolicited u called for belligerent behaviour from China. It started in 1962 when, for the first time, the Friendly neighbourhood Chinaman  showed its real contemptuous behaviour. Ever since, the Chinese juggernaut has been completely unstoppable. On different occasions, the dragon has spit fire on the Tiger! Whether it was a major intrusion in 2013 during UPA government under the stewardship of Mr. Manmohan Singh or another major standoff in 2017 at Doklam. The standoff and way Indian forces showed maturity and prevailed over China ,  was watershed moment for the communist government. India left China gaping and struggling.

Both the countries got its independence at the same time, both are blessed with a skilled labour force, both are two populous nations but yet the growth trajectory of these two nations show a striking difference in overall approach.

Being an obsessed compulsive China watcher, the  writer tried to offer some plausible reason in his  blog written almost a decade ago. Anyone interested can read the blog by visiting the link below.


http://commonruminations.blogspot.com/2011/09/friendly-neighbourhood-chinaman.html

In this blog, the intent is to attempt to explain  the psyche of China and its geo strategic manoeuvres and how it poses a direct threat to India.

The population of China and its communist government, is mainly comprising of Hans. They, in their ubiquitous glory, believe in overall supremacy. They in their all encompassing logic, believe that they have to dominate the world system and lead it with their thought process.

China has been arbitrarily known to assume ,decide and announce extension of their sovereignty extending to independent territories of many nations. Their adventures in Ladakh or in South China Sea bears testimony to this draconian attitude.

But in their global aspirations and ambitions, they have come across two stumbling blocks. USofA  and India. Both China and India are the major nuclear superpowers in Asia.

Apart from their adventures in South China Sea or recent obnoxious attack in Ladakh,  China has very ambitiously followed its imperialist dream through its flagship “marquee property” called BRI. Suffice it to say that BRI has been instrumental in allowing China initial footsteps, and ultimately leading to a significant presence, in countries across the globe. Be it Venezuela or Angola or a distant remote small country called Papua New Guinea.

Coupled with BRI, has been active military bases in many countries like Djibouti in Africa or now in Gawadhar in Pakistan. In fact Gawadhar is a part of CPEC.

But the case study which highlights the Chinese  killer instinct psyche is Myanmar!

Very briefly, Myanmar, erstwhile Burma, has a violent and bloody tryst with military dictatorship called Junta. The Junta, was of course close to the communist regime in China. While in rule,  the Junta, had taken major decision of awarding the construction of a hydropower project on River Irrawaddy, to the Chinese.  It was a land mark decision. Widely protested by the local kachin populace, who were apparently also supported by CIA.

However, in a change of events, in 2011 Myanmar saw a new semi civilian  government under Mr. Thein Sien and amongst his major decision, he took the bold decision of stopping the work of the dam. After a public debate, he took the decision even though lots of work had already happened. It was a huge insult to China, considering that the decision was announced in China National Day and the Chinese were caught napping. Post the decision, US inched closer to Myanmar. In fact, the then US Secretary of State, Ms. Hillary Clinton herself Visited Myanmar.

The story gets even better. After Thein Sien, the rule of Myanmar was in the hands of Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi! The darling of the west and the winner of Nobel prize for her decades old fight against Junta, her coronation was perhaps a bad news for China.

And should have been a great news for India, considering she was raised here. But China rather welcomed Suu Kai, assured her of all help and also told her about the great friendship between her mother and Zhou en Lai. By the time she came to power, China had already strengthened relations with the political ecosystem of Myanmar.

But the event that gravitated Suu Kyi firmly towards China was the Rohingya crisis. A time when the whole world banished her and converted her into a pariah because of the violent oppression of an equally violent community called Rohingya. In such a time, when the entire world looked down upon her, it was China which came to the rescue of Myanmar. China provided entire support to Myanmar.

The result?
Today Myanmar is trusted partner of China. The investment of Chinese BRI in Myanmar is running into billions.
China is working in major projects including:
• Interconnection of Myanmar Chinese electric grid
• China Myanmar high speed railway
• Sino Myanmar land and water passageway
• Special economic and industrial zones
• And the oil and gas pipeline from Myanmar all the way to Yunnan


There has always been a significant level of distrust, in the minds of local populace of Myanmar, towards China. Moreover, and most importantly, Suu Kyi was a moderate and can be a strong ally for India.

The regime of Mr. Modi has worked on a visionary “Act East Policy. Neighbourhood First”. It was conceived primarily for Myanmar. A lot of bilateral accomplishment  has been recorded and significant Indian investment, as well as ‘development projects’ are going on. Growth in bilateral trade between India and Myanmar from $12.4 MN to $2.18Bn in three decades.

Additionally, Kaladan multi modal Transit transport that links Kolkata to Sittwe and kaladan river to India’s North East. Soft loans, military drills, cultural ties also form the crux of Indo-Myanmar relations.  A lot was achieved during the meeting of late Ms. Sushma Swaraj with Ms. Suu Kyi in 2018, under the aegis of Neighbourhood First policy.


Keeping aside the fallacy of an obtuse vacuous vapid foundation of Secularism, had we too openly supported Myanmar, during Rohingya crisis, maybe it could have warded off China from so close to India.   Assuming that India had supported Myanmar during that crisis, the tables would have turned today, it would have been Indian investment in Myanmar and a strong ally to checkmate China.

China grabbed an opportunity. Converted a threat into an opportunity. And in a strategic whiplash, came closer in the neighbourhood  of  its most powerful rival in Asia.

And let’s not forget, China is also very active in Bangladesh. It is helping Bangladesh build naval base in Cox Bazar.

Like a wolf in the skin of a sheep, China attacked our soldiers in Ladakh. Let’s be assured that it was not the first nor the last of such belligerent gesture. China shall continue to do what it does best. Threat, suppress and obliterate any opposition.

The dragon is in a hurry to have outs global footprint ( even in Arctic) but the Indian Tiger has to sharpen its claws and go on the offensive. If China can be more prominent in  Myanmar, maybe India can try and become more active in Mongolia.

Or even a better outreach shall be another lady who, in this case, is giving nightmare to the Dragon. Ms.  Tsai Ing Wen and The tiny island nation of Taiwan. Indian should do what China did in Myanmar. An alliance with Taiwan will go places for Indian global diplomacy. Who knows….

THE DIRTY WORLD OF ART!

The recent news of Rana Kapoor, the disgraced founder of Yes Bank buying paintings from Priyanka Gandhi has shaken the country.

It became an object of jokes and many questions, rightly so, ascribing most of it's trajectory to the age old practice of placating powerful politicians. In this case, a powerful family in the "business" of politics.

Is Priyanka Gandhi an artist? No. When did she become one? Or is she like Ms. Mamata Banerjee whose "work of art" sold for an astounding Rs. 6 crore. That "painting" when shown to The world, raised all goes and cries. Again, rightly so!

For that painting would have put even a 10 year old artist(read drawing/painting enthusiast) to shame.

Like wise, Mrs. A K Antony's painting sold in crores.

This is just one incident. I again feel, of an urge to Placate powerful people.

But is the world of art, really innocent. And here I mean the genuine work of art , be it Picasso or Salvador Dali or a Vincent Van Gogh or other great, if not greater names, of past.

The world of art galleries and these genuinely exquisite work of art Is a pleasure to the eyes of any common art lover BUT it is also a genuine pleasure for many devious objectives.

Paintings are a Currency!

Paintings, has emerged as a viable solid source of funds for many terror organisations, leaving aside others in drugs financing or Arms and guns.

Let me give an example. I am passionate about reading any and every material on terrorist organisations.

And couple of years ago, it came to light that how 'Islamic State, the most dangerous and we'll funded terror network in the world, used paintings As a source of funds.

Have you heard of "Geneva Free Port".  Geneva is a Swiss city and Switzerland has been known as the best place (apart from Cayman Islands, some banks in Hong Kong, Mauritious etc) for it's discreet banking system. It is a tax Haven and had been used for Hoarding black money.

But Swiss is actually a Haven for others too. In this case, paintings and other work of art. And herein comes Geneva Free Port. It is kinda bank, in Geneva, for keeping only work of art.

Few years back, stolen work of art, sourced from Syria, was found in Geneva Free Port. It lent more credence to the idea that world of art is a big source of funds.

Let's understand that, like a good real estate, a genuine, sought, loved and popular work of art never depreciates. Its value only increases. 

In fact, again few years back Beaufort Securities of Mauritius was investigated for buying paintings. These kinda agencies specialise in channeling I'll gotten and huge black money in the direct system, slowly. And paintings works. How? They buy at a price ( can be shown as an invetsment Or an expense). It is kept and later can be sold off. It has guaranteed returns.

More importantly, there are extremely rich people who are equally  extremely crazy about acquiring paintings or other works of art. It satisfied their ego

For all we know, many of them keep these paintings in their private collection, far away from prying eyes of media, investigative agencies and common people. It is an ego booster.

For God's sake, even a Rana Kapoor has been found with 62 costly paintings!

Money is paid for them, right? Assuming he paid 2 Crore for a Priyanka Gandhi painting, imagine how much he would have spent for other 61 paintings.

Even at RS. 2 Crore ( and it is very less) , it comes to approx RS. 125 crores.

I am not saying he picked them from any wrong source but look at the money.

Now let's go back To those wealthy genuine art lovers who can go to any limit to procure a painting.

And here come the Nexus. Often terrorist organizations, themselves can execute a campaign to steal paintings from renowned galleries across the world, esp in Europe and sell them for a huge Price.

Or professional art thieves can be hired to carry out the needful. Maybe the thieves don't even know who is the final buyer (not the rich collector, mind you but the terror/drugs/gunsl smugglers).

The art is stolen, and while exchanging through multiple hands, reach Final buyer, for millions of dollars.

Art is a secured solid source of funds for nefarious activities.

In November 2019,in a  famous art gallery in Dresden (a city in Germany), three most exquisite work of art was stolen. Experts said its value can not be fathomed .

Thieves don't keep these work of art for themselves . It is sold to someone. For millions and millions of dollars.

It is kept in places like Geneva Free Port!

A proper infrastructure is there, for it.

And there are "art restorers", people who restore damaged paintings or recreate paintings. In wake of a theft, sometimes they are hired by museums and galleries to recreate the stolen painting and kept at the same place. A common person, even after spending hours, cant make out the difference.

The world of art is sublimely beautiful. It encourages, it motivates us, the common people. It makes us dream.

But there are some who look at it as a source of funds.

Isn't it interesting?

FROM CHINA, WITH LOVE!

Life in the times of Covid 19

Remember the movie “Mars Attacks” and US president Jack Nicholson trying to fight the aliens. Maybe in the last two months, every day we have relived  the movie. Just that Mars has been replaced by a Virus.

At midnight of 31st December 2019 when we were busy wishing one and all a happy 2020, seldom did we know that this might turn out as the biggest irony of our lives. Within a gap of 60 days, the world faced a challenge, hitherto unknown. The challenge to survive!

While days turned into weeks and week into months, we could see the worst nightmare, the world could ever imagine , unravel in front of our own eyes. Glued to TV sets and news apps on our smart phone, we just saw countries and continents become victims of Novel Corona virus. Citadels of Renaissance like Italy crumbled while US found itself groping to survive. 

Maybe globalisation too assumed a new proportion when entire world globally and  collectively wanted to fight this menace. Social media was abuzz from calls of world leaders to common people , praying for the well being of all.

The world was united in its hope, in its valour , in its vigour and in its hatred for the virus and its source.

Whether it was because of abnormal eating practices in China or a human experiment that went horribly wrong in one of its biological laboratory in Wuhan, it was clear to all that communist China was the source of this deadly disease.

How was it possible that while world suffered, many economic hot spots of China remained unscathed. Or even while more than 10000 people died in Italy (not counting the other countries) in Wuhan it was only 2000. Unless China did what it does really well I.e. brushing news under the carpet.

With its global ‘agents’ like WHO working overtime to resurrect the global image of China, it is not a difficult task. Let’s not forget that human rights and human life really doesn’t matter much to the communist regime in China.

Barely three decades ago, it didn’t feel restrained to run tanks over its own people in Tianmen square, then it can, without batting an eyelid, can actually ensure that deaths of millions is never published.

And then Corona Virus came knocking at our own doors! 

We knew it will but when it did, it left us gasping! Collectively our Government led by Honourable Prime Minister and all states, officials embarked upon a humongous task to keep the virus and its spread, at a bay. The effort to ensure minimal spread and to break the “chain” was ‘initially successful’.

Our PM again let the world know why he is hailed as a statesman! 

He faced the challenge head on and led the counter measure, from the front.

Let us not forget the fact that since January, we have had a busy schedule. Initially with Trump coming to India, followed by the jihadi  Islamists indulging in mass rioting and killing in National Capital. While the islamist breakaway forces at Shaheen Bagh, added fuel to the fire.


Nevertheless, union government planned and carried out multiple steps to  obtain the virus. Be it thermal  checking in all international airports or getting Indians, from abroad, back home. Nothing was left to chance!

However, which government can ever predict human weakness. Many patients escaped from Quarantine. It was sheer efficiency of the officials, that most of these cases were immediately attended. But the vagary was already done! Virus started spreading.

 PM announced lockdown and it was the best time to announce and create isolation, in order to contain the virus. In such a time, almost all leaders, cutting across the party lines, came and supported our PM. While the respective implementation at state level has been different, with some states doing better than others.

Of course, we saw Leader of Congress party Mr. Rahul Gandhi, also doing what he does best (like China). He embarked upon a frustrating  campaign of immature criticism of the government in everything it did. Need was for him to unconditionally rally behind the PM but Mr. Gandhi being Mr. Gandhi, refrained from doing so.

Writer Arthur Basham had written a book called – The wonder that was India! He was right, for we are indeed a wonder. Often frustratingly so!

In fact despite the size of our country and its population, the initial numbers of positive corona cases were minimal so much so that many countries were at a loss. This speaks volumes about the proactive measures of our Government at centre.

But by the fag end of March (after Lockdown was announced) the challenge has increased manifold with News of an Islamist congregation called Jamaat Tablighi and its thousands of members, who despite requests from police and administration, went ahead with their religious meeting.

And now , it appears that many of them were positive cases of corona virus. It gets even worse, many of these people travelled to different states and now news of new cases of corona has come from those places.

As if it was not enough, from the day PM announced the lockdown, we saw migrant labourers willing to walk hundreds of kilometres to reach their villages! It was shocking. Media Gleefully covered the news, rather than convincing upon the migrant workforce to stay out.

What can a government do, in such a scenario?

The PM, had gone to the extent of making a request with folded hands. He shared case studies of notable success against corona virus and exhorted the country to self isolation. In my over 4 decades of existence on Earth, I have never seen any PM making such a strong and emotional appeal.

Adequate preparations were made but in face of such a manifestation of criminal intent as exhibited by Tablighi Jamaat, I wonder what can a Govt do. The damage has been done and the spreaders/carriers of this virus too have done their jobs. Had home ministry taken any tough measures,  assured the media and liberal ecosystem would have criticised the government.

From day one, there was a resistance amongst certain portion of the Muslim population towards lockdown. Perhaps because it was requested by Modi. Streams of tick tock videos asking Muslim youth to not follow lockdown/isolation rules, flooded the social media. Senior members of the community were almost adamant about their right to congregate in mosques.

In Maharashtra, state government decided that all Corona virus dead will be cream aged and not buried. Within 24 hours, Muslim leader of the alliance, Nawab Mali,, tweeted that this order will be withdrawn. Why should it be withdrawn?

Is religion more important than nation. For many Islamists, the answer is yes. Of course, the liberal intellectuals will be willing to oblige them even more.

The days ahead are going to be very tough. 1st April to 10th April shall show the trend. It is time to stay indoor, and pray. For we shall continue to have other Jamaat acting like a bunch of misguided missiles, but let’s support our government and respective state governments to prevail.

Or we are all doomed. We will reach a point of no return.

Thanks to a virus we got……from China, with love.

THE DAY WHEN IT STARTED FOR US!

“I have never advocated war except as a means of peace” – Ulysses S Grant

Illich Ramirez Sanchez a.k.a Carlos the Jackal  AND  Abu Nidal!

While growing up, I was always mesmerized with these  two  names. Mesmerized with utter disgust! For, these two names had always ‘shaken’ the world in the utmost destructive way. For the uninitiated, both were high level terrorists. While Carlos’ centre of activity was mainly Europe , for Abu Nidal , the founder of Fatah (The Militant Palestine group) it was both Middle-East and also Europe. Many terror attacks, were ascribed to them.

I always wondered what if Abu Nidal, the smuggler of terror (as I used to call him) brings his business here?

 But then I used to laugh it off, thinking as a mere figment of imagination. How could terror ever visit my country.

I was never so wrong…. A bloody Friday proved me so!

By the late afternoon of 12^th March 1993, I was proven wrong.

A normal day in Delhi! The winter was almost bidding us good bye and I remember, studying very hard, as my class 12^th boards were going on.  By late afternoon, the first whisper of rumour (as it was thought so initially) started coming in.

Unbelievable! How could this happen and more importantly, why should it happen? But in some time, it was confirmed.

The worst ever terror attack, planned and perpetrated by Islamists, had come home. I don’t think an attack of such magnitude had ever happened before in any country. The world had seen Munich massacre or London bombings (during IRA fights) or bombings in Italy or Israel BUT such magnitude.

Mumbai terror attacks, by the home grown Islamists, was a wakeup call. A rude one, at that! The financial capital of India and a major nodal centre of the globe, was attacked. More than 350 people killed. 12 serial blasts.

That was an era without any social media,  but by evening, the board exams were forgotten and all of us were just in front of TV to watch DD News unravelling the gory sights from Mumbai. 

There was nothing to say but everything to imagine and more to fear.

In some time, it was known that the mastermind behind the attacks was none other than Dawood Ibrahim. Now along with those two names at the top, this was a man who I used to follow, through newspapers, whenever and whatever was published.

Dawood Ibrahim, who was a fugitive already was a known name but this attacks elevated him to another level. Tiger Memon , hie lieutenant who carried out the operations meticulously (Please read the book –Black Friday by Hussain Zaidi to understand the operations).  Both Dawood and Tiger are still at large.

There was another factor! A man called Asad Durrani. The head of ISI in Pakistan. He had moved out by Feb 1993 but it was he who was equally responsible. Such an operation could not have happened without the blessings of ISI. It was ISI which managed to procure the RDX for Dawood. RDX was used in the attacks, brought in Mumbai through small adjoining ports.

The predecessor of Durrani was the ill famous, ruthless, bloody  and brilliant Hamid Gul, the man who planned, supported and blessed the Kashmir terror activities which  had started barely three years earlier. Both Gul and Durrani, and all others before them and after, with true belief in the ethos of ISI, always hated India to the core.

 The reason was ascribed to the Hindu muslim riots in Mumbai  after the demolition of an illegal mosque in Ayodhya called  Babri Masjid. Dawood, Tiger planned the revenge. Apparently, one key stirrer was when Hasina Parker (the dreaded sister of Dawood) sent him bangles after the riots.  

Larger question here is that did riots happen for the first time? In maximum riots in India, it is Hindus who bore the brunt but they never made bombs and killed their own countrymen. However, it is another topic of debate.

What is alarming is that the two main conspirators are still at large. Had it been Israel or US, by now they would have been in their graves. It speaks volumes about the muck that seeped in the politics of Congress. Sharad Pawar was the Chief Minister.  He tried to mislead the investigators saying there is another blast being planned. 13^th blast. There was no 13^th blast.

A recent remark by Mr. Sood, an ex Intelligence officer (published in Opindia) where he clearly mentioned that Sharad pawar had links with Dawood.  Again, this is topic for another debate

Where does it end? Mumbai blasts opened the floodgates to similar terror attacks. We became the hot favourite of Radical Islamists. Congress government never unleashed any counter attack on them. Thanks to such repulsive attitude of Congress, today it is very difficult to get Dawood. He is the most special guest of ISI, sitting in his huge bungalow in Defence Colony, Karachi. 

Had we had a government with intent, Dawood would have long ago been either arrested or terminated. both are welcome.

For the first time, under Mr. Modi, we can see a focused attack on the terror perpetrators. Like Grant said, we need to unleash a war to maintain peace.

War on terror, that is. Whatever it takes….and i am sure that it is just some time, before we get our hands on the biggest enemy of our nation.