Noted author and scribe Bertil Lintner joins Myanmar scribes in interactive session at IFP

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Dec 1

An interaction programme amongst few senior journalists from the state, the staffs of Imphal Free Press and several Myanmar journalists and students from Yangon Journalism School, Myanmar, was held today at the office complex of the Imphal Free Press.

The interactive session was also joined by Bertil Lintner, a noted Swiss author and journalist who has written extensively on political issues in Asia for the past several decades.

‘Land of Jade’ and ‘Great Game East’ are some of his notable books which critically engage with the various political struggles in the region, including Manipur.

His latest book, ‘China’s India War’ will see an Indian release at the Nehru Museum and Library, New Delhi on December 6.

Drawing on his vast experience in the region, which includes several correspondence with leaders from various revolutionary groups, he observed that situation in the Northeast is not as turbulent as it was in the past. But he remarked that new issues have cropped up with the influx of massive money in the region, and that civil societies have to be more vigilant in countering the corrupting tendencies that such influx can lead to.

On the attempts of India to reach out to Burma and other Southeast Asian countries, he stated that there is no such infrastructure in the Northeast region which can compete with the kind of infrastructural developed by China on its side of the border and even within Myanmar.

Aung Htun U, leader of the visiting journalists from Myanmar mentioned that besides building roadways, industries etc., China is now focussing on nurturing people to people connections.

“China has been organising tours for civil society leaders, support groups, and artists from Myanmar in various parts of China.  India should also be more proactive with such initiatives to strengthen the relationship between the two countries,” he added.

Editor, Imphal Free Press, Pradip Phanjoubam, who was also the host of the interaction session, quipped that the much-hyped Act East policy is more of a countermeasure against China’s policies in the SE Asian region, rather than a well-thought strategy to bring wholesome development in Northeast India.

Further, Bertil and the attending journalists from the state as well as from Myanmar shared each other’s experiences, and probed issues pertaining to the Northeast region, Myanmar, and the larger Asian context too.

The constructive session ended with exchange of contacts and assurances of further interactions in the future.