NAY PYI TAW: The first consignment of high speed diesel from India will reach Myanmar on September 3, Parami Energy Group CEO Ken Tun has said.

Ken Tun told Mizzima News that his group is importing the diesel under a joint venture agreement with India's Numaligarh Refineries or NRL.

Two trucks, each loaded with 4,000 gallons of high speed diesel or HSD, will reach Moreh on September 3, he said on the sidelines of a seminar on 'Myanmar in BIMSTEC' here. Moreh is a town located on the India-Myanmar border in the Indian state of Manipur.

"They will be formally received by Parami Energy officials in Tamu (in Myanmar, on the border crossing with Moreh) and the event will be viewed on screen by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and other ministers and officials of her government," Ken Tun said.

Modi arrives in Myanmar on September 5 on a three-day visit from Xiamen in China, where he is going to attend the BRICS summit.

Ken Tun said Parami Energy will import between 10 to 20 trucks of High Speed Diesel from NRL every day for three months before India takes a call on whether to go for a pipeline to transport diesel to Myanmar,

"We will see whether the demand stabilises and then check if the volumes are big enough to justify construction of a pipeline to bring down transport costs. If we have a big demand, a pipeline is the only way we can compete with others who import petroleum products by sea," Ken Tun told Mizzima.

He said 40 per cent of Myanmar's daily consumption of 200,000 barrels of High Speed Diesel is in Mandalay and other parts of northern Myanmar.

"It makes business sense to source this supply from northeast India," Ken Tun said.

The Numaligarh Refinery is Assam's biggest among the four in the northeastern state.

"Initially, tankers will be used to take diesel from Numaligarh by road to Myanmar. We might explore possibilities of laying a pipeline to export diesel at a later stage if technically feasible," a senior NRL official said, unwilling to be named.

Myanmar requires some 5 million tonnes of diesel annually and the oil-rich state of Assam can easily meet the demand, he said.

"It would be a profitable business proposition, and eventually we might think of exporting other petroleum products," the senior official of Assam's state-owned Numaligarh Refinery said.

He said natural gas could also be imported from Myanmar to India using a separate pipeline.

"Between four to six trillion cubic feet of gas reserves were discovered recently in Myanmar. It would be economically cheaper to wheel back gas (through a pipeline) from Myanmar for use in India," the official said.

Ken Tun said Parami Energy was also looking at importing electricity from northeast India, like Bangladesh is doing at the moment.</s>Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday said the government has set up a task force in various states to identify and deport Rohingya Muslims, The Times of India reported. He added that “Rohingyas are illegal immigrants and need to be deported as per law”.

The minister said human rights organisations must stop preaching to India. “I want to tell the international organisations whether the Rohingyas are registered under the United Nations Human Rights Commission or not...They are illegal immigrants in India,” Rijiju was quoted as saying by PTI.

India, which has absorbed many refugees, should not be told how to deal with refugees, he added. “We are following the legal path then why have we been accused of being inhuman?”

His statements come when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a three-day visit to Myanmar, where Rohingyas are facing persecution. Their condition is likely to figure in Modi’s talks with Myanmar’s de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, countries such as Bangladesh and Indonesia had urged Suu Kyi to stop the violence against Rohingya Muslims in the country’s Rakhine state. So far, at least 1.25 lakh Rohingyas have fled to Bangladesh.</s>India and Myanmar on Wednesday condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations following bilateral discussions led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Myanmar’s State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi here.

“The two leaders discussed the security situation prevailing along their borders and expressed concern at various incidents of terrorism and extremist-inspired violence that have taken place in their respective territories,” a joint statement issued after the talks said.

“Recognising that terrorism remains one of the most significant threats to peace and stability in the region, both sides condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and agreed that the fight against terrorism should target not only terrorists, terror organisations and networks, but also identify, hold accountable and take strong measures against states and entities that encourage, support or finance terrorism, provide sanctuary to terrorists and terror groups, and falsely extol their virtues,” it stated.

Myanmar condemned the terror attacks during the Amarnath Yatra in India in July that claimed the lives of eight Indian pilgrims as also various acts of terror perpetrated by terrorists from across the borders.

India condemned the recent terrorist attacks in northern Rakhine state, wherein several Myanmar security personnel lost their lives.

“Both sides agreed that terrorism violates human rights and there should, therefore, be no glorification of terrorists as martyrs,” the statement said.

“They called on the international community to end selective and partial approaches to combating terrorism and, in this regard, jointly called for the expeditious finalization and adoption of a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism by the United Nations General Assembly.”

The statement also said that maintenance of security and stability along the common border was essential for the socio-economic development of the peoples of the border areas.

“Myanmar reaffirmed its respect of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India and steadfastly upheld the policy of not allowing any insurgent group to utilise Myanmar’s soil to undertake hostile acts against the Indian government,” it stated, adding that Myanmar also appreciated India for upholding the same principle.

Both India and Myanmar reiterated their mutual respect for the already demarcated boundary between the two countries and “emphasised the need to resolve outstanding boundary demarcation issues as fast as possible through existing bilateral mechanisms and consultations”.

The two sides also reviewed the security situation in their immediate neighborhood and agreed upon the special need for enhancing closer bilateral cooperation in maritime security.

They also agreed to foster mutually beneficial and deeper defence cooperation between the two countries.

“Besides institutionalised cooperation through regular coordinated patrolling initiatives, they agreed to focus on bilateral maritime cooperation in non-traditional security domains, such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, which are critical for safeguarding the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean as global commons,” the statement said.

India and Myanmar signed 11 agreements following Wednesday’s talks, including on cooperation in maritime security and coastal surveillance.

Modi arrived here on Tuesday on a three-day visit on his first bilateral trip to Myanmar. He had earlier come here in 2014 to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)-India Summit.</s>Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday arrived in Myanmar’s capital Nay Pyi Taw for his first bilateral visit to Myanmar with an aim of charting a road map for closer cooperation between the two countries in areas like security and counter-terrorism.

Landed in Naypyitaw, marking the start of my Myanmar visit. I will join a wide range of programmes during my visit to Myanmar. pic.twitter.com/xZEhAvKzpv — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 5, 2017

“I thank the Chinese government and people for their warm hospitality during the BRICS Summit. Leaving for Myanmar for a bilateral visit,” Mr. Modi said in a tweet before leaving for Nay Pyi Taw.

The Prime Minister left for Nay Pyi Taw from the southeastern Chinese city of Xiamen where he attended the annual BRICS summit and held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and other world leaders.

Mr. Modi is scheduled to call on Myanmar President Htin Kyaw who is also hosting a banquet for him later in the day.

The Prime Minister will hold wide-ranging talks with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday.

Mr. Modi had said India and Myanmar will look at strengthening existing cooperation in areas of security and counter-terrorism, trade and investment, infrastructure and energy, and culture.

He hoped his visit will help in charting a road map for closer cooperation between the two countries.

The Prime Minister said both countries will review developments in bilateral ties with a focus on “extensive” programme of development cooperation and socio-economic assistance India is undertaking in Myanmar.

Mr. Modi said he was looking forward to paying a visit to the famed heritage city of Bagan, where the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has done a “stellar work” in renovating the Ananda Temple.

The ASI will be undertaking further restoration work on a number of pagodas and murals that were damaged in an earthquake last year, he said.

Mr. Modi had visited Myanmar in 2014 to attend the ASEAN-India Summit.

The Myanmarese President and Ms. Suu Kyi had visited India last year.

Myanmar is one of India’s strategic neighbours and shares a 1,640-km-long border with a number of northeastern states including militancy-hit Nagaland and Manipur.</s>Speaking on the issue of Rohingya Muslims, Prime Minister on Wednesday said that India shares the concerns about extremist violence in Rakhine state and violence against security forces in Myanmar. The PM also asserted that all the stakeholders together can find a way out in which unity and territorial integrity of Myanmar is respected.

“We share your concerns about extremist violence in Rakhine state and how innocent lives have been affected,” said PM Modi during a joint statement along with Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar.

While thanking for the warm welcome given to him on arrival during his three-day visit, PM Modi also said that citizens of Myanmar who wish to visit India will be given gratis visas — Gratis (free of charge) Visa are issued to those holding Diplomatic or Official passports.

He also said that India will release 40 Myanmarese citizens locked in Indian jails as a gesture of friendship with the country.

PM Modi arrived in Myanmar’s capital Naypyidaw on Tuesday following his visit to China where he attended BRICS summit. PM Modi was given ceremonial welcome by Myanmar President Htin Kyaw on his arrival.

The Prime Minister also hailed Aung San Suu Kyi and said, ” Aung San Suu Kyi’s courageous leadership to the Myanmar peace process needs to be lauded.”

Speaking on the fight against terror, Modi said that being neighbours, we have similar security concerns. “Important for us to work together,” he added.

Mirroring his view, Aung San Suu Kyi said, “together we will ensure that terror is not allowed to take roots in our country, on our soil or in neighbouring countries.”

Notably, PM Modi’s visit to Myanmar coincides as back home the government on Tuesday said that it has started sorting out illegal Rohingya Muslim refugees who are required to leave the country and sent back to Myanmar.

Speaking to media, Union Minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju said that a task force has been constituted by the government to identify illegal Rohingya refugees living across the country. Once done, the process of deporting them will be initiated, reports national daily TOI.

Earlier, the apex court while hearing a plea filed by two immigrants challenging the fate of Rohingya Muslim in India, asked the government to provide with a detailed report of their future course of action on the matter.

The petitioners stated that they were facing persecution in Myanmar and opposed the decision to send them back. The plea was heard by the apex court bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud.

The development comes after National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) last month had asked Centre over its plan of action to deport the Rohingya immigrants.

Notably, there are over 16,000 Rohingyas in India registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) while the unregistered tally would take the figure to be over 40,000.</s>The two leaders discussed ways to further cement the bilateral relations.

PM Narendra Modi and Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi delivered a joint press statement on Wednesday. Speaking on Rohingya crisis and violence in Rakhine state, Modi said: We share your concerns about extremist violence in Rakhine state and violence against security forces. Prime Minister Modi expressed grief over the loss of innocent lives in the conflict.

The two leaders discussed ways to further cement the bilateral relations. Addressing a joint press conference, PM Modi said Myanmar plays an important role in India's Act East Policy.

"The deepening relationship with Myanmar is a priority for India, as a neighbour and also in the context of 'Act East Policy'," Modi announced.

Addressing the media in Hindi, PM Modi said, "New Delhi would like to contribute to Myanmar's development efforts as part of our 'Sabka saath sabka vikaas' initiative."

I have received such a warm welcome, I feel as If I am at my home only ( Itni garm joshi se mera swagat hua hai, mujhe aisa lag raha hai jaise main apne hi ghar mein hoon) said Modi.

The PM announced that India will give Gratis visa for the Myanmar citizens visiting India. PM stressed the importance of maintaining security and stability along the long land and maritime borders of India and Myanmar.

Suu Kyi is under mounting international pressure to stop the alleged human rights violations against the Rohingyas, who are denied citizenship in Myanmar.</s>As part of its Look East Policy, India today assured its eastern neighbour Myanmar of assistance in capacity building as per its needs.Outlining India's policy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a press conference said that India is currently involved in capacity building and will continue to help its neighbour in future as well to build infrastructure and institutions as per its needs."In future, our projects will be in sync with Myanmar's needs and the agreements signed today will strengthen our relationship," Modi said.Modi also exhorted Myanmar for better cooperation in the security areas."Being neighbours, it is important for us to work together to maintain peace in our long land and sea borders," said the Prime Minister.The PM said that India's involvment in building infrastructures in the country including roads and bridges indicate a long and better relation with the country.Modi also announced that all Myanmar citizens visiting India will be eligible for gratis visas.Also he said that India will soon release 40 Myanmar civilians who are being held prisioners in Indian jails.Modi arrived in Myanmar today on the second leg of his two-nation trip during which he travelled to southeastern Chinese city Xiamen where he attended the annual BRICS summit and held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping , Russian President Vladimir Putin and other world leaders.This is Modi's first bilateral visit to Myanmar. He had visited the country in 2014 to attend the ASEAN-India Summit.Myanmar is one of India's strategic neighbours and shares a 1,640-km-long border with a number of northeastern states including militancy-hit Nagaland and Manipur</s>India said today that it shares Myanmar's concerns over "extremist violence" in the Rakhine state from where 125,000 Rohingyas have fled to Bangladesh, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging all stakeholders to find a solution that respects the country's unity.

Modi, who held wide-ranging talks with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, asserted that it was important to maintain the security and stability of the land and maritime boundaries of the two countries.

The two leaders also vowed to combat terror and boost security cooperation.

Modi's first bilateral visit here comes at a time when the Myanmarese government led by Nobel laureate Suu Kyi is facing international pressure over the 125,000 Rohingya Muslims that have poured into Bangladesh in just two weeks after Myanmar's military launched a crackdown in the Rakhine state.

Modi, in his joint press statement with Suu Kyi after the talks, said India understands the problems being faced by Myanmar.

He said India shares Myanmar's concerns over "extremist violence" in the Rakhine state, especially the loss of innocent lives of the people and the security personnel.

"When it comes to a big peace process or finding a solution to a special issue, we hope that all stakeholders can work together towards finding a solution which while respecting the unity and territorial integrity of Myanmar ensures peace, justice and dignity for all," Modi said.

His remarks came a day after Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said Rohingyas are illegal immigrants and will be deported from India.

Rijiju had asserted that nobody should preach India on the issue as the country has absorbed the maximum number of refugees in the world.

After Modi-Suu Kyi talks, 11 agreements were signed between the two sides in areas like maritime security, strengthening democratic institutions in Myanmar, health and information technology.

Modi, in his statement, stressed on scaling up security cooperation, saying that being neighbours, the two countries have similar security concerns.

Taking a strong stance on terror, Suu Kyi said, "Together we will ensure that terror is not allowed to take root on our soil or on the soil of neighbouring countries." Suu Kyi also thanked India for taking a strong stand on the terror threat that Myanmar faced recently.

The meeting between Modi and Suu Kyi came on a day she was quoted as telling Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that global outrage over Myanmar's treatment of its Rohingya Muslims was being fuelled by "a huge iceberg of misinformation".

Sympathy for the Rohingya was being generated by "a huge iceberg of misinformation calculated to create a lot of problems between different communities and with the aim of promoting the interest of the terrorists", Suu Kyi was quoted by an official statement as telling Erdogan in a call.

Suu Kyi has come under fire in recent days for failing to speak out against violence targeting Rohingyas, particularly given her previous image as a champion of human rights.

Hundreds have died since Rohingya militants raided police posts in Myanmar's Rakhine State.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has also called for the Muslims of Rakhine state to be given either nationality or legal status, and voiced concern about violence that has since late August forced nearly 125,000 people to flee and risk destabilising the region.

Modi also asserted that India stands by Myanmar amid the challenges the country is facing.

He said that India has decided to grant gratis (no-cost) visa to Myanmarese citizens who wish to visit the country.

Modi highlighted the development initiatives India was undertaking in Mynamar especially in capacity building, which Suu Kyi said her country needed the most.

"I believe the democratic experience of India is relevant for Myanmar and that is why we are proud of our massive support in the capacity building of the executive, legislature, election commission and press council and other institutions in Myanmar," Modi said.

Talking about India's assistance to Myanmar, he said the work on the Paletwa Inland Waterways Terminal and Sittwe port under the Kaladan project has been completed.

Modi also noted that the high-speed diesel from India has started coming through trucks to meet the needs of Upper Myanmar.

Under the development partnership, Modi highlighted India's assistance in the development of high quality education and healthcare and research facilities in Myanmar.

He said in future also India would take up projects that will be according to the needs and priorities of Myanmar.

"Today's agreements will strengthen our all-round bilateral cooperation," the prime minister said.

He also lauded Suu Kyi's leadership in Myanmar's peace process.

Earlier, during the delegation-level talks, Modi said, "We would like to contribute to Myanmar's development efforts as part of our 'Sabka saath sabka vikaas' initiative." He said deepening the relationship with Myanmar was a priority for India, as a neighbour and also in the context of the 'Act East Policy'.

Later in the day, Modi flew to Bagan and paid respects at the Ananda Temple there.

Modi arrived here on the second leg of his two-nation trip after he travelled to the southeastern Chinese city Xiamen where he attended the annual BRICS Summit.

Yesterday, Modi called on Myanmarese President Htin Kyaw, describing it as a "wonderful meeting".

They had discussed steps to deepen the "historical relationship" between the two neighbours.

This is Modi's first bilateral visit to Myanmar. He had visited the country in 2014 to attend the ASEAN-India Summit.

The Myanmarese president and Suu Kyi had visited India last year.

Myanmar is one of India's strategic neighbours and shares a 1,640-km-long border with a number of northeastern states including militancy-hit Nagaland and Manipur.</s>The two countries also signed agreements on cooperation between Myanmar Press Council and Press Council of India.

Nay Pyi Taw: India and Myanmar on Wednesday signed11 agreements in a range of sectors, including one on maritime security cooperation, to further strengthen their multifaceted partnership.

The MoUs were signed after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held wide-ranging talks with Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.

The two sides also signed an agreement for sharing white shipping information to improve data sharing on non-classified merchant navy ships or cargo ships.

The 11 MoUs also include one between the Election Commission and Union Election of Myanmar, the national level electoral commission of Myanmar. An MoU was also signed to organise cultural exchange programme for the period 2017-2020, according to a statement issued by Ministry of External Affairs.

The two countries also signed agreements on cooperation between Myanmar Press Council and Press Council of India, extension of agreement on the establishment of India-Myanmar Centre for Enhancement of IT skill.

They also signed agreements to cooperate in 'Medical Products Regulation' and in the field of health and medicine.

They also signed a MoU on enhancing the cooperation on upgradation of the women's police training centre at Yamethin in Myanmar.

Modi arrived here on the second leg of his two-nation trip during which he travelled to southeastern Chinese city Xiamen where he attended the annual BRICS summit and held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and other world leaders.

This is Modi's first bilateral visit to Myanmar. He had visited the country in 2014 to attend the ASEAN-India Summit.

Myanmar is one of India's strategic neighbours and shares a 1,640-km-long border with a number of northeastern states including militancy-hit Nagaland and Manipur.</s>Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday. Ina joint statement issued after the meeting, Suu Kyi thanked India for the strong stand it had taken against the “terror threat that came to our country”, in reference to Rohingya Muslims. “Together, we will ensure terror is not allowed to take roots in our country, on our soil or in neighbouring countries,” she said, according to ANI.

“We share your concerns about extremist violence in Rakhine state and violence against security forces, and how innocent lives have been affected,” Modi said. India “understands the challenges,” he added, and praised the Nobel Prize-winner’s leadership of the “Myanmar peace process”.

India’s democratic experience is relevant to Myanmar, and as neighbours, the interest of the two countries are similar in the area of security. “It’s necessary for us to work together towards the security of our land and maritime border,” Modi added.

Modi also announces gratis [free] visas for Myanmar citizens, and promised to release 40 Myanmar citizens who are lodged in Indian jails.

The two leaders held a series of delegation-level talks at the presidential palace in Myanmar’s Naypyidaw. Modi is pushing India’s “Act East” and “Neighbourhood First” policies for economic growth and stability in the region. “Deepening relationship with Myanmar is a priority for India, as a neighbour and also in the context of the ‘Act East’ Policy,” Modi said, according to Raveesh Kumar, the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs.

Modi also told the Myanmar delegation that India would like to contribute to its development efforts as part of New Delhi’s ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikaas’ initiative.

The prime minister and Myanmar’s de-facto leader Suu Kyi were expected to discuss a range of matters, including the violence and persecution faced by Rohingya Muslims in the country. Suu Kyi has been criticised for failing to stand up for more than 1 million stateless Rohingya people in Rakhine.

Modi is on a three-day trip to the country. He had met President Htin Kyaw on Tuesday. This is his first bilateral visit to Myanmar.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi heads to Myanmar for a state visit.