Anil Gayan : “We need to reassess our relations with India”

vendredi 25 mai 2012

Lexpress.mu en page d'accueil |

newsletter |

archives |

rss

Actualités

Sports

Génération Y

Mauriciens d'ailleurs

Rencontre

Rencontre

Anil Gayan : “We need to reassess our relations with India”

Modifier la taille du texte:

Partager et classer cet article

Touria Prayag | 29/04/2011

■ Mrs. Patil’s visit has triggered a lot of debate about our relationship with India. Is India our best friend in the world?

Has it really triggered a debate?

■ Well, at least a lot of rhetoric. What should the debate be about?

The debate should be about whether the relations between Mauritius and India should continue as they are or whether we should have another look, a critical look, at India which is emerging as an economic and military superpower today.

■ You mean the talk so far has been emotional rather than rational?

Yes, we talk about Mother India, but we forget that India has ambitions which are global and Mauritius might not be part of that ambition except to the extent that we can assist in the realization of that ambition, for example, by legitimising a naval presence in our seas. India has interests that transcend Mauritian interests.

■ Does that worry you?

It doesn’t worry me as such. What worries me more is the lack of intellectual input in a critical analysis of what our interests are. The moment we start talking about India, because it is India, we are not critical anymore. We become emotional.

■ And what’s the problem with being emotional when dealing with a friend?

We should not be emotional when it comes to state relations. State relations have to be looked at dispassionately and in the light of what our interests are. What we are doing now is focusing on India, not as a partner for business or a partner for development, but more because our ancestors happened to come from India.

■ The majority of people, you mean.

Exactly! Our association with India must be a Mauritian thing, not an Asian or Indo thing. The perception is that the visit of the President of India is more to consolidate the links between India and those who originate from there…

■ Is that the aim?

It shouldn’t be.

■ What is the aim of the President’s visit?

(Laughs) I think it’s the fi rst of May.

■ You mean she’s aware of our folklore?

(Laughs) I don’t know if she is aware, but I believe that the government is capitalizing on her presence to mobilise people for its May Day meeting.

■ This is the cynical reason. What is the offi cial reason behind the visit of an Indian president?

Well, I think that state visits are important for nurturing state relationships, especially when we say, rightly or wrongly, that we have a special relationship with India.

■ You are not telling me the full story now. You do not seem to be amused by the passion we are showing for India. What kind of issues should we be examining objectively?

(Outburst of laughter) Well, let’s look back 20 or 30 years. India was fi ghting for the Indian Ocean to be a zone of peace.

Now we don’t talk about a zone of peace. What are the powers in the region? France, the United States, India and increasingly China. China is investing heavily in countries like Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh, developing their ports and other facilities, so, in a way, India feels threatened.

It is being encircled by Chinese interests and presence. So India also wants to expand its military projection in the region.

There is nothing wrong with that. All super powers do that. But what is the likelihood of India fi ghting a war, let’s say, against Pakistan, on one front, and against China on another front. India can manage militarily to fi ght two wars. What will happen to our special relationship then, if we happen to be involved in some kind of confl ict with China? Or let’s assume something else.

Let’s assume that tomorrow with the JinFei project, we have a major issue with China.

Will India immediately come to our help? Or will India look at its own interests visà- vis China before coming to the help of Mauritius?

■ And the answer to that is clear according to you.

Of course it’s clear. In the balance of power, Mauritius does not count.

■ Are you also apprehensive about the Indian presence in Agalega? How much of these rumours is true according to you?

Well, I don’t know how much is true. But if you look at it again dispassionately,

I have no problem if tomorrow Mauritius and India were to negotiate a deal with regard to the development of Agalega as a military base for the Indian Navy or Indian military. I have no problem with that, as long as the sovereignty of Mauritius is not an issue and there are adequate safeguards.

■ No problem at all?

Well, as long as we retain the right to put an end to any facility and as long as we get something in return for it. I don’t want a deal like Diego Garcia, where we had and still have no say at all on the management of the environment, fi sheries, tourism etc.

So I think there is nothing wrong, and that is why I say that the projection of India as a military power in the Indian Ocean is buttressed by its close affi nity and relations with Mauritius.

■ And it shouldn’t be?

I’m not saying it shouldn’t. I think every big power would like to have friends, and Mauritius is a friend to India, and I think there is no harm in consolidating this friendship. I personally see no problem if India were to have a base for military facilities in Agalega. It’s going to be a counterweight to Diego Garcia. The issue remains whether such a development is likely to heighten tension and start an arms race in the Indian Ocean.

■ Is it?

Not right now because the US and India are on the best of terms. (Laughter) So I don’t see any problem with regard to that.

■ When you say that you laugh. What’s wrong with India and the US being on the same page?

Well, the US looks at its strategic interests globally. So when the US looks at the world and especially at a region like India, what does it see? It sees China emerging as a major power, both militarily, economically and population wise. And India is also emerging as a major power. Technically, there are border disputes between India and China. These can fl are up any time. With the visits that take place between Beijing and New Delhi on a regular basis, I don’t know if that is an issue anymore because they believe, rightly, that there is more to gain by cooperation than by confrontation.

However, the US also sees China as a potential challenger.The great strides made by China in outer space technology are another source of worry both to the US and India. China is already a power in outer space and it has the capability to send satellites from outer space. India and the US have common interests in respect of China.

International terrorism is another factor that brings these powers together. They are the largest democracies and share common values.

But there is no doubt that the improved relationship between the US and India is another strategic signal being sent to Russia which is no more the power that it used to be. The recent rapprochement between China and Russia is another reason for the warming of ties between India and the US.

Should there be any major confl ict between the US and China, the US would prefer India as an ally. But what if China and India were to get together militarily?

Interviewed by Touria Prayag

Commentaires

Par:-Observer

Mr. Gayan is right. France, India, the UK, the US, China and others ae our "friends"when it suits their purpose and will dump us and not hesitate to harm s if our interests and theirs ever diverge. Our foreign policy shou;d be based on rationality, not emotions.

Par:-John Clency Vadamootoo

i am disappointed by the narrow minded views of this former laureate and ex minister of external affairs. He wants to be in the limelight by thinking provocatively, just to draw attention. No other country has done or helped mauritius as india has done. No other country cares for a small island like mauritius like india does. What gayan is insinuating are baseless allegations against a country which has given us schools (MGI, RTI), hospitals (Nehru), big centres (vivekananda), training and scholarship in different spheres (medicine, education, security, finance). Obviously there will be a difference in trade, just like there will be huge gaps in our trade with US, UK, France , China, Japan. relationships cannot be based on mere mercantile basis only-India is the country of our ancestors and it has always been by our side during our harshest moments.How can gayan be so ungrateful in his remarks? He is an opportunist and hypocrite because as minister of external affairs he has been sweet tongue vis a vis India on numerous occasions-then was he blind, senile or suff ering from amnesia-what did he do or suggest at that time-now that he is in carro cannes, sans role, he wants to cast aversion on india. it is showing lack of consideration and compassion towards india it is clear that he will never be politically active as his interview and radio comments on india will not leave him-poor chap who went for publicity stunt as he has always done, whether they are his views on the caste of the prime minister (because he is not a vaish himself etc). I am sorry that a former laureate could dwindle into such ficklemindedness that I can mock at him (i have less education than him). May we be spared of his future insanities From an indo christian

Par:-Trustee

Bang on Mauritian, Bunkumproof seems to see the underlying current like you do. It's a shame others cannot tell white from brown or yellow for that matter!

Par:-MBCTV

Roshan and Sam are both right with their comments!The episodes of laughter,possibly highlight the fact that Anil is not au fait with the India -Mauritius relationship,let alone with events, to do with the Indian ocean.It appears that Anil has been making things up as he went along with the interview.laughing to paper over his lack of knowledge on the subject! Unless,Anil has got a different explanation,justifying the bout of laughters!

Par:-Yul

Anil is damned RIGHT on all accounts . Wonder where all those Mauritians using handles like Anna , Sabrina or Nadine who are prompt to see the games taht China and India are playing with the Island as having a "complex d'anti-Asiatique " whilst they don't understand the geopolitics games that are going on these days. India wants to be a Permanent Member of the UNSC so that they can use their veto as the US or Russia or China. Whether it is wrt Libya or IvoryCoast or Syria, Puri the Indian Ambassador at the UN is siding with Russia and China. They all want the natural ressources of the third world nations as well as strategic hubs around the world for military purposes. India or China would like to have Agalega to be able to spy on other countries. They are already buying spies off to steal technical info for them.

Par:-Reader

What the hell of interview is this; useless laughter to hide lack of courage to give proper reply, useless reference of imaginary wars and useless reference to the first May!!!!

Par:-Mauritian

Mauritius has almost given tromelin; why does no one raise this point, not even Gayan?

Par:-Jaulim

Narrow minded opinions of an average Mauritian politician! If he were to consider the special relationship between UK & US, he would find all good reasons to justify but everything wrong when the same is between india & mauritius.

Par:-Roshan

Why does he talk so much about emotion. I think he is himself giving too much consideration to emotion which he criticises so much. He is even worsening the issue by talking about war every now and then for no good reason.

Par:-Sam

I wonder why a person of the calibre of gayan is hiding behind his laughters! Either he gives a proper interview or none!

Par:-Rajen

Many years back when gayan was foreign minister and the west started aggression of Iraq, I still remember Gayan telling on radio that the war will soon end. Well, as a lawyer, he can of course insist that his 'soon' has a larger extension than our 'soon'! We do know our lawyers by the way! However, anyone having commonsense will of course agree that so many years of war and yet no end in the horizon is long enough and disagree with gayan's 'soon'. Secondly, where did gayan receive info about the 'soon end of war'! When our decision makers give such narrow minded views, the world perceive us as 'small country small brain' though the country has intelligent people on the average.

Par:-Bunkumproof

Mr Gayan is absolutely right. Are we suffering from chronic low self-esteem or leadership failure? I guess it is a mix of both. Our political masters have in fact become the puppets in the hands of India, France and the World Bank. I would like to believe that grassroot Mauritius has not been contaminated with the same degree of subservience. Has it?

Par:-MBCTV

Well, the US looks at its strategic interests globally. So when the US looks at the world and especially at a region like India," Well last night,28/04/2011,the Times of India reported that ,India has dashed US hopes,for a stategic alliance.India will not be buying fighter aircrafts from the US.India that will be spending over one billion US dollars to renew its fleet of fighter aircrafts,will now need to chose between the French Rafale and the European,Euro fighter.The brand new Euro fighter appears to have the edge.By coincidence the US ambassador to India has offered his resignation claiming family reasons. India has by turning down the US bid,showed that it can take independent decision independently! The US,had in the past turned down/blocked sales of military hardware ,including aircrafts to IndiaThe US was then close to Pakistan and favoured its relationship to the latter,over India. India ,un pays riverain,has for the last twenty years or so ,signify its intention publicly,to build a blue water navy,that is a navy that can operate at any time ,in any part of the world.Hence it is no surprise that it will gradually make its presence felt,above all,in the waters of the Indian Ocean. India is also a leading space power.So far it has sucessfully sent an indigenously built spacecraft to the moon.Plan for a manned mission to the moon is set to take place,sometimes around 2014. India's main problem rests mainly on its borders with Pakistan as well as China,the latter two,very close collaborators,on their own right. The,so far, unresolved border disputes between India and China are proving to be an obstacle,to Russia's bid to create an economic block to include Russia,India,China and Iran.To note though that a few years back.China has significantly,removed Ladakh,from its official map,thus allowing India,to resume control of that Indian territory. It is indeed silly ,perhaps arrogant ,to claim in 2011.that Mauritians of Indian origins ,looks at India solely from an emotional point of view.The emotional sentiment take its root from historical events,that took place just over a young two hundred years ago.Perhaps uniquely so and nothing will erase,the emotional aspects of the India-Mauritius relationship,the more so because does not have an indigenous population,for the Indian immigrants of two hundred years ago ,to have had to so called integrate with! When the Zone of peace concept for the Indian Ocean,became prominent,particularly in the nineteen seventies,the concept was,in the main, to rid the Indian ocean of foreign to the region, military powers.That is to prevent these military powers from fighting their wars by proxy ,in theatres other than theirs,away from their own borders! The goal of preventing this threat from materialising must remain at the forefront of every citizen of the Indian ocean region.One way of ensuring that peace prevails in the Indian ocean,is indeed today the main role of India,helped hopefully by countries like Australia,South Africa and Malaysia.The closing down of the US base in Diego Garcia will certainly help in attaining that goal. An Indian military/naval presence on Agalega will no doubt precipitate the departure of the Americans from Diego Garcia,a base that has outlived its usefulness,both politically and militarily.The Americans knows for definite that Indian warships will not,to say the least ,be visiting the naval bay of Diego Garcia,thus putting an end to the so called strategic US- India partnership! Mauritius must play its card right,in terms of trade,its security,while taking into account the events affecting the regional geo politics.The visit of Indian President Pratibha Patil to Mauritius,has indeed set out the course,Mauritius must embark upon to stay in the game of the 21st century Indian ocean. Mauritius,the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean,for real,this time?

Par:-anil

So much speculation M. gayan. You enjoy playing some strategy war games it seems. If there is a war we have this as ally, if , if , if .....i laugh , ilaugh , i outburst in laughter!

Par:-Monk

Mr Gayan a le mérite de dire les choses comme elle sont. Il a son franc-parler et cela contraste avec les politiciens traditionnels. J'apprécie son analyse et sa franchise.