MORE than 100 days after the military coup in Myanmar that toppled the elected government of Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi, the nation continues to resist the Junta with little success. The military, or Tatmadaw, have seized control after the shocking takeover but has trampled the ideals of democracy with its muscle might. Over 800 people have died in the anti-coup protests while more than 1,000 have been detained by the military. Lethal force is being unleashed by the Junta to crush resistance even as a report terms the military’s control over the systems as an illusion. Despite calls by the international community to restore democracy in Myanmar, precious little has changed on the ground primarily due to the half-hearted efforts by major powers. The Indian response to the situation, too, has lacked the punch it should have consisted while it should be the first to push for normalcy given the porous border it shares with Myanmar. The North-Eastern States have started to face the problem of illegal migrants from Myanmar including the Rohingyas. It is time for New Delhi to step up efforts and prod the United Nations for decisive steps to save Myanmar’s people.

 

 

INDIA will be the cynosure of the cricketing world in July when two of its national teams will be engaged in an international series in different corners of the world. The senior Indian team will be in England for World Test Championship final and subsequent Test series with the hosts while at the same time India’s limited overs team will be taking on Sri Lanka in the island nation in an ODI and T20 series. It will be one of the very rare occasions when a country will field two national teams of almost equal strength. India had done it in the past when a team was sent for the Commonwealth Games while another was engaged in an international series. However, the CWG-bound squad was basically a ‘B’ team with limited firepower. In the present scenario, India enjoy a massive depth of reserves who can match the seniors almost immediately. India proved it during the tour of Australia where the newbies came together in absence of injured seniors to surprise the power-packed home team. The newcomers did it again during the limited overs series against England in February-March. Given the talent pool they enjoy, India can very well come up victorious in both tours.