Myanmar’s false claim over St. Martin’s Island; Dhaka lodges strong protest

Myanmar has come up with another false claim showing Bangladesh’s St Martin’s Island as part of their territory prompting Dhaka to react sharply and lodge a strong protest officially against the ‘deliberate’ attempt.

The government on Saturday summoned Myanmar Ambassador in Dhaka U Lwin Oo and strongly protested the matter. Reports UNB.

Maritime Affairs Unit Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ministry Rear Admiral (retd) M Khurshed Alam summoned the Myanmar envoy to his office in the afternoon and handed over a strongly-worded protest note to him.

However, Myanmar Ambassador Lwin acknowledged the matter saying that it was a ‘mistake’ to show the St. Martin’s Island as part of their own territory, a diplomat told UNB.

The Island was never a part of Myanmar if anyone looks back at the history since 1937 and Dhaka says there is an ‘ulterior motive’ behind drawing and sharing the map of Myanmar on websites.

It was part of British-India when Myanmar got separated back in 1937, an official told UNB adding that this means it was part of India. “A clear line was drawn in between.”

And in 1947, the official said, it was part of Pakistan and after the Liberation War the Island became part of independent Bangladesh.

In 1974, it was clearly stated through a signed agreement that the Island is part of Bangladesh.

“Even when Bangladesh won the maritime boundary dispute against Myanmar through International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in March 2012, it was clearly mentioned that the Island is part of Bangladesh,” the official said.

He went on saying, “There’s no doubt. How could they (Myanmar) claim St. Martin’s Island as part of their territory? It’s a deliberate attempt.”

A diplomatic source said Secretary Khurshed Alam had hour-long meeting with the Myanmar envoy and protested the matter by handing over relevant documents.

He reportedly asked the Myanmar envoy why the Myanmar side carried out survey in St. Martin’s Island. “You can’t do it. On what basis you did it?” Khurshed Alam was quoted as telling the Myanmar envoy.

The Myanmar envoy was tight-lipped with a gloomy face when the UNB correspondent approached to know why he was summoned.

The Myanmar reportedly spread the maps to two global websites showing St. Martin’s Island is part of Myanmar’s territory.

The Myanmar envoy pledged to discuss the matter with his government and convey Dhaka’s concerns.

The 2014 Population and Housing Census – Myanmar’s first national census in 30 years – was undertaken by the Ministry of Immigration and Population with technical support from UNFPA between 30th March and 10th April 2014, according to Myanmar Information Management Unit.

Earlier, Myanmar circulated a picture showing ‘insurgent training’, which is actually a photograph of freedom fighters during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971.

The Myanmar military later issued a rare apology acknowledging that two photographs it published in a book on the crisis over the Rohingya Muslim minority were ‘published incorrectly’.

AH