Business, unusual: On engaging with the Myanmar junta

Engaging with the Myanmar junta is a short-sighted (अदूरदर्शी, दूरदृष्टि की कमी वाला) move (कदम, कार्रवाई)

Months after a sham (दिखावटी, नकली) election that installed (place someone in a new position of authority; establish, instate, appoint, induct) junta chief Min Aung Hlaing as Myanmar’s civilian President (असैन्य राष्ट्रपति, नागरिक राष्ट्रपति), the military continues to wage (to carry on or engage in a war, campaign or struggle; conduct, prosecute, carry on, engage in, execute, undertake, pursue) war on its own people even as (while, whilst, simultaneously, just as) the world has largely (मुख्यतः, अधिकांशतः) looked away. More than a lakh people are estimated to have died since the 2021 coup (तख्तापलट), many in fighting between the junta and the anti-coup People’s Defence Forces and ethnic armed organisations. The junta has also killed thousands of civilians in air strikes on villages in rebel-held (controlled or occupied by insurgent forces; insurgent-controlled, rebel-controlled, revolutionary-held, dissident-occupied) areas to terrorise (आतंकित करना, भयभीत करना) communities (समुदाय, समाज) into giving up (छोड़ देना, आत्मसमर्पण करना) their resistance (प्रतिरोध, विरोध). With wars affecting Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan and Yemen, and Iran, the world has grown numb (संवेदनहीन, भावशून्य) to such violence (हिंसा). The junta (a military group that takes control of a country, usually by force, and governs it; military regime, military government, military leadership) has exploited (make full use of; utilize, harness, capitalize, leverage) that indifference (lack of interest, concern, or sympathy; apathy, unconcern, disinterest, detachment) and a shifting (fluctuating, altering, changing, dynamic) geopolitical (relating to politics, especially international relations, as influenced by geographical factors; strategic, international, global, diplomatic) situation to act with impunity (behave in a way that shows no fear of punishment or consequence; act freely, escape consequence, avoid punishment, act unrestrictedly). Russia and China, its principal arms (weapons and ammunition used in armed conflict; weapons, weaponry, firearms, armaments) suppliers, have stood by it with the former supplying jets that were used to bomb civilians. Beijing, which tacitly allowed three ethnic armed organisations to launch an offensive in Shan and Rakhine States in late 2023, has since pressured two of them into ceasefires and returning seized (taken hold of suddenly and forcibly; captured, confiscated, appropriated, occupied) territory (region, area, domain). It also backed (endorse, sponsor, support, promote) the January election. Since being sworn in, Min Aung Hlaing has visited India, Thailand, Vietnam and three other ASEAN member-states. ASEAN (an 11-member regional intergovernmental organisation established on August 8, 1967, to promote economic growth, social progress, and geopolitical stability in Southeast Asia. Founding Members (1967): Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Expanded Members: Brunei (1984), Vietnam (1995), Laos (1997), Myanmar (1997), Cambodia (1999), and Timor-Leste (2025)) still swears (make a solemn statement or promise undertaking to do something; declare, affirm, vow, insist) by its Five-Point Consensus (a set of five commitments agreed upon by ASEAN leaders at their meeting in Jakarta on 24 April 2021 to address the crisis in Myanmar following the military coup of February 2021, covering the cessation of violence, constructive dialogue, mediation by an ASEAN special envoy, humanitarian assistance and a visit by the special envoy to Myanmar), which calls for (make a public request or demand for something to happen; demand, request, urge, require) an end to violence and dialogue. Yet, its members seem (give the impression or sensation of being something; appear, look, sound, feel) more than eager to do business (व्यापार, कारोबार) with a regime that has flouted every point. Meanwhile, U.S. officials reportedly (supposedly, allegedly, ostensibly, apparently) held secret talks (formal discussions, negotiations, dialogues, conferences) with the junta in Tokyo in June and October, and a senior delegation (a body of delegates or representatives sent to a conference or meeting; deputation, commission, contingent, mission) met Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyidaw (the modern capital city of Myanmar, which officially replaced Yangon (Rangoon) as the administrative capital in 2005) in September. Japan is reportedly pressing (strongly request or demand someone to do something; urge, pressure, push, compel) the Financial Action Task Force (an intergovernmental body established by the G7 in 1989 to develop policies and standards to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and the financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction) to take Myanmar off its blacklist (banned list, exclusion list, boycott list, barred list).

The motives (reason, intention, purpose, rationale) are not hard to understand. China wants an outlet to the Indian Ocean and security for its oil and gas pipelines. It has also played both sides, dealing with the junta and powerful rebel groups such as the Kachin Independence Organisation (a political group in Myanmar established in 1961 that seeks greater autonomy for the Kachin people and operates a powerful armed wing), whose territory is rich (having a plentiful supply of a particular desirable substance or quality; abundant, well-supplied, replete, plentiful) in rare earths (any of a group of 17 chemically similar metallic elements essential for high-tech manufacturing; rare earth element, rare earth metal, strategic mineral) and jade (a tough, usually green ornamental gemstone, consisting of either jadeite or nephrite, used for jewellery, carvings and decorative objects; ornamental stone, carving stone, gemstone, precious stone), and the United Wa State Army (the military wing of the United Wa State Party, formed in 1989, and one of the most heavily armed ethnic armed organisations in Myanmar), which runs (be in charge of, manage, or organize a business or operation; operate, manage, administer, direct) a massive (huge, enormous, colossal, immense) tin (a soft, silvery-white metallic chemical element (symbol: Sn) used in alloys and for coating other metals to prevent corrosion) mine. New Delhi wants to revive (give new strength or energy to something; restore, revitalize, renew, resurrect) its stalled Act East policy, including the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project. The U.S. eyes access to mining (the process or industry of obtaining coal or other minerals from a mine; excavation, extraction, quarrying, unearthing) vital heavy rare earths such as dysprosium and terbium, for use in electric vehicles and weapons systems. What these short-sighted overtures (proposal, advance, approach, initiation) miss (fail to notice, hear, or understand something; overlook, ignore, disregard, misunderstand) is that trade thrives (prosper, flourish, boom, succeed) in a country at peace (peaceful, harmonious, tranquil, serene), not one where armed groups are perennially (constantly, perpetually, continually, endlessly) battling for control. The junta which has killed its citizens and has scuttled (deliberately cause a plan or process to fail; ruin, destroy, wreck, sabotage) every move towards democracy (a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state; self-government, republic, self-rule, popular government) cannot deliver (provide something promised or expected; provide, produce, yield, generate) that peace. Unless (except if, if not, barring, save) the generals are made to answer for their war crimes, Myanmar will remain a war zone. It will be ruinous not only for its hapless (unfortunate, unlucky, unhappy, wretched) people but also for businesses seeking (attempt to find or achieve something; try, attempt, endeavour, strive) to trade (do business, deal, transact, traffic) with it.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.business (noun)

Hindi Meaning - व्यापार, कारोबार
English Meaning - trade, commerce.

2.unusual (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - असामान्य, असाधारण
English Meaning - atypical, uncommon, abnormal, extraordinary.

3.short-sighted (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - अदूरदर्शी, दूरदृष्टि की कमी वाला
English Meaning - myopic, narrow-minded, improvident, imprudent, ill-judged, lacking foresight.

4.move (noun)

Hindi Meaning - कदम, कार्रवाई
English Meaning - step, action, measure, initiative.

5.sham (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - दिखावटी, नकली
English Meaning - fake, bogus, counterfeit, false.

6.civilian President (noun)

Hindi Meaning - असैन्य राष्ट्रपति, नागरिक राष्ट्रपति
English Meaning - the elected head of a republic who is not an active member of the armed forces; non-military leader, elected executive, democratic head, non-combatant chief.

7.largely (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - मुख्यतः, अधिकांशतः
English Meaning - to a great extent; on the whole; mostly, mainly, primarily, predominantly.

8.coup (noun)

Hindi Meaning - तख्तापलट
English Meaning - a sudden, violent, and illegal seizure of power from a government; overthrow, takeover, putsch, rebellion.

9.terrorise (verb)

Hindi Meaning - आतंकित करना, भयभीत करना
English Meaning - intimidate, frighten, scare, menace.

10.community (noun)

Hindi Meaning - समुदाय, समाज
English Meaning - society, populace, population, public.

11.give up (phrasal verb)

Hindi Meaning - छोड़ देना, आत्मसमर्पण करना
English Meaning - surrender, yield, submit, capitulate.

12.resistance (noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्रतिरोध, विरोध
English Meaning - the refusal to accept or comply with something; opposition, defiance, fighting, struggle.

13.numb (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - संवेदनहीन, भावशून्य
English Meaning - desensitized, unfeeling, indifferent, apathetic.

14.violence (noun)

Hindi Meaning - हिंसा
English Meaning - brutality, bloodshed, ferocity, cruelty.

15.indifference (noun)

Hindi Meaning - उदासीनता, बेरुखी
English Meaning - lack of interest, concern, or sympathy; apathy, unconcern, disinterest, detachment.

16.shifting (adjective)

English Meaning - fluctuating, altering, changing, dynamic.

17.even as (phrase)

English Meaning - while, whilst, simultaneously, just as.

18.engage with (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - interact, communicate, deal, negotiate.

19.junta (noun)

English Meaning - a military group that takes control of a country, usually by force, and governs it; military regime, military government, military leadership

20.install (verb)

English Meaning - place someone in a new position of authority; establish, instate, appoint, induct.

21.wage (verb)

English Meaning - to carry on or engage in a war, campaign or struggle; conduct, prosecute, carry on, engage in, execute, undertake, pursue.

22.look away (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - deliberately ignore, disregard, overlook, neglect.

23.rebel-held (adjective)

English Meaning - controlled or occupied by insurgent forces; insurgent-controlled, rebel-controlled, revolutionary-held, dissident-occupied.

24.grow numb (phrase)

English Meaning - gradually become less sensitive; become desensitized, become indifferent, become hardened.

25.exploit (verb)

English Meaning - make full use of; utilize, harness, capitalize, leverage.

26.geopolitical (adjective)

English Meaning - relating to politics, especially international relations, as influenced by geographical factors; strategic, international, global, diplomatic.

27.act with impunity (phrase)

English Meaning - behave in a way that shows no fear of punishment or consequence; act freely, escape consequence, avoid punishment, act unrestrictedly.

28.impunity (noun)

English Meaning - exemption from punishment, penalty; immunity, unaccountability, freedom from punishment.

29.arms (noun)

English Meaning - weapons and ammunition used in armed conflict; weapons, weaponry, firearms, armaments.

30.stand by (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - continue to support or be loyal to someone; support, back, uphold, champion.

31.seized (adjective)

English Meaning - taken hold of suddenly and forcibly; captured, confiscated, appropriated, occupied.

32.territory (noun)

English Meaning - region, area, domain.

33.back (verb)

English Meaning - endorse, sponsor, support, promote.

34.swear in (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - admit someone to a formal office by having them take an oath; inaugurate, install, induct, invest.

35.Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (noun)

English Meaning - an 11-member regional intergovernmental organisation established on August 8, 1967, to promote economic growth, social progress, and geopolitical stability in Southeast Asia. Founding Members (1967): Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Expanded Members: Brunei (1984), Vietnam (1995), Laos (1997), Myanmar (1997), Cambodia (1999), and Timor-Leste (2025).

36.member-state (noun)

English Meaning - a country that belongs to an international political or economic organisation; constituent country, participating nation, member country, affiliated state.

37.swear (verb)

English Meaning - make a solemn statement or promise undertaking to do something; declare, affirm, vow, insist.

38.Five-Point Consensus (noun)

English Meaning - a set of five commitments agreed upon by ASEAN leaders at their meeting in Jakarta on 24 April 2021 to address the crisis in Myanmar following the military coup of February 2021, covering the cessation of violence, constructive dialogue, mediation by an ASEAN special envoy, humanitarian assistance and a visit by the special envoy to Myanmar.

39.call for (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - make a public request or demand for something to happen; demand, request, urge, require.

40.seem (verb)

English Meaning - give the impression or sensation of being something; appear, look, sound, feel.

41.reportedly (adverb)

English Meaning - supposedly, allegedly, ostensibly, apparently.

42.hold talks with (phrase)

English Meaning - to have formal discussions or negotiations with a person, group or government; conduct discussions with, negotiate with, confer with, engage in talks with.

43.talks (noun)

English Meaning - formal discussions, negotiations, dialogues, conferences.

44.delegation (noun)

English Meaning - a body of delegates or representatives sent to a conference or meeting; deputation, commission, contingent, mission.

45.Naypyidaw (proper noun)

English Meaning - the modern capital city of Myanmar, which officially replaced Yangon (Rangoon) as the administrative capital in 2005.

46.press (verb)

English Meaning - strongly request or demand someone to do something; urge, pressure, push, compel.

47.Financial Action Task Force (FATF) (noun)

English Meaning - an intergovernmental body established by the G7 in 1989 to develop policies and standards to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and the financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

48.take off (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - remove, withdraw, eliminate, clear.

49.blacklist (noun)

English Meaning - banned list, exclusion list, boycott list, barred list.

50.motive (noun)

English Meaning - reason, intention, purpose, rationale.

51.Kachin Independence Organisation (noun)

English Meaning - a political group in Myanmar established in 1961 that seeks greater autonomy for the Kachin people and operates a powerful armed wing.

52.rich (adjective)

English Meaning - having a plentiful supply of a particular desirable substance or quality; abundant, well-supplied, replete, plentiful.

53.rare earth (noun)

English Meaning - any of a group of 17 chemically similar metallic elements essential for high-tech manufacturing; rare earth element, rare earth metal, strategic mineral.

54.rare earth elements (REEs) (noun)

English Meaning - a group of 17 elements comprising 15 lanthanides plus scandium and yttrium, valued for their specialised magnetic, optical, and chemical properties and widely used in electronics, electric vehicles, renewable-energy technologies, medical equipment, aerospace, and defence systems; in 2024, China accounted for about 60% of global mined production of magnet rare earths, 91% of refined output, and 94% of sintered permanent magnet production.

55.jade (noun)

English Meaning - a tough, usually green ornamental gemstone, consisting of either jadeite or nephrite, used for jewellery, carvings and decorative objects; ornamental stone, carving stone, gemstone, precious stone.

56.United Wa State Army (noun)

English Meaning - the military wing of the United Wa State Party, formed in 1989, and one of the most heavily armed ethnic armed organisations in Myanmar.

57.run (verb)

English Meaning - be in charge of, manage, or organize a business or operation; operate, manage, administer, direct.

58.massive (adjective)

English Meaning - huge, enormous, colossal, immense.

59.tin (noun)

English Meaning - a soft, silvery-white metallic chemical element (symbol: Sn) used in alloys and for coating other metals to prevent corrosion.

60.revive (verb)

English Meaning - give new strength or energy to something; restore, revitalize, renew, resurrect.

61.mining (noun)

English Meaning - the process or industry of obtaining coal or other minerals from a mine; excavation, extraction, quarrying, unearthing.

62.overture (noun)

English Meaning - proposal, advance, approach, initiation.

63.miss (verb)

English Meaning - fail to notice, hear, or understand something; overlook, ignore, disregard, misunderstand.

64.thrive (verb)

English Meaning - prosper, flourish, boom, succeed.

65.at peace (phrase)

English Meaning - peaceful, harmonious, tranquil, serene.

66.perennially (adverb)

English Meaning - constantly, perpetually, continually, endlessly.

67.scuttle (verb)

English Meaning - deliberately cause a plan or process to fail; ruin, destroy, wreck, sabotage.

68.democracy (noun)

English Meaning - a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state; self-government, republic, self-rule, popular government.

69.deliver (verb)

English Meaning - provide something promised or expected; provide, produce, yield, generate.

70.unless (conjunction)

English Meaning - except if, if not, barring, save.

71.hapless (adjective)

English Meaning - unfortunate, unlucky, unhappy, wretched.

72.seek (verb)

English Meaning - attempt to find or achieve something; try, attempt, endeavour, strive.

73.trade (verb)

English Meaning - do business, deal, transact, traffic.