An Arakanese elder living near Shwegontai in Bahan Township in Rangoon said it was unusual that the naval commander of Arakan State was chosen to receive the Indian Naval Chief as there are many other high ranking naval officers basing in Rangoon.

"It is quite strange and there will be some reasons behind why the Burmese naval force chose the Commander of Arakan's Naval Command to receive the Indian Naval Chief when he visited Burma. We believe that this could be due to either military affairs or an astrologer's advice to do so", said the elder.

The official newspaper 'Kyemon' published last Wednesday reported that a delegation led by Navy Chief Admiral Nirmal Verma, PVSM, AVSM, ADC, Chairman COSC & CNS of the Republic of India and his wife arrived at Yangon (Rangoon) International Airport at 3:40 Pm on the 23rd of August and the delegation was welcomed by the Commander of Danyawady Naval Command Commodore Tin Aung San and wife.

As the news was published on the page no. 9 of the newspaper, many Arakanese are keen to know if it was a coincidence or an intentional act of the Burmese military who are known for being fanatical in their use of the number 9 as a lucky number for success, as advised by their astrologers. No details were so far reported in the Burmese official newspapers rather than "a good will visit" concerning the visit of Indian naval top brass in the country.

U Tin Shwe, a border base observer on the military movements among Burma, Bangladesh and India said it is likely the Burmese military has chosen the commander of the naval base in Arakan State not just for welcoming the Indian Naval Chief but for presenting discussion over the territorial sea off the coast of Arakan, which is disputed with the neighboring Bangladesh with the Indian counterpart.

"It is supposed that the Burmese military will hold discussions with the Indian Naval Chief over their respective disputed waters with the Bangladesh, and it is very important to include the commander of Arakan's naval base for presenting its territorial waters off the Arakan coast that is disputed with the Bangladesh, so I think he was summoned to be present in their discussions over the matter and not just for welcoming the Indian counterpart", said U Tin Shwe.

He said India also seems to exhibit growing concerns over its territorial waters and at the same time over the consequences in the region of their disputes over the hydrocarbon rich Bay of Bengal.

In April this year, Indian had hold separate joint naval-exercises with both Burma and Bangladesh for five days each in the Bay of Bengal sending its two warships namely the Vajra and the Razia Sultan from its Orissa coast.

It has also been witnessed early this year that the top officials and the chiefs of the armed forces, especially between Burma and Bangladesh have visited each others homes with the aim of boosting bilateral relations, trades and military cooperation amongst themselves after their maritime issues were brought to the UN for arbitration.

Meanwhile Bangladesh has presented its claims overt its continental shelf in the Bay of Bengal on the 25th of August at the headquarters of the UN in New York after giving formal objections to India's claims on 11 May 2009 and Burma's claims on 16 December 2008.