Snap ties with Myanmar, India urged

AIZAWL
Outlook India
January 18, 2008

A public meeting for restoration of democracy and human rights in Myanmar here today appealed to the Centre to snap all ties with the military rulers of the country as economic cooperation with it would never benefit the people unless democracy was restored.

"The Indian government should work with the UN to find amicable solution to the Myanmar imbroglio," said the resolution passed at the meeting organized jointly by Mizoram Committee for Democracy in Burma and Campaign for Democratic Movement in Burma.

Mizoram is the worst sufferer of political instability and turmoil in the neighbouring country, participants of the meeting said and asked the people of Mizoram to take active role in supporting the pro-democratic groups to ensure restoration of democracy and human rights in Myanmar.

The participants also urged the state government to take up the issue with the Centre as ethnic Mizos in Myanmar were being persecuted in that country and also that Mizo people faced serious problems due to refugees flooding the state due to persecution by the military junta.

Dr Tint Swe, member of Parliament of Burma and leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Aung San Suu Kyi, who spoke at the meeting on the need for new strategy in dealing with Myanmar by India said that even the Look East Policy would only have a meaning after restoration of democracy.

Other speakers included Rozathang and Hla Htun who stressed the need for increasing pressure on the political mandarins in New Delhi to change the country's policy towards the military regime in Myanmar.