Chiang Mai (Mizzima) - The Burma Centre Delhi has called on the Indian prime minister to support the Burmese people’s struggle for democracy and respect for human rights, and engage with the Burmese government and opposition to promote reconciliation.
The Burma Centre Delhi released a memorandum on Tuesday after a meeting entitled, ‘Regime Change in Burma: Post 2010 Elections and its Consequences’ held on 6 May in Mizoram between democracy and human rights activists and NGOs in Northeast India. The centre in Delhi, which represents Burmese exiles and supports human rights and democracy in Burma, called on Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as the head of the world’s largest democracy to engage in meaningful change in Burma.
Pointing out that there are more than 100,000 Burmese living in India, many of who have fled repression in their homeland, the memorandum called on the Indian government to help use their offices to restore peace and democracy to the region. The centre pointed out that even though there were elections in November 2010 in Burma which brought in a democratically-elected government, the new regime was still controlled by the military.
The memorandum called on India to support the global arms embargo against Burma, claiming Burma’s army used the arms to commit ‘genocide’ against civilians and violent crackdowns during peaceful protests.
It called on India to engage the newly-elected Burmese government and pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, as well as representatives from Burma’s ethnic groups. It claims the failure to address the legitimate rights and aspirations of Burma’s ethnic groups is the root cause of instability and dictatorship in the country.
The memorandum called on India to recognize the refugee status of Burmese who have fled repression in Burma, asking for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to set up an office in the northeastern Indian state of Mizoram to handle what they say are about 80,000 Burmese in the state. Due to the uncertain status of Burmese exiles in India, they are subject to ‘risking their lives’ and are ‘vulnerable to insincere and unfair conduct’ of concerned Indian officials, it says.
In addition, the memorandum called for a Commission of Inquiry on Crimes Against Humanity and also a Reconciliation Committee to advocate for peace and stability in the region.
India has been strengthening their ties with the Burmese authorities, particularly in light of the growing economic and strategic influence of China in the region.
