New Delhi
13 November 2010
Call it compulsion or free will, motivated by political expediency or by a prick of
conscience, India has broken its deafening silence on Burma and welcomed pro-
democracy icon and Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's release. External affairs
minister SM Krishna issued a brief statement Saturday night in which he hoped this will
be the beginning of the process of reconciliation in Burma.
Mr Krishna said: "The recent elections in Myanmar are an important step in the direction
of the national reconciliation process being undertaken by the Government of Myanmar.
We have always encouraged them to take this process forward in a broad-based and
inclusive manner. In this context, as a close neighbour of Myanmar, we are confident
that the release of Madam Aung San Suu Kyi will contribute to efforts for a more inclusive
approach to political change."
The Indian response came after United States president Barack Obama, United Nations
secretary-general Ban Ki-moon, United Nations high commissioner for human rights
Navanethem Pillay, the European Union and others hailed Ms Suu Kyi's release. Obama
pointed out that "it is time for the Burmese regime to release all political prisoners, not
just one", something that was conspicuous by its absence in Mr Krishna's statement.
However, Mr Krishna's remarks should be welcome because it comes after what some
say was a public chiding of India by Obama, who said in his address to Parliament that
he expected more from India on Burma. New Delhi though was quick to defend itself
against the accusations, saying Burma is not a unidimensional issue, and it is as much
a national security issue as anything else. Incidentally, India is one of the few countries
which Burmese military ruler Than Shwe chose to visit this year. The joint statement
issued towards the end of his five-day visit here in July contained 2,646 words, of which
only 29 words were spared for the "national reconciliation process" and "democratic
changes" in Burma.
G Parthasarathy, who served as the Indian ambassador to Burma between 1992 and
1995, described Ms Suu Kyi's release as a natural outcome of the recently concluded
elections in Burma. He told this newspaper that India can be expected to persist with its
policy of not interfering in the internal affairs of Burma.
However, Dr Tint Swe, a member of Ms Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD)
who has lived in India for about two decades now, felt India could do more. "Now is the
right time for India to reconsider its unfruitful policy towards Burma because India's
'Look East' policy will mean nothing without democracy in Burma," he told this
newspaper. "I don't mind the hardships of life as an exile in India but I am very unhappy
and disappointed by India's attitude towards Burma," he added for good measure.
Meenakshi Ganguly, the South Asia director of Human Rights Watch, told this
correspondent that Ms Suu Kyi's release is a good first step but there are 2,100 other
political prisoners still languishing in Burmese prisons, so her release should not be a
ploy to distract the international community's attention from noting the flawed elections
which took place in Burma. She hoped Ms Suu Kyi's capacity to pursue her political
campaigns with freedom, and without obstruction by the junta, is something India will
watch closely.
India conferred her highest civilian honour, the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International
Understanding, on Ms Suu Kyi in 1993, two years after she was awarded the Nobel
Peace Prize.
A large number of Burmese exiles gathered near Jantar Mantar in New Delhi to celebrate
Ms Suu Kyi's release. They shouted pro-democracy slogans and released balloons into
the evening sky. Thin Thin Aung from the Women's League of Burma, who has spent
about two decades in exile in India, was ecstatic. "I am very happy. We have been
waiting for this day and I am hopeful that all democratic forces will unite behind her," she
told this newspaper.
Dr Tint Swe echoed similar sentiments. He said Ms Suu Kyi's release is the most joyful
news coming out of Burma in the last several years. "We welcome her release. It offers
a real hope for the Burmese people and the South-East Asian region as a whole. She
remains popular as ever, may be even more today after her release. She is trusted by
all, including the Burmese minorities."
"It is an important day for the Burmese exiles because India is close to Ms Suu Kyi's
heart and she attaches great importance to India, where she lived and studied," said Dr
Swe, who is an elected member of parliament and a member of the National Coalition
Government of the Union of Burma, which was formed by elected representatives from
Burma after the 1990 elections.
Dr Swe recalled that there are over 2000 prisoners still languishing in Burmese prisons,
including 12 MPs from the NLD. "They should be released but with elections now over,
there will be little pressure on the junta led by senior general Than Shwe to release
them. But we hope they are released without delay," he added.
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