Urge the Indian government to condemn the Burmese military junta

October 2, 2007

To

Dr. Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister of India
Prime Minister's Office
South Block

New Delhi 110 001

Respected Sir,

We, the undersigned, are deeply disturbed by the continuing military and economic ties between the Government of India and the military dictatorship in Burma (also known as Myanmar). We have observed with growing dismay the
reluctance of the Indian government to issue any condemnation of the brutal and indiscriminate crackdown by the Burmese police of the completely non-violent pro-democracy protesters in Burma, in which many people lost their lives[1]. In this context, the remarks of Indian Army Chief, General Kapoor, stating that "the happenings in Burma are its internal matter" come across as short-sighted and contradictory[2]. The Indian government, by virtue of making large economic and political investments in Burma, is already deeply entrenched in its internal matters [3]. We are asking the Indian government to stop legitimizing a murderous regime.

India has a proud history of being a leader of the Non-Aligned movement and a champion for human rights and democracy worldwide. India awarded the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru Peace Prize to Aung San Suu Kyi, a leading critic of the Burmese military junta, in 1993 and provided a safe haven to many of the Burmese students and dissidents exiled from Burma for their involvement in the pro-democracy struggle. In view of this history, it is shameful to note that the current Indian government has engaged in selling military equipment to the Burmese junta--a junta whose past history of using the military to brutally suppress civilian uprisings for democracy is well documented [4][5]. India is now the second largest market for Burmese goods, and is also providing strategic aid to the Burmese junta by entering into large contracts for natural gas explorations and the development of Sittwe port[6].

We, people committed to peace, prosperity and a life of dignity for all peoples in South Asia, cannot remain silent spectators as the Burmese government subjugates and represses a popular and non-violent movement for democratic rights. We strongly condemn the growing connections between the Indian government and the Burmese junta. Strategic interests of the Indian people can never be served by maintaining close and friendly ties with a government that has shown scant regard for the lives and rights of its own citizens. While we recognize the hypocrisy of certain Western governments demanding tougher sanctions against Burma while allowing their companies (Caterpillar, Total, Siemens, GlaxoSmithKline) unfettered access to investments and operations in Burma, we still believe that the Indian government has a responsibility of its own towards the Burmese people, and cannot hide behind European/ US inaction. We demand that the Government of India

1. Strongly condemn the brutal actions taken by the Burmese military junta in repressing the democratic movement

2. End all military ties with the Burmese junta

3. Stop legitimizing the Burmese government by withdrawing contracts for gas explorations and port development

4. Support the release and the restoration of full democratic rights of Aung San Suu Kyi and other leaders of the pro-democracy movement

References:

[1] 'Nine killed' in Burma crackdown - BBC News, September 27, 2007

[2] Must keep Myanmar ties: Army chief- Hindustan Times, October 2, 2007

[3] Burma: Natural Gas Project Threatens Human Rights- Human Rights Watch, March 24, 2007

[4] 'Threat' to EU-Burma embargo - BBC News, July 16, 2007

[5] Myanmar: India defending its interests - NDTV, September 30, 2007

[6] India to invest $100m in new Sittwe port - BurmaNet News, July 21, 2006

Signed by:

Friends of South Asia