Support from Northeast India for democracy in Burma

Contrary to New Delhi's policy on Burma (Myanmar), the civil society

and advocacy groups of Northeast India continue supporting the

pro-democratic movement in the military ruled country. If the central

government is willing to engage the Burmese junta for various

strategic and trade relationship, the student-youth-journalist and

also political party workers of the region maintain their demands to

snap all ties with the brand of dictators of Nay Pyi Taw (the new

capital of Burma after Rangoon). They are also in unanimous in

various public meetings taking places in the region that the

pro-democracy Burmese icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi must be released and

allowed her to continue the political activities.
The latest interaction between a group of Burmese exiles and local

citizens of Guwahati revolved around those issues. The meeting at

Guwahati Press Club on July 4, where an exile Burmese Parliamentarian

participated, concluded with a number of resolutions in support for

the democratic movement in the Southeast Asian country.

Organized jointly by Burma Centre Delhi and Journalists' Forum Assam,

meeting on 'India's Policy on Burma: A Northeastern Perspective' also

witnessed the discussion on the probable ways, by which the people

from Northeast can extend support for the movement led by Suu Kyi.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Tint Swe, an exile Member of Parliament,

National Coalition Government of Union of Burma, argued that New Delhi

should play a major role in democratization of Burma. The elected

Parliamentarian (in 1990 general election of Burma), who has been

living in India for more than a decade, did not forget to mention

about the help and cooperation from Indian people in general and the

Northeastern in particular in their endeavor.
“India being the largest democracy in the globe should review its

policy on Burma and make it as pro-democratic movement,” insisted Dr.

Tint Swe adding, “New Delhi should also review its Look East Policy,

as the military dictators of Burma will never support the initiative

to be successful.”
“Burma and India has a strong historical and geographical link where

Northeast shares a very close connection in terms of trade, political

beliefs and culture. In 1988, during democracy uprising in Burma, New

Delhi as well as the people of India strongly supported the movement

and provided shelter to those who fled to Indo-Burma border by setting

up refugee camps in Mizoram and Manipur,” highlighted M. Kim, another

Burmese exile in India. Kim, who is living in New Delhi for two

decades, also added, “However, from the mid 1990s, a shift took place

in New Delhi's attitude when it launched its Look East Policy and

began engaging the military junta in bilateral cooperation.”

Today New Delhi maintains a sustained strategic relationship with the

ruling State Peace and Development Council, under which a series of

agreements and memorandums of understanding were signed. More over,

the government of India remains silent on the issue of Suu Kyi's

re-arrest and trail, even though the great Lady was hounoured with

Jawaharlal Nehru Peace Prize and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose award. The

daughter of Aung San, the father of modern Burma, Suu Kyi was also

awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize.
Mentionable that Suu Kyi has been under house arrest for nearly 13

years out of 19 years stay in her country. More recently, Suu Kyi was

shifted to the Insein prison of Rangoon, where she has been tried at a

special court with the charge of violating rules under her house

arrest. Suu Kyi is recognized as one of the world's most renowned

freedom fighters and the SPDC is understood to try its best to prevent

her (with her party National League for Democracy) participating in

the forthcoming general election during 2010.
“Asia had given birth to many great women leaders. But it can be said

without doubt that Suu Kyi will be regarded as one of the greatest

heroic women not only of Asia but of the world. While presenting the

Congressional Medal of honor to Suu Kyi, Washington formally

recognized her a status equal to other non-American recipients of the

medal like Sir Winston Churchill, Pope John Paul II, Nelson Mandela,

the Dalai Lama and Mother Theresa,” commented Rajen Barua of Friends

of Assam and Seven Sisters (FASS).
Speaking to this writer from Houston, Barua also added, “For the

Burmese people, Suu Kyi represents their best and perhaps only hope

that one day there will be an end to the country's military

repression. Today, from the isolation of her house arrest Suu Kyi

radiates a moral authority that exposes the illegitimacy of the

Burmese regime and all of its pretensions to appear different from

what it really is.”
Earlier in an official message to the organizers, the FASS argued that

the people of Northeast 'as a neighbour of Burma need to keep in touch

with the people of Burma and especially the enlightened Burmese who

are living outside their counrty'.
“We in the Northeast have more important roles to play. After all, we

are very much concerned about the hardship that Suu Kyi is going

through. We also urge the government of China, Russia and other

countries with strong ties with Burma, to pressurize the military

rulers for immediate release of Suu Kyi, so that she can freely move

in Burma for advancement of democratic values and human rights,” the

message, which was read out by Jayanta Barman in the Guwahati meeting,

added.
Meanwhile, in a message sent to the organizers of Guwahati meeting,

the All Assam Students' Union and the North East Students'

Organization leader Dr Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharya expressed their

support to the pro-democracy movement in Burma and demanded release of

Suu Kyi.
The meeting meanwhile urged New Delhi to stop forthwith sales of all

arms to the military rulers of Burma, who use the weapons to suppress

the ever-growing movement for democracy in the country. It also

demanded immediate release of over 2000 political prisoners in Burma

including Suu Kyi. India should have a non-discriminatory refugee

policy as early as possible, another resolution said.

The speakers including Dr Alana Golmei, Htun Htun from Burma Centre

Delhi and journalists Rupam Baruah, Hiten Mahanta, RK Goswami with

others were of the opinion that trade relations between India and

Burma should not be at the cost of the democratic movement in that

country. Mentionable that, both the neighboring countries did business

to the tune of nearly US $ 900 million in the 2007-08 fiscal year.

The major outcome of the meeting was the proposal to form a regional

forum to pursue democracy in Burma. The proposed 'Northeast India

Forum for Democracy in Burma' is supposed to provide space for the

people of Northeast and Burma to join hands with an aim to continue

the campaign against the military junta.
Similarly, few days back, hundreds of Mizo and Burmese activists

organized a demonstration at Aizawl with the primary demand for an

early release of Suu Kyi. Initiated by Mizoram Committee for Democracy

in Burma, the programme on June 25 also included the decision to send

a memorandum to the Indian President Pratibha Devisingh Patil and the

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, through the State government of

Mizoram-bordering Chin State of Burma-with an appeal to pursue with

the Burmese government for the release of Suu Kyi and also restoration

of democracy in Burma.
Mentionable that over 50,000 Chin people have been taking shelter in

Mizoram. Most of them are economic migrants, who crossed the

Indo-Burma border for a better future in India. Many of them are

activists, who fled their country to escape the repression of the

junta. Amazingly, the Chin and Mizo people share similar historical,

cultural and religious backgrounds. But time to time, the State

witnesses resentment against those unwelcome guests from Burma.

Representatives from the ruling Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee,

Mizo National Front (the main opposition party of Mizoram), Zoram

Nationalist Party, Bharatiya Janata Party, Miozram Peoples Conference

with Mizo Zirlai Pawl, Mizo Students' Union, Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm

Pawl, Mizo Women Association, Human Rights & Law Network, People Union

for Civil Liberties etc joined the programme.
Earlier more than hundred Indian MPs, including those from Northeast,

called on the Union government to intervene for the release of Suu Kyi

and for the restoration of democracy in Burma. The lawmakers under the

banner Indian Parliamentarian Forum for Democracy in Burma submitted a

petition on 10 June to the Indian Prime Minister urging him to take

personal interest to resolve the issue amicably.