Burma affect: Indian civil societies defy New Delhi
 

Nava Thakuria

The government of India may find it uncomfortable to condemn the Burmese junta for its suppressive actions on the peaceful demonstrators in Burma, but the civil societies and rights groups of the largest democracy in the globe remained critical of New Delhi’s junta appeasing policies.

While various newspaper editorials and media columns sternly condemned the Burmese junta for its suppressive attitude, the New Delhi-based rights body, Asian Centre for Human Rights has appealed the UN to be more aggressive towards the Burmese regime. Even the ruling Indian National Congress (its Left ally CPM) and the main opposition, the Rightists’ wing Bharatiya Janata Party came out with condemnation statement against the junta. More over, India’s former Prime Minister IK Gujral, former Defence Minister George Fernandes and a group of Members of Parliament termed New Delhi’s Burma policy as a disgrace.

More precisely the civil societies based in Northeast India that is adjacent to northern Burma had united in supporting the democratic movement going on in the military ruled country. The public meetings and demonstrations in the region, which is otherwise alienated from mainland India have resolved expressing serious concern at the suppressive measures adopted by the junta to deal with the unarmed Buddhist monks and common Burmese. Those were unanimous in raising voice for immediate release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi with all other political prisoners in Burma.

On October 6, the region witnessed some major public shows highlighting the common concern for the agitating Burmese and condemnation in strongest words against the ruling State Peace and Development Council (of Burma). The civil society groups of the northeastern states namely Meghalaya, Nagaland and Assam observed the global day of action for free Burma. People from different sections in the society had rubbed their soldiers to demand New Delhi for changing its Burma policy.

Nearly 20,000 people assembled at Mawphlang, near the Meghalaya state capital, Shillong on Saturday and condemned the junta for its brutal crackdown on monks and peaceful protestors throughout Burma in the recent past. The local peoples’ parliament also called on New Delhi to start supporting the pro-democracy movement in Burma.

“We urged the Union government (of India) to intervene in the Burmese crisis and apply diplomatic pressures on the junta for starting dialogues with the democratic forces there,” said Robert Kharshing, a Member of Parliament elected from the state and one of the organizers of the public meeting. Speaking to Asia Sentinel from Shillong, Mr Kharshing, who happens to be the convener of Indian Parliamentarians’ Forum for Democracy in Burma stated that the people of Meghalaya wanted New Delhi to withdraw the present policy on Burma and support the democratic movement led by the Nobel Laureate Suu Kyi.

In Nagaland, a Burma bordering Indian state, indigenous people took out a rally demanding tougher action against the present Burmese group of Generals led by Senior General Than Shwe. Organized by the influential civil society groups like Naga Hoho, Naga Students’ Federation, Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights, Nagaland Baptist Church Council with others, the rally also raised voice for immediate intervention by the United Nations on the prolonged Burmese crisis. Hundreds participants showcased placards reading ‘Stop breakdown on the peaceful demonstration in Burma’, ‘Free Burmese people from the Junta’, ‘Do not repeat 1988 massacre’ etc.

Similarly in Guwahati, the capital of Assam in Northeast, hundreds participated in a Candle Light Vigil to express solidarity with the struggling Burmese people. Organized by North East Peoples’ Initiative (for Peace, Justice and Demilitarization), an umbrella organization of various socio-political forums in the trouble torn region at the heart of the city, the programme attracted few more hundreds to spread the message of support for restoration of democracy in Burma.

Of course, New Delhi has repeatedly argued that engagement (not alienation) with the Burmese junta could only yield specific results. The Indian foreign minister, Pranab Mukherjee, in a recent visit to Guwahati of Northeast, reiterated that India had been involved ‘in a variety of projects with Myanmar (Burma) in diverse fields such as roads, railways, telecommunications, IT, science and technology, and power’.

Delivering a lecture on ‘India’s Look East Policy – Challenges for Sub-Regional Cooperation’ on October 7, Mr Mukherjee also observed that New Delhi was ‘aware of the geo-economic potential of the northeastern region (of India) as a gateway to East and Southeast Asia’. The soft spoken minister, while interacting with foreign journalists recently, was quoted as saying on India’s role in Burma, “As a close and friendly neighbour, India hopes to see a peaceful, stable and prosperous Myanmar, where all sections of people will be included in a broad based process of national reconciliation and political reform.”