India urged to press Than Shwe for rights, democratic reforms

Monday, 26 July 2010 16:56 Mizzima News

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – As Burmese military leader Senior General Than Shwe continues his five-day state visit to India, pressure is mounting on New Delhi to supplant near-term economic and military interests with support for Burma’s pro-democracy opposition.

Human rights activists and Indian parliamentarians are calling for the Indian government to take the opportunity of Than Shwe’s visit to press the junta leader for democratic reforms in Burma.

New York-based Human Rights Watch said in a statement today: “India should emphasise respect for human rights during the state visit by Burma’s Senior General Than Shwe,” adding that, “Economic and security interests should not displace concerns about protecting the Burmese people’s fundamental freedoms.”

The sentiment was echoed in an open letter over the weekend to Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh from the Indian Parliamentarians’ Forum for Democracy in Burma (IPFDB).

IPFDB members wrote that they “are deeply disturbed by the government’s decision to welcome the state visit of the Senior General Than Shwe of Burma at this point of time in India. Burma is at a critical juncture now, as the military junta is preparing for the first general elections in two decades. Sadly, the planned elections will be neither free nor fair under the prevailing conditions”.

Citing India’s common rallying call as the world’s largest democracy, opponents of New Delhi’s state policy argue that the country’s placement of economic interests above the plight of Burma’s democracy movement directly refutes its proud tradition as a regional and global standard-bearer for democracy.

“Conjuring up political parties and fixing their victory while the opposition and dissidents remain imprisoned or silenced is no democracy,” Human Rights Watch Asia division acting director Elaine Pearson said of the existing conditions set by the Burmese junta for its upcoming elections. “India should demand the same standards of free and fair voting in Burma that it applies to itself.”

Moreover, Human Rights Watch said that not only was India prioritising the wrong aspects of state policy, but was failing in its pursuit of an incorrect policy.

Despite New Delhi now being Naypyidaw’s fourth largest trading partner, and a major investor in natural resources and infrastructure in Burma, India was said to be losing the race with China for access to Burmese markets and resources.

“Even as it loses out in its efforts to counter China’s influence, India has mortgaged its voice on political and human rights issues in Burma,” Pearson said. “Than Shwe may think that a trip to New Delhi will be all about business and military relations, but Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should make a point to publicly voice principled criticism over the rigging of Burma’s electoral laws and continued restrictions on basic freedoms in Burma.”

Rehashing opposition to Burma’s 2008 constitution, activists and lawmakers assess that anticipated polls elections in Burma this year offer little to no hope for change in the country’s governance and its responsibility to its citizens. As such, a reversal of policy is sought to more accurately reflect the democratic spirit of India.

“Indian leaders should be profoundly discomforted to find themselves in the same company as chronic human rights abusers like North Korea and China furnishing weapons to Burma,” Pearson said. “By supporting real democracy and respect for human rights in Burma, New Delhi can reverse a flawed – and failed – policy of cynical engagement.”

In the mid-1990s New Delhi began to re-evaluate its foreign policy regarding Burma, which had hitherto publicly supported the pro-democracy movement spearheaded by Aung San Suu Kyi. However, Indian leaders, as part of the country’s “Look East” policy, opted to ramp up relations with Burma’s military authorities in an aim to reap economic and security benefits.

Than Shwe is scheduled to depart India on Thursday.