South, Southeast Asian MPs unite on Burma

by Salai Pi Pi
Sunday, 29 November 2009 00:33

New Delhi (Mizzima) – Parliamentarians from South and Southeast Asia on Friday jointly urged Burma’s military junta to implement genuine democratic reforms, starting with re-drafting of a constitution where all stake holders should take part.

Parliamentarians from India, Nepal and Singapore agreed that changes in Burma are crucial for the region but admitted that it requires coordinated effort by all regional countries including India and China in pushing the Burmese generals to implement change.

They were meeting in New Delhi’s Constitution Club for the ‘Consultation meeting on Parliamentarians’ Solidarity for the Struggle of Democracy in Burma’ hosted by Indian Parliamentarians' Forum for Democracy in Burma (IPFDB) on Friday.

The meeting that brought together Indian MPs across party lines demanded the Burmese junta release political prisoners including Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and also condemned India for its lack of interest in Burma and its struggle for democracy.

Sharad Joshi, MP and Convener of IPFDB said both the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which Burma is a member and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), of which India is a leading member, should work together for the release of all political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi and for the restoration of democracy in Burma.

“Restoration of democracy in Burma is in our [India] interest,” Joshi said.

Brinda Karat, MP and Polit-bureau member of Communist Party of India (Marxist), sharing a similar view said Indian Parliament discussions on foreign policy rarely touches on Burma while it is mainly dominated by other neighbouring countries.

“We had debates (in Indian Parliament) on India’s foreign policy related to Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, but no debates on Burma,” Karat said. “The issue of India’s policy and stand on Burma must be discussed when we discuss foreign policy.”

India, once a strong supporter of democratic changes in Burma, took a ‘U’ turn in its Burma policy in the early 1990s, saying it is in India’s national interest to engage the military rulers. India said it needed Burma’s support in cracking down on North-eastern rebels, and to counter the growing Chinese influence in the region by creating a foothold in Burma.

India also eyed Burma’s natural gas and oil reserves and began pursuing the generals in order to have stakes in the exploration, production and purchase of hydrocarbon reserves.

But China in September, announced that it has started constructing a dual gas and oil pipeline in Burma’s western state of Arakan to transport oil and gas from the offshore Shwe gas fields, which India was also in the race to obtain for purchase rights, to its South Western province of Yunnan.

Parliamentarians, during the meeting called on India to actively engage the ASEAN and the international community, including the United Nations in finding ways to urge Burma’s military rulers to implement genuine democratic changes in the country.

Charles Chong, who was representing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC), said, ASEAN’s approach towards Burma has failed to bring any changes and that it requires a coordinated effort.

“ASEAN cannot do it on its own because the military generals have made it clear that western sanctions will not have any impact so long as the two largest neighbours India and China continue to do big business with Burma,” Chong, Vice-Chair of the AIPMC, said.

A former Member of Parliament (MP) from India’s main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Chandan Mitra, in his speech at the meeting, strongly condemned India’s policy of engaging the Burmese generals saying India has not been benefitted by engaging the junta.

“I don’t think we have influence on the [Burmese] military junta. We haven’t got any economic benefits from them. India needs energy but the energy goes to China. [Burmese] Military had sold it to China,” Mitra, who is also Editor In-Chief of The Pioneer, one of India's national newspapers said.

The Parliamentarians demanded that the Burmese military regime immediately halt hostilities against ethnic minorities and the political opposition, it called for the release of all political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi, and re-drafting of a constitution with the participation of all political stake holders and to conduct a general election based on the new constitution.

“Before the election [in 2010], the regime needs to release Aung San Suu Kyi and have a dialogue with her and the National League for Democracy. Then it also needs to talk with minority groups in Burma as the rights of ethnic groups are very crucial for unity in Burma,” Brinda Karat said.

Sharad Joshi, MP and convenor of the IPFDB, said while election in general is welcomed, it could not be held under a fraud constitution that does not reflect the peoples’ desire and aspirations.

Unless the constitution forcibly approved by the military junta in 2008 is revised and a new constitution re-drafted with the participation of all stake holders, Joshi said, “The 2010 election will be a farce and result in strengthening the military position.”


Edited by Mungpi