PROTEST MEETING CALLS FOR THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF AUNG SAN SUU KYI

Indian government criticised for silence.

Newsletter May – Aug 2009

The recipient of Nobel Peace Prize (1991) and Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding (1993), Aung San Suu Kyi has been under house arrest for 13 of the last 19 years, and just prior to her last term coming to an end, the ruling Burmese military junta arrested her on a fraudulent charge of violating the conditions of her house arrest. Hence on 27 May, 2009, the very day that Daw Suu should have been released from house arrest, a protest meeting in Delhi titled, ‘Voices from India for freedom of Aung San Suu Kyi’, drew a wide spectrum of activists.

‘‘The GOI is abdicating its responsibility to raise its voice at this critical juncture’’, said Former MP, Surendra Mohan.

Actor-Director Nandita Das added ‘‘there is an urgency with which we need to act. From ecology to economy and political freedoms, the destinies of India and Burma are interlinked’’.

Despite frail health, long time supporter of the Burmese cause, George Fernandes also attended. He said, ‘‘If we are not to make a mockery of our beliefs and the highest award we conferred upon Aung San Suu Kyi more than a decade ago, we must immediately put diplomatic and public pressure to release her’’.

Among the Burmese people at the meeting Dr Tint Swe, Member of Parliament, National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) pointed out that in a country of 1.2 billion people, many more Indians need to speak out. Thin Thin Aung, Board member, women’s League of Burma asserted that restoration of democracy in Burma is in India’s own political and economic interest.

Among other eminent speakers, film maker and writer, Sagari Chabbra spoke of the pervasive repression all over Burma. G. Debaranjan, All India Forward Bloc, urged for political mobilisation to free all political prisoners. Former President, Samata Party, Jaya Jaitly, called upon Nobel Laureates from all over the world to speak out on the issue. Film maker and political activist Amar Kanwar focused on the role the media must play to raise public awareness on what is happening in Burma.

‘‘As progressive, pro democracy voices from India, we condemn this and demand the immediate and unconditional release of Daw Suu and other political prisoners. The Government of India must break its silence and call for the immediate and unconditional release of Aung San Suu Kyi. India must stand for democratic rights and demonstrate its sincerity at this critical time’’, said a joint statement initiated by Saheli and signed by over 150 Indian organisations and individuals released to the Prime Minister, the Minister of External Affairs, and Minister of Home Affairs and the press.

The judgement of the ‘trial’, due on 31 July, 2009 has since been ‘delayed’ by the Myanmar Court.