India has sought release of Myanmarese leader Aung San Suu Kyi and backed a UNHRC resolution calling for democratization and dialogue in the country.
''The Government of India believes that the release of Aung San Suu Kyi would be helpful in terms of the process of democratisation and that she can contribute to the emergence of Myanmar as a democratic country,'' Permanent Representative to the UNHRC Swashpawan Singh said at a meeting of the world body.
Suu Kyi, the pro-democracy leader, has been under house arrest since 2000.
Describing Myanmar as a ''close and friendly neighbour'' with whom India shares ''links of geography, culture, history and religion,'' Singh noted that recent developments in that country were a ''matter of concern'' for New Delhi.
He pointed out that External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee had met his Myanmarese counterpart U Nyan Win at New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session on October 1st and conveyed India's concern.
Mukherjee sought a probe into the recent incidents of violence and crackdown on pro-democracy activists in Myanmar.
''We are closely monitoring the situation there,'' Singh said.
He conveyed to the world body India's readiness to work with ''like-minded countries towards an outcome which is forward-looking, non-discriminatory and seeks to engage the authorities in Myanmar in a constructive manner to facilitate a peaceful outcome.''
Against coercive means
But New Delhi, which has maintained opposition to any coercive means like sanctions against Myanmar, forced change in the original EU-resolution at UNHRC which contained language with coercive tone.
It went along with the consensus on the resolution while registering its dissent with the ''unhelpful tone'' in it.
''We regret that the text of the resolution adopted is not fully in conformity'' with India's stance for ''forward-looking, non-condemnatory'' approach wherein Myanmar authorities are engaged in a ''constructive manner to facilitate peaceful outcome,'' New Delhi said in an Explanation of Vote (EOV) on the resolution.
Singh said the ''unhelpful tone does not contribute to effectively pursuing the objective of engaging constructively with the authorities in Myanmar which is essential to make a difference to the situation on the ground.''
''Despite these concerns, my delegation has joined the consensus with the hope that the Council's further engagement on the issue will be undertaken in a more positive manner,'' he said.
New Delhi registered its dissent as it was not comfortable with the strong language, like deploring, used in the resolution and wanted a ''balanced approach.''
Details of resolution
The resolution said it ''strongly deplores the continued violent repression of peaceful demonstrations in Myanmar, including through beatings, killings, arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances.''
It asked Myanmar authorities to exercise utmost restraint and to desist from further violence against peaceful protesters.
The resolution asked Myanmar regime to ensure full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and bring to justice perpetrators of human rights violations, including for the recent violations during peaceful protests.
It also sought immediate release of Suu Kyi and others arrested, including those detained after ''the recent repression of peaceful protests''.
The resolution asked the government of Myanmar to engage urgently in a ''reinvigorated national dialogue with all parties with a view to achieving genuine national reconciliation, democratisation and the establishment of rule of law.''
The Myanmar regime was urged to lift all restraints on peaceful political activity of all persons and guarantee freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
The resolution also sought freedom of opinion and expression, including for free and independent media and to ensure unhindered access to media information for the people of Myanmar.
Source: http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070028309
''The Government of India believes that the release of Aung San Suu Kyi would be helpful in terms of the process of democratisation and that she can contribute to the emergence of Myanmar as a democratic country,'' Permanent Representative to the UNHRC Swashpawan Singh said at a meeting of the world body.
Suu Kyi, the pro-democracy leader, has been under house arrest since 2000.
Describing Myanmar as a ''close and friendly neighbour'' with whom India shares ''links of geography, culture, history and religion,'' Singh noted that recent developments in that country were a ''matter of concern'' for New Delhi.
He pointed out that External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee had met his Myanmarese counterpart U Nyan Win at New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session on October 1st and conveyed India's concern.
Mukherjee sought a probe into the recent incidents of violence and crackdown on pro-democracy activists in Myanmar.
''We are closely monitoring the situation there,'' Singh said.
He conveyed to the world body India's readiness to work with ''like-minded countries towards an outcome which is forward-looking, non-discriminatory and seeks to engage the authorities in Myanmar in a constructive manner to facilitate a peaceful outcome.''
Against coercive means
But New Delhi, which has maintained opposition to any coercive means like sanctions against Myanmar, forced change in the original EU-resolution at UNHRC which contained language with coercive tone.
It went along with the consensus on the resolution while registering its dissent with the ''unhelpful tone'' in it.
''We regret that the text of the resolution adopted is not fully in conformity'' with India's stance for ''forward-looking, non-condemnatory'' approach wherein Myanmar authorities are engaged in a ''constructive manner to facilitate peaceful outcome,'' New Delhi said in an Explanation of Vote (EOV) on the resolution.
Singh said the ''unhelpful tone does not contribute to effectively pursuing the objective of engaging constructively with the authorities in Myanmar which is essential to make a difference to the situation on the ground.''
''Despite these concerns, my delegation has joined the consensus with the hope that the Council's further engagement on the issue will be undertaken in a more positive manner,'' he said.
New Delhi registered its dissent as it was not comfortable with the strong language, like deploring, used in the resolution and wanted a ''balanced approach.''
Details of resolution
The resolution said it ''strongly deplores the continued violent repression of peaceful demonstrations in Myanmar, including through beatings, killings, arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances.''
It asked Myanmar authorities to exercise utmost restraint and to desist from further violence against peaceful protesters.
The resolution asked Myanmar regime to ensure full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and bring to justice perpetrators of human rights violations, including for the recent violations during peaceful protests.
It also sought immediate release of Suu Kyi and others arrested, including those detained after ''the recent repression of peaceful protests''.
The resolution asked the government of Myanmar to engage urgently in a ''reinvigorated national dialogue with all parties with a view to achieving genuine national reconciliation, democratisation and the establishment of rule of law.''
The Myanmar regime was urged to lift all restraints on peaceful political activity of all persons and guarantee freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
The resolution also sought freedom of opinion and expression, including for free and independent media and to ensure unhindered access to media information for the people of Myanmar.
Source: http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070028309
No comments:
Post a Comment