Burma Centre Delhi on behalf of over 50 Indian and International organisations submitted an appeal letter to the All India Congress Committee chief, Sonia Gandhi, in New Delhi on Friday, October 2, which stated,“There will be no inclusive political process or free and fair election in 2010 if Daw Aung Suu Kyi and over 2100 political prisoners are not released and violations of civil and political rights continue.”

 

The letter also added, “The elections in 2010 will make the Burmese military regime into permanent dictatorship unless provisions of (2008) Constitution are reviewed and amended in accord with the democratic principles, as well as monitoring and intervention by UN and the international community are allowed.”

 

“Today, October 2, on the auspicious day of 140th birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, also recognised as international non violence day, we take this opportunity to seek your attention to remember Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, a living symbol of Mahatma Gandhi’s Satyagraha and a Nobel peace laureate and recipient of Jawaharlal Nehru’s Award for International Understanding,” said in the letter.

 

Since the election in 1990, several Burmese democracy activists have been imprisoned, intimidated, tortured and put to death when they demanded justice, peace, human rights and a democratic government. At present, there are more than 2100 political prisoners, many of them have been given jail terms for several years and some even up to 106 years without trial.

 

“We recognise Daw Suu Kyi as a true democratic leader of Burma. She and her party NLD won landslide victory in 1990 general elections but were never allowed to rule the country. The military Junta crushed the people’s mandate and put her under house arrest for 14 of the past 19 years,” added the letter.

 

Kim, a New Delhi based exile Burmese pro-democracy campaigner recalled that during nationwide people’s uprising in 1988, the then Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had not only supported the movement but also offered shelter to democracy activists. Even the Indian embassy in Rangoon provided financial support to activists who were fleeing Burma to continue their struggle in India, Kim added.

 

The letter, signed and endorsed by 58 non-governmental organisations and advocacy groups like Burma Centre Delhi, All Burma Students Democratic Front, Arakan League for Democracy, All Burma Federation of Student Unions, All Kachin Students & Youth (AKSYU), Women Rights and Welfare Association of Burma, Women League of Burma etc, also urged New Delhi to join with UN and the international community in taking actions for the release of Suu Kyi and to ensure democratic change in Burma.

 

Speaking to this writer, Dr Alana Golmei, the coordinator of Burma Centre Delhi argued that the recent verdict on Aung San Suu Kyi has not only exposed the death of justice in Burma but also shown the Junta’s determination to stop her participation in the upcoming elections.

 

“It has made an obstruction to the process of national reconciliation in Burma. It is a complete negligence on international opinion and showing their will to undermine democracy. Hence, we strongly recommend India not to endorse Burma’s military regime’s sham constitution and election, as it will only lead to military entrenchment in the country,” she concluded.