Indian Civil Society Groups Appeal to PM India for Genuine Elections in Burma
Burma Centre Delhi (BCD)

New Delhi, July 23, 2010

Burma Centre Delhi (BCD) submits an open letter to Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India, calling on the Government of India to pressure Burma's military regime to hold genuinely free and fair elections. The letter is endorsed by 38 civil society organisations and 71 individuals which comprise intellectuals, prominent activists, lawyers, film makers, writers etc from India.

The letter requests the Government of India to denounce the upcoming 2010 elections in Burma, unless the military regime takes key steps towards genuine democratization: release all political prisoners including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, end attacks against ethnic groups, engage in genuine political dialogue, review the 2008 Constitution and 2010 Election Laws, and conduct free, fair and inclusive elections under the supervision of the United Nations and the international community.

"It is completely unacceptable that the Government of India is allowing our neighbour to go ahead with such fundamentally flawed elections," said Dr. Alana, Coordinator of BCD "Prime Minister Singh, as the leader of the biggest democracy in the world, must take a lead in pressuring Than Shwe to uphold basic democratic principles that are so far being ignored in preparation for 2010 elections. His silence will be a double-standard that the people of India will not accept."

Mr. Kim, Coordinator of BCD and exile Burmese activist expressed that 'I personally can't tolerate to see peoples’ elected Prime Minister of India, Dr. Singh and President Pratibha Patil giving a warm welcome to General Than Shwe who ranks the World’s Worst Dictator no.3. He does not deserve a state welcome from a democratic like India. If Indian Parliamentarians and lawmakers do not object to the criminal act of the Burmese Junta our respect for India's democratic principles would be worthless.

Htun Htun , Coordinator of BCD, stated that India must not ignore the aspirations of more than 1 lakh Burmese population in India who are helplessly fighting for the restoration of democracy in their country.

The petition also urge to put off current short-sighted engagement policy and recommend to focus on long-term mutual interests by encouraging real democratization, peace and stability in her neighbor. Please find the enclosed open letter to Prime Minister Singh.

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Burma Centre Delhi (BCD)

Download the memorandum to PM here - PDF