November elections in Burma and Burmese refugees living in India
- Burma Centre Delhi (BCD) and Burma Center Prague (BCP) -

New Delhi, September 27, 2010

The Indian government should take a critical stance on the fairness and inclusiveness of the upcoming elections in Burma and their results. This call was made by the more than 20 journalists and civil society activists who participated in a media workshop on the November elections as well as the situation of Burmese refugees living in India, held at the Press Club of India.

While India allows refugees to stay in the country as they await UNHCR refugee status, it could do much more in providing security to this vulnerable group. The participants reminded the government that the influx of refugees in India is the result of bad governance in Burma. “India would benefit from a democratic Burma with respect to its economic and security interests in that country, while supporting the current regime simply plays into the hands of China,” added Nava Thakuria, from the Journalists’ Forum, Assam.

The day-long event, organized by Burma Center Prague and Burma Centre Delhi, was inaugurated by His Excellency Miloslav Stasek, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the Republic of India. “The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs supports the transition to democracy in Burma through projects such as the Indian Base for the Transformation of Burma, being carried out by Burma Center Prague with the help of Burma Centre Delhi,” he explained. As part of this project, three Czech journalists came to New Delhi to share their experience in covering elections and at the same time learn more about the work of Burmese independent media and see first-hand the situation of Burmese refugees living in the city.

The workshop featured several experts on the Burmese issue including Dr. Tint Swe, Member of Parliament of the Burmese government in exile, Soe Myint, Editor-in-Chief of Mizzima News, Nava Thakuria, Journalists’ Forum, Assam, K. Yhome, Observer Research Foundation, Ro Mawi, Chin Refugee Committee, and Sangte, Editor of Khonumthung News.

The workshop was followed by a press conference with prominent Indian panellists including Vijay Jolly, Jt. Convener, All India BJP Overseas Cell, Sumit Chakravarty, Editor of Mainstream, and Jyoti Malhotra, Journalist.

The list of recommendations for the Indian government and media, governments in Europe and the Americas, and the European Union and international donors is attached to this press release.

For More Information please contact:
India
Burma Centre Delhi (BCD)
Dr. Alana Golmei
Email: [email protected]

Europe
Burma Center Prague (BCP)
Email: [email protected]
www.burma-center.org

Recommendations

To the Indian government:

• to remember that democracy is an egalitarian and universal principle for the benefit of all people and that pursuance of the goal of enhancement of bilateral economic ties should not be at the cost of the democratic forces in Burma
• to grant the benefits of democracy, humanity and prosperity also to the peoples of India's neighbours
• to understand that sustainable stability and prosperity can only be based on mutual friendship and on trust of the people and their true representatives
• that India's advance ahead of China in Burma lies in their common history and the still open chance to win the hearts of Burma's people
• to continue to provide refuge to Burmese in India and ensure the release of the 34 freedom fighters in Kolkata jail
• to acknowledge the presence of refugees in the existing Foreigners’ Act at a minimum, and to eventually draft a law on the status of refugees in India
• to carefully monitor the upcoming elections in Burma by sending election observers, and insist on their fairness and inclusiveness in collaboration with the UN and the international community

• to understand their role as proponents of truth above power constellations and to promote critical analysis of government policy
• to understand the mission of free media as one that follows national interests by defending universal values of humanity
• to perceive the presence of migrants and refugees amid Indian society as interconnected with the question of governance in their countries of origin
• to objectively report about the situation in Burma on the basis of all available sources while critically reviewing information provided by the Burmese military junta and its civilian successors and proxies
• to closely consult with Burmese independent media and the Burmese pro-democracy movement in order to obtain a complete picture of the situation inside Burma and if possible provide training to them
• to advocate the rights of their colleagues inside Burma and to highlight the cases of Burmese journalists that fell victim to censorship or persecution solely for having practised their profession
• to also highlight issues related to ethnic and religious minorities in the context of the upcoming elections

• to declare the SPDC's elections as deeply undemocratic and to reject their result as entrenchment of the present power constellations and as irrelevant to a true transition to democracy
• to demand a genuine, transparent and benchmarked transition of Burma's regime to a democracy with unhindered involvement of all Burmese democratic forces and ethnic groups
• to demand the respect of human rights in Burma and that those responsible for the violation thereof be held accountable
• to call for Burma's neighbours to prioritize the promotion of human rights and genuine democracy in Burma as key to their own long-term interests and stability in the region
• to condemn the Burmese authorities’ decision to disband the NLD
• to maintain the current targeted sanctions until genuine democracy is restored in Burma

• to acknowledge the right of the Burmese democracy movement to take a prominent role in decision making for the country
• to understand the significance of supporting Burmese civil society organizations in exile and independent Burmese media to develop capacity and stability both inside and outside Burma
• to facilitate a balanced distribution of aid and support for pro-democratic and social activities in all regions where needed