India should pressure Myanmar on Suu Kyi: Freedom House

Lalit K Jha

Washington, Jun 12 (PTI) A US-based NGO on Friday
appealed to India to "break its silence over the sham of
trial" of the pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar
and to use its influence over the military junta to secure her
release from the house arrest.

"Freedom House is deeply disappointed that the Indian
government is turning a blind eye to Myanmar's shameful
behaviour," Jennifer Windsor, Freedom House executive director
said in a statement.

"As the world's largest democracy and a regional
leader, India has an obligation to defend Suu Kyi and at least
attempt to influence the actions of Myanmar's ruling junta,"
Windsor said.

The public appeal comes a day after more than 100
members of parliament in a petition appealed to the Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh to secure the release of Suu Kyi and
to press Myanmar's government to reinstate democratic
governance.

In recent years, Freedom House, a Washington-based NGO
has said that India and Myanmar have increased bilateral trade
and agreed on several major development projects, including
Sittwe port and a Kaladan River project.

According to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs,
trade between the countries for fiscal year 2007-08 stood
at more than USD 900 million, the statement said.

Aung San Suu Kyi has been under house arrest for more
than 13 of the last 19 years. Her National League of Democracy
had won a landslide victory in the 1990 general election, but
was not allowed by the junta to take power. Since then she has
been under house arrest for most of the time.

Currently junta has subjected her to a trial, drawing
worldwide condemnation, because one unwanted intruder stayed
in her house.

Suu Kyi says she is not guilty. The US and most of the
world communities have termed it as unjustified. PTI LKJ
SKT
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