India is wary on Myanmar, West wants more action

NEW DELHI: India had been observing the rapidly developing crisis in Myanmar without issuing a single statement till Wednesday. And the first official comment was measured: “The government of India is concerned at and is closely monitoring the situation in Myanmar.

It is our hope that all sides will resolve their issues peacefully through dialogue. India has always believed that Myanmar’s process of political reform and national reconciliation should be more inclusive and broad-based.”

The Burmese junta has been cracking down on demonstrations staged by Buddhist monks, which have been supported by hundreds of common people.  India’s silence is understandable because it has been wooing the military government in Myanmar since 1992 to counter the Chinese influence on its doorstep.

But the international community wants India to play a more active role in calling for the restoration of democracy, Western diplomats in New Delhi said.

Officials in the Indian government, however, have defended New Delhi’s position, asserting that India has been working behind the scenes and has been advising the Burmese generals to work out a political solution to the standoff with the National League for Democracy.

External affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee, now in New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly session, will be approached by several key democratic nations to work on the Burmese military. China has been similarly asked to do its bit and reports confirm that Beijing is counselling the generals to be cautious.