New Delhi, October 2
India has toughened its stance on Myanmar’s military regime, bowing to increased international pressure, but there are no signs of New Delhi doing what the international community wants most desperately, imposing sanctions on Myanmar.
External affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee met his Myanmar counterpart U. Nyan Win yesterday in New York on the margins of the ongoing General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly and mooted that the military junta set up an inquiry into use of force against the pro-democracy demonstrators.
Mukherjee expressed the hope that the process of national reconciliation and political reform, initiated by Myanmar government, would be taken forward expeditiously. “Further, he suggested that the government could consider undertaking an inquiry into the recent incidents and the use of force,” the Foreign Office said today.
Mukherjee expressed concern at the current situation in Myanmar and noted that as a close and friendly neighbour, India hoped to see peace, prosperity and stability in Myanmar again.
This is the third time India has commented on Myanmar developments since the Myanmar unrest was reported. India has progressively hardened its stand in each of its three comments on Myanmar.
However, the international community (read the United States and the European Union) has been pressing India to do more in view of New Delhi’s close ties with Yangon. Japan, whose citizen was among the first victims of the military junta’s crackdown in Myanmar, has already suspended its aid to Myanmar.
