Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
Chiangmai (Thailand), June 11, 2003:

The supporters of Burma democracy movement today urged Indian
government not to support the Burmese military regime and to withdraw all
economic support and military sale to the Junta.

Activists from India, Mongolia, Belgium, Philippines, Thailand,
Australia, Fiji, Indonesia, Canada, Japan and Malaysia delivered their protest
letter to the Indian Consulate in Chiangmai, Thailand, urging the
Government of India to stop supporting the military junta in Burma.

"Stop support to the brutal military government! Withdraw economic
support to SPDC!" These were the shouts of international Human Rights
activists who trooped to the Indian Consulate in Chiangmai, Thailand.

"It has been 11 days since Aung San Suu Kyi has been taken into custody
by the military. Apart from the report of UN Special Envoy Razali that
she was in her high spirits when they met for 30 minutes yesterday,
there is nothing we have heard about her release. This is just not
acceptable," says Titi Soentoro of Women's Solidarity for Human Rights in
Indonesia.

"SPDC has to have more pressure from the international community for
her immediate release." Titi Soentoro was one of the 3 people allowed to
enter the office of Mr.J. Abraham, the Indian Consular in Chiangmai.

"Mr. Abraham has assured us that the Indian government is also not
pleased with the May 30 incident in Burma. According to him, the Indian
government has already expressed this in previous statements."

India, along with China and Thailand, are perceived to be the most
important friends that enable the Burmese military regime to survive.

"There has been a lot of condemnation of the fascist regime in Burma
from the international community. But talk is cheap. There has to be
concrete actions against the SPDC," says Judy A. Pasimio from Asia Pacific
Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD). India has been actively
forging bilateral ties with Burma.

"India has to suspend and seriously review its trade policies with and
economic and military support to a regime that uses these assistance to
further entrench itself into power, while continuing its oppressive and
violent rule over its people with impunity."

According to Judy, the upcoming Asean Regional Forum (ARF) would be a
critical venue. "We are urging the members of the ARF to put Burma and
its current political crisis in the priority agenda."

"But the urgent call of the coalition is for India, as a good friend of
SPDC, to urge the military junta to release immediately and
unconditionally Aung San Suu Kyi and the other NLD leaders," says Bee, Thai member of the Friends of Burma Coalition.