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NEWS FORM INDIA NEWSPAPER



                                   New Delhi,March 22

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GOVT.DETERMINED TO FIGHT DRUG TRADE: FERNANDES
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The  Union Defence Minister,   Mr.  George Fernandes,  said
todayplugging  the porous  borders of the  North+East is in
the prioritylist of the Central Government. The
administration  is  determinedto  put an  end  to  the drug
trade   being  carried  through  theinternational  borders.

Speaking   at   the   inaugural  session   of   the  second
four+dayconference  of the  Students and  Youth Congress of
Burma (SYCB).Mr.  Fernandes said the opium and heroin trade
conducted in theNorth+East has assumed dangerous
proportions  and there is  need todeal with  it in a strong
and decisive manner.

About  the insurgency  problems faced by  the seven States,
Mr.Fernandes  said he was confident these could by settled.
the  bestway  would be  to  settle the  differences through
negotiations.

Addressing  a  gathering of  representatives  of Myanmarese
Students'Union,  he said the Indian Government is committed
to  support thefight  for democracy anywhere  in the world.
While  in  Myanmar thefight  is  to restore  democracy,  in
Bhutan  it  is  to  usher  in  a  newera  of democratically
democratic  ideals in  Bangladesh and  even inPakistan when
the country was under military rule.

Mr.  Fernandes said the Indian Government will abide by the
idealsenshrined  in  the  Human Rights  Declaration  of the
United  Nations.This declaration  has guided  all those who
wanted   to   respect  thebasic   rights  of   the  people.

The   SyCB,   which  comprises   nine  students  and  youth
organisationsform Thailand and India, representing
Myanmarese  interests,  is anumbrella organisation fighting
for  the return of democracy  toMyanmar.  Its major demands
of conscience and declaration ofceasefire.

Besides,   the  members  are also  trying  to  persuade the
Governmentto  hold  a dialogue  with the  Myanmaese leader,
Ms,  Aung San SuuKyi,  who is heading the democratic forces
in that country.

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GEORGE SUPPORTS STRUGGLE FOR DEMOCRACY IN BURMA
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                                    New Delhi. March 22:

Defence  minister George fernandes  stressed his commitment
andsupport  to  the cause  of  restoration of  democracy in
Burma.  He  wasaddressing  the  second  conference  of  the
Students   and  YouthCongress  of  Burma  here  on  Sunday.
iClarifying  that he  was participating in  the function in
hispersonal  capacity and  not as  the defence  minister of
India,   Mr.Fernandes said he has  always been committed to
the  cause ofdemocracy,  freedom  and human rights struggle
throughout  theworld.  "Since  a  long  time  I  have  been
involved  in  the restorationof  democracy as  Socialist in
Tibet,  Burma, Bhutan and othernations," he said. "The fact
that  the Narasimba Rao  governmentconferred the Jawaharlal
Nehru  Peace  Prize  on  Aung  San  Suu  Kyishows  that our
government  is  sympathetic  to  the  cause  ofdemocracy in
Burma."  said Mr Fernandes.  "It was a very positivestep to
which  endorsed our support to Burma and reflected thecause
upheld by Ms Suu Kyi," Mr Fernandes said.

"  Your efforts  are a cause  which is dear  to millions of
Indians,"he  said and  added that  the India  does not have
any  reservationwhatsoever in her  commitment to the United
Nation's  charter onHuman  Rights.  "  As a  country we are
always opposed to any kind ofundemocratic process,  torture
and  exploitation," he  said.  MrFernandes  said the Indian
government  has always played an activerole in this process
including   its  efforts  in  liberating  SouthAfrica  from
Apartheid and condemning the miliary regime inPakistan.  he
agreed  that insurgency also existed in a large scalein the
Northeast  in  India  and  said  that  best  way  to  solve
theproblem  was  through  negotiations.  "  As  the defence
minister  ofthe country I might not  take a strong stand on
certain  issues  butas  the  Samata  Party  leader  I would
always  be involved  in suchcauses both  within and outside
India," said Mr Fernandes.  " But,as the defence minister I
would do my best to curb drug, arms andcommercial smuggling
in   the  Indo+Burma  border.    Speaking  on  theoccasion,
president  of the SYCB Myat Thu said that theirorganisation
expects  India to play a  leading role by exertingpolitical
pressure  on the military regime of Burma.  The Studentsand
youth   Congress   comprises  of   different  nationalities
andmulti+region  student and youth  organisations of Burma.
It wasformed in January 1996 with the aim to strengthen the
studentsand  youth organisations of  Burma to fight against
the militaryregime in Burma.


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