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From MIZZIMA News Group (r)



"We are committed to your freedom and security in India", Indian External
Affairs Minister told Burmese democracy activists in India

By: MIZZIMA News Group
18th February 1999

India is committed to the freedom and security of those Burmese democratic
activists, who are taking shelter in India, said Jaswant Singh, External
Affairs Minister of India on Wednesday. The Indian External Affairs
minister made the remarks in response to a question after his closing
address to a global conference on democracy. The four-day Conference,
"Building a Worldwide Movement for Democracy" was ended on February 17, in
New Delhi and participated by more than 400 delegates from 85 countries,
including a number of Burmese exiled-democracy activists based in India
and Thailand. The Conference participants, among other significant
decisions, decided to launch a "World Movement for Democracy" by working
closely among the democrats of the world.

"Don't feel insecure at all in this country", the foreign minister told
the Burmese. However, the minister also tried to reflect the current
foreign policy of India towards Burma in his remarks saying that as far as
movement for restoration of democracy in Burma is concerned, it is for the
Burmese people to decide and to search for. "So far as your freedom and
security India is concerned that is our responsibility and we are
committed to it", responded the minister when he was asked by the Burmese
delegate for his remarks on recent denial of a particular venue for
holding meetings of Burmese activists in India and constant watch of some
Indian intelligence personnel on the Burmese activists. 

When Burmese pro-democracy activists tried to organize a conference on
constitution of Burma in January, the venue "Constitution Club" in New
Delhi was cancelled at last minute by the concerned Indian officer without
giving any official reason. The same venue was again not given when they
tried to organize a meeting on Burma's Union Day and Constitutional
problems in Burma on February 12. India is currently having a closer
relationship with the military regime in Burma than it was before 1994,
particularly in the areas of border trade and counter insurgency.