Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NEWDELHI1229
2009-06-15 04:11:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:
INDIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS: RELEASE AUNG SAN SUU KYI,
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UNCLAS NEW DELHI 001229
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL IN
SUBJECT: INDIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS: RELEASE AUNG SAN SUU KYI,
HOLD ELECTIONS
UNCLAS NEW DELHI 001229
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL IN
SUBJECT: INDIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS: RELEASE AUNG SAN SUU KYI,
HOLD ELECTIONS
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Indian press reported June 11 that a group
of Indian parliamentarians had submitted an appeal to Prime
Minister Singh to ask Burma to release Aung San Suu Kyi and
to hold elections. Member of Parliament Sharad Joshi, a
leader of the previously defunct Indian Parliamentarians'
Forum for Democracy in Burma, spearheaded the appeal.
Interlocutors do not anticipate immediate changes in India's
policy toward the Burmese military regime, but a group of MPs
is working to revitalize the Forum for Democracy in Burma and
bring Aung San Suu Kyi's detention and the need for
democratic reform in Burma to the floor of both houses of
parliament. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) On June, Indian media carried stories about an
appeal submitted to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,
signed by over 100 Indian parliamentarians, urging him to ask
Burma to release pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and to
hold elections. Amit Baruah, Foreign Affairs Editor for the
Hindustan Times, said the appeal was no surprise as there is
long-standing sympathy for Suu Kyi in India. "This kind of
pressure group has been around, it's not vocal but a large
section wants Suu Kyi freed." He conveyed that there is a
large Burmese student constituency in New Delhi that has good
connections with politicians and lobbies effectively. He
asserted that the new government is re-energized and ready to
be more vocal on issues like democracy in Burma, however it
remains unlikely to shift from its pragmatic policy toward
the Burmese military government.
3. (SBU) Sharad Joshi, Independent member of the Upper House
and leader of the group that submitted the appeal,
characterized the situation in Burma as "going from bad to
worse" and said that India had not come out boldly on the
issue "as required from the largest democracy." He said he
intends to revive the Indian Parliamentarians' Forum for
Democracy in Burma, which has been largely defunct since
leader MP Nirmala Deshpande passed away in 2008. Joshi plans
to include new MPs in the group and to bring the issue of
releasing Suu Kyi to the floor of both houses of parliament.
B.S. Ginandesikan, a Congress M.P. from Tamil Nadu, told us
that it is difficult to convince parliamentarians to join the
effort, which is part of the reasoning behind addressing an
appeal directly to the PM. Abani Roy, Revolutionary
Socialist Party MP in the Rajya Sabha from West Bengal, said
that the forum is not yet properly constituted, but that the
new members had a good initial meeting and that there were
plans for the forum to meet with the PM within days.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: Indian officials have told us consistently
over recent years that India's relationship with Burma is
"complicated" and takes into consideration diverse interests
such as counter-insurgency cooperation, energy, and regional
rivalry with China. While this parliamentary group won't
change India's interests, it does offer us a chance to engage
with influential Indians who may be able to persuade the
government to take a harder stance against the junta on
democracy, freedom and human rights. END COMMENT.
BURLEIGH
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL IN
SUBJECT: INDIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS: RELEASE AUNG SAN SUU KYI,
HOLD ELECTIONS
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Indian press reported June 11 that a group
of Indian parliamentarians had submitted an appeal to Prime
Minister Singh to ask Burma to release Aung San Suu Kyi and
to hold elections. Member of Parliament Sharad Joshi, a
leader of the previously defunct Indian Parliamentarians'
Forum for Democracy in Burma, spearheaded the appeal.
Interlocutors do not anticipate immediate changes in India's
policy toward the Burmese military regime, but a group of MPs
is working to revitalize the Forum for Democracy in Burma and
bring Aung San Suu Kyi's detention and the need for
democratic reform in Burma to the floor of both houses of
parliament. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) On June, Indian media carried stories about an
appeal submitted to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,
signed by over 100 Indian parliamentarians, urging him to ask
Burma to release pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and to
hold elections. Amit Baruah, Foreign Affairs Editor for the
Hindustan Times, said the appeal was no surprise as there is
long-standing sympathy for Suu Kyi in India. "This kind of
pressure group has been around, it's not vocal but a large
section wants Suu Kyi freed." He conveyed that there is a
large Burmese student constituency in New Delhi that has good
connections with politicians and lobbies effectively. He
asserted that the new government is re-energized and ready to
be more vocal on issues like democracy in Burma, however it
remains unlikely to shift from its pragmatic policy toward
the Burmese military government.
3. (SBU) Sharad Joshi, Independent member of the Upper House
and leader of the group that submitted the appeal,
characterized the situation in Burma as "going from bad to
worse" and said that India had not come out boldly on the
issue "as required from the largest democracy." He said he
intends to revive the Indian Parliamentarians' Forum for
Democracy in Burma, which has been largely defunct since
leader MP Nirmala Deshpande passed away in 2008. Joshi plans
to include new MPs in the group and to bring the issue of
releasing Suu Kyi to the floor of both houses of parliament.
B.S. Ginandesikan, a Congress M.P. from Tamil Nadu, told us
that it is difficult to convince parliamentarians to join the
effort, which is part of the reasoning behind addressing an
appeal directly to the PM. Abani Roy, Revolutionary
Socialist Party MP in the Rajya Sabha from West Bengal, said
that the forum is not yet properly constituted, but that the
new members had a good initial meeting and that there were
plans for the forum to meet with the PM within days.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: Indian officials have told us consistently
over recent years that India's relationship with Burma is
"complicated" and takes into consideration diverse interests
such as counter-insurgency cooperation, energy, and regional
rivalry with China. While this parliamentary group won't
change India's interests, it does offer us a chance to engage
with influential Indians who may be able to persuade the
government to take a harder stance against the junta on
democracy, freedom and human rights. END COMMENT.
BURLEIGH