Seminar Urges Indian Legislators to Back Democracy in Burma

Mizzima News

February 15, 2005

A seminar in Kolkata has strongly recommended that Indian parliamentarians and legislators, cutting across political lines, should form an All-Party Parliamentary Caucus on Burma to pressure the Indian government to back the cause of democracy and human rights in Burma.

The resolution was adopted at the National Seminar on Problems of Restoration of Democracy and Human Rights in Burma Feb. 14. The seminar on "Problems of Restoration of Democracy and Human Rights in Burma" was held in Kolkata, in West Bengal, India. 

The seminar also resolved to form an "India-Burma Peoples Friendship Society" in Kolkata to promote good relations between people of the two countries. participants said the proposed Caucus on Burma should also create awareness about developments in Burma and closely interact with similar parliamentary caucuses on Burma in ASEAN countries, Australia and Western countries.

The seminar was jointly organized by the Kolkata-based Center for Research in Indo-Bangladesh Relations and New Delhi-based Mizzima News Group. More than 60 delegates from civil societies of India and Burma including
academics, human rights activists, retired civil servants, journalists and scholars participated in the one-day seminar.

The seminar, inaugurated by C. R. Irani, editor-in-chief of The Statesman newspaper, was addressed by Dr. Sushil Mukharjee, former vice chancellor of Calcutta University; Subir Bhaumik, BBC East India correspondent:, Prof. Sunanda Sanyal, educator; Thin Thin Aung, Women's League of Burma; Toe Zaw Latt, Burma Fund research associate; Nai Kasauh Mon, director, Human Rights Foundation of Mon Land; B. B Nandy, former additional secretary, Government of India; Mr.. Kim, coordinator, Shwe Gas Campaign Committee; and D. Bandyopadhyay, IAS (retired) and Paresh Dev, president of the Center for Research in Indo-Bangladesh Relations.