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Protest against India in Chiang Mai
October 2, 2007: (Irrawaddy) Burmese dissidents, international NGO staff and Thai supporters protested in front of the Indian consulate in Chiang Mai at 1 p.m. On Tuesday, the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday.
Pranom Somwong, a spokesperson for the organizers of the protest, Lanna Action for Burma (LAB), told The Irrawaddy, “We demand that the Indian government withdraw all investment in oil and gas, everything on Burma… NOW! We don’t want to wait another five years.”
One of the Indian consular staff replied that he could not offer an official statement; only the Indian embassy in Bangkok could.
According to Kim, a coordinator of the Shwe Gas Movement (SGM), an NGO in India, “India’s current support for the regime in Burma and insignificant response to the ongoing violence and killing in Burma is a total affront to everything Gandhi taught us.”
She added, “India should stand up for freedom, human rights and democracy in Burma.”
For over a month now, pro-democracy demonstrations have been echoing around Burma. The military government began cracking down on the protesters on September 26.
On that same day, an agreement was signed between
the India Oil Company and Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise, according to Indian
Union Cabinet Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Murli Deora.
According to Wong Aung, the Global Coordinator of the SGM, “India’s financial support for the junta trough lucrative gas deals and trade cooperation is integral for the regime to maintain its stability, and a stable junta is a violent junta.”