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Burmese activists march to Sonia Gandhi for India's support
September 3, 2007: (Mizzima) In an expression of solidarity with the peaceful protesters in Burma, 12 Burmese activists in New Delhi today walked a 25-kilometer stretch demanding that India voice its concern over the brutal crackdown on pro-democracy groups in Burma.
The activists, marched from New Delhi's suburban Vikaspuri to the Congress party President Sonia Gandhi's residence on 10 Janpath, seeking India's support for the ongoing peoples' movement in Burma. The Congress is leading the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) coalition government in India.
"We are not demanding much. All we want is Sonia Gandhi and India to say just a single word in support of the movement for democracy in Burma and condemn the junta for its inhuman treatment of the people of Burma," Khaing Aung Kyaw, a protester told Mizzima.
The 12 activists said India, being the largest democracy in the world should be ashamed of its silence over the ongoing crackdown on peaceful demonstrators by the military junta in Burma.
"It is unacceptable to us that India is silent over what is happening in Burma now," said another protester, U Nyunt Hla.
A series of protests were staged in
Rangoon and other parts of Burma since
August 19, over the government's decision to increase prices of petroleum
products. The junta deployed gangs and plainclothes officials to beat, arrest
and detain peaceful protesters demanding a roll back of fuel and essential
commodity prices.
On August 15, the junta hiked the prices of diesel and petrol to hundred
percent and Compressed Natural Gas by used by buses by 500 percent. The fuel
price rise triggered an increase in bus fares. Many daily wage earners in Rangoon could not afford
the fares to go to their work places.
More than 100 protesters, including prominent student leader Min Ko Naing, who has served long prison terms, were arrested during the recent spate of protests.
Despite mounting international outcry and condemnation of the junta's actions on protesters, India, once a strong supporter of the Burmese democracy movement, remains conspicuous by its silence.
"All I want is Sonia Gandhi
and India
to condemn the junta for its action on pro-democracy activists," said
Khaing Aung Kyaw.
The protesters said, they submitted a petition to Sonia Gandhi, demanding she issue a statement regarding the ongoing protests and the brutal crackdown by the military regime.