India on defensive as pressure mounts over Myanmar

Pranab Mukherjee, currently on a three-day visit to Thailand, was pressed by diplomats and media over India's relationship with Myanmar's junta,  which has since August 19 arrested dozens of people in retaliation for rare protests.

"The cardinal principle of our foreign policy is non-interference in the internal matters of any country," Mukherjee said after a lecture in Bangkok.

"Neither do we export ideologies ... it is for them (Myanmar's people) to decide what kind of government they want."

Countries including the United States have recently called on India -- the world's largest democracy -- and China to use their influence to push Myanmar to improve human rights and speed up political reform.

But the two regional giants, who are jockeying for Myanmar's abundant natural resources to fuel their growing economies, have refused to get involved in what they say is the internal affair of their neighbour.

Amnesty International estimates that more than 150 people have been detained in a violent crackdown by Myanmar's military regime since peaceful rallies began after a surprise hike in fuel prices on August 15.

International outcry has been swift, with US President George W. Bush calling the junta "tyrannical". The United Nations human rights chief on Thursday called for the release of all peaceful protesters.

Mukherjee said that violations of human rights were "not acceptable in any country", but did not chastise Myanmar specifically.

Amnesty International has also accused India of selling attack helicopters to Myanmar, which has been under military rule since 1962.