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UN envoy says India must help push Myanmar toward democracy
February 1, 2008: (The Earth Times) New Delhi - India must take more concrete steps to demonstrate its support to the United Nations in building up efforts to bring democracy in Myanmar, UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari said in an interview published Friday.
Gambari, who met Vice President Hamid Ansari and Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee on three-day visit Thursday, told India's Asian Age newspaper that New Delhi's responsibilities had grown with its increasing profile in regional and global affairs.
"We want them (India) to do more and we'd like like all of us then to be able to recall tangible progress in terms of engagement between UN and Myanmar," Gambari said.
The envoy is coordinating efforts with India and other Asian countries that are close to the military regime in Myanmar with an aim to convince the junta to speed up democratic reform. He plans to meet senior officials in China on the next leg of his two-nation Asian tour.
Gambari said he did not regard India's proximity to the military rulers as a handicap, and said the country could exercise its influence to nudge the junta to take more conciliatory steps.
"Use the influence that you (India) have acquired as a result of your bilateral relations to work with us to the objectives that we all share, which is a peaceful, prosperous and democratic Myanmar with full respect for human rights of its own citizens," he said.
Gambari said India could help the UN "logistically and substantively" and begin by ensuring that he was able to visit Myanmar more often to hold talks with the junta.
New Delhi could also help by getting the military regime to allow the UN enhance its role in Myanmar and have "more presence" in that country.
India, the world's most-populous democracy has come under diplomatic pressure to play a more active role in promoting democracy in its eastern neighbour since the junta's crackdown on protests led by Buddhist monks last year.
India's official silence drew international criticism. The Indian foreign office said although it supported the cause of democracy in Myanmar it would not be part of any coercive measures and opposed the imposition of sanctions on that country.
After supporting the pro-democracy movement in Myanmar in 1988, India has since changed tack and fostered close relations with the junta.
India explains its close ties with the authoritarian regime by saying it needs Myanmar's help to curb militants operating in its north-east, as well as allowing access to Myanmar's vast natural gas reserves to cater to its energy security.