Restore democracy in Myanmar voice raised
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 11 2021: Expressing solidarity with people of Myanmar amid the military takeover, the Solidarity Committee for Burma Democracy has urged the Military regime to release elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other arrested pro-democracy leaders.

Speaking to media persons at Irawat Bhawan today, the solidarity committee's chairman and CPI leader L Sotinkumar said the recent military coup in Myanmar was unfortunate and the military regime should return democracy to the people by honouring the November elections held in the country.

The Solidarity Committee for Burma Democracy is with the people of Myanmar.

Lakhs of protesters are taking to the streets demanding release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other NLD (National League for Democracy) leaders and return of the democratic Government.

The military should release the NLD leaders and return power to the NLD which had achieved a landslide victory in the November elections, said Sotinkumar.

Restore democracy in Myanmar voice raised

Sotinkumar said the Solidarity Committee for Burma Democracy was formed after Burma (Myanmar) lost its democracy in 1988.The committee had raised its voice expressing solidarity with the people then.

However, the committee remained silent after democracy was restored in Myanmar, he said adding that the committee is yet again forced to raise its voice for democracy in Myanmar again after the recent military coup.

After decades of house arrest during the previous military regime, Aung San Suu Kyi, who was under house arrest was released in 2010 and after this democracy gradually returned in Myanmar.

Notably, the NLD had won 83 percent of the votes in the November 2020 elections and expanded its seats in the Parliament.

And after the military coup recently, Myanmar's Army Chief General Min Aung Hlaing had defended and justified the coup asserting that the elections were fraudulent.

L Sotinkumar said the whole of Myanmar is protesting against the forced military regime and people are marching on the streets for democracy.

The military takeover has dishonoured the democratic elections held in November last.

The committee strongly condemns the forced military takeover and arrest of the NLD leaders on unfounded charges.

Many have been injured and killed in the protests going on in the country.

India as a neighbour should intervene and impose sanctions on the Myanmar military.

There is a growing need for people to stand collectively against such dictatorship, Sotinkumar said.

The committee's convenor, Ksh Shanta and social activist Kh Gyaneshor were also present in the press meet.