Calls to Address Human Rights Abuses in Burma during Burma's Parliamentary Delegation Visits to India
- Indian Parliamentarians’ Forum for Democracy in Burma (IPFDB) -

New Delhi, 14 December 2011 *

Indian Parliamentarians' Forum for Democracy in Burma (IPFDB), warmly welcome the Burma’s Parliamentary delegation visit led by Parliament Speaker Thura Shwe Mann to India from 11 to 17 December 2011.

While we extend our appreciation to the Burmese delegation for visiting India to study the Indian model of government, we also strongly recommend to government of India to address on the issues of human rights abuses in Burma.

Over the course of the past several months the international community has focused on seemingly positive developments such as the negotiations between the regime and pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the suspension of the unpopular Myitsone dam, release of over 200 political prisoners, and most recently, the developments in parliament that include the passage of a bill permitting peaceful protest.

However, the people of Burma continue to suffer serious human rights abuses on a daily basis. The continued refusal of the regime to admit to the well-documented atrocities taking place in ethnic areas of Burma, along with the failure to recognize the more than 1,600 individuals imprisoned as a result of their political activities as political prisoners, demonstrates that the regime has not truly changed its approach to its population.

Despite peace talks between Burmese regime and ethnic armed groups, human rights abuses, such as rape, forced labor, killings, torture and forced displacement continue to be committed by Burma Army soldiers in ethnic areas including Kachin and Karen states. As a result of such abuses more than 50,000 civilians have fled to the China-Burma border area. These internally displaced persons (IDPs) are suffering from disease and food shortages and with each day the crisis continues, the danger grows.

The IPFDB strongly feel that Burma requires further comprehensive reforms if it is to enjoy peace, stability and an end to human rights abuses.

It is thus crucial that when Burma’s parliamentary delegation visits India, government of India take the opportunity to raise these serious human rights issues with the delegates.

Government of India should call on Burma’s parliament to take the following actions:

Call for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners;
Declare a nationwide ceasefire with ethnic armed groups and demand that the Burma Army cease attacks on ethnic communities; and
Take up the issue of the NHRC and pass legislation that will ensure it can operate independently and with a broad-based mandate to investigate violations of fundamental human rights.

Thomas A Sangma
MP, RS (NCP)
Indian Parliamentarians’ Forum for Democracy in Burma (IPFDB)