- Saturday, April 20, 2024
By: Shubham Ghosh
THE ruling military junta of Myanmar has disallowed a meeting between visiting Indian foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and the country’s deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
According to a report by Asian News International, nobody other than the lawyers of the veteran leader is allowed to meet her. Shringla, who is on a two-day visit to the eastern neighbour of India, called on the chairman of the country’s powerful State Administration Council (SAC) and other senior representatives and held meetings with members of the civil society and political parties, including Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy.
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Democratically elected members of the ruling NLD, including state counsellor Suu Kyi, were deposed by Myanmar’s military in February this year. Suu Kyi was sentenced to two years of imprisonment on charges of inciting violence after the military junta took over power.
Ani cited sources as saying that Shringla had good talks with the Myanmarese leadership on bilateral issues of importance, especially security and people-to-people ties.
However, when he sought a meeting with Suu Kyi who he has known since 2011, his request was turned down by the SAC. He had met Suu Kyi during his last visit to Myanmar in 2020.
“During his meetings with all concerned, foreign secretary emphasized India’s interest in seeing Myanmar’s return to democracy at the earliest; release of detainees and prisoners; resolution of issues through dialogue; and complete cessation of all violence,” according to India’s ministry of external affairs.
The Indian envoy’s visit also saw discussions on matters related to India’s security, particularly in light of the recent ambush in Churachandpur district of the northeastern state of Manipur which borders Myanmar.
The Indian ministry said in a press release that Shringla emphasised on the need to put an end to any violence and maintain peace and stability in the border area.
“As a democracy and close neighbour, India has been involved in the democratic transition process in Myanmar and in this context has worked with various stakeholders in developing capacities on democratic systems and practices. India proposes to renew these efforts for Myanmar to emerge as a stable, democratic, federal union in accordance with the wishes of the people of Myanmar,” the ministry said in its statement.
