New Delhi - India has called for a peaceful resolution of
the volatile situation in neighbouring Myanmar where clashes between
troops and monks left at least five people dead on Wednesday.
India's Foreign Office spokesman Navtej Sarna said New Delhi was
concerned about the developments in Myanmar and was monitoring the
situation 'closely.'
'It is our hope that all sides will resolve their issues
peacefully through dialogue,' he said.
'India has always believed that Myanmar's process of political
reform and national reconciliation should be more inclusive and
broad-based,' Sarna added.
India, the world's largest democracy and Myanmar's immediate
neighbour has come under increasing diplomatic criticism for failing
to use its close relations with Myanmar's military to pressure for
political change in the country.
Various human rights groups and crisis-management organizations
have called on India to intervene and prevent a bloodbath in Yangon.
Experts say that India is carefully considering its policy towards
Yangon, in face of international pressure.
After supporting the pro-democracy movement in Myanmar in 1988,
India, over the years, changed tack and fostered close relations with
the junta.
India explains its close ties with the undemocratic regime saying
it needs Myanmar's help to curb militants operating in its north-east
as well as access to Myanmar's vast natural gas reserves to cater to
its energy security.
As the protests swelled in Myanmar on Monday, India announced that
it would invest 150 million dollars for gas exploration in that
country.
Indian Petroleum Minister Murli Deora, who was in Myanmar Sunday,
witnessed the signing of three accords between the state-run Oil and
Natural Gas Corporation and the Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise.
About a fortnight back, India's Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee
asked about India's refusal to pressure the regime to introduce
democratic reforms said, 'The cardinal principle of our foreign
policy is non-interference in the domestic affairs of any country'.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur 
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