In a step that goes significantly beyond its cautious treading on the crisis in Myanmar, India has supported the UN call for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi saying it will be “helpful” in dealing with the current situation.

At the same time, though, New Delhi has voiced its dissent on the “tone” and “manner” of reprimand handed out to Myanmar.

India expressed these views at the UN Human Rights Council on Tuesday where for the first time in the recent past, India came out in open support of Aung San Suu Kyi’s release.

“India believes that the release of Aung San Suu Kyi would be helpful in terms of the process of democratization and that she can contribute to the emergence of Myanmar as a democratic country,” said India’s Permanent Representative at the Council Swashpawan Singh.

It may be noted that the closest India has come in the recent past on taking up Aung San Suu Kyi’s case was when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met his Myanmarese counterpart Soe Win on the margins of the East Asia Summit at Kuala Lumpur in December 2005. Singh had spoken for about 15 minutes with Soe Win underlining the importance India accords to democratic dissent.

After the meeting, Soe Win is learnt to have remarked: “Thank you Prime Minister for your advice and lecture.”

Following the recent turn of events sparked off by monks agitating on the streets for over two weeks, the UN Human Rights Council took up the matter on October 2. The European Union brought a draft resolution to condemn the excesses by Yangon. India, which is not in favour of any sanctions on Myanmar, had objections on the way the resolution was worded but did not also want to block the resolution that sought democracy in the country.

... contd.