India, China and Russia against sanction on Myanmar

Oct 25 : China, Russia and India have jointly voiced against US sanction on Myanmar but have urged the military junta to talk with the opposition leaders.

This has become important as both China and Russia have veto power on UN Security Council, and their point is that the crackdown of Buddhist monk by the military junta is the internal issue of Myanmar.

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This was the third meeting of Foreign Ministers of India, China and Russia in China and fourth meeting is going to be held at Russia.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said at a joint press conference after the end of the third meeting “ We believe that the initiative taken by the UN Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon to open dialogue amongst the various stakeholders in Myanmar should be encouraged ”.

He added “ We believe that Myanmar authorities should be encouraged to engage in the process of dialogue with the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General Ibrahim Gambari, the initiative which he has taken should be encouraged to take it to the logical conclusion and there should not be any sanctions at this stage ”.

Sargey Lavrov, the Russian foreign Minister said that this form of pressure on the junta will aggravate the situation and will generate new crisis.

Yang Jiechi said “We hope that countries concerned will play a helping role instead of applying sanctions and applying pressure.”

The meeting of the three countries China, India and Russia has been seen as a revival of earlier alliance against US dominance over world affairs. However, the joint statement released by the trio said that this forum is not targeted against any other country or organisation.

India wants to have a say in UNO and hence promoting its candidature for permanent seat. A joint statement of China and Russia has said that they support India’s aspiration to play a greater role in the United Nations.

China with its multi dimensional relation with Myanmar has role to play and Gambari too has sought China’s help to use its influence in persuading the junta to stop the crackdown.

Being the biggest trading partner of Myanmar China can play a constructive role in neutralising the internal politics of Myanmar.

Earlier a largest gathering of 100,000 Buddhist Monks, marched through the street of Yangon. The 1988 uprising was brutally crushed by the military. This was a demonstration and protest against Myanmar‘s military regime since two decades.

But the peaceful protest was suppressed brutally by the military regime under General Than Shwe.

On Wednesday to accelerate the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, a pro-democratic leader of Myanmar, six Women Nobel Prize winners have insisted United Nations to take appropriate measures for the same.

Also activists wearing white prison garb and masks held small protests in cities around the world to mark pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's 12 years in detention in Myanmar.

Myanmar since last month has grabbed all the attention in the world politics, the undemocratic military rule and the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi being the major concern.

Aung got Noble Prize for peace and she is in house arrest for 12 years but kept her enthusiasm alive to restore the democracy in the country.