India urges peaceful resolution of situation in Myanmar

Sep 26, 2007, 13:31 GMT

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'.