Thursday, October 6 2005 16:30 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: India should join hands with other countries to help restore democracy in military ruled Myanmar, by taking it up in international for a group of Myanmarese rights activists, today (Oct 6, 2005) said.

India had not expressed its concern over the lack of democratic reforms in Myanmar, they said.

At least to begin with, India, joining hands with international community, should seek the release of Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners languishing in jails for long periods, Member, National League for Democracy Ramjeev Verma, Editor-in-Chief, Mizzima News Soc Myint and Presidium Board member, Women's League of Burma Thin Thin Aung told reporters in Chennai.

Verma and Aung claimed that India's policy, which was people supportive during late Rajiv Gandhi's time, had changed when P V Narasimha Rao became the Prime Minister and it became more pronounced when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) came to power when India was willing to support the regime for abundant gas available in Myanmar.

"While we are not against India buying gas from Myanmar, it should only keep it in abeyance till democracy was restored," Myint said.

Aung alleged that there has been gross human rights violations in Myanmar,since the military regime took over her country's administration.

Women's rights have been violated and her organization had even documented crimes against women committed by the regime, she said.