To

Dr. Prime Minister Date: 22nd July 2011

Sub: Condemning the supply of arms by India to the world’s most repressive military regime in Burma

Respected Prime Minister,

We are shocked and outraged to learn that Government of India has recently supplied arms and ammunitions fully loaded in 52 military trucks to the world most notorious Burmese military regime.

We the undersigned believe that India is a nation founded on sound democratic principles. And time and again our nation has proven to uphold the principles of constitutionally elected governments. Further as a nation committed to playing an important, if not pivotal role in maintaining peace in the region, it is unbecoming of a responsible nation to supply arms to countries known to abuse military power. It also belies the recent welcome statement of your UPA government on US suspension of military aids to Pakistan that reads “heavy presence of arms would have disturbed the equilibrium in the region”.

As witnessed by United Nations and International community, democracy and human rights activists in Burma have been imprisoned, intimidated, tortured and put to death for demanding justice, peace, human rights and a democratic government. Presently, there are over 2,200 political prisoners in Burma.

It is beyond question that the Burma military dictatorship would use those arms and ammunitions against the ethnic minority and to assault its own innocent citizens who are struggling for justice, peace and democracy for decades.

If India’s interest is to have a good neighbor which is stable and democratic then India would be better advised to focus on long-term interests i.e. to restore a form of government in Burma that is compatible with present day needs for stability, growth and development within the region and beyond..

We the Civil Society Groups and citizens of India strongly condemn your Government for supplying arms and ammunitions to Burma's military dictatorship.

We strongly and sincerely urged India to support the Burmese people’s movement for restoration of peace and democracy in Burma.

1 Endorsed by:

SL No ORGANIZATIONS SL No INDIVIDUALS

1 Burma Centre Delhi 1 Dr. John Dayal, Delhi 2 INSAF 2 Dr. Sam Paul, Hyderabad 3 Grassroot Development Network 3 Leo Fernandez, Delhi 4 Zo Indigenous Forum 4 Ashok Agarwal, Delhi 5 Bhopal Group for Information and Action 5 Sushmita Kashyap, Assam 6 Zomi Human Rights Foundation, Burma 6 Malavika Karlekar, Delhi Region(ZHRF-Burma Region) 7 Saheli 7 Linda Chhakchhuak 8 Concerned Senior Citizens' Forum of 8 James Rumao, Mumbai Mokokchung, Nagaland 9 PVCHR 9 Nutan Patel, Mumbai 10 Nadi Ghati Morcha (NGM) 10 Usha Rumao, Mumbai 11 Rahul Foundation 11 Satyam 12 Disha Students Organisation 12 Katyayani 13 LABIA, Mumbai 13 Anand Swaroop Verma, Delhi 14 Campaign For Peace & Democracy 14 Dr. Lena Ganesh, Mumbai () 15 Intercultural Resources , Delhi 15 Vrinda Grover – Lawyer , Delhi 16 All India Progressive Women's Association 16 Anivar Aravind (AIPWA) 17 Jharkhand Alternative Development Forum 17 Lungthuiyang Riamei, Delhi Ranchi, Jharkhand 18 Media Action Group 18 Chibeni Murry, Nagaland 19 National Alliance of People’s Movement ( 19 Sushovan Dhar, Kolkatta NAPM) 20 ANHAD , Delhi 20 C.R Bijoy, Delhi 21 South Asia Forum for Human Rights 21 Tapan Bose Delhi (SAFHR) 22 PUCL (People’s Union for Civil Liberty) 22 Ravi Hemadri , Delhi 23 Association for Protection of Civil Rights 23 Amar Kanwar , (APCR) 24 Palestine Solidarity Movement (India) 24 Vijay Jolly BJP International Convener Overseas Affairs 25 Delhi Study Group 25 Sukla Sen, EKTA (Committee for Communal Amity), Mumbai 26 Human welfare voluntary organization 26 Nazia Manzoor, Assistant professor (HWVO Kashmir) Centre for International peace & Conflict 27 Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha 27 Studies, Islamic university of Science & (MASUM) technology, Awantipora, Kashmir

2 28 Reachout 28 Gopal Krishna, Member, Citizens Forum for Civil Liberties, Patna, Bihar 29 Jharkhand Vigyan Manch, Ranchi 29 Kavitha Kuruganthi , Bangalore 30 Mizoram Committee for Democracy in 30 Aditi Bhaduri, Kolkata Burma (MCDB) 31 South India Cell for Human Rights 31 Dr. Subash Mohapatra, Journalist, Orissa Education and Monitoring (SICHREM), Bangalore 32 Asia to Gaza 32 Lakshmi Premkumar, Delhi 33 The Palestine Foundation 33 Vishal Arora 34 TEST Foundation 34 Pearl Sandhu, New Delhi 35 Delhi Forum 35 Kamal 36 Focus on the Global South, India 36 Mamata Dash, Activist and Independent Researcher, New Delhi 37 Nirantar - Resource Centre for Gender & 37 S. P. Udayakumar, Nagercoil Education 38 Forum Against Oppression of Women, 38 Dr Walter Fernandes Bombay Director, North Eastern Social Research Centre, Guwahati 39 Tamil Nationalist Movement 39 Amitadyuti Kumar, Vice President, APDR, West Bengal 40 Federation for People’s Rights 40 Pravin Patel, Human Rights Activist 41 Puducherry Environment Council 41 Dr.Daisy Dharmaraj Chennai 42 Human Rights and Consumer Protection 42 Nandita Gandhi Society 43 Campaign Against Child Labour 43 Adv Mini Mathew 44 Puducherry Slum Dwellers Federation 44 Hindu Singh Sodha, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 45 Sundarban Banadhikar Sangram Committee 45 Haq Nawaz Nehru RTI Activist J&K 46 Preeti Sampat, Delhi 46 Kalyani Menon-Sen 47 D.Gabriele, NAPM 48 Asha Parivar 49 Thomas Kocherry

Date: 22 July 2011 Submitted by:

Burma Centre Delhi

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