North India: Church Leaders demand end to repression by military in Burma

Urging Christians around the world and church organisations to create awareness regarding repression and brutalities by the Military Junta in Burma, representatives of Churches and Christian institutions in Delhi demanded the international community to take action on the Burmese government to restore democracy and human rights.

On October 18, the Christian leaders at the CNI Bhawan heard the stories of Burmese leaders in exile and the misrule by the military governments since 1962 and suspension of the political rights as well as the universal human rights of the people.

Dr. Tint Swe, Member of Parliament of National League for Democracy, elected in 1990, was quoted by the CNI news as saying, "In absence of a constitutional framework to govern the country, the military has crushed the democratic aspirations of the people, plundered the natural resources, and the social and human development requirements of the people have been ignored and put on the back burner."

Thin Thin Aung of Women's League of Burma urged the people and government of India to exert pressure on Junta for a dialogue with the pro–democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyo for early restoration of democracy and she added that the leaders of Karen, Mong, Shan, Kachin, Arakan and Chin minorities in exile have been meeting in Thailand to draft state and national Constitution providing federal government structure.

"The meeting constituted an ecumenical core group to mobilize participation of Christian laity, clergy and program beneficiaries of Christian institutions and organizations in Delhi in a series of activities as candle light vigils, sit–ins, demonstrations, rallies, exhibitions, campus meetings, etc. to demand action by the Indian government and the international community to stop brutalities on Burmese people by the Military Junta," quoted the CNI news.

The meeting was collaborated by the Synod of the Church of North India, The Commission on Polity and National Governance of the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI). The Rev. Dr. Enos Das Pradhan, general secretary of the CNI Synod and chairman of the NCCI Commission on Polity and National Governance, presided over the meeting.