BUSINESS

India, Myanmar review bilateral ties

By Nandita Malik in Kuala Lumpur
December 14, 2005

India and Myanmar reviewed bilateral agreements between the two countries on Wednesday in Kuala Lumpur.

Talking to reporters on his way back to India after a four-day visit to Malaysia, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he had sought Myanmar's help in checking insurgency in its territory. Dr Singh said insurgents in North Eastern India were using Myanmar as a base for carrying out their activities.

Besides, he also urged the Myanmar government to carry out critical reforms.

When asked about the imprisonment of pro-democracy leader Aung Saan Su Kyi by the Myanmar government, the prime minister said, "We are in favour of national reconciliation and Suu Kyi should be set free. But it is not my purpose to advise them (Myanmar)."

Dr Singh said he told his Myanmarese counterpart Gen Suu Win during a meeting in the Malaysian capital that Myanmar should move towards democracy and respect fundamental Human Rights.

"All shades of political views should be able to flourish but a solution to domestic problems should be found by the people of Myanmar themselves," the prime minister said.

"I said we favour a national re-conciliation and also the movement towards democracy, respect for fundamental human rights and allowing political activities to flourish. But I also said it is for the people of Myanmar to resolve their problems. The answer has to be found by the people of Myanmar themselves," he told Suu Win during their meeting.     

Win assured Dr Singh that Myanmar was committed to democracy and they follow the National Congress as a forum for evolution of democracy.

Complete Coverage: PM in Malaysia

With PTI inputs

Nandita Malik in Kuala Lumpur

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