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Date: Mon, 24 Jun 1996 13:28:21 +0000
Subject: George Fernandes Appeals to Indian Govt.
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          INDIAN GOVERNMENT URGED TO ACT ON BURMA
          =======================================

ABSL(HQs) 21/6/96  :  Being concerned with the
political crackdown on the Daw Aung San Suu Kyi-
led democratic movement in Burma, Indian senior MP
and the President of Samata Party Mr. George
Fernandes today urged the government of India to
take immediate steps towards democratization
process in that country. While meeting with him,
Mr. Fernandes said, "I am going to submit a letter
to Mr. I. K. Gujral, the Minister of Home Affairs
to take up some concrete action towards the
democratization process in Burma. I have met him
and discussed about what is going on in Burma a
few days ago. Since the democratizing Burma is a
common desire of all political parties and people
of India, I am hopeful that all-party meeting on
Burma as well as national meeting will take place
soon to adopt a strong national strategy for
helping the people of Burma in August. Because
Parliamentary debates are not enough in this
regard".

(See the full text of Mr. Fernandes's letter
submitted to the Home Minister of India below.)

End-----------------------------------------------

George Fernandes                       3, Krishna Menon Marg
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT                     New Delhi - 110 011
(LOK SABHA)

                                                June 21 1996

Dear Gujral,

All indications from Burma are that the military
junta is all set to rearrest Daw Aung San Suu Kyi,
and this may happen on any day now.

I learn from reliable Burmese sources that as a
prelude to her arrest, the Army may outlaw the
National League for Democracy. This is intended to
manoeuvre Aung San Suu Kyi into a position where
defiance will be the only honorable course open to
her. This act of defiance will then be treated as
an excuse for her arrest.

I am sure you are aware of the recent actions of
the junta, arresting supporters of the NLD on the
flimsiest grounds and sentencing them to long
terms in prison. In recent weeks there has also
been orchestration of a vulgar campaign against
the person of Aung San Suu Kyi, which has been
condemned by many public personalities and some
leaders of government throughout the world.

The moves and the actions of the junta provide
clear evidence that the military has finally
decided not to hand over power to the elected
representatives of the people.

The recent meetings between some leaders of the
ethnic groups and Aung San Suu Kyi wherein the
ethnic leaders declared that they would go along
with her in the struggle for democracy have also
unnerved the junta.

Obviously the Burmese regime finds itself totally
isolated from the people, and believes that the
only way for it to survive is to unleash more
terror and violence.

The failure of the international community to
forcefully support the struggle for the
restoration of democracy in Burma, and more
particularly to lend active and vigorous support
to Aung San Suu Kyi's efforts, has obviously
emboldened the Burmese junta to carry on with its
repressive measures against the people and their
leaders.

I do not have to tell you what great expectations
all democracy-loving people of Burma have from
India which they look to as a bulwark of freedom
and democracy. If India should fall into the trap
of the so-called "Constructive Engagement" which
has been touted by some ASEAN countries as the
best strategy to take Burma's corrupt and blood-
thirsty generals to the democratic path, it will
be a great betrayal of the Burmese people.

It is not necessary for me to elaborate on the
obvious fact that what is happening in Burma will
have a far reaching effect on India's security
interests. If concerns of national security made
you wisely decide to have a wide-ranging
consultation with various segments of political
and public opinion in the country on the CTBT
issue, the situation  in Burma too demands that
such a consultation take place without any delay.
I would urge that you take immediate steps in that
direction.

In the meanwhile a message should go from the
India government to the military junta that India
does not appreciate their reign of terror and the
vulgar attacks on the person of Aung San Suu Kyi.

With kind regards,


                                            Yours sincerely,

                                                        Sd/-
                                            George Fernandes


Shri I.K. Gujral,
Minister of External Affairs,
Government of India,
New Delhi.