<p>India has called for the early return of democracy and release of political prisoners in Myanmar as Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla visited Nay Pyi Taw in New Delhi’s first outreach to the military junta in the neighbouring country after the February 1 military coup d'etat.</p>.<p>Shringla also conveyed New Delhi’s concerns to the military regime in Nay Pyi Taw over insurgents operating in the northeastern region of India carrying out hit-and-run strikes from bases in Myanmar. He particularly referred to the attack that killed a commander of the Assam Rifles, his wife and his son as well as four other soldiers in Churachandpur in Manipur on November 13 last. The attack was carried out by the militants who had sneaked into India from Myanmar.</p>.<p>The Foreign Secretary called on the chief of the Myanmar Army and the de facto ruler of the country, General Min Aung Hlaing, as well as the civil society leaders and the representatives of the political parties, including Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD). </p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/myanmar-democracy-in-new-era-as-suu-kyi-sidelined-by-army-1058719.html">Myanmar democracy in new era as Suu Kyi sidelined by army</a></strong></p>.<p>He “emphasised India’s interest in seeing Myanmar’s return to democracy at the earliest; release of detainees and prisoners; resolution of issues through dialogue; and complete cessation of all violence”, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi.</p>.<p>The Myanmar Army took over power on February 1 this year, detaining the country’s State Counsellor and de facto ruler Aung San Suu Kyi as well as many other leaders and activists of her National League of Democracy (NLD). Though the NLD was re-elected to power in the general elections held on November 8, the opposition Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), as well as its mentor – the Myanmar Army – alleged irregularities in the polling process.</p>.<p>India has been cautious in its response to the military coup in Myanmar because it has been keen to avoid yielding space to China and allow it to take advantage of the situation to expand its geopolitical influence in the South-East Asian nation.</p>.<p>A court on December 6 last sentenced Suu Kyi to four years in prison after pronouncing her guilty of inciting dissent and breaking rules framed for containing the Covid-19 pandemic.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/india-provides-10-lakh-doses-of-covid-19-vaccines-10000-tonnes-of-rice-and-wheat-to-myanmar-1063896.html">India provides 10 lakh doses of Covid-19 vaccines, 10,000 tonnes of rice and wheat to Myanmar</a></strong></p>.<p>Her sentence was later reduced from four years to two years in prison. But since the military junta levelled altogether 11 charges against her and she would have to stand trial for all the charges against her, the 76-year-old democracy icon of Myanmar might have to spend a considerable part of the rest of her life behind bars. She had already spent 15 years under house arrest of a total of 21 years between 1989 and 2010.</p>.<p>New Delhi maintained its cautious approach even while reacting to the sentence awarded to Suu Kyi. The Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi issued a statement, stating that it was disturbed by the verdict of the court.</p>.<p>The Foreign Secretary on Wednesday and Thursday reaffirmed New Delhi’s “strong and consistent support” to the initiative by the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and expressed hope that progress would be made in a pragmatic and constructive manner, based on the five-point consensus agreed upon by the South East Asian nations.</p>.<p>Shringla handed over one million doses of "Made in India” vaccines to the Myanmar Red Cross Society. A part of the consignment would be utilized for inoculating the communities living along Myanmar’s border with India. India also announced a grant of 10,000 tons of rice and wheat to Myanmar, the MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.</p>.<p>“As a democracy and close neighbour, India has been involved in the democratic transition process in Myanmar and in this context has worked with various stakeholders in developing capacities on democratic systems and practices,” the MEA stated in New Delhi on Thursday. “India proposes to renew these efforts for Myanmar to emerge as a stable, democratic, federal union in accordance with the wishes of the people of Myanmar.”</p>.<p><strong>Check out latest videos from <i data-stringify-type="italic">DH</i>:</strong></p>
<p>India has called for the early return of democracy and release of political prisoners in Myanmar as Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla visited Nay Pyi Taw in New Delhi’s first outreach to the military junta in the neighbouring country after the February 1 military coup d'etat.</p>.<p>Shringla also conveyed New Delhi’s concerns to the military regime in Nay Pyi Taw over insurgents operating in the northeastern region of India carrying out hit-and-run strikes from bases in Myanmar. He particularly referred to the attack that killed a commander of the Assam Rifles, his wife and his son as well as four other soldiers in Churachandpur in Manipur on November 13 last. The attack was carried out by the militants who had sneaked into India from Myanmar.</p>.<p>The Foreign Secretary called on the chief of the Myanmar Army and the de facto ruler of the country, General Min Aung Hlaing, as well as the civil society leaders and the representatives of the political parties, including Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD). </p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/myanmar-democracy-in-new-era-as-suu-kyi-sidelined-by-army-1058719.html">Myanmar democracy in new era as Suu Kyi sidelined by army</a></strong></p>.<p>He “emphasised India’s interest in seeing Myanmar’s return to democracy at the earliest; release of detainees and prisoners; resolution of issues through dialogue; and complete cessation of all violence”, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi.</p>.<p>The Myanmar Army took over power on February 1 this year, detaining the country’s State Counsellor and de facto ruler Aung San Suu Kyi as well as many other leaders and activists of her National League of Democracy (NLD). Though the NLD was re-elected to power in the general elections held on November 8, the opposition Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), as well as its mentor – the Myanmar Army – alleged irregularities in the polling process.</p>.<p>India has been cautious in its response to the military coup in Myanmar because it has been keen to avoid yielding space to China and allow it to take advantage of the situation to expand its geopolitical influence in the South-East Asian nation.</p>.<p>A court on December 6 last sentenced Suu Kyi to four years in prison after pronouncing her guilty of inciting dissent and breaking rules framed for containing the Covid-19 pandemic.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/india-provides-10-lakh-doses-of-covid-19-vaccines-10000-tonnes-of-rice-and-wheat-to-myanmar-1063896.html">India provides 10 lakh doses of Covid-19 vaccines, 10,000 tonnes of rice and wheat to Myanmar</a></strong></p>.<p>Her sentence was later reduced from four years to two years in prison. But since the military junta levelled altogether 11 charges against her and she would have to stand trial for all the charges against her, the 76-year-old democracy icon of Myanmar might have to spend a considerable part of the rest of her life behind bars. She had already spent 15 years under house arrest of a total of 21 years between 1989 and 2010.</p>.<p>New Delhi maintained its cautious approach even while reacting to the sentence awarded to Suu Kyi. The Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi issued a statement, stating that it was disturbed by the verdict of the court.</p>.<p>The Foreign Secretary on Wednesday and Thursday reaffirmed New Delhi’s “strong and consistent support” to the initiative by the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and expressed hope that progress would be made in a pragmatic and constructive manner, based on the five-point consensus agreed upon by the South East Asian nations.</p>.<p>Shringla handed over one million doses of "Made in India” vaccines to the Myanmar Red Cross Society. A part of the consignment would be utilized for inoculating the communities living along Myanmar’s border with India. India also announced a grant of 10,000 tons of rice and wheat to Myanmar, the MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.</p>.<p>“As a democracy and close neighbour, India has been involved in the democratic transition process in Myanmar and in this context has worked with various stakeholders in developing capacities on democratic systems and practices,” the MEA stated in New Delhi on Thursday. “India proposes to renew these efforts for Myanmar to emerge as a stable, democratic, federal union in accordance with the wishes of the people of Myanmar.”</p>.<p><strong>Check out latest videos from <i data-stringify-type="italic">DH</i>:</strong></p>