Sunday, November 25, 2007

First Step of India

India stops arms sales to junta


Amit Baruah, Hindustan Times
New Delhi, November 26, 2007
First Published: 02:12 IST(26/11/2007)
Last Updated: 02:16 IST(26/11/2007)

India has put all sale and transfer of arms to Myanmar on hold. The decision follows the suppression of pro-democracy protests in that country, South Block officials told HT.

India believes contact with the junta is in its strategic interest, but also wants to send out a message that it’s not quite business as usual any longer.

India gave Myanmar three British-made Islander aircraft last year. In Myanmar’s capital Naypyitaw in January, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said India was willing to expand military ties. “We have decided to give a favourable response (to the request for military equipment),” he said. That deal — for some Dorniers — is now frozen.

On Wednesday, PM Manmohan Singh told Myanmarese counterpart Thein Sein in Singapore the reform process must not exclude pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.



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