India asks Myanmar to expedite their political reform

New Delhi, Aug 11 (ANI): Following the conviction of Burma's pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the Indian Government on Tuesday said that it has emphasized to the Myanmar Government to expedite their political reform.

This was said by an official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs in response to a question on sentencing of Suu Kyi.

"We have seen reports of the sentencing of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar for a period of 18 months. India has emphasised to the Government of Myanmar the need to expedite their political reform and national reconciliation process and have noted the various steps taken so far by the Government of Myanmar in this direction," the spokesperson said.

"We have maintained that this process should be broad based, including the various ethnic groups. In this context, the issue of release of political prisoners will no doubt receive due attention," he added.

Earlier, a forum of Indian lawmakers had urged Myanmar's military junta to release Suu Kyi, saying that her release was essential for the restoration of democracy in Myanmar.

India has always maintained that it wants Myanmar to expedite national reconciliation.

Suu Kyi was sentenced to three years' jail and hard labour by a court in Rangoon (Myanmar) on Tuesday, but the head of the ruling military junta commuted the punishment to 18 months' house arrest.

The court sentenced her on charges of breaching the terms of her house arrest after a bizarre incident in which an American man, John Yettaw, swam to her lakeside house in May this year. (ANI)