The Delhi police detained about 70 Burmese activists, who held a brief protest in front of the Burmese embassy in New Delhi this morning. The belligerent activists painted slogans and poured red paint on the walls of the embassy in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. They were protesting against the electoral laws announced by the ruling military junta for the 2010 elections.
Shouting slogans against the junta, the protesters surrounded the embassy and painted the wall of the embassy in red with the words "Than Shwe Go to Hell. Elections No Need" before the Delhi police arrived and detained them.
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The activists demanded the release of Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and political prisoners, free and credible elections in the country and asked the United Nations to set up an UN Commission of Inquiry for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed by the junta.
"We don't believe in this election. Aung San Suu Kyi should be released immediately", a woman protestor shouted while being taken away by the police.
The Burmese regime is holding the elections after 20 years this year though the exact date for the polls has not been announced. The electoral laws announced by the regime in the second week of March prohibit anyone serving prison terms from being a member of a political party, to form a party or to contest the elections. This effectively bans more than 2100 political dissidents who are behind bars including the democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi from taking part in the country's electoral process.
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Moreover, the regime has refused to accept the demand of the National League for Democracy that swept the 1990 elections to review the 2008 Constitution, which reserves 25 per cent of the parliamentary seats for the country's military. The ministerial portfolios of Defence, Home, Security and Border Affairs will be retained by the military.
New Delhi, after actively supporting the Burmese democracy movement until 1995, made a U turn and is presently engaging in a friendly relationship with the generals in Burma and investing in the Southeast Asian nation under its Look East Policy.
The Indian government has not made an official response to the electoral laws announced by the junta, which have been condemned by Western countries.
New Delhi is home to about 5000 Burmese refugees and asylum seekers.
