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NEWS FORM INDIA NEWSPAPER
New Delhi,March 22
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GOVT.DETERMINED TO FIGHT DRUG TRADE: FERNANDES
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The Union Defence Minister, Mr. George Fernandes, said
todayplugging the porous borders of the North+East is in
the prioritylist of the Central Government. The
administration is determinedto put an end to the drug
trade being carried through theinternational borders.
Speaking at the inaugural session of the second
four+dayconference of the Students and Youth Congress of
Burma (SYCB).Mr. Fernandes said the opium and heroin trade
conducted in theNorth+East has assumed dangerous
proportions and there is need todeal with it in a strong
and decisive manner.
About the insurgency problems faced by the seven States,
Mr.Fernandes said he was confident these could by settled.
the bestway would be to settle the differences through
negotiations.
Addressing a gathering of representatives of Myanmarese
Students'Union, he said the Indian Government is committed
to support thefight for democracy anywhere in the world.
While in Myanmar thefight is to restore democracy, in
Bhutan it is to usher in a newera of democratically
democratic ideals in Bangladesh and even inPakistan when
the country was under military rule.
Mr. Fernandes said the Indian Government will abide by the
idealsenshrined in the Human Rights Declaration of the
United Nations.This declaration has guided all those who
wanted to respect thebasic rights of the people.
The SyCB, which comprises nine students and youth
organisationsform Thailand and India, representing
Myanmarese interests, is anumbrella organisation fighting
for the return of democracy toMyanmar. Its major demands
of conscience and declaration ofceasefire.
Besides, the members are also trying to persuade the
Governmentto hold a dialogue with the Myanmaese leader,
Ms, Aung San SuuKyi, who is heading the democratic forces
in that country.
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GEORGE SUPPORTS STRUGGLE FOR DEMOCRACY IN BURMA
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New Delhi. March 22:
Defence minister George fernandes stressed his commitment
andsupport to the cause of restoration of democracy in
Burma. He wasaddressing the second conference of the
Students and YouthCongress of Burma here on Sunday.
iClarifying that he was participating in the function in
hispersonal capacity and not as the defence minister of
India, Mr.Fernandes said he has always been committed to
the cause ofdemocracy, freedom and human rights struggle
throughout theworld. "Since a long time I have been
involved in the restorationof democracy as Socialist in
Tibet, Burma, Bhutan and othernations," he said. "The fact
that the Narasimba Rao governmentconferred the Jawaharlal
Nehru Peace Prize on Aung San Suu Kyishows that our
government is sympathetic to the cause ofdemocracy in
Burma." said Mr Fernandes. "It was a very positivestep to
which endorsed our support to Burma and reflected thecause
upheld by Ms Suu Kyi," Mr Fernandes said.
" Your efforts are a cause which is dear to millions of
Indians,"he said and added that the India does not have
any reservationwhatsoever in her commitment to the United
Nation's charter onHuman Rights. " As a country we are
always opposed to any kind ofundemocratic process, torture
and exploitation," he said. MrFernandes said the Indian
government has always played an activerole in this process
including its efforts in liberating SouthAfrica from
Apartheid and condemning the miliary regime inPakistan. he
agreed that insurgency also existed in a large scalein the
Northeast in India and said that best way to solve
theproblem was through negotiations. " As the defence
minister ofthe country I might not take a strong stand on
certain issues butas the Samata Party leader I would
always be involved in suchcauses both within and outside
India," said Mr Fernandes. " But,as the defence minister I
would do my best to curb drug, arms andcommercial smuggling
in the Indo+Burma border. Speaking on theoccasion,
president of the SYCB Myat Thu said that theirorganisation
expects India to play a leading role by exertingpolitical
pressure on the military regime of Burma. The Studentsand
youth Congress comprises of different nationalities
andmulti+region student and youth organisations of Burma.
It wasformed in January 1996 with the aim to strengthen the
studentsand youth organisations of Burma to fight against
the militaryregime in Burma.
NEWS AND INFORMANTION BUREAU (ALL BURMA STUDENTS LEAGUE)
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