August 2nd, 2022
The Indian government did not approve a planned protest against the unjust execution of four political prisoners by the State Administration Council (SAC) that was to take place in New Delhi, it was reported
Myanmar nationals in New Delhi planned to hold a rally on July 30th to protest the arbitrary execution of prominent 88 Generation student leaders Ko Kyaw Min Yu, aka Ko Jimmy, former MP Ko Phyo Zeyar Thaw, and two other civilians, namely U Hla Myo Aung and U Aung Thura Zaw.
New Delhi police had initially approved the rally, which was to be held in front of Jantar Mantar Park, but the permit was revoked at the last minute, said a person involved in Myanmar citizens’ affairs.
“As in the past, we applied to the police station for a permit with necessary papers, and they replied that it was allowed. But they called me and told me that they would not allow the protest rally. They summoned 12 protest organizers to the police station and told them that the protests would not be allowed. They did not release them until about 2:30 p.m. because they feared the protest would continue,” he said.
India – one of the world’s largest democracies – maintains good relations with the coup regime in Myanmar. It supports the military council both diplomatically and militarily.
Despite the Indian government’s ban, Myanmar nationals in New Delhi managed to protest briefly elsewhere.
“In a democratic country, we think such a ban is a violation of human rights. If the protest had been allowed to take place at the designated place, we would have called on both India and the international community to denounce the execution of political prisoners in Myanmar and act against coup leader Min Aung Hlaing,” said one of the organizers of the protest rally.
Also, on July 25th, more than 180 civil society organizations in Myanmar issued an open letter calling on the Indian government to change its stance and instead support the democratic revolutionary forces.
Sent by KMG