‘Disturbed over sentencing of Aung San Suu Kyi’: India

India has said it is disturbed at the recent verdicts relating to Myanmar’s ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi and others.

The rule of law and democratic process must be upheld, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday.

Aung San Suu Kyi was sentenced to a four-year jail term by a Myanmar court on charges of inciting public unrest and breaching Covid-19 protocols.

The jail term was later reduced to two years. She is facing verdicts for several more charges.

“We are disturbed at the recent verdicts. As a neighbouring democracy, India has been consistently supportive of the democratic transition in Myanmar. We believe that the rule of law and the democratic process must be upheld,” MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.

“Any development that undermines these processes and accentuates differences is a matter of deep concern. It is our sincere hope that keeping their nation’s future in mind, efforts would be made by all sides to advance the path of dialogue,” the MEA Spokesperson Bagchi said.

He was responding to a media query about the proceedings against Aung Sang Suu Kyi and others in Myanmar.

Suu Kyi, who is the leader of the National League for Democracy, was among those detained by the military after it seized power in a coup on February 1 this year.

Myanmar had witnessed massive protests after the coup.