Myanmar refugees stage protest

Scores of Myanmarese refugees on Saturday take out a march in New Delhi to protest the violent response of the military junta against pro-democracy rallies in their homeland.

Scores of Myanmarese refugees on Saturday took out a march in New Delhi to protest the violent response of the military junta against pro-democracy rallies in their homeland and asked India to intervene to stop bloodshed in its neighbourhood.

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Armed with posters and photographs of jailed pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a number of children, women and youth raised slogans against the Myanmarese government and urged New Delhi to use its leverage to influence the junta to restrain from using violence on the protestors.

Neng Boi, a spokesperson of the refugees, said at this crucial moment of struggle, the Burmese people need support and India's help in stopping further bloodshed in the country.

"People of Burma who are suffering under the military junta and the movement of restoration of democracy need solidarity of people across the globe," Boi said.

"We earnestly appeal to India to put its influential pressure and intervention to stop bloodshed in Myanmar and being the largest democracy in the world, we think it has the responsibility to do that," Boi said.

In separate statements, a group of Parliamentarians and religious leaders condemned the violence unleashed by the Myanmarese government on protestors there and asked them to immediately release political prisoners, including Suu Kyi.

Activists on streets demanding restoration of democracy in Myanmar were facing the wrath of military as security forces used batons, tear gas and live rounds, killing monks and injuring many in the past four days.