By IANS
New Delhi : India and the Philippines are expected to discuss the continuing crisis in Myanmar and call for the release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo meet here.
The two leaders will hold discussions at the Hyderabad House Friday afternoon.
Arroyo began a four-day visit to India from Mumbai Wednesday. She landed here Thursday night after addressing top businesspersons in Mumbai and leaves for home Saturday.
The two countries are expected to sign eight pacts in areas ranging from counter-terrorism to energy and trade.
India had publicly asked for the release of Suu Kyi at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) debate on Myanmar Oct 2. While India had approved the UNHRC resolution deploring the use of violence by the military junta, it had made clear its displeasure at the wording of the resolution.
“India had always advocated an outcome that was forward-looking, non-condemnatory and sought to involve the authorities in Myanmar in a peaceful outcome, and regretted that the text adopted was not in line with that approach. It did not engage constructively with the authorities in Myanmar,” India’s permanent representative to UNHRC Swashpawan Singh had said after the resolution was passed.
India, which awarded the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for international understanding to Suu Kyi in 1993, had always stood for her release but had not been making the demand publicly keeping in mind the deepening ties with the military junta.
Myanmar is a member of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean). Mass protests in Myanmar in which thousands of Buddhist monks have taken a leading role have shaken up the country’s military rulers.