India welcomes the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, says S.M.Krishna

NEW DELHI - The Government of India on Saturday hailed the release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi by Myanmar’s military government while describing it as a step towards national “reconciliation”.

Reacting to the release of the 65-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner, whose latest period of detention spanned seven-and-a- half years, Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna today said: “India welcomes the release of Suu Kyi. We hope that this will be the beginning of the process of reconciliation in Myanmar.”

“We have always encouraged them to take this process forward in a broad-based and inclusive manner. In this context, as a close neighbour of Myanmar, we are confident that the release of Suu Kyi will contribute to efforts for a more inclusive approach to political change and reforms,” he told reporters.

Krishna today said the recent elections in Myanmar are an important step in the direction of the national reconciliation process being undertaken by the military government.

Suu Kyi had been jailed or kept under house arrest for more than 15 of the last 21 years.

It maybe recalled that recently US President Barack Obama had criticised India for not speaking against human rights violation in Myanmar and suppression of political voices.

India has always maintained that its position on Myanmar, which is strategically located in the region, was propelled by the national interest. (ANI)