The Mizoram Committee for Democracy in Burma (MCDB) in a meeting today under the banner "Public meeting for restoration of democracy and human rights in Burma" urged Zoramthanga to persuade Burmese delegates to be led by Burmese junta's second-in-command, military leader Maung Aye for the restoration of democracy in Burma in the next bilateral meeting in April.

David M.Thangliana, chairperson of the meeting said, "I was so unhappy to hear that Zoramthanga failed to talk about anything on democracy in Burma during his meeting with the Burmese ambassador to India U Kyi Tein on Wednesday".

The Mizoram Chief Minister met Burmese ambassador U Kyi Tein in New Delhi on Wednesday and discussed border trade, road and the Kaladan project.

Both sides were said to have agreed to set up an international trade centre in Zokhawthar in Mizoram state and to utilize the Indo-Burma border trade No (2) road that connects Zokhawthar and Tedim town in Chin state, Burma via Rih as the highway. Moreover, they talked about the Kaladan multi-modal project which will provide much-needed transit access between the north-eastern states of India and the rest of the country. It is expected to be finalized in April.

According to MCDB, around 80,000 unrecognized Burmese refugees are sheltered in Mizoram state. AIDS, drugs and crimes are common among the Burmese in Mizoram as fallout of human rights abuses and social, political and economic persecution in Burma.

"The Indian government should not keep quite but should come forward for quick restoration of democracy in Burma," MCDB president Mr. Vanlalngaia said.   

MCDB and Campaign for Democracy Movement in Burma (CDMB) led by Burmese democracy activists in Mizoram co-organized a meeting held in Cooperative Hall in Aizawl, capital of Mizoram state. – Khonumthung.