New Delhi: India on Thursday said that the release of Aung San Suu Kyi would help the process of democratising Myanmar.
The observation was made at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) by India's Permanent Representative, Swashpawan Singh.
Singh said Suu Kyi could play a key role in Myanmar's emergence as a democratic country, but he also called for engaging with Myanmar's ruling generals in a forward looking and constructive manner.
A former ambassador to Myanmar also confirmed that India has often in the past privately urged the generals that it was in their interest to set her free.
India backed a UNHRC resolution calling for democratisation and dialogue in the country while registering its dissent with the "unhelpful tone" in the document.
Describing Myanmar as a "close and friendly neighbour" with whom India shares "links of geography, culture, history and religion", Singh noted that recent developments in that country were a matter of concern for New Delhi.
He pointed out that External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee had met his Myanmarese counterpart, U Nyan Win at New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session on October 1 and conveyed India's concern.
Mukherjee sought a probe into the recent incidents of violence and crackdown on pro-democracy activists in Myanmar.
"We are closely monitoring the situation there," Singh was quoted by news agency PTI as saying.
Suu Kyi, the pro-democracy leader, has been under house arrest since 2000.
(With inputs from PTI)
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