Where are India's Democratic Values? (Photo: BBC)

While the international community was quick to react to the recent violent crackdown on pro democracy protesters in Burma, the most obvious voice, the voice of India, the world's biggest democracy, was missing. The first ever statement that appeared from the neigbouring nation appeared on Wednesday, that too, in response to pressure from the West urging India, along with China, to use its influence in support of people of Burma.

"We are concerned at the situation in Myanmar and are monitoring it closely. It is our hope that all sides will resolve their issues peacefully through dialogue," said External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee in a short public statement made on the subject so far. "As a close and friendly neighbor, India hopes to see a peaceful, stable and prosperous Myanmar, where all sections of the people will be included in a broad-based process of national reconciliation and political reform. Myanmar's process of national reconciliation initiated by the authorities should be expedited."

The statement comes from the same nation, which was once the first neighbouring country to criticise the Burmese military government during the 1988 people’s uprising. It was India that backed the democracy movement led by Aung San Suu, the celebrated opposition leader, who was awarded the Jawaharlal Nehru Award in 1993.

So what has changed? India reviewed its policy towards Burma in the early '90s and shook hands with the military regime. The world's second most populous country’s interest in defending its political and financial gains was motivated by Burma's importance to its rival – China. India is competing with China to gain access to Burma's sizeable gas and oil deposits, as well as expanding trade with the regime in quite a few other areas such as arms, telecommunications, according to campaigner Matthew Egan. They are also issues with a cross-border insurgency movement where the regime has cooperated to help tackle insurgents in the north-east of India.

"It is very disheartening to see such a (cold) stance," said Egan, who is involved with Burma Campaign UK. "If India starts to criticize the Burmese government they fear that they will lose economic and political influence to the Chinese in Burma, despite the fact that they are a democracy themselves."

"They do have an opportunity to use their leverage as a major investor in Burma to help bring about a move to a national reconciliation by encouraging the military to release all political prisoners and start a meaningful dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi and her supporters," he added.

India is becoming one of Burma’s largest export markets. India and Burma have set a $1 billion bilateral trade target in 2006-07, almost double their trade in 2004-05.

Some campaigners fear that most of the investment into the country is not spent on the population, but is seen as a means to provide a lifeline to the regime, to solidify their own position.

"An effective array of economic sanctions and arms embargo might be the only way in getting the regime to shift and start talking, as currently they are quite secure as they as foreign investment allows them breathing space.”

India should be setting a good example by upholding democratic values, rather than allowing human right abuse, or else, its image as the world's largest democracy would not only be tarnished, but will also be questioned, both at home and internationally.