NEW DELHI — Amid the international outcry over the trial of Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, neighbouring India has been conspicuous in its silence.
Once a staunch and vocal Aung San Suu Kyi supporter, India began engaging Myanmar's junta in the mid-1990s -- a shift that has seen security, energy and strategic priorities override concerns over democracy and human rights.
As well as needing Yangon's help to counter ethnic separatists operating along their remote common border, India is eyeing oil and gas fields in Myanmar and fears losing out to China in the race for strategic space in Asia.
"India is following a nuanced approach which is the right policy on Myanmar because New Delhi has to balance its larger strategic interests with support for democracy and human rights," said former foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal.
Western democracies don't see it that way.
Both the European Union and the United States have argued that India and China share a moral imperative to use their economic leverage with Myanmar to promote change in the country.
US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton is expected to raise the issue again when she visits India next week.
So far, New Delhi and Beijing have appeared unmoved by the pleas for diplomatic intervention.
"India no longer comments on the internal affairs of other countries and aims to maintain cordial relations so as to sustain economic engagement," said Marie Lall, associate Asia Programme fellow at London's Chatham House think-tank.
In 1993, India gave Aung San Suu Kyi a humanitarian award created in memory of its first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Since then it has rolled out the red carpet for a roster of visiting Myanmar generals including junta chief Than Shwe.
Besides cultivating political ties, New Delhi has made major investments in large-scale energy and infrastructure projects, partly, analysts say, to counter China's presence in Myanmar.
"India has always had concerns that China has been increasing its political and diplomatic influence in its periphery," said Uday Bhaskar, director of the New Delhi-based Maritime Foundation think-tank.
Both the Asian giants are particularly interested in Myanmar's oil and gas reserves as they seek energy sources to fuel their economic growth.
Indian officials reject the argument that New Delhi's cooperation with Myanmar -- despite the military regime's human rights record -- has tarnished its democratic credentials.
"The issue of human rights is a very convenient stick for the developed world to beat developing countries with when it suits them," an Indian government source told AFP.
"If you look at the human rights record of some developed nations, it is hardly better than those who they criticise," he said, adding that India had always pushed the issue of democratic reforms in "private" discussions with Myanmar's leadership.
Chatham House's Lall also pointed to some apparent double standards, noting that countries like the United States, Britain and France "have dealings with military governments and dictatorships the world over - and have had for decades".
"We deal with China -- a country which has a greater percentage of political prisoners than Myanmar. In that sense India is not acting any differently from the way western countries have been acting for decades," she said.
Lall also questioned the effectiveness of the sanctions championed by the West.
"The international sanctions regime has not brought about change," she said.
"The Myanmar regime will not listen to anyone regarding its internal affairs -- not even China. In fact isolation from the West is exactly what suits this regime best."
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