New Delhi - A rare protest in front of the Burmese embassy in New Delhi by activists was foiled when Indian police intervened and dispersed protesters on Friday.
About 35 Burmese and Indian activists on Friday gathered in front of the Burmese embassy in Chanakyapuri, demanding the immediate release of detained Burmese democracy icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
However, the protest was short-lived. A contingent of Indian policemen arrived and forced the protesters to wind up.
"We were demanding that the Burmese military junta release Aung San Suu Kyi and also allow free access into the Irrawaddy delta to aid groups to be able to help cyclone victims," Kim, one of the protestors, told Mizzima.
The protesters, however, managed to spray paint the words 'Free Burma', 'Free Aung San Suu Kyi' on the embassy walls and pasted posters demanding free access into cyclone stricken Irrawaddy delta to help survivors of Cyclone Nargis that hit Burma on May 2 and 3.
According to the United Nations Cyclone Nargis left 130,000 dead or missing and devastated the lives of at least 2.4 million people. Reports on the ground said the government's restriction on movement into the delta region has hindered aid efforts to help survivors.
"The restrictions imposed on international relief aid, where victims desperately need food, water, medicines and shelter is pushing Burma's cyclone affected people towards a hellish situation and changing the natural calamity to a man-made tragedy," the protestors said in a memorandum to the ambassador.
The Indian police said they had to disperse the protesters from outside the embassy as the area is an officially designated restricted area.
