India abstains from voting on UNGA's Myanmar resolution, says it was placed hastily

India -- along with Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal -- abstained from voting on a United Nations General Assembly resolution on Myanmar, saying the resolution was "tabled hastily, and is not conducive to aiding joint efforts toward strengthening the democratic process" in that country.

"This resolution was tabled without adequate consultation with neighbours and regional countries. This is not only unhelpful but may also prove counterproductive to the efforts of the ASEAN to find a solution to the current situation in Myanmar," said India's Permanent Representative to the UN T S Tirumurti. 

In an explanatory note for abstaining from the UNGA's vote on Friday, Tirumurti said, as Myanmar's immediate neighbour and close friend of its people, India is cognizant of the "serious impact of political instability" and the potential of its spill-over beyond Myanmar's borders.

India has been calling for greater engagement to peacefully resolve all issues, our New Delhi correspondent reports quoting Tirumurti.

"We already have an ongoing initiative under the aegis of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). It is important that we extend support to the ASEAN efforts," Tirumurti said, adding, "we engaged in the spirit of finding a constructive and pragmatic way forward and had accordingly shared our suggestions to those who piloted this resolution."

"However, we find that our views have not been reflected in the draft being considered for adoption today. We would like to reiterate that a consultative and constructive approach involving the neighbouring countries and the region remains important as the international community strives for peaceful resolution of the issue," Tirumurti said.

The draft resolution -- The situation in Myanmar -- was adopted on Friday with 119 member states, including Myanmar, voting in favour while 36 countries, including China, Laos, Thailand, and Russia abstained.