Academics and world leaders at this year's Forum 2000 conference called on Monday for democracy in Burma.
The annual event—started in 1997 by Czech President Vaclav Havel, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Elie Wiesel and Japanese philanthropist Yohei Sasakawa—opened this year in Prague, the Czech capital, with Havel calling on delegates to sign a 14-point petition in support of the people of Burma.
The petition calls for the immediate release of democracy advocate Aung San Suu Kyi, an investigation into the police crackdown on Buddhist monks and an international arms embargo on Burma.
"I am convinced it is the duty of all people of goodwill ... to defend freedom of the individual, of people's dignity, of good human coexistence," Havel said in a statement to the conference delegates.
Among the keynote speakers addressing the conference Monday were former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Nobel Peace Prize laureate from Iran Shirin Ebadi and former World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz.
The three-day Forum 2000, which ends Tuesday, aims to identify key global issues and prevent the escalation of religious, cultural or ethnic conflict.
The agenda also includes discussions on promoting democracy supporting civil society, human rights and social tolerance issues.
The annual event—started in 1997 by Czech President Vaclav Havel, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Elie Wiesel and Japanese philanthropist Yohei Sasakawa—opened this year in Prague, the Czech capital, with Havel calling on delegates to sign a 14-point petition in support of the people of Burma.
The petition calls for the immediate release of democracy advocate Aung San Suu Kyi, an investigation into the police crackdown on Buddhist monks and an international arms embargo on Burma.
"I am convinced it is the duty of all people of goodwill ... to defend freedom of the individual, of people's dignity, of good human coexistence," Havel said in a statement to the conference delegates.
Among the keynote speakers addressing the conference Monday were former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Nobel Peace Prize laureate from Iran Shirin Ebadi and former World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz.
The three-day Forum 2000, which ends Tuesday, aims to identify key global issues and prevent the escalation of religious, cultural or ethnic conflict.
The agenda also includes discussions on promoting democracy supporting civil society, human rights and social tolerance issues.
