NEW DELHI — Aung San Suu Kyi is to be awarded the honory title of “Queen of Burma's Democracy and Human Rights” by an Indian human rights organization, Manav Ekta Parishad, on Thursday.
The organization said it was bestowing the title on Suu Kyi to create awareness among Indians of the democracy movement and the violation of human rights in Burma, and to send a message of respect to Suu Kyi and her supporters.
“By honoring her as a hero for her perseverance, bravery and sacrifice, we want Indians to know more about the democracy and human rights struggle in Burma. We want Aung San Suu Kyi to know we stand with her,” said T D Singh, the national secretary of Manav Ekta Parishad, adding that the group believes Suu Kyi will bring democracy to Burma.
The title comes with the presentation of a bronze royal dagger which will be awarded to her in absentia at the head office of the organization located in Faridabad in Haryana State.
“As we honor her as the Queen of Burma's Democracy and Human Rights, the royal dagger of the ancient Burmese kings is a symbol of her honor, of her utmost honesty and her sacrifice for democracy,” said Singh. “She is an inspiration to democracy and human rights activists everywhere.”
Manav Ekta Parishad was founded in 2007, and says it works on projects dealing with human rights education, and fighting against discrimination over religion, caste and clan.
“We believe this [award] will awaken the Indian government's silence over the democracy movement in Burma,” said Dr. Tint Swe, an NLD member and minister of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma who lives in Delhi, and who will receive the honorable title on Suu Kyi's behalf.
In 2007, Suu Kyi was awarded the first Subhas Chandra Bose award by the Netaji Subhas Foundation. And as far back as 1993, the Indian government awarded her the Jawaharlal Nehru Award in recognition of her struggle for democratic change in Burma.
Indian Foreign Minister S M Krishna added his voice to the chorus of support for Suu Kyi, calling her release “the beginning of a process of reconciliation,” while he also praised Burma's general election on Nov. 7 as an important step toward change in the country.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Aung San Suu Kyi Reunited with Her Son
Kim Aris, right, son of Aung San Suu Kyi, left, shows his arm tattooed with a symbol of his mother's NLD party's flag on his arrival at Yangon (Rangoon) International Airport on Nov. 23. (Photo: AP)
RANGOON — Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was reunited Tuesday with a son she last saw a decade ago, in an emotional moment at the Rangoon airport 10 days after she was released from detention.
Kim Aris, 33, was finally granted a visa by the military regime after waiting for several weeks in neighboring Thailand. Just before walking into the airport terminal, the 65-year old Suu Kyi, who was released Nov. 13 after more than seven years under house arrest, told reporters, "I am very happy."
A smiling Suu Kyi slipped her arm around her son's waist as the two posed briefly for photographers.
Through her lawyer Nyan Win, Suu Kyi thanked the authorities for issuing the visa to her son, who resides in Britain and last saw his mother in December 2000. He has repeatedly been denied visas ever since by the ruling junta.
Suu Kyi, who won the 1991 Nobel Peace prize for her nonviolent struggle for democracy, was first arrested in 1989 when Kim was 11 and elder son Alexander 16. She has been detained for 15 of the past 21 years.
In an interview last week with The Associated Press, Suu Kyi acknowledged that her years of political work had been difficult for her family.
"I knew there would be problems," she said of her mid-life decision to go into politics. "If you make the choice you have to be prepared to accept the consequences."
Suu Kyi, who was largely raised overseas, married the British academic Michael Aris and raised their two sons in England.
But in 1988, at age 43, she returned home to take care of her ailing mother as mass demonstrations were breaking out against military rule. She was quickly thrust into a leadership role, mainly because she was the daughter of Aung San, the country's martyred founding father.
Elder son Alexander accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on his mother's behalf in 1991—while she was serving an earlier term of house arrest—and reportedly lives in the United States.
Michael Aris died of prostate cancer in 1999 at age 53, after having been denied visas to see his wife for the three years leading up to his death. Suu Kyi has never met her two grandchildren.
While her family supported her, she said her sons had suffered particularly badly.
"They haven't done very well after the breakup of the family, especially after their father died, because Michael was a very good father," she said. "Once he was no longer there, things were not as easy as they might have been."
But she added that she always had their support: "My sons are very good to me," she said. "They've been very kind and understanding all along."
Kim Aris, 33, was finally granted a visa by the military regime after waiting for several weeks in neighboring Thailand. Just before walking into the airport terminal, the 65-year old Suu Kyi, who was released Nov. 13 after more than seven years under house arrest, told reporters, "I am very happy."
A smiling Suu Kyi slipped her arm around her son's waist as the two posed briefly for photographers.
Through her lawyer Nyan Win, Suu Kyi thanked the authorities for issuing the visa to her son, who resides in Britain and last saw his mother in December 2000. He has repeatedly been denied visas ever since by the ruling junta.
Suu Kyi, who won the 1991 Nobel Peace prize for her nonviolent struggle for democracy, was first arrested in 1989 when Kim was 11 and elder son Alexander 16. She has been detained for 15 of the past 21 years.
In an interview last week with The Associated Press, Suu Kyi acknowledged that her years of political work had been difficult for her family.
"I knew there would be problems," she said of her mid-life decision to go into politics. "If you make the choice you have to be prepared to accept the consequences."
Suu Kyi, who was largely raised overseas, married the British academic Michael Aris and raised their two sons in England.
But in 1988, at age 43, she returned home to take care of her ailing mother as mass demonstrations were breaking out against military rule. She was quickly thrust into a leadership role, mainly because she was the daughter of Aung San, the country's martyred founding father.
Elder son Alexander accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on his mother's behalf in 1991—while she was serving an earlier term of house arrest—and reportedly lives in the United States.
Michael Aris died of prostate cancer in 1999 at age 53, after having been denied visas to see his wife for the three years leading up to his death. Suu Kyi has never met her two grandchildren.
While her family supported her, she said her sons had suffered particularly badly.
"They haven't done very well after the breakup of the family, especially after their father died, because Michael was a very good father," she said. "Once he was no longer there, things were not as easy as they might have been."
But she added that she always had their support: "My sons are very good to me," she said. "They've been very kind and understanding all along."
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Long Cut Off, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Embraces a Brave New World
When Aung San Suu Kyi was freed after more than seven years of house arrest last Saturday, she immediately got an introduction to an aspect of life that has changed dramatically in the time she has spent in detention.
As she looked out at the sea of her supporters who had gathered to witness the moment of her release, hundreds of digital cameras and cell phones began snapping images of her. She was so struck by this display of the proliferation of modern technology that she couldn't help but comment on it when she made her first full speech at the National League for Democracy (NLD) headquarters the next day.
“I see camera-phones all over the place. This shows the development of communication,” she said, quickly adding: “This development must be used for the good of the majority. Communication brings understanding. Please use communication to foster mutual understanding and unity.”
Even speaking into one of these “camera-phones” was a learning experience for Suu Kyi, who used one to have an “emotional” conversation with her 33-year-old son, Kim Aris, soon after her release.
“I used a phone like this for the first time yesterday,” she said to her audience, after asking everyone to hold up their phones. “Six years ago these did not exist here. I did not even know where to talk into.”
Now Suu Kyi, whose power to attract huge crowds shows no signs of waning—a testament to both her enduring appeal and the profound unpopularity of the ruling regime—has discovered a new way to reach an audience eager to catch her every word.
And it's not just the people who want to hear what she has to say. According to NLD officials, at least 300 media organizations from around the world are queuing for interviews with “the Lady.”
So far, Suu Kyi has not been prevented from speaking to her supporters or reporters; but the junta is notoriously wary of allowing information to flow too freely. Especially since the Buddhist monk-led Saffron Revolution of September 2007, the regime has kept the Internet under tight control.
More recently, Internet users in Burma reported a sudden drop in connection speeds as the country prepared to go to the polls on Nov. 7. This, along with a complete ban on foreign reporters covering the election, was seen by international media watchdogs as further evidence of the regime's determination to control the message coming out of the country.
Now that the election is over and the regime-backed party is assured of winning, the junta appears to have relaxed its stranglehold over the flow of information. Internet speeds are back to normal and a handful of international journalists have managed to get into the country. Local media have also been able to report Suu Kyi's release.
But what passes for normal in Burma would still be regarded as extremely restrictive in almost any other country. According to the Rangoon-based journalists, the Burmese censorship board, the Press Scrutiny and Registration Division (PSRD), has ordered domestic media to carry limited news about Suu Kyi.
Media groups inside Burma were keen on reporting Suu Kyi's public speech on Sunday, but were largely unable to do so due to restrictions by the PSRD. Other restriction were also strictly enforced.
“We couldn't run any large photos of Suu Kyi or put her photo on the front page,” said an editor in Rangoon, adding that only “positive” comments from Suu Kyi's speech were permitted for publication.
But freedom-long Burmese journalists were not about to be deterred from giving the biggest story of the year its due. One publication, the leading sports journal First Eleven, used a clever combination of headlines about English Premier League match results to splash news of Suu Kyi's release on its front page.
By playing with the placement and lettering colors of some innocent-looking headlines—“Sunderland Freeze Chelsea,” “United Stunned by Villa” and “Arsenal Advance to Grab Their Hope”—the journal was able to spell out a very different message: “Su Free Unite & Advance to Grab The Hope.”
Despite the regime's efforts to restrict news about Suu Kyi, most news journals couldn't resist the chance to boost their sales by pushing the envelope in their coverage of her release.
“True and Flower journals, which came out on Sunday, and Monday's Weekly Eleven sold very well because they carried Suu Kyi's photo and news.
As she looked out at the sea of her supporters who had gathered to witness the moment of her release, hundreds of digital cameras and cell phones began snapping images of her. She was so struck by this display of the proliferation of modern technology that she couldn't help but comment on it when she made her first full speech at the National League for Democracy (NLD) headquarters the next day.
“I see camera-phones all over the place. This shows the development of communication,” she said, quickly adding: “This development must be used for the good of the majority. Communication brings understanding. Please use communication to foster mutual understanding and unity.”
Even speaking into one of these “camera-phones” was a learning experience for Suu Kyi, who used one to have an “emotional” conversation with her 33-year-old son, Kim Aris, soon after her release.
“I used a phone like this for the first time yesterday,” she said to her audience, after asking everyone to hold up their phones. “Six years ago these did not exist here. I did not even know where to talk into.”
 |
| The front page of the First Eleven, with a hidden message announcing Aung San Suu Kyi's release. |
And it's not just the people who want to hear what she has to say. According to NLD officials, at least 300 media organizations from around the world are queuing for interviews with “the Lady.”
So far, Suu Kyi has not been prevented from speaking to her supporters or reporters; but the junta is notoriously wary of allowing information to flow too freely. Especially since the Buddhist monk-led Saffron Revolution of September 2007, the regime has kept the Internet under tight control.
More recently, Internet users in Burma reported a sudden drop in connection speeds as the country prepared to go to the polls on Nov. 7. This, along with a complete ban on foreign reporters covering the election, was seen by international media watchdogs as further evidence of the regime's determination to control the message coming out of the country.
Now that the election is over and the regime-backed party is assured of winning, the junta appears to have relaxed its stranglehold over the flow of information. Internet speeds are back to normal and a handful of international journalists have managed to get into the country. Local media have also been able to report Suu Kyi's release.
But what passes for normal in Burma would still be regarded as extremely restrictive in almost any other country. According to the Rangoon-based journalists, the Burmese censorship board, the Press Scrutiny and Registration Division (PSRD), has ordered domestic media to carry limited news about Suu Kyi.
Media groups inside Burma were keen on reporting Suu Kyi's public speech on Sunday, but were largely unable to do so due to restrictions by the PSRD. Other restriction were also strictly enforced.
“We couldn't run any large photos of Suu Kyi or put her photo on the front page,” said an editor in Rangoon, adding that only “positive” comments from Suu Kyi's speech were permitted for publication.
But freedom-long Burmese journalists were not about to be deterred from giving the biggest story of the year its due. One publication, the leading sports journal First Eleven, used a clever combination of headlines about English Premier League match results to splash news of Suu Kyi's release on its front page.
By playing with the placement and lettering colors of some innocent-looking headlines—“Sunderland Freeze Chelsea,” “United Stunned by Villa” and “Arsenal Advance to Grab Their Hope”—the journal was able to spell out a very different message: “Su Free Unite & Advance to Grab The Hope.”
Despite the regime's efforts to restrict news about Suu Kyi, most news journals couldn't resist the chance to boost their sales by pushing the envelope in their coverage of her release.
“True and Flower journals, which came out on Sunday, and Monday's Weekly Eleven sold very well because they carried Suu Kyi's photo and news.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Obama, World Leaders Hail Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's Release
Detailed story, please read HERE
WASHINGTON — US President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, British Prime Minister David Cameron and Women Nobel Peace laureates have all welcomed the release of Aung San Suu Kyi.
In separate statements, the world leaders urged the military junta to release all political leaders and pave the way for restoration of true democracy in Burma.
“The United States welcomes her long overdue release,” Obama in a statement, while on the last leg of a 10-day tour of four Asian democratic countries – India, Indonesia, South Korea and Japan.
Obama, who has been calling for release of Aung San Suu Kyi ever since he took office in January 2009, said that the popular Burmese leader is “a hero” of his and “a source of inspiration” for all who work to advance basic human rights in Burma and around the world.
“Whether Aung San Suu Kyi is living in the prison of her house, or the prison of her country, does not change the fact that she, and the political opposition she represents, has been systematically silenced, incarcerated, and deprived of any opportunity to engage in political processes that could change Burma. It is time for the Burmese regime to release all political prisoners, not just one,” Obama said.
The United States looks forward to the day when all of Burma’s people are free from fear and persecution, he said. “Following Aung San Suu Kyi’s powerful example, we recommit ourselves to remaining steadfast advocates of freedom and human rights for the Burmese people and accountability for those who continue to oppress them,” said the US president.
Welcoming her release, British Prime Minister David Cameron said, “Aung San Suu Kyi is an inspiration for all of us who believe in freedom of speech, democracy and human rights. Her detention was a travesty, designed only to silence the voice of the Burmese people.”
“Freedom is Aung San Suu Kyi’s right. The Burmese regime must now uphold it,” Cameron said.
Make Suu Kyi release unconditional: Clinton
Aware of the history, Clinton called on the Burmese leaders to ensure that Aung San Suu Kyi’s release is unconditional so that she may travel, associate with her fellow citizens, express her views, and participate in political activities without restriction. They should also immediately and unconditionally release all of Burma’s 2,100 political prisoners, she said.
“We urge Burma’s leaders to break from their repressive policies and begin an inclusive dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi and other democratic and ethnic leaders towards national reconciliation and a more peaceful, prosperous, and democratic future,” Clinton said.
Clinton, who has strongly taken up the cause of Aung San Suu Kyi and the people of Burma ever since she was the first lady and later on as the New York senator and now as the Secretary of State, said Aung San Suu Kyi has endured enormous personal sacrifice in her peaceful struggle to bring democracy and human rights to Burma, including unjustified detention for most of the past 20 years.
“The Burmese regime has repeatedly rejected her offers to engage in dialogue and work together, trying instead to silence and isolate her. Through it all, Aung San Suu Kyi’s commitment to the Burmese people has not wavered,” she said.
Her husband, former US President Bill Clinton, said that he is thrilled by the news of her release. “People who love freedom everywhere admire her and the long sacrifice she has made for her people. I was honored to present Aung San Suu Kyi with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2000 and I hope this signals a new direction for life within the country and for the country's relations with others beyond their borders,” Clinton said.
“In light of recent elections, I also hope that Aung San Suu Kyi's release will lead to the rapid inclusion of her and the Burmese citizens in governance," Clinton said in a statement.
Women Nobel Peace laureates hopeful of meeting her soon
Welcoming the release, Women Nobel Peace Laureates expressed the hope that they will soon have the opportunity to meet with SuuSuu Kyi in person.son.
WASHINGTON — US President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, British Prime Minister David Cameron and Women Nobel Peace laureates have all welcomed the release of Aung San Suu Kyi.
In separate statements, the world leaders urged the military junta to release all political leaders and pave the way for restoration of true democracy in Burma.
“The United States welcomes her long overdue release,” Obama in a statement, while on the last leg of a 10-day tour of four Asian democratic countries – India, Indonesia, South Korea and Japan.
Obama, who has been calling for release of Aung San Suu Kyi ever since he took office in January 2009, said that the popular Burmese leader is “a hero” of his and “a source of inspiration” for all who work to advance basic human rights in Burma and around the world.
“Whether Aung San Suu Kyi is living in the prison of her house, or the prison of her country, does not change the fact that she, and the political opposition she represents, has been systematically silenced, incarcerated, and deprived of any opportunity to engage in political processes that could change Burma. It is time for the Burmese regime to release all political prisoners, not just one,” Obama said.
The United States looks forward to the day when all of Burma’s people are free from fear and persecution, he said. “Following Aung San Suu Kyi’s powerful example, we recommit ourselves to remaining steadfast advocates of freedom and human rights for the Burmese people and accountability for those who continue to oppress them,” said the US president.
Welcoming her release, British Prime Minister David Cameron said, “Aung San Suu Kyi is an inspiration for all of us who believe in freedom of speech, democracy and human rights. Her detention was a travesty, designed only to silence the voice of the Burmese people.”
“Freedom is Aung San Suu Kyi’s right. The Burmese regime must now uphold it,” Cameron said.
Make Suu Kyi release unconditional: Clinton
Aware of the history, Clinton called on the Burmese leaders to ensure that Aung San Suu Kyi’s release is unconditional so that she may travel, associate with her fellow citizens, express her views, and participate in political activities without restriction. They should also immediately and unconditionally release all of Burma’s 2,100 political prisoners, she said.
“We urge Burma’s leaders to break from their repressive policies and begin an inclusive dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi and other democratic and ethnic leaders towards national reconciliation and a more peaceful, prosperous, and democratic future,” Clinton said.
Clinton, who has strongly taken up the cause of Aung San Suu Kyi and the people of Burma ever since she was the first lady and later on as the New York senator and now as the Secretary of State, said Aung San Suu Kyi has endured enormous personal sacrifice in her peaceful struggle to bring democracy and human rights to Burma, including unjustified detention for most of the past 20 years.
“The Burmese regime has repeatedly rejected her offers to engage in dialogue and work together, trying instead to silence and isolate her. Through it all, Aung San Suu Kyi’s commitment to the Burmese people has not wavered,” she said.
Her husband, former US President Bill Clinton, said that he is thrilled by the news of her release. “People who love freedom everywhere admire her and the long sacrifice she has made for her people. I was honored to present Aung San Suu Kyi with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2000 and I hope this signals a new direction for life within the country and for the country's relations with others beyond their borders,” Clinton said.
“In light of recent elections, I also hope that Aung San Suu Kyi's release will lead to the rapid inclusion of her and the Burmese citizens in governance," Clinton said in a statement.
Women Nobel Peace laureates hopeful of meeting her soon
Welcoming the release, Women Nobel Peace Laureates expressed the hope that they will soon have the opportunity to meet with SuuSuu Kyi in person.son.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Obama urges Burma to free democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
Detailed Story, please read HERE
Aung San Suu Kyi, the iconic face of democracy in Burma (Myanmar), was placed under house arrest in 1989.
(CNN) President Obama on Sunday called for the release of Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners.
"There are clear steps that must be taken: the unconditional release of all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi; an end to conflicts with minority groups; and a genuine dialogue between the government, the democratic opposition and minority groups," according to Obama, who said the regime should work to ensure its people's needs are met.
He spoke during a meeting with ASEAN-10 leaders that included the prime minister of Myanmar. Obama is the first U.S. president to take part in a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations economic alliance. The formal meeting was held Sunday.
That 10-nation alliance includes Myanmar, which the United States and other nations have accused of human rights abuses.
U.S. officials were careful to avoid any perception that Obama's presence at the ASEAN meeting would amount to a bilateral discussion with the prime minister of Myanmar.
After years of refusing direct talks with Myanmar, also known as Burma, the United States has indicated a possible re-engagement with the military regime it considers repressive for cracking down on political opposition, including the National League for Democracy.
The league is led by Suu Kyi, a detained Nobel Peace Prize winner.
Friday, November 5, 2010
President Obama, Please Stand Against Burma's Sham Election
This weekend, Burma will hold its sham election. The elections have already been marred by fraud, voter disenfranchisement, and outright vote stealing by Burma's military regime.In Magwe division, government officials threatened villagers with forced relocation unless they vote for the regime-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDA). Over 3,400 ethnic minority villages will not be allowed to vote, disenfranchising approximately 1.5 million ethnic minorities. Most importantly, this sham election will usher in a constitution where the most powerful person remains the Commander in Chief of the military.
The Burmese regime is hoping this election gives them legitimacy in the international community. The U.S. must stand against these elections and pressure its global allies to stand with us. Email President Obama today calling on him to come out strongly against these elections.
In the lead up to the election, USCB supporters held more than 50 events at universities and communities around the country educating Americans about how the election will exacerbate problems in Burma. In Kachin state, northern region of the country, ethnic leaders fear attacks by the Burmese Army after the coming elections.
Burma's leading democratic groups including the National League for Democracy, the 88 Student Generation, the All Burma Monks Alliance, and ethnic representatives, have come out against this election. Political prisoners are barred from running for office, excluding Aung San Suu Kyi from the ballot. In addition, campaigning is highly restricted and dominated by the military-backed party. Many high-ranking military members recently covered their military uniforms with civilian clothing in order to run in the election.
Critically, this election will bring into power a constitution drafted behind closed doors by the regime cronies. The constitution allows the Commander in Chief to dissolve the parliament at any given time. In other words, the military will still call the shots, post election. To make sure they remain in power, 25% of the parliamentary seats are reserved for the current military members, making it impossible to amend the constitution (which requires over 75% of votes). A former UN Special Rapporteur to Burma recently emphasized that this election is not a step towards democracy but rather a step towards "military consolidation."
Be the voice for the people of Burma. Ask President Obama to denounce the results of Burma's 2010 sham election and to demand a tripartite dialogue between the democratic forces, the ethnic representatives, and the military regime - critical for national reconciliation.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
