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.