Events >> Worldwide Salute for Aung San Suu Kyi, December 8, 2001

(L to R) Allison Fortier (IRI Board), Madeleine Albright (NDI Chair), Julie Finley (NED Board) and John Sweeney (AFL-CIO President) addressed an international audience in a world-wide event honoring Aung San Suu Kyi. 		CampaignOn December 8, 2001 supporters of Burma's well-known Nobel Peace Laureate and democratic opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, held concurrent events in more than 30 cities around the world to honor the Nobel Laureate on the 10th anniversary of her receipt of the prize and to call on the Burmese military regime to release her and more than 1500 political prisoners being held in Burmese jails.

In Oslo, the Nobel Committee and the Burma Peace Campaign held a flagship ceremony in front of the Norwegian Parliament, during which 28 Nobel Laureates signed a letter to the leaders of the Burmese military regime calling for the release of all political prisoners in Burma, including Aung San Suu Kyi, and compliance with UN resolutions demanding negotiations with political parties and ethnic minorities on a return to democracy in Burma.

In Washington, an event was held at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce during which remarks by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and AFL-CIO President John Sweeney were carried live via satellite to the international audience. The Washington event was hosted by the National Endowment for Democracy and its four institutes - the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, the International Republican Institute, The Center for International Private Enterprise, and the American Center for International Labor Solidarity -- and was attended by more than 250 guests. NED Board member Julie Finley also made remarks at the event, calling particular attention to the substantial and consistent support NED and its institutes have provided to Burmese democrats over the past decade.

Since May 1990's free and fair elections in Burma, the Burmese military regime has prohibited Aung San Suu Kyi and other democratically elected leaders from taking office. Many have been detained under house arrest, like Aung San Suu Kyi, and others are languishing in prison under deplorable conditions.

You can still join in the international coalition to salute Aung San Suu Kyi and call for the democratic reform in Burma by visiting the Campaign's website, www.burmapeacecampaign.org and signing the Citizens Declaration of Support. A webcast video of the Oslo Ceremony is also available at the Campaign's website.

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