19 June 2003
State Department Urges Release of Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi
(June 19 statement calls for full accounting of May 30 attack) (520)
The State Department released a statement on the birthday of Burmese
democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi June 19 calling for her immediate
release and urging the military junta to provide "a full accounting of
the dead, injured, and missing from the attack of May 30" on Suu Kyi
and many of her supporters.
"The continued detention of Aung San Suu Kyi, members of her political
party and others who have peacefully expressed their political views,
is without cause and unacceptable," the statement reads. "They should
be released immediately and the offices of the National League for
Democracy should be reopened without delay. We call on Burma's
military rulers to begin work immediately with the National League of
Democracy to formulate a concrete plan to restore democracy in Burma."
Following is the text of the statement:
(begin text)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
June 19, 2003
STATEMENT BY PHILIP T. REEKER, DEPUTY SPOKESMAN
Burma - Birthday of Aung San Suu Kyi
Today is the birthday of the leader of the democratic opposition in
Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi. Secretary of State Colin L. Powell has sent
his personal greetings, but our embassy has been unable to deliver
them to her this year because, sadly, this is the seventh birthday
since 1989 that she has spent under detention by her country's
military rulers. A Nobel Peace Prize laureate who stands for
nonviolent change to improve the lives of the people of her nation,
Aung San Suu Kyi is a symbol for those who support democracy and
freedom around the world. Her struggle on behalf of the people of
Burma is now in its 15th year.
Last year at this time Aung San Suu Kyi had recently been released
from house arrest and was working toward a political dialogue which
would lead to national reconciliation. The ruling military junta, the
"State Peace and Development Council," has now dashed these hopes and
dreams of the Burmese people.
The continued detention of Aung San Suu Kyi, members of her political
party and others who have peacefully expressed their political views,
is without cause and unacceptable. They should be released immediately
and the offices of the National League for Democracy should be
reopened without delay. We call on Burma's military rulers to begin
work immediately with the National League of Democracy to formulate a
concrete plan to restore democracy in Burma.
We also call on the junta for a full accounting of the dead, injured,
and missing from the attack of May 30, now known to Burmese as "Black
Friday."
The situation in Burma is of grave concern not just for the United
States. Secretary Powell met with Burma's neighbors this week to
emphasize that the international community must work together for
reform. We welcome the statement of the ASEAN member states on Burma
and support ASEAN's plans to send a troika delegation to Rangoon.
We salute Aung San Suu Kyi and hope that future birthdays find her
living free in a free Burma.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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