Celebrating Aung San Suu Kyi’s Determination for Change in Burma
Celebrating Aung San Suu Kyi’s Determination for Change in Burma
Burmese democracy leader and Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has been held under house arrest by the Burmese military regime for 14 of the last 20 years.
Following her return to Rangoon in 1988, Aung San Suu Kyi became involved in the effort to return democratic government to Burma after the military coup of 1962. She eventually rose to the leadership of the National League for Democracy. After a landslide win in the 1990 general election—the first democratic elections in Burma since 1960—Aung San Suu Kyi and other leaders were placed under arrest and the results of the election nullified by the military junta.
Ambassador Hoffmann addressing the guests
Ambassador Hoffmann joining the other speakers in blowing out the candles on the birthday cake on the behalf of ASSK
In celebration of Aung San Suu Kyi’s 65th birthday, Ambassador Ron Hoffman and representatives of civil society groups, Non-Governmental Organizations and the diplomatic community gathered in Bangkok to commemorate the work she has done for the Burmese people.
In his congratulatory speech, Ambassador Hoffman emphasized the importance of the event to Canadians, noting that a similar celebration was being held in Toronto.
Mr. Hoffman observed that Canada’s important decision to confer honorary citizenship upon Aung San Suu Kyi was indicative of the core values of justice, freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law shared by Canadians and the Burmese democracy movement.
He noted that while the day was also one of deep sadness, “Aung San Suu Kyi continues to inspire us by her courage, her ideals, and her steadfast determination to achieve a better life for the Burmese people.”
Mr. Hoffman went on to reaffirm Canada's commitment to carry on the shared struggle with its program of sanctions against the Burmese military government, the strictest program of its kind in the world. Finally, he called upon the regime to release Aung San Suu Kyi and the more than 2,100 political prisoners in detention today.
The event took place at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand and was organized by the Ten Alliances, a broad-based and multi-ethnic cooperation of Burmese political and civil society organizations.
