RELEASE AUNG SAN SUU KYI

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STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR RELEASE OF AUNG SAN SUU KYI


We, women’s groups, students’ groups, health groups, democratic rights’ groups, civil society organizations and concerned individuals express our deep distress at the recent political developments in Burma.

On 14 May 2009, Nobel Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, 63, who has been under house arrest for 13 of the past 19 years was transferred to the notorious Insein Jail in Rangoon by the Burmese military junta, State Peace and Development Council (SDPC) and is being ttried at special court on trumped-up charges of violating the terms of her house arrest. Her current six-year term under house arrest was to come to an end on 27 May, 2009.

Diplomats and journalists are being prevented from attending the trial. Clearly, this is an attempt to preemptively sabotage the election scheduled by the SPDC itself in 2010. It is also an attempt to crush the spirit of Daw Suu and other pro democracy voices from Burma, and persist with a regime that is best known for its brazen suppression of human rights of the people of Burma all over the country.

As progressive, pro democracy voices from India, we condemn this and demand the immediate and unconditional release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all the political prisoners.

We urge the SPDC to recognize the demand of the people of Burma and their freedom to choose their own leader and government.

Leaders and governments the world over have issued statements condemning the utterly undemocratic and inhuman treatment meted out to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi by the Burmese Government. However, India, the largest democracy in the world and significant neighbour has unfortunately chosen to remain silent.

The Government of India must break its silence and call for the immediate and unconditional release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. India must stand for democratic rights and demonstrate its sincerity at this critical time. It must stand up for Daw Suu whom it honoured the prestigious ‘Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding’ in 1993.

Sd/-

Shri Surendra Mohan, Former MP, New Delhi

Shri Prabhash Joshi, Veteran Journalist, New Delhi

Shri Kuldip Nayyar, Journalist and Former MP, New Delhi

Justice Rajinder Sachar, PUCL, New Delhi

Nandita Haksar, Human Rights Lawyer

Vani Subramanian, Saheli Women's Resource Centre

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