The freedom of Nobel Prize Laureate and Burmese Democratic Leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was celebrated at the Press Club of India in New Delhi by representatives of Burmese Democratic Movement in India in collaboration with Women in Security Conflict Management and Peace (WISCOMP).
After 15 years of house arrest and incarceration, Aung San Suu Kyi, is as determined to see the democratic movement of the Burmese people through as she was 15 years ago when the military regime prevented her from heading her country after the her party (NLD) won with a massive mandate. Mahatma Gandhi has been a great inspiration in her life and she believes that non-violence is the only way to ensure lasting freedom.
While thanking India for its support to the democratic movement in Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi, exhorted greater participation from India in its quest for democracy in Burma and help in achieving the democratic aspirations of the Burmese people.
The speakers for the day included former Minister of State for External Affairs, Shashi Tharoor, legislator Sharad Yadav, legal luminary Ram Jethmalani, CPM leader Sitaram Yechury and CPI leader Amarjeet Kaur among others. Meenakshi Gopinath, Principal of Lady Shri Ram College of which Aung San Suu Kyi was a student, was a prominent guest who spoke at length. Fr. Emmanuel and offered a prayer for fulfillment of the dreams of the Burmese people. Buddhist monk and leader of the Tibetan government in exile, Acharya, expressed similar sentiments.
All the speakers agreed that India has not come up to the expectations of the Burmese people in its support to their struggle for freedom from the oppressive military regime. Moderator for the day and longtime activist of this movement, Madhu Purnima Kishwar, was strident in her criticism of the cautious role of played by the Indian government owing to the contracts it has bagged from the military regime. She called India’s stand ‘disgraceful.’
The parliamentarian expressed the hope that they would be able to invite Aung San Suu Kyi to the Indian Parliament.
Burmese students in their traditional attire presented a melodious rendering of a song in praise of Aung San Suu Kyi.
