European MPs Welcome the Release of Aung San Suu Kyi but Call for Release of All Political Prisoners and Genuine Dialogue

By European Parliamentary Caucus on Burma • November 15, 2010

The European Parliamentary Caucus on Burma (EPCB) welcomes the release of leading Burmese democratic leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and demands the international community to keep the pressure on release of all Burmese political prisoners and on genuine dialogue for national reconciliation.

Suu Kyi has been under house arrest for 15 years in the past 20 years; on Saturday 13th November 2010 her last sentence has expired and she could step out freely from her house. The EPCB would like to stress that her sentences were purely politically motivated and served only to silence her voice and restrict the activities of her party, the National League for Democracy.

Her release is a historical moment for the people of Burma but we should not forget about the remaining 2,200 political prisoners who are still suffering in Burmere prisons unjustly. “We also should not see her release as a step towards reforms in Burma – only a week ago we have seen manipulated elections organized by the military junta which are supposed to legitimize their rule. We should not fall for these fake elections and keep demanding genuine dialogue towards national reconciliation,” stated Silver Meikar, member of the Executive Committee of the EPCB. Such dialogue should be held among Aung San Suu Kyi and her party, National League for Democracy, representatives of the ethnic groups and the military junta. Only this tripartite dialogue can lead to changes in Burma and bring a legitimate reform.

The European Parliamentary Caucus on Burma is thus calling the international community to:

demand real reforms from the military junta and not to recognize the results of last weeks elections
keep the pressure on release of all political prisoners of Burma
insist on the UN-led tripartite dialogue of Suu Kyi and her party National League for Democracy, representative of the ethnic groups and the junta

For more information contact the Caucus administrators: Zoya Phan on +44 773 863 139 or Kristina Prunerova on +420 777 787 917.

Tags: 2010 Elections, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Release, European Parliamentary Caucus on Burma, Political Prisoners

This post is in: Press Release

European MPs Welcome the Release of Aung San Suu Kyi but Call for Release of All Political Prisoners and Genuine Dialogue

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