Liberal International Statement on Burma by President Lord Alderdice
London, 25 September 2007
Liberal International calls for international support for Burmese monks
Lord Alderdice, President of Liberal International, has called for a swift international response to the current pressing situation in Burma resulting from the ongoing strike of members of the Buddhist Sangha in Yangon.
Lord Alderdice said:
'The goal of this strike is to pray for religious freedom and to urge Burma's State Peace and Development Council regime to resolve the terrible food, clothing, shelter, health, and general problems of the people of Burma. The appeal of the monks of Burma is embodied in human dignity and against the plight of the people and the restriction on freedom of speech and religion, and their protest receives Liberal International's strongest support.
I would appeal to the United Nations Security Council and the UN Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon to respond to this dignified appeal on behalf of the people in Burma and to take steps to put further pressure on the military junta to resolve the grave situation in the country. This new opportunity for change must not be allowed to slip past. We must continue to press for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, a move which would provide a 'Nelson Mandela moment' for Burma, and would herald the move to democracy that its long-suffering people so long to see.'
Aung San Suu Kyi, the recipient of Liberal International's Prize for Freedom in 1995, has been under house arrest for 12 of the past 18 years, proving the living proof that Burma's military junta has consistently neglected the voice of the people in Burma. Since August 21st, hundreds of activists have been arrested. The prominent pro-democracy activist Min Ko Naing, the leader of 1988 Generation Student movement, being one of the new detainees.
Liberal action on Burma. Click on these documents for more details.
ALDE Group in the Europeam Parliament
Singapore Democrats party's Statement on Burma