(June 20, 2007/ Bangkok) The Council of Asian Liberals & Democrats (CALD) extended last night to Nobel Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi its warmest greetings on the occasion of her 62nd Birthday and renewed its support to the leading light of Burma’s freedom movement.
“On this auspicious occasion, we reiterate our support to and solidarity with the people of Burma in your struggle to achieve freedom and democracy in your strife-torn country,” the CALD statement declared.
The message, signed by CALD Chairman, Senator Franklin Drilon, was delivered by Hon. Alongkorn Ponlaboot, Deputy Leader of the Democrat Party of Thailand and former CALD Secretary General, during the Women of Burma Day and Aung San Suu Kyi’s Birthday celebrations last night at the Foreign Correspondents Club in Bangkok, Thailand.
The occasion was one of the major international events to commemorate the Nobel Peace Laureate’s birthday. It was attended by parliamentarians from the Association of South East Asian Nations and international media and civil society. One of the major organizers of the event is the National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB), a member of CALD.
CALD members including the Democrat Party of Thailand, the Liberal Party of the Philippines, the Malaysian People’s Movement Party (Gerakan) and the Sam Rainsy Party of Cambodia are actively engaged in the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Caucus on Myanmar (AIPMC).
As Burma celebrated its women’s day, CALD noted that “women are most vulnerable in your country. (It is) alarmed by the dismal conditions of the people of Burma, especially women and children, who continue to suffer under the brutal military regime of the State Peace and Development Council.”
CALD urged the SPDC for Suu Kyi’s immediate and unconditional release from house arrest as well as the immediate and unconditional release of the estimated 1,500 political prisoners who continue to languish in various prisons across Burma. It expressed alarm over the increasing human rights violations of political dissidents and the general population. CALD criticized the military regime’s practice of ethnic cleansing.
Mr. Ponlaboot also read the letter of Lord Alderdice, President of Liberal International (LI). Suu Kyi was the 1995 recipient of LI’s Prize for Freedom.
“Your life-long commitment to democracy for democracy for the people of Burma and your unwavering leadership…continue to give hope to your people and all those around the world.” the LI statement said.
The London-based international federation of liberal political parties called on the military junta for the immediate release of Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners and for the start of negotiations with pro-democracy activist for a constitution that leads to democracy for all Burmese citizens.
Also attending the Bangkok event were Dr. Buranaj Smuthraks and Dr. Boonmark Sirinaovakul of the Democrat Party of Thailand, Mr. Soe Aung of NCUB, Friedrich Naumann Foundation Regional Director Hubertus von Wleck and his colleague, Ms. Krittiya Sintupongphan and Mr. Brian Gonzales, former CALD Program Officer.
Please click here for the CALD statement.
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