8/3/2019 Burma Update - DASSK Met With British Foreign Secretary - 6 January 2012

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DAW AUNG SAN SUU KYI MET WITH BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY

William Hague, the British Foreign Secretary held nearly one and a half hour long meeting withpro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi at her lakeside compound in Rangoon this morning.

“Of course much more need to be done and that is vital in our view that remaining political prisoners shouldbe released. And it is not possible to say a country is free and democratic while people are still in prisons onthe ground of their political beliefs,” William Hague told reporters.

“We also looked to the government to improve hu-manitarian access to areas of ethnic conflict and toensure that the by-elections that will take place onthe 1st of April are freely and fairly and visibly freeand fair in the eyes of the world,” British Foreign Sec-retary said.

“The long held dream now has the chance of being

realized but so much more work to be done. The longdarkness through which the people of this countryhave lived may be coming to an end,” said WilliamHague.

“Make a dream a reality. I don’t believe dreaming for the sake of dreaming. We have to have a goal and wehave to know how we intend to realize our dream. If we work hard, we are sure fulfilling the dream of thepeople of Burma,” Daw Aung San Suu Kyi declared at the end of the meeting with William Hague.

When asked by a reporter about the way of the release of prisoners, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said: “All politi-cal prisoners should be released and there should be all efforts made put an end to the ethnic conflict withinthe country and certainly we would like to see free and fair by-elections. I must add I would like to see theNLD winning very well in those elec.”

A total of 6656 prisoners – 569 women and 6087 men – enjoyed amnesty as fro January 3, 2012, after theorder from the President, according to the state-owned newspapers. “The order was issued as a gesture ofhailing the 64th Anniversary of Independence Day and for the sake of State peace and stability, the rule oflaw, national solidarity and on the grounds of humanitarian and the President has granted an amnesty for theprisoners,” the news item said.

“Besides, the death sentences of 33prisoners – 31 men and 2 women werecommuted to life imprisonment, over 30

years sentences of 1118 prisoners –988 men and 130 women were reducedto 30 years sentences, from 20 yearsentences to 30 years sentences of2702 prisoners – 2300 men and 402women were commuted to 20 yearssentences and under 20 years sen-tences of 35111 prisoners – 29855 menand 5256 women were reduced by aquarter of their prison terms,” the newsitem mentioned.

Photo: Getty Images

B U R M A U P D A T E

6 January 2012

P o l i t i c a l D e f i a n c e C o m m i t t e e ( P D C ) • e m a i l : p e o p l e @ g r a c e i n p e a c e . c o m 

Photo: The Guardian