Today, as the UN celebrates its 62nd birthday, Aung San Suu Kyi will have spent a total of twelve years in detention in Burma.
On January 8, you/the UNSG called on Senior General Than Shwe to release Aung San Suu Kyi. It is a grave disappointment to us all that the Burmese regime has chosen to ignore this.
Since Burmese monks courageously took to the streets in September to call for democracy, the Burmese regime has enforced a vicious crackdown on peaceful demonstrators and democratic opposition leaders. Amidst mounting reports of torture and ill treatment, we fear for the safety of the brave people of Burma.
The Burmese regime must not be allowed to continue in its perpetration of gross violations of human rights. The detention of Aung San Suu Kyi is the most visible manifestation of the regime’s brutality but it is only the tip of the iceberg.
As Aung San Suu Kyi’s fellow Nobel Peace Laureates – representing North and South America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa – we will work together to ensure that Burma does not slip from international view and ensure that real progress is made. The UN has a central role to play in our collective endeavour.
Sixty-two years ago, the UN was established to enable governments of the world to respond to grave crises of this kind. It must now do more to live up to its mandate and take decisive action to secure the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and her fellow prisoners of conscience.
Signed
Jody Williams
Shirin Ebadi
Wangari Maathai
Rigoberta Menchú Tum
Betty Williams
Mairead Corrigan Maguire