Myanmar rejoices as Suu Kyi is released

Many people in Myanmar and across Asia see the release of pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi as a beacon of hope for the country.

Suu Kyi, 65, was freed after at 5:15 pm on Saturday Nov 13 after seven years’ house arrest.

A Church person from Mandalay told ucanews.com that he was happy about the release of Suu Kyi and she is the only leader to bring “change” to the country.

An excited crowd of 50,000 listened to Suu Kyi’s first speech at the headquarters of the National League for Democracy (NLD) in Yangon. She was greeted with enthusiastic applause, according to those present.

In her speech, she said national reconciliation was the priority and urged the people to work for the country and to communicate using modern technology such as mobile phones to help bring unity and understanding.

“Don’t be disappointed with the current situation of Myanmar’ and let’s pave and walk the road of democracy together.”

But there were fears among some even among the joy of Suu Kyi’s release. An engineer, 32, told ucanews.com that he is very concerned for her safety even though he is happy about her release.

A priest from Mandalay said that Suu Kyi is an icon of democracy and the international community had more interest on our country because of her.

“I prayed for her in the morning Mass on Nov 13 for her release,” Mandalay priest added.

Another young man who runs an internet café told ucanews.com that he could not “express my happiness when she was released as she is our hope. But my serious concern is for her security when she reaches out to public places.”

The young man added that he was surprised by the thousands of people came to listen to the speech of the lady.

Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, has been detained for 15 of the past 21 years.
‘A great victory of non-violent struggle’

Social activists in India also hailed Suu Kyi’s release.

“It is a great victory of non-violent struggle for democracy in Myanmar. People of that country deserve all the congratulations,” Swamy Agnivesh, a social reformer, told ucanews.com.

Agnivesh said the people of Myanmar will now have to consolidate this victory and bring about genuine peace and democracy in their country by over throwing the military rule.

Suu Kyi’s release, he added, will make a lot of difference in the political scenario of Myanmar as she is considered as one of the “great moral leaders” of the world.

Father Babu Joseph, spokesperson of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, said Suu Kyi’s release was the right signal for Myanmar to open up for democracy.

“The kind of support she has from the public, the softening of the stand of the Junta and the international pressure for her release will certainly open a door to democracy,” he added.

Ranjana Kumari, chairperson for the Centre of Social Research, said Suu Kyi should now be given an opportunity to restore democracy in her country through free and fair elections.

Sudhendra Vadoria, a member of South Asian Forum for People’s Initiative that has mobilized support for her release and democracy in Myanmar, said the political situation will change in that country after her release but it will take some time.

The forum, which includes 40-50 organizations from across South Asia, has worked for the past five years for the release of Suu Kyi and other political prisoners.

John Dayal, secretary general of the ecumenical All India Christian Council, said Suu Kyi’s release would give an opportunity to the world leaders to rein in on the Junta.

Mike MacLachlan in London writes: Aung San Suu Kyi’s release was welcomed by the UK-based rights group Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), a consistent critic of the Myanmar regime.

But it added that it continued to call for the unconditional release of an estimated 2,100 political prisoners still held and an end to offensives against civilians in ethnic states.

“We have campaigned for Aung San Suu Kyi for many years so we welcome her release,” said Benedict Rogers, CSW’s East Asia team leader. “But her release alone is no measure of progress.”

He said the regime “should seize the moment” of her release to begin a dialogue with her “leading to a transition to true democracy and national reconciliation” adding: Her release after 15 tears of house arrest is very welcome, but there is still a very long way to go.”

http://www.ucanews.com