NOBEL PEACE LAUREATE VISITS BURMA

February 18, 2003 – (Nonviolence International Southeast Asia) Ms. Jody Williams, 1997 Nobel Peace Laureate, which she received with the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, visited Burma this week, carrying personal messages of support from fellow Nobel Peace laureates Rigobera Menchu Tum, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Dr. Oscar Arias, Joseph Rotblat, Norman Borlaug, Betty Williams, Mairead McGuire, to Burma's country-bound Nobel laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. It was the first visit to Ms. Suu Kyi by another Nobel Peace Laureate since she received the award while under house arrest in 1991.

Ms. Williams visited Ms. Suu Kyi at her home near Inya Lake in Rangoon, where they discussed the current state of movements toward peace within the country, efforts to meet humanitarian needs and the increasing numbers of landmines being used in the countries internal wars.

"There is no way for the SPDC to escape dialogue if we want to achieve a peaceful transition," said Ms Suu Kyi, who encouraged solidarity and support for the overall process of democratization in Burma. Ms. Williams noted after the meeting, "Outside of the country there is the usual debate about whether outside pressure helps or hinders the dialogue process. On this point Suu Kyi was very clear that pressure both inside and outside the country are critical to bringing about democracy in Burma, and noted that such pressure has already made a difference."

Reflecting on the meeting, Ms Williams stressed that even though some positive changes have taken place recently in Burma, the world community must not divert its attention. Despite numerous competing demands for the international community's attention, and even though Suu Kyi has been freed from house arrest, the policy of her party remains unchanged: the time is not right for foreign investment, lifting of sanctions nor tourism in Burma. The time will be right when there is meaningful dialogue which moves forward the process of democratization in Burma.

Ms. Williams, on behalf of the Mine Ban Movement, took the opportunity to thank Ms. Suu Kyi, the National League for Democracy and the Committee Representing the Peoples Parliament for their clear commitment to joining the Mine Ban Treaty once their elected representatives can form a government. Victims are claimed by an increasing number each year and more land is polluted by landmines laid by all sides in the armed conflict which continues in the border areas of the country.

Suu Kyi noted to Ms Williams that to address the problem of landmines it is important to address the root causes, and not just superficially address the symptoms. When peace and reconciliation are achieved in Burma there will be no need to plant landmines, as people can express differences through the open democratic process rather than through the use of weapons.
Despite years of struggle and hardship, Ms Suu Kyi made light of any personal difficulties she had suffered, and reaffirmed her optimism for the future of her country. She stated that the struggle has gone on for too long, and that the people of Burma should not have to wait much longer, but is firm in her conviction that democracy will prevail.

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