Aung San Suu Kyi

June 19, 2009 -- Washington, DC – The members of the Senate Women’s Caucus on Burma today renewed calls for the Burmese military junta, the State Peace and Development Council, to immediately release imprisoned democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi on the occasion of her birthday, as well as all other political prisoners.    » read more »

May 26, 2009 -- I call on the Burmese government to release National League for Democracy Secretary General and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi from detention immediately and unconditionally. I strongly condemn her house arrest and detention, which have also been condemned around the world.

The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has issued opinions affirming that the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi dating back to 2003 is arbitrary, unjustified, and in contravention of Burma’s own law, and the United Nations Security Council reaffirmed on May 22 their concern about the situation and called for the release of all political prisoners.    » read more »

May 19, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) and Ranking Member Richard Lugar (R-IN) released the following statement last week in response to recent charges brought against Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi:

“The Obama Administration and Congress are reviewing America’s policy toward Burma. At this critical time, some in the junta are trying to leverage the recent alleged unauthorized entry into Aung San Suu Kyi’s compound to extend her detention. This action sends precisely the wrong message to the citizens of Burma, the people of Southeast Asia, and all those in the global community who seek for the Burmese people the opportunity to live in a country where universal human rights are respected, not trampled.    » read more »

May 19, 2009 -- Senator Judd Gregg last week released the following statement regarding the criminal charges filed against Burmese democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi by the ruling junta:

“The only thing criminal about Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been the abusive injustices she and her supporters have suffered under the State Peace and Development Council. Her transfer from house arrest to prison to face criminal charges is a serious matter that deserves the strongest condemnation from the world’s democracies – and from regional neighbors, including Thailand and China,” Senator Gregg stated.    » read more »

Leader of Burma’s Democratic Movement; Feinstein-McConnell bill has bipartisan support of 73 other senators

February 13, 2008 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) today introduced a measure to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of Burma’s democratic movement and Nobel Peace Laureate. The bill has the bipartisan support of 73 other senators.    » read more »

June 19, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today released the following statement on the ongoing detention of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi in Burma, on her 62nd birthday:    » read more »

15 May 2007 -- Burmese authorities have arrested at least 39 supporters of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi before they could reach temples to pray for her release.

A spokesman for the opposition National League for Democracy and witnesses say the activists were arrested Tuesday in different areas around the former capital, Rangoon.

Aung San Suu Kyi's supporters began holding weekly prayer vigils on May 1.

The Nobel peace laureate has spent most of the past 17 years under house arrest. Her most recent term ends on May 27.    » read more »

15 May 2007 -- More than 50 former world leaders, including three former U.S. presidents, have called on Burma to free pro-democracy leader and Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

In a letter to Burma's military leader, General Than Shwe, the signatories appealed for Aung San Suu Kyi's release before her most recent term of house arrest ends on May 27.

The letter was released Monday by the Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights. It pointed out that the United Nations, the European Union and many other groups from around the world have also demanded Aung San Suu Kyi's release.    » read more »