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PM letter to Aung San Suu Kyi

The Prime Minister has written an open letter of support to pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is 65 today.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Prime Minister David Cameron has written an open letter to Aung San Suu Kyi. The pro-democracy leader turned 65 today, and has spent 14 of the last 20 years under house arrest in Burma for advocating democracy and respect for human rights in her country.

The Prime Minister wrote:

“Today you will mark yet another birthday under house arrest - cut off from your children and your family. My thoughts, and thoughts of so many people in Britain and across the world, will be with you and with the people of Burma. The injustice of your continuing detention mirrors the injustice that the regime has inflicted on your country and your people for so many years.

“Throughout that time, you have stood firm, at enormous personal cost, for the principles of liberty and justice. You have become a powerful symbol of the strength of the human spirit. Like my predecessor, I personally have long found your example deeply inspiring.

“I want to assure you that as Prime Minister, I will maintain a close interest in Burma. The British Government I lead will do all it can, both internationally, working through the United Nations, and bilaterally, to bring a brighter future for Burma and your people, in which they enjoy full human rights and true democracy.

“I have never forgotten your own request: that we should use our liberty to help the Burmese people to obtain theirs. I promise we will do everything we can to achieve that.”

Published 19 June 2010