The Hon. Alexander Downer, MP
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australia

Media Release
FA64 / 6 May 2002

Releasing of Aung San Suu Kyi

I welcome the release today from de facto house arrest of the General Secretary of the National League for Democracy (NLD), Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, by Burma’s ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC).

The Australian Government has repeatedly called for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi.

The freeing of the NLD leader is a positive step in the process of political reconciliation.

We encourage the Burmese Government to build on this by taking further steps to advance the process. We will continue to encourage it to release the remaining political prisoners, permit the re-opening of NLD offices and open a substantive political dialogue with the NLD and Burma’s ethnic groups.

I pay tribute to the key role of Tan Sri Razali Ismail, the UN Special Envoy to Burma, in supporting the confidence-building talks between the SPDC and Aung San Suu Kyi. The NLD leader’s release comes within 10 days of Tan Sri Razali completing his seventh official visit to Burma.

For media enquiries : Lyndall Sachs (Departmental) 02-6261 1555

Response on above statement by Toe Zaw Latt