International IDEA is Deeply Concerned about the Restriction of Movements of Aung San Suu Kyi

Press Release:

International IDEA is Deeply Concerned about the Restriction of Movements of Aung San Suu Kyi

Stockholm July 29, 1998 -- The following statement was issued today by Bengt Säve-Söderbergh, the Secretary-General of International IDEA (International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance):

I am deeply concerned about the reports from Burma regarding the refusal of the military regime to allow Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese opposition leader and a board member of International IDEA, to travel freely in her country.

According to information received, Aung San Suu Kyi is today spending the sixth day in sweltering heat in her car after being stopped on the road to meet supporters of the democracy movement. There are serious concerns about her health and security during this stand-off.

International IDEA, an international organization with a mandate to promote democracy world-wide, urges the military government to enter into dialogue with Ms. Suu Kyi, and to resolve the current stand-off peacefully and quickly. A genuine dialogue between the National League for Democracy, which she heads and which won a land-slide victory in the Burmese elections in 1990, and the military government is the best way to hasten the process of national reconciliation and prepare for the return to democracy.

International IDEA (International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance) was founded in February 1995. The Institute’s overall objective is to promote and advance sustainable democracy world-wide and to improve and consolidate electoral processes. To date, Members are Australia, Barbados, Belgium, Botswana, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Denmark, Finland, India, Namibia, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the Inter-American Institute of Human Rights, the International Federation of Journalists, the International Press Institute, Parliamentarians for Global Action and Transparency International. The Institute also has co-operative agreements with the International Commission of Jurists, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and the United Nations Development Programme. Switzerland also contributes to the work of the Institute.