Nobel Laureates in Support of Democracy in Burma

Press Release:

Nobel Laureates in Support of Democracy in Burma

Stockholm 4 August, 1998 -- International IDEA is pleased to release a joint statement by six Nobel Prize Laureates urging the military regime in Burma to start a dialogue with Daw Aung Sang Suu Kyi, a board member of International IDEA, and the democracy movement in Burma:

We, the undersigned Nobel Laureates are heartened by the rising tide of popular support for democratization in Southeast Asia and encouraged by the readiness of a number of Governments to respond and engage with civil society.

We have noted with satisfaction the growing recognition in the region that, cultural differences notwithstanding, freedom and human dignity are now universal and that greater popular participation is the key to political stability and economic recovery. It is our hope that South East Asia is on the threshold of a new era of partnership between its governments and peoples.

Burma is a tragic exception. 8 August 1998 marks the tenth anniversary of that country's popular uprising for the restoration of democracy. The voice of the people, again overwhelmingly expressed in the 1990 national elections remains unheeded. In expressing solidarity with our fellow Nobel Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other democracy activists, we wish also to express our solidarity with all the people of Burma and their legitimate democratic aspirations.

On the tenth anniversary of Burma's democracy movement, we call for a new beginning in Burma and the start of a process of national reconciliation.

To this end, we urge Burma's military leadership

• to engage in a constructive relationship with Daw Aung Suu Kyi and other democracy activists, including the leaders of Burma's ethnic communities;

• to restore all democratic freedoms, including the freedom of speech, assembly and association;

• to release all political prisoners unconditionally;

• to negotiate the framework and timetable for a transition to democratic rule.

We call upon people and governments in the region and the wider international community to encourage and assist this process in every practicable way.

Signatories:

Jose Ramos-Horta - East Timor (Peace Prize 1996)

Derek Walcott - Saint Lucia (Literature Prize 1992)

Nadine Gordimer - South Africa (Literature Prize 1991)

Oscar Arias Sanchez - Costa Rica (Peace Prize 1987)

Desmond Tutu - South Africa ( Peace Prize 1984)

Lech Walesa - Poland (Peace Prize 1983)

The press release with the signatures as a PDF-document.

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.