Clinton Calls on Myanmar to Change its Policies, Release Aung San Suu Kyi
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called on Myanmar’s military leaders to change their policies and release Aung San Suu Kyi, the longtime political prisoner.
Clinton criticized planned Nov. 7 elections in Myanmar as “deeply flawed” and pointed to “ongoing human rights abuses inflicted by the military junta,” as an example of the many challenges that remain in Asia.
Clinton made the remarks yesterday during a policy speech in Hawaii that stressed the U.S. intention to maintain its leadership in the Asia-Pacific region. The policy address marked the start of a two-week tour through Southeast Asia, including a stop in Vietnam, where she will attend the East Asian Summit.
“Burma will soon hold a deeply flawed election, and one thing we have learned over the last few years is that democracy is more than elections,” Clinton said, referring to the country by its former name. “We will make clear to Burma’s new leaders, old and new alike, that they must break from the policies of the past.”
Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has been under house arrest for the better part of two decades. She leads the National League for Democracy, which won a landslide election in 1990. The junta barred the party from ever taking office and it was banned from taking part in next month’s voting.
“Her imprisonment must come to an end,” Clinton said.
To contact the reporter on this story: Nicole Gaouette in Guam at ngaouette@bloomberg.net;
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Bill Austin in Tokyo at billaustin@bloomberg.net
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