Congressman Tom Lantos msg to Daw S

[maung@xxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: Congressman Tom Lantos msg to Daw Suu

Message from Congressman Tom Lantos to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's
birthday celebration at Dirksen Senate Office Building on
June 19, 1996.

The message was read by wife of Congressman Tom Lantos, 
Annette Lantos, who also praised Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's 
outstanding example to the Burmese and the others and 
wished the Burmese people success in pursuing democracy.

///text of message//

 C o n g r e s s   o f   t h e   U n i t e d   S t a t e s 
		House of Representatives 
		  Washington, DC 20515 
	Statement by Congressman Tom Lantos 
Commemorative Event Marking the 51st Birthday 
	   of Burma's Human Rights Leader 
		   Daw Aung San Suu Kyi 
 
		 June 19, 1996 
 
Today, we are happy to celebrate the 51st birthday of one of  
the world's most outstanding human rights leaders, the 1991  
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. 
 
Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi personifies the dreams and hopes of the  
Burmese people for freedom and democracy.  The Nobel  
Committee cited her as "one of the most extraordinary  
examples of civil courage in recent decades" and "an  
important symbol in the struggle against oppression."  Ms.  
Aung San Suu Kyi's immeasurable and enduring commitment to  
human rights and democracy have long inspired people beyond  
the boundaries of Burma in their own struggle for these  
universal goals. 
 
In a blatant breach of all international standards, Burma's  
ruthless military government nullified the victory of Aung  
San Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy, in  
the 1990 elections and put her under house arrest.  When the  
ruling military junta finally released Aung San Suu Kyi from  
her six year house arrest in July 1995, she immediately  
resumed her political activities.  Her leadership, vision  
and popularity can never be confined to the walls of any  
kind of prison -- a lesson the Burmese military junta had to  
learn. When Aung San Suu Kyi recently called all democrats  
for a meeting to commemorate the sixth anniversary of the  
election betrayal, a helpless Burmese government could only  
react by arresting over 200 of her supporters, demonstrating  
to the world how worthy this regime is beneath contempt. 
 
My wife Annette and I wish Aung San Suu Kyi all the  
happiness and health on her birthday.  We all pray for her  
strength to continue her efforts for her country. 
 
In deep friendship, 
 
signed: xxx 
Tom Lantos 
Member of Congress

//end message//