A united message to Burma on human rights abuses

A united message to Burma on human rights abuses (03/07/2009)

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon travelled to Burma today to put pressure on Burma to release the pro democracy leader Aung San Su Kyi. His visit is part of wider international pressure being applied to Burma by governments worldwide, sending a united message to Burma that human rights abuses, particularly of minorities in Burma, need to come to an end.
Commenting on the visit Foreign Office Minister Ivan Lewis said:
"We strongly support his mission. We want to see the immediate release of Aung San Su Kyi, the other two thousand one hundred political prisoners. And we want him to send a strong message from the international community that the human rights abuses, particularly of minorities in Burma need to come to an end and we want to see a road map to reform in time for the 2010 elections. So he has our full support and he will be delivering tough messages."
He added:
"It is a tough mission. We believe in the man, we believe in his office and we believe if ever there was a test of the United Nations relevance Burma is that test. That’s why we’ve been strongly supportive of the mission, that’s why we believe he’s doing absolutely the right thing and it’s also why our Prime Minister for example only recently spoke directly to the President of China because it’s very important that Burma’s friends and neighbours also send a clear and strong message about the abuse, human rights abuses, and also about political prisoners."
The Prime Minister's wife Sarah Brown has also joined high profile women from around the world calling for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi. She has joined fifty First Ladies, Nobel Laureates and leaders from the world of politics, human rights and the arts to issue a 64 word message.
The message reads:
"Aung San Suu Kyi inspires us all. In recent weeks regional leaders have led demands for her freedom and for reform in Burma. Today we - women from all around the world - add our voices to that call. Until she, and the thousands of other political prisoners in Burma, are released we must keep the spotlight on their plight. The world must not stand by."