The Nobel Peace Prize winner will collect the prize awarded in 1991 Saturday in Oslo
See original in: Suu Kyi visits Europe
EFE. Ginebra
Myanmar opposition party leader, National League for Democracy (LND), and Nobel Peace Prize, Aung San Suu Kyi, landed in Geneva on Wednesday, city from which he has begun a diplomatic tour in Europe, the first that can be carried out in almost a quarter of a century that has passed, for the most part, under house arrest. Almost 25 years dedicated to the peaceful struggle to establish democracy in a country ruled for half a century by a military junta that kept Myanmar isolated from the rest of the world, and that he handed over power to politicians related to the military in March 2011. A political opening began a couple of years ago that has recently allowed the holding of partial legislative elections in which Suu Kyi's party swept..
Suu Kyi, daughter of the main hero of independence, He will offer a speech this Thursday before the International Labor Organization (OIT) and will meet with the Swiss Foreign Minister, Didier Burkhalter. Precisely, The ILO this Wednesday lifted sanctions against Myanmar (ancient Burma) in a gesture of recognition of the progress that the Asian country has made, including the new law on unions and the promise to end forced labor in 2015. In recent months, also the United Kingdom and the United States and the EU, among other countries, they have lifted sanctions, reestablished diplomatic relations and even some of its main political leaders have visited the Asian country.
Suu Kyi will be able to explain in Europe the keys to the change that is being undertaken in Myanmar and the future that awaits its people, in addition to clarifying dark stages of the last two decades, like his arrest 2003 or how he lived the Saffron Revolution, in 2007. The Burmese opposition, who will fulfill 67 years during the tour, will visit, after his Swiss stopover, Norway, Ireland, United Kingdom and France.
The activist's tour begins when the Government chaired by former general Thein Sein tries to contain the wave of sectarian violence in the western region of the country, where according to official sources at least seven people have died in clashes between Muslims and Buddhists.
On Saturday in Oslo, Suu Kyi will read her acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to her in 1991 and that he did not collect to fulfill, on those dates, his first house arrest, that lasted 1989 until 1995. The medal, the diploma and 10 million Swedish crowns (just over a million euros, 1,25 Millions of dollars) her husband received them in their day, Michael Aris, and his children, Alexander (born in 1973) y Kim (1977).
Professor Aris, whom she met when she studied Philosophy, Políticas y Económicas en Saint Hugh's College de Oxford entre 1964 and 1967, died of cancer in 1999 without having been able to say goodbye to his wife in person.
The singer of the Irish group U2, Bono, will hand over the Burmese leader in Dublin, he 18 June, the Ambassador of Conscience award 2009, Amnesty International's highest award. "Es tan raro ver que la nobleza triunfe sobre el poder militar y, when that happens, we must celebrate it with the greatest joy. La nobleza y valentía de Aung San Suu Kyi han inclinado a un mundo precario hacia la democracia", Bono said.
La "Dama", what her followers call her, will deliver a speech in London to both houses of Parliament on 21 June, a Westminster Hall, an honor reserved in the past for personalities such as Nelson Mandela or Pope Benedict XVI. At Oxford University, will collect the honorary doctorate that was awarded to him in 1993. The presence of the Burmese opposition member in the United Kingdom will also have a personal side because she will be reunited with her children and will be able to meet her grandchildren..
Kim, the youngest of his offspring, He visited Burma last year and spent time with her at the family home in Yangon.. The last stage of the trip will take place in France, of the 26 al 29 June, where, among other acts, will meet with President François Hollande.
The tour takes place after Suu Kyi's international premiere in Thailand at the end of May to participate in an economic forum and visit Burmese exiles and refugees., and where he left a preview of what he can say in Europe. In Bangkok, the Nobel Peace Prize winner asked for international help to consolidate the process of democratic reforms, to fix the poverty of their compatriots through education and work and to achieve national reconciliation among ethnic minorities. Precisely these days, el exgeneral Thein Sein, now at the head of the Government, tries to contain the wave of sectarian violence in the western region of the country, where at least seven people have died in clashes between Muslims and Buddhists.
