U.S. honour for Suu Kyi

WASHINGTON, DEC 7. The U.S President, Mr. Bill Clinton, on Thursday gave away America's highest civilian honour, the presidential medal of freedom to the Nobel laureate, Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi, leading the long-drawn movement for restoration of democracy in military-ruled Myanmar. Mr. Suu Kyi's son, Mr. Alexander (in picture, with Mr. Clinton) received the award on her behalf as she is under house arrest. Mr. Clinton, while presenting the award, praised Ms. Suu Kyi's contribution to democracy and human rights and described her as an inspiration to all. ``She fought an election that was neither free nor fair and yet her party won 80 per cent of the seats but she was not allowed to form the government,'' Mr. Clinton said. ``Instead, she was arrested and she has seen her supporters beaten and tortured and killed. Yet she has never responded to hatred and violence and all she has called for is peaceful dialogue,'' he noted. The President spoke of years of tyranny and poverty in a land of inherent promise. He also recalled Martin Luther King's words that injustice anywhere is a threat to all everywhere, and renewed his support for democracy and human rights everywhere.

- AP

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Section  : International
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