Suu Kyi conferred on Mahatma Gandhi Peace award

M Subramoney

Durban, Jul 21 (PTI) The pro-democracy Myanmar leader
and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has been felicitated with
Mahatma Gandhi International Award for Peace and
Reconciliation here.

The award was bestowed by the South African-based
Mahatma Gandhi Foundation at a function at the Durban City
Hall Monday night.

Burmese Prime Minister in exile, Thien Win received
the award on her behalf which was presented by South African
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim.

Bestowing the award, Paddy Kearney, a trustee of the
Foundation, said the award was being given on July 20 because
it represents the 20th anniversary of Suu Kyi's house arrest
by the military junta in her country.

"She is a non-violent leader in the mould of Mahatma
Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King. The award is in
recoginition of her strong commitment to non-violence, justice
and peace," he said.

We are not sure whether she knows about this award but
what we can tell you that our chairperson Ela Gandhi, had sent
a letter to the Burmese ambassador in Pretoria and it was
returned without being opened, he added.

Kearney said that South Africa fully supports Aung San
Suu Kyi and the Myanmarese people in their struggles.

Accepting the award, Win said it was a great honour
for him to receive the prestigious award on behalf of Aung San
Suu Kyi.

Terming Aung San Suu Kyi a devoted follower of Mahatma
Gandhi's principles and moral values, Win called on India and
South Africa to support their struggles for freedom.

The Premier of the KwaZulu-Natal province Zweli
Mkhize, who was the guest of honour said "the people and
government of South Africa fully supported the struggles of
Aung San Suu Kyi and the people of Burma.'

"We will work with UN Secretary General and the UN to
ensure that the elections in Myanmar next year is credible,"
he said.

We can fully identify with the brutal oppression and
restrictions imposed on Aung San Suu Kyi and other freedom
fighters because we too experienced the same situation in our
country. We want to tell her that her courage, determination
and compassion will be stronger than the iron bars and prison
cages, Mkhize said, adding "The military will not win."

The Mahatma Gandhi Foundation also presented the
Satyagraha awards former activists involved in the
anti-apartheid struggles.

The Mahatma Gandhi Foundation first initiated the
awards in 2003 in order to honour those who had struggled for
South Africa's freedom and also international freedom
fighters. PTI SB
AM
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