Media statement by Liew Chin Tong in Petaling Jaya on Saturday, 19^th June 2010:

DAP wishes Aung San Suu Kyi a solemn Happy Birthday

If there is a figure in recent South East Asian history who represents the inextinguishable struggle for democracy and human rights, it is Aung San Suu Kyi.

There have been an increasing consciousness for a greater democratisation in South East Asia and this was evidenced by the electoral success achieved by the political oppositions in traditionally hegemonic governments.

A strong democracy will ensure that the interest of the people is protected against the onslaught of self-interested governments and big businesses and a strong democracy will ensure that the resources and wealth of the nation is responsibly managed.

Aung San Suu Kyi remains imprisoned and incarcerated for the last 20 years for advocating for democratisation within her homeland, Myanmar.

Neither she nor her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD) has been allowed to fulfil the mandate of the citizens of Myanmar as a democratically elected Government.

The strongest words have been said to and about the current military junta, but nothing is more forceful than the fact that the people of Myanmar continue to live in poverty while their ASEAN neighbours are prospering.

The conscience of the junta is imprisoned where Aung San Suu Kyi is. And it is not too much therefore to say that Myanmar lives in Aung San Suu Kyi, and until she is free, Myanmar will continue to live in the prison of socio-political and economic oppression.

The Democratic Action Party (DAP) of Malaysia joins the world to wish a solemn happy birthday to Aung San Suu Kyi. We pray for her earlier release and the democratisation of Myanmar.

* Liew Chin Tong, DAP International Secretary & MP for Bukit Bendera