Albright lashes out at Myanmar government for holding Suu Kyi

U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright addresses the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday

From State Department Producer Elise Labott and U.N. Producer Ronni Berke

UNITED NATIONS (CNN) -- U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright lashed out Tuesday at the military government of Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, saying "the world is not fooled" when that government tries to blame democracy activists for their own repression.

The government has come under fire for its treatment of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose National League for Democracy won a landslide election victory in 1990. The military government refused to accept the election results and confined Suu Kyi to her home until 1995.

But even after her release from house arrest, the 1991 Noble Peace laureate has not been allowed free travel. Late last month, police stopped two vehicles carrying Suu Kyi and 15 of her supporters when they tried to leave Yangon, the Myanmar capital, to travel to the provinces.

Police ended the standoff nine days later and returned Suu Kyi to her home, where she was locked inside.

At last week's U.N. Millennium Summit, Myanmar Foreign Minister U Win Aung argued that his government's approach was a constructive one and that those who disagree were trying "to stir up the tranquil waters."

Some international leaders, however, vehemently disagree.

"When the Burmese government tries to blame the victims for the crime, and say that (democracy activist) Aung San Suu Kyi and her party are responsible for their own repression, I can only reply that much the same was once said about Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and Vaclav Havel," Albright said in a speech to the U.N. General Assembly. "The world is not fooled. And we must not be silent."

Albright has used almost every public opportunity in the last several months to publicize the case of the opposition leader. At a conference in Warsaw she introduced Suu Kyi, who appeared by videotape because she was not permitted to leave Myanmar.

On Monday, at a reception hosted by Marie Claire magazine, Albright and a group of female foreign ministers issued a statement condemning the violation of Suu Kyi's human rights and calling for the Burmese government to stop its harassment of her and members of her opposition party.

"We are appalled at the actions of the Burmese government in holding Aung San Suu Kyi," said the ministers' written statement, adding that the government's actions against Aung San Suu Kyi and other National League for Democracy leaders "are an affront to people throughout the world."

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August 28, 2000
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January 24, 2000
Suu Kyi: Life in Myanmar a 'battlefield'
May 12, 1999

The National League for Democracy
Burma Forum Los Angeles
  •  Amnesty International
The Golden Land Myanmar

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