For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 2, 2003
Statement by the President on Burma
I am deeply concerned by reports from Burma of the detention of
Aung San Suu Kyi and members of her political party, as well as reports
that military authorities have closed her party headquarters in
Rangoon. The military authorities should release Aung San Suu Kyi and
her supporters immediately, and permit her party headquarters to
re-open.
The situation in Burma has long been of concern to the United
States. We have urged Burmese officials to release all political
prisoners and to offer their people a better way of life, a life
offering freedom and economic progress. We welcomed the release of
Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest more than a year ago. This step
gave the military regime an opportunity to enter into a substantive
dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi and all political groups to promote
national reconciliation and democracy. This is still the only path to
peace and prosperity for all of Burma's people.
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