Wangari Maathai Meets with UN Secretary General to Call for Immediate Release of Political Prisoners in Burma
October 1, 2007
Prof. Wangari Maathai hand-delivered a statement from 6 of the 7 women Nobel Peace Laureates to UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, calling for the immediate release of the their sister Nobel Laureate – Aung San Suu Kyi – and all other political prisoners in Burma.
On September 29 at the UN offices in New York, the meeting took place in solidarity with worldwide protests against the recent escalation of violence in Burma. Attacks and arrests of peaceful protesters by the military continue to threaten Burma’s democratic development.
Leader of Burma’s pro-democracy movement, Aung San Suu Kyi has spent almost 12 of the past 17 years under house arrest. In calling for her release and the release of all political prisoners in Burma, the statement says, “we women Laureates are doing as Aung San Suu Kyi has asked of people everywhere: using our freedom to promote theirs.”
The statement calls for action by demanding an immediate cessation of attacks by the military; promoting the need for an arms embargo against Burma; encouraging the UN Security Council to pass a strong resolution to end the violent response to protests and in favor of national reconciliation; and, asking China to use its power to put a stop to the violence in Burma. Challenging the integrity of China as a “major backer of Burma’s repressive regime and host of the 2008 Olympics,” it states “now is the time to test if ‘One World, One Dream’ – the Olympic slogan – applies to the people of Burma.”
Meeting with the Secretary General came at the end of Maathai’s visit to the US, following a speaking tour for the release of her autobiography Unbowed in paperback and her participation in the Clinton Global Initiative in New York.
On September 29 at the UN offices in New York, the meeting took place in solidarity with worldwide protests against the recent escalation of violence in Burma. Attacks and arrests of peaceful protesters by the military continue to threaten Burma’s democratic development.
Leader of Burma’s pro-democracy movement, Aung San Suu Kyi has spent almost 12 of the past 17 years under house arrest. In calling for her release and the release of all political prisoners in Burma, the statement says, “we women Laureates are doing as Aung San Suu Kyi has asked of people everywhere: using our freedom to promote theirs.”
The statement calls for action by demanding an immediate cessation of attacks by the military; promoting the need for an arms embargo against Burma; encouraging the UN Security Council to pass a strong resolution to end the violent response to protests and in favor of national reconciliation; and, asking China to use its power to put a stop to the violence in Burma. Challenging the integrity of China as a “major backer of Burma’s repressive regime and host of the 2008 Olympics,” it states “now is the time to test if ‘One World, One Dream’ – the Olympic slogan – applies to the people of Burma.”
Meeting with the Secretary General came at the end of Maathai’s visit to the US, following a speaking tour for the release of her autobiography Unbowed in paperback and her participation in the Clinton Global Initiative in New York.
Background:
Only 12 women in its more than 100 year history have been recognized with the Nobel Peace Prize. Of these, 7 women are still living. In 2006, sister Nobel Peace Laureates Jody Williams (’97), Shirin Ebadi (’03), Wangari Maathai (’04), Rigoberta Menchú Tum (’92), Betty Williams (’76), and Mairead Corrigan Maguire (’76) united to form the Nobel Women’s Initiative (NWI) – a united effort for peace with justice and equality. Aung San Su Ski is the only woman Laureate who is not free to join the group.
Only 12 women in its more than 100 year history have been recognized with the Nobel Peace Prize. Of these, 7 women are still living. In 2006, sister Nobel Peace Laureates Jody Williams (’97), Shirin Ebadi (’03), Wangari Maathai (’04), Rigoberta Menchú Tum (’92), Betty Williams (’76), and Mairead Corrigan Maguire (’76) united to form the Nobel Women’s Initiative (NWI) – a united effort for peace with justice and equality. Aung San Su Ski is the only woman Laureate who is not free to join the group.