Washington, DC-Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) today issued a statement on the National League for Democracy’s (NLD) announcement that it will formally rejoin Burma’s politics and contest upcoming by-elections:
“Aung San Suu Kyi is a living, breathing embodiment of courage and democracy. Her party’s decision to reengage will give the NLD opposition a hard-won seat at the table and help loosen Burma’s tightly controlled political system. This potentially historic development signals that President U Thein Sein’s recent decisions are having a real impact. Burma is moving in the right direction, but actions still speak louder than words. The government needs to unconditionally release all prisoners of conscience and put a stop to the atrocities that reportedly continue unabated along the border. To help keep the Burmese government on the right track, President Obama and Secretary Clinton are implementing a forward-leaning approach that combines principled engagement and energetic pressure. The Committee is also exploring ways to support a constructive dialogue that advances human rights and our regional agenda."
