US House pass bill to honour Suu Kyi with highest honour

US House pass bill to honour Suu Kyi with highest honourThe US House of Representatives voted 400- 0 to grant the body's highest honor - The Congressional Gold Medal -- to the world's only imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi.

The effort was led by Congressman Joe Crowley (D-NY) and Don Manzullo (R-IL).
"For three decades, Aung San Suu Kyi has valiantly led the nonviolent movement in Burma for democracy and human rights," said Crowley, a member of both the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Human Rights Caucus.
"Her work and dedication to the cause of freedom and individual liberty has earned her recognition throughout the world, including the Nobel Peace Prize. Aung San Suu Kyi's passionate and nonviolent commitment to a free democratic Burma, has won the hearts and minds of the Burmese people.
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives showed her and the world that she has also won the hearts and minds of the U.S. Congress."
"The American people are outraged by the continued detention of Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, the daughter of Burma's revolutionary hero and one of the most honorable advocates for democracy and human rights the world will ever know," said Manzullo, lead Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and the Global Environment."It is time for the junta to recognize the will of the Burmese people and open the door for true reconciliation.
By awarding Ms. Suu Kyi with the Congressional Gold Medal, we send a strong message that enough is enough."
The legislation, which required co-sponsorship by 2/3 of the entire House, overwhelmingly passed the US House on Monday, December 17th, Tuesday Bangkok time.
The bill will now be referred to the US Senate, which must also pass the measure.
"This award will generate major international attention for Aung San Suu Kyi, and further increase global resolve for her necessary, immediate and unconditional release," says Aung Din, the executive director of the U.S. Campaign for Burma who worked closely with her during Burma's 1988 popular uprising that nearly toppled years of military rule.
"It is time for the world to press for a meaningful and time-bound process of achieving democracy and national reconciliation in Burma."
Some of the world's most prominent leaders in governments, human rights, and the arts have won the Congressional Gold Medal, including Mother Theresa, Winston Churchhill, Nelson Mandela, his Holiness the Dalai Lama, Martin Luther King Jr, Robert Frost, and Elie Wiesel.
Suu Kyi has spent more than 12 of the past 17 years under house arrest