Commemorating the uprising in Burma
This month marks 20 years since the 1988 uprising in Burma against its military regime. Many were killed and many imprisoned as the demonstrations were brutally suppressed. On Monday night we held a reception in the Foreign Office to mark the occasion and remember those who died and to pay tribute to all those who then and since have struggled for the freedom of the Burmese people.
About 100 people attended including many Burmese people who live in the UK, representatives of non governmental organisations who are working for democracy in Burma and some former UK ambassadors to Burma. It was a real honour and pleasure to meet the sister-in-law and brother-in-law of Aung San Suu Kyi and also some of her friends.
I was joined by Shahid Malik MP, minister in the Department for International Development who spoke about our response to Cyclone Nargis and by Mark Canning, our excellent ambassador in Rangoon.
My speech is available to read.
Posted at 13:08 13 August 2008 by Meg Munn | Comments[0]
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