The 2012 Democracy Award
http://www.ned.org/events/democracy-award/2012-democracy-award
The 2012 Democracy Award
honoring
The Democracy Movement of Burma
Famed Burmese democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi, House Democratic
Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Rep. Joe Crowley
(D-NY) were among those present to pay tribute to Burma’s democracy
movement, which was honored with theNational Endowment for Democracy’s
2012 Democracy Award at a Capitol Hill ceremony on Sept. 20.
Five prominent civil society activists accepted the award on behalf
of the larger movement: Min Ko Naing, Hkun Htun Oo, Kyaw Thu, Dr.
Cynthia Maung and Aung Din.
“Amidst the despair, Burma’s pro-democracy movement offered its
people genuine reason for hope,” said NED President Carl Gershman.
“While they endured decades of harassment and oppression, the popular
desire for freedom, dignity and democratic change never wavered.”
“If the country is to make a full transition to democracy … Burma’s
diverse, resilient and committed democratic opposition must continue to
play a decisive role in driving the process forward,” he added.
Suu Kyi, who received the Congressional Gold Medal the day before,
said that she appreciated the international recognition of others
involved in the movement.
“To be honored is great, but to honor others is even greater,” said
Suu Kyi. “I feel very happy that today I am in a position to honor my
fellow countrymen and women.”
Several of the recipients had previously faced attacks and political
pressure from the government of Burma for their work, among them
celebrated student leader Min Ko Naing, who has spent 20 years of the
past 23 years in prison, much of it in solitary confinement. Min Ko
Naing and fellow activist honoree Hkun Htun Oo, chairman of the Shan
Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), were released in a
presidential amnesty this January. Hkun Htun Oo had spent five years of a
93-year sentence in prison..
“Today’s honorees have dedicated their efforts, their lives and their
passions to cause of human rights, freedom and democracy in Burma,”
said Crowley. “They have toiled, and they have struggled, they have
faced imprisonment, they have lived through sickness, and they have lost
friends and families in this fight. Yet they have never ever given up.”
Suu Kyi, who had spent nearly 15 years in prison until her release in
November 2010, echoed this sentiment while pledging to continue to
advance democracy in Burma.
“It is of great comfort to me to know that there are many men and
women in my country who are prepared to sacrifice their personal comfort
and their personal place in life for place of others to make sure that
the rest of the country is safe—to make sure that the rest of the
country is free,” said Suu Kyi. “It is because of people like this that
we can go on and be confident that our future will be happy.”
In their remarks, the recipients expressed pride for the movement
while emphasizing that the award was not to honor them as individuals.
“I am excited and honored to have a chance to stand here for the
first time in the congress of a democratic nation that has been
supporting democracy and human rights around the world,” said Hkun Htun
Oo. “I am honored to accept this award not for myself but for the people
of Burma.”
Hkun Htun Oo ran in the 1990 elections as head of the Shan
Nationalities League for Democracy, an opposition party that won 23
seats. When the military government annulled the results, he continued
to push for a democratic Burma until his arrest on charges of “treason,
defamation and inciting dissatisfaction toward the government.”
Kyaw Thu, an award-winning director and actor, was honored for his
work in founding the Free Funeral Service Society (FFSS), which in
addition to funerals, offers educational and health services, as well as
outreach programs for the poor and political prisoners. Since its
founding in 2001, the FFSS has grown to be one of the one of the most
important civil society organizations in Burma.
Aung Din was honored for his work in founding the U.S. Campaign for
Burma, where he serves as executive director, as well as his years as an
advocate for the democratic opposition, which include his role in
organizing the 1988 largely student-led, pro-democracy uprising
alongside Min Ko Naing.
Dr. Cynthia Maung, an ethnic Karen medical doctor, was honored for
founding the Mae Tao Clinic along the Thai-Burmese border. The clinic
services 400–500 individual daily, including refugees, migrant workers
and orphans. In her remarks, she noted that there are still many steps
to be taken to ensure peace..
“Continuing military operations in ethnic states and civil
restrictions of local and indigenous aid to war victims are key concerns
in communities of Burma,” said Dr. Cynthia. “These situations also
create mistrust of the peace process at the grass roots level. From the
prospective of the service provider for displaced people, communities
and civilians are disempowered physically, psychologically, emotionally
and socially.”
Although unable to be in attendance, Min Ko Naing was recognized for
his work as a founding member of the 88 Generation Students Group, which
played a key role in Burma’s 2007 Saffron Revolution. As chairman of
the All-Burma Federation of Student Unions, Min Ko Naing was at the
forefront of the 1988 uprising, prompting the New York Times to describe
him as Burma’s “most influential opposition figure after Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi”.
Min Ko Naing chose not to attend the ceremony in order to show
solidarity with other members of the 88 Generation Students Group who
were at the time still awaiting to be issued passports by the
government.“We all applied for our passports six months ago.
Unfortunately, I was the only one to get a passport.” explained Min Ko
Naing in a video message. “As someone who has been fighting for equal
citizenship rights for all, I cannot accept this passport while other
former political prisoners are denied to carry it.”
McCain commended the recipients—and the democracy movement of Burma as a whole—for their devotion.
“The cause of freedom in Burma has many mothers and fathers, many who
have given everything, absolutely everything for the sake of the
country they love,” said McCain. “If Burma has such people, especially
those such as the ones that we honor today, I have faith that justice
will conquer cruelty; that democracy will conquer tyranny; that love
will conquer hate; and that freedom will reign in Burma and everywhere
else.”
Maria Otero, undersecretary of state for civilian security, democracy and human rights for the Obama administration, agreed.
“None of us are naïve enough to think that the challenges that lie
ahead will be simple ones,” said Otero. “As we see across the world,
democratic transitions are often filled with uncertainty, unpredictable
challenges, and often backsliding. Yet, with commitment and
perseverance, our work to plant the roots of democracy will grow
stronger and will grow deeper.”
The NED’s Democracy Award is based on the Goddess of Democracy, the
large statue that arose in Tiananmen Square during the 1989 student
protests in Beijing.
“I’m very fond of this award because it has another example of people
using their democracy to promote democracy elsewhere,” said Pelosi.
“It’s such a remarkable symbol to the world.
Following the presentation of the award to the 2012 recipients,
Gershman and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright awarded Suu
Kyi a similar statue.
The wooden carving was originally presented to Suu Kyi and the
National League for Democracy in May 2000, on the tenth anniversary
Burma’s stolen elections, after which the NLD closed and Suu Kyi barred
from entering the government.. In 2000, Suu Kyi was unable to accept the
award in person, as the government had denied her a passport until this
year.
“Never give up,” declared Albright upon awarding the statue. “Make
sure to continue your efforts … This is a very special occasion for all
of us to be in the presence of these extremely brave people.”
The
award presentation was preceded by a panel discussion on “Examining the
Transition to Democracy in Burma” featuring both Min Ko Naing and
fellow Burmese activist, political prisoner, and leader of the 88
Generation Ko Ko Gyi, moderated by NED Senior Director for Asia and Global Programs Brian Joseph. 
“We
believe that civil society is the foundation of democracy,” Min Ko
Naing said. New policies and reforms in Burma will need to pass through
the Parliament but will also require changes in the community, so the
role of civil society is complementary and equally important, Ko Ko Gyi
explained. The 88 Generation is working to strengthen civil society and
educate the Burmese public about their rights.
Representative
Crowley agreed, and called for the United States to maintain a
“carefully calibrated” approach to Burma. He warned that overstating the
positive changes and successes of the democratic transition in Burma
risks overlooking the important challenges that still remain, including
the issue of Burma’s ethnic nationalities who “need to feel like they
have a future in the country.”
Presenting
the Democracy Award to Min Ko Naing, Gershman described Min Ko Naing’s
role as a leader of the Burmese democracy movement, beginning in 1988
when he organized the All Burma Federation of Student Unions to lead a
general strike in protest of the military government.
Accepting
the award, Min Ko Naing thanked the NED and the U.S. Congress for their
consistent support of the democracy movement in Burma. “It was surely a
fact that the international recognition and unyielding support serve as
a great spiritual encouragement to those who are fighting for freedom
at one corner of the world,” he said.