Hasn’t that woman suffered enough?
YANGON, Myanmar: In recognition of the outstanding services of Aung San Suu Kyi for the promotion of democracy, President Asif Ali Zardari conferred upon her the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Award for Democracy here at her residence on Wednesday.
The award was presented to Suu Kyi by Aseefa Bhutto Zardari. The ceremony, witnessed by a large number of media representatives representing Myanmar media outlets, was also attended by members of the visiting Pakistani delegation, including PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
Speaking on the occasion, the president lauded the services of Suu Kyi for the cause of democracy, lauding her as a source of inspiration for millions around the world. He said that Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto had held Suu Kyi in high esteem and used to call her “a brave inspiration to us all.” The president said that it was a moment of great pleasure for him to witness Suu Kyi accepting the award that was named after Shaheed Benazir Bhutto who in her struggle for democracy had sacrificed her own life. “We are honored that she has accepted the award,” the president remarked.
President Zardari said that the world was witnessing today the culmination of an amazing journey undertaken by Daw Suu and Myanmar was seeing a remarkable transformation largely because of her. He said that during his meeting with President Thein Sein yesterday (Tuesday), he congratulated him at the pace and scope of the democratisation process and “today I applaud Daw Suu for her role in the success of this process.”
The president said Pakistan would be a partner and friend of Myanmar as it moved forward in this journey. Earlier, the citation read on this occasion said that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, scion of the legendary Aung San, through her life and work, distinguished herself as an avid student, scholar, researcher, writer, philosopher, and social and political worker. Her life and work was indeed a testimony of her great innate human qualities, qualifying her as an outstanding leader and a veritable icon of nobility.
The citation said that like Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed, Aung San Suu Kyi was held in the highest esteem and respect as someone who ardently espoused and struggled for democracy and human rights fearlessly and, by non-violent means, stood for and worked the transformation that touched each heart and soul.
Before the award ceremony, the President along with Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Aseefa Bhutto Zardari and other senior officials held a meeting with Suu Kyi that lasted for about an hour. The president upon his arrival at the residence of Daw Suu Kyi was received by Aung San Suu Kyi who remarked that he was the first president to visit her.
During their hour-long meeting, the president lauded her services for the cause of democracy, wishing the people of Myanmar all success on their path towards democratization process. The president said that like Suu Kyi’s non-violent struggle, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto also chose the path of reconciliation as she firmly believed that reconciliation and not revenge was the only way to move forward. He said that the people of Pakistan had great respect for Suu Kyi and her country. He wished her and the people of Myanmar success in the incredible and irreversible course of democracy.
Suu Kyi recalled Mohtarma Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and lauded her unparalleled struggle for the cause of democracy in Pakistan. Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari arrived in Karachi Wednesday after concluding his two-day visit to Myanmar.