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6 January 2012 DAW AUNG SAN SUU KYI MET WITH BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY
William Hague, the British Foreign Secretary held nearly one and a half hour long meeting with pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi at her lakeside compound in Rangoon this morning. Of course much more need to be done and that is vital in our view that remaining political prisoners should be released. And it is not possible to say a country is free and democratic while people are still in prisons on the ground of their political beliefs, William Hague told reporters. We also looked to the government to improve humanitarian access to areas of ethnic conict and to ensure that the by-elections that will take place on the 1st of April are freely and fairly and visibly free and fair in the eyes of the world, British Foreign Secretary said. The long held dream now has the chance of being realized but so much more work to be done. The long darkness through which the people of this country have lived may be coming to an end, said William Hague.

Photo: The Guardian

Make a dream a reality. I dont believe dreaming for the sake of dreaming. We have to have a goal and we have to know how we intend to realize our dream. If we work hard, we are sure fullling the dream of the people of Burma, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi declared at the end of the meeting with William Hague. When asked by a reporter about the way of the release of prisoners, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said: All political prisoners should be released and there should be all efforts made put an end to the ethnic conict within the country and certainly we would like to see free and fair by-elections. I must add I would like to see the NLD winning very well in those elec. A total of 6656 prisoners 569 women and 6087 men enjoyed amnesty as fro January 3, 2012, after the order from the President, according to the state-owned newspapers. The order was issued as a gesture of hailing the 64th Anniversary of Independence Day and for the sake of State peace and stability, the rule of law, national solidarity and on the grounds of humanitarian and the President has granted an amnesty for the prisoners, the news item said. Besides, the death sentences of 33 prisoners 31 men and 2 women were commuted to life imprisonment, over 30 years sentences of 1118 prisoners 988 men and 130 women were reduced to 30 years sentences, from 20 year sentences to 30 years sentences of 2702 prisoners 2300 men and 402 women were commuted to 20 years sentences and under 20 years sentences of 35111 prisoners 29855 men and 5256 women were reduced by a quarter of their prison terms, the news item mentioned.

Photo: Getty Images

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