guardian.co.uk,
Associated Press in Washington DC, Wednesday 19 September 2012
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| Burmese human rights activist Aung San Suu Kyi receives the Congressional Gold Medal. Photograph: Getty Images/Jim Watson |
US
lawmakers united by their respect for the Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi have presented her with Congress' highest civilian honor in a grandiose
ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda.
Suu Kyi,
who described Wednesday as "one of the most moving days of my life",
was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2008, while under house arrest for
her peaceful struggle against military rule.
Her
long-awaited visit to America finally provided an opportunity for her to
receive the honor in person in Congress' most august setting, beneath the dome
of the Capitol and ringed by marble statues of former US presidents.
House and
Senate leaders joined Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in paying
tribute to the 67-year old Nobel laureate. Suu Kyi is on a 17-day trip to the
US. President Barack Obama will meet privately with Suu Kyi later on Wednesday.
White House
spokesman Jay Carney said Obama was looking forward to the visit, "as it
provides another opportunity to reaffirm our long-standing support for her
struggle and the struggle of many others toward democratic, just and
transparent governance in Burma".
A senior
administration official, who requested anonymity in order to discuss the
protocol surrounding the meeting, said there would be no news coverage because
Suu Kyi is not a head of state. That reflects concerns that her Washington
visit could overshadow Thein Sein, who will attend the annual gathering of
world leaders at the UN General Assembly in New York next week.
Thein Sein
is a member of Burma's former ruling junta who has led the political opening
over the past two years that was heralded by Suu Kyi's release in late 2010.
Suu Kyi has since been elected to parliament. She spent 15 years under house
arrest, for opposing military rule.
As a result
of her release, the US normalized diplomatic relations with Burma and in July
allowed US companies to invest there. The administration is now considering
easing the main plank of its remaining sanctions against Burma, a ban on
imports.
Suu Kyi
voiced support for that step after she met Clinton on Tuesday, saying Burma
should not depend on the US to keep up its momentum for democracy. Some of her
supporters, however, oppose it, saying reforms have not taken root and
Washington will lose leverage with Burma, which still faces serious human
rights issues, if it raises its ban on imports. Clinton also expressed concern
Tuesday that Burma retains some military contacts with North Korea.
The US
maintains a list of sanctioned individuals and entities barred from doing
business and owning property in the US. They are principally military figures
and people implicated in human rights abuses and drug trafficking.
Thura Shwe
Mann, the speaker of Burma's lower house of parliament, was taken off the list
on Wednesday. He was the third-ranking member of the former ruling junta.
Suu Kyi is
also set to meet Senate and House leaders.
"This
is a truly special day here at the Capitol," said Mitch McConnell,
minority Republican leader, on the Senate floor ahead of the medal ceremony.
"It's been a long time coming. We are honored to have this hero with us
and delighted to award her our nation's highest civilian honor."
Suu Kyi's
cause is one that Democrats and Republicans in an increasingly divided
Washington have united in championing over the years, and several lawmakers who
have advocated sanctions have visited Burma over the past year to consult with
her on the shift in US policy.
Despite
bitter political divisions, both parties in Congress have broadly supported the
administration's steps to reward Burma for its shift from military rule. In
August, Congress renewed the import ban; President Obama, however, could seek
to waive its provisions.
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