Lady Shri Ram College eager to see Aung San Suu Kyi free

Nem Davies
Mizzima News: 1 September, 2006 

The Lady Shri Ram College's golden jubilee celebration was held on Thursday with a prayer and a dream that its detained alumna, Burma's opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi be set free.

Burma’s democracy icon Suu Kyi studied political science in Lady Shri Ram between 1960 and 1964, before she left for London, United Kingdom to continue her higher studies.

A photograph of young Suu Kyi with her friends has been put up at the photo exhibition to mark the golden jubilee celebrations. The celebration function which was slated for August 21, was postponed without any reason being ascribed.

"And we dream of our alumna Aung San Suu Kyi being set free to enable democracy to reign in Burma", said Dr. Meenakshi Gopinath, the college Principal, in her speech during the golden jubilee celebration.

"She is probably one of the most outstanding women of courage. She has courage of conviction and loves her country," she added.

Aung San Suu Kyi came to Delhi with her mother Daw Khin Kyi, the then Burmese ambassador to India.

The Lady Shri Ram College is going to give awards to outstanding college alumna for carrying out their social responsibilities during its 50th anniversary this year.

"We are going to award 50-outstanding alumna, and we will start with Aung San Suu Kyi. She cannot come to receive the award but she will be the symbol of freedom. If she is free, she will come and receive the award herself," said Dr. Meenakshi Gopinath.

Suu Kyi went back to Burma in 1988, to assist her ailing mother and joined the massive people’s democracy movement against Gen. Ne Win’s regime.

She was awarded several prizes including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1992 and other international awards for her commitment to democratic reforms in Burma.

She is in her third house arrest in her lake side villa in Rangoon. She has been in solitary confinement for over 10 year