Rayleigh and Wickford MP, Mark Francois, was present at Westminster Hall this afternoon when Burmese Human Rights campaigner, Aung San Suu Kyi, addressed both Houses of Parliament and, as part of her remarks, warned the people of the world, including in Britain, never to take democracy and freedom of speech for granted.
When the Prime Minister David Cameron MP visited Burma several weeks ago, he invited Aung San Suu Kyi, who is herself now a member of the Burmese Parliament, to visit Britain. When it became apparent that she was going to take up this invitation, the Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow MP and the Lords Speaker, Baroness D’Souza, issued a joint invitation to Aung San Suu Kyi to address both Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall. The Hall was packed this afternoon when the Burmese politian gave a speech to Peers, MPs and other guests in which she thanked Britain for its support of the fledgling democracy in Burma. Elections were held for the Burmese Parliament several months ago and Aung San Suu Kyi and her party, the National League for Democracy, were elected with a number of MPs, who are now pressing for further democratic reform in Burma.
As part of her speech, Aung San Suu Kyi said that for many years she had envied the system of Parliamentary democracy in Britain – as something that had been denied to the people of Burma – and that people around the world, including people in Britain itself, should never take that fact that they live in a free country and a democracy for granted.
Commenting on Aung san Suu Kyi’s speech, Rayleigh and Wickford MP, Mark Francois, said:
“It was a privilege to be in Westminster Hall this afternoon and to hear the words of a lady who has fought for most of her life against a despotic military regime in Burma. This woman was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her contribution to democracy and human rights and I was particularly struck by her plea that people around the world, including in our country, should not take our freedoms for granted. I absolutely agree with this sentiment and her speech was a valuable reminder to all of us that freedom is something to be cherished and protected - I hope that her wise words will live with us for many years to come”.