Suu Kyi honoured with inaugural Netaji Subhas Award

Kolkata, Mar 19 (UNI) The Netaji Subhas Bose Foundation today honoured Myanmarese revolutionary fighter Daw Aung San Suu Kyi with the inaugural Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Award 2007.

The award consists of a citation and a cash award of Rs one lakh.

The citation read that the award was in recognition of what she had done to reinstate democracy in her country.

Calling her the ''pride of Myanmarese'', the citation said, ''Your utterances voice the truth force that you so courageously represent. The shackles of oppression have not dimmed the fire that burns in you.'' Stating that she represented the ''light of hope in the gloom of despair,'' the citation referred to her as ''an exemplification of courage, dignity and determination'' and hoped that she would be able to achieve what she stood for in her life and times.

But being in house arrest for the last 18 years, she was not in a position to accept the award. However, a letter from her National League for Democracy dated January 23, 2007, accepted with humility the award conferred upon her and reiterated India's long standing relations with Burma from the pre-independence period.

The letter hoped that India would stand by them in their fight for democracy.

The award was received on Suu Kyi's behalf by Ram Jeet Verma, In-charge, Foreign Affairs, National League for Democracy (Liberated Area-Western Division).

UNI