Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
New Delhi, September 17, 2003

A group of exiled Members of Parliament elected in the 1990 Burma's general elections has called for the immediate release of their leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners to start a national reconciliation process in the currently military-rule Burma.

The Members of Parliament Union, in its statement to mark the 15th anniversary of the military coup in Burma tomorrow, has also called on the world community to step up pressure on the Burmese Regime, which came into power by killing pro-democracy demonstrators fifteen years ago.

"During the past fifteen years, the junta blatantly broke its promises regarding the transfer of power to the election winning party National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Aung San Suu Kyi and dialogue with the NLD and ethnic nationalities for political reform and national reconciliation", said the statement.

Several elected Members of Parliament left Burma after the regime cracked down on the National League for Democracy and other winning parties after refusing to hand over power to the NLD. They are at present residing in Thailand, India, USA, Australia and the Netherlands and they formed themselves together as Members of Parliament Union to continue their cause.

“If the generals have real commitment to establish a peaceful democratic Burma, they must start the reconciliation process by immediately and unconditionally releasing Aung San Suu Kyi, together with others detained in connection with the May 30 incident, as well as other remaining political prisoners as a first step”, said Daniel Aung, Vice President of the Members of Parliament Union.

The Nobel Peace Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been imprisoned in an
undisclosed location by the Burmese junta since May 30 this year after a violent attack on her and her organizing tour in Upper Burma, which was allegedly orchestrated by the military junta.