ATL

Nobel laureate becomes ATL life member

Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma's democratically elected leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner, has been awarded honorary life membership of ATL.

At conference this year ATL resolved to support the movement for democracy and human rights in Burma.

As part of its efforts to implement the resolution, the executive agreed to award Burma's democratically elected leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi honorary life membership of ATL.

Aung San Suu Kyi's Party, the National League for Democracy (NLD) won 82 per cent of the seats in elections held in 1990 but Burma's military rulers continue to refuse to transfer power.

Aung San Suu Kyi has spent a total of more than 12 years under house arrest and her detention was recently extended after an American man, John Yettaw, swam across Inya Lake and refused to leave her house.

ATL President Lesley Ward conferred life membership on Aung San Suu Kyi during her president's reception.

The award was collected on Aung San Suu Kyi's behalf by Zoya Phan, international coordinator of the Burma Campaign UK. She said: "One of the things that keeps her safe is her international profile, so by giving her this award you are recognising a great leader and you are also making her safe and helping to raise awareness about the situation in Burma."

"Awarding honorary life membership of ATL to Aung San Suu Kyi is an important act of solidarity and I'm delighted that its my first official act as president" said ATL President Lesley Ward.

During their recent trip to Cambodia ATL's president, international co-ordinator and officer also visited exiled Burmese democracy and trade union activists on the Thai Burma border.