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THE NATION: Peace laureates focus o



Politics 

      Peace laureates focus on
      Rangoon, Beijing

      LONDON -- Burmese and Tibetan Nobel
      Peace prize laureates yesterday urged the
      international community to support
      democracy in Burma and China, saying the
      establishment of democratic rights in the
      two countries would be beneficial to the
      world at large. 

      In a video address last night to the
      reception for the Unrepresented Peoples of
      Asia, the Tibetan spiritual leader -- the
      Dalai Lama -- said China is a big country
      and in future will also be an important
      country. ''So a free and democratic China is
      not only advantageous to China, but is
      important to the rest of the world as well,''
      he said. 

      Addressing the same forum, Burmese
      pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi
      sent a similar message, saying the cause
      of the people of Burma is a cause of all
      those who believe in democracy. ''We are
      not working simply for one nation, we are
      working for ideas, for principles which apply
      to peoples all over the world,'' she said in a
      pre-recorded video message recently
      smuggled out of Burma. 

      The 1991 Nobel prize winner said the
      Burmese people are encouraged that as
      human beings, they have certain principles
      and a certain sense of the need for human
      dignity and ''that these principles and this
      sense of the need of human dignity will help
      us achieve democracy in Burma before too
      long.'' 

      The Dalai Lama said the world community
      should engage China and bring it into the
      international circle. But China at the same
      time ''must be sincere, with a spirit of true
      friendship and have pure and clear
      intentions.'' 

      ''The lies and mistakes of the past should
      be settled clearly and in a friendly spirit.
      Concealing the truth about China and
      insincere flattery have no place. They will
      not help the image of China,'' he said. 

      Citing Tibetan expression that ''one never
      hears praise and appreciation from a true
      friend,'' the exiled Tibetan leader urged
      those who are a true friend of China to
      sincerely point out mistakes to the country.
      ''It is important that the world knows the
      truth,'' he added. 

      The reception last night was organised by
      England-based campaign groups on
      Burma, East Timor and Tibet. Representing
      East Timor was Jose Ramos Horta, the
      1996 Nobel Peace Prize recipient, who
      attended the function in person. 

      In her brief statement, Suu Kyi urged the 25
      Asian and European leaders to incorporate
      non-trade and investment issues into their
      agenda of talks. 

      She said trade is for the benefit of the
      people and ''when you talk about people,
      then inevitably you must talk about human
      rights.'' 

      ''I'm inclined to believe that a free and
      secure people have much more to
      contribute towards healthy trade relations
      than a repressed and insecure people,''
      she added. 

      The reception took place on the eve of the
      Asia-Europe Summit (Asem) here today
      and was one of the activities organised by
      Asian and European non-governmental
      organisations. 

      BY YINDEE LERTCHAROENCHOK 

      The Nation