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AUGN SAN SUU KYI'S SPEECH TO THE FO



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THE FOLLOWING IS THE MESSAGE SENT BY DAW AUNG SAN SUU KYI TO THE
FORUM "2000" CONFERENCE HELD IN PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC ON
SEPTEMBER 3-6.

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                               FORUM 2000
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That an end entails a beginning is the beautiful aspect of the
circularity of human existence. It is, of course, important that
the soft perfection of harmonious roundness is not debased into a
vicious cycle. There is little value to new beginning if we
simply commit the same mistakes that caused so much suffering in
the past.

Many of us will view the beginning of the twenty-first century
with some degree of excitement. What will the future bring? What
can we make of the opportunities that were not given to our
forefathers? Are we going to face the challenges of what, a
century ago, were unimaginable technological and social
development? And, if we choose to grapple with the problems that
will surely come with the new millennium, how shall we go about
it, how shall we educate ourselves and our young to cope with the
unknown?

I regret very much that I am unable to be present at this
conference and to learn from the thoughts and words of men an
women who are concerned not just for their own immediate present
but for the future of humankind. I doubt that I would be able to
add much to the learned discussions that will take place in this
conference. I would just like to pout forward the simple
suggestion that one of the greatest needs for the new millennium
is the development of a generous spirit, a spirit that will
create a rich diversity out of the different races and creeds of
our planet.

A generous nature is a noble nature a kind nature that is loving
and giving and forgiving, a nature that rejoices in the good
fortune of others and allows for the weaknesses of others in a
true spirit of humility that recognizes one's own weaknesses. It
is a nature that seeks to alleviate the sufferings of others, not
to aggravate them with self-righteous condemnation or ruthless
aggression. It is a nature in which there is little room for
jealousy or covetousness or contempt. It is a nature that is warm
and caring. At this point, perhaps, I should hasten to say that I
am not talking about saints except perhaps in the sense of the
definition that saints are the sinners who go on trying. I am
simply talking of the kind of people who can help to make our
life a little happier in spite of the unavoidable trials and
tribulations of worldly existence.

As a politician working to establish democracy in a land ruled by
a military junta, and as an individual who has to struggle to
lead a normal life under abnormal circumstances, my appreciation
for kind people with the generosity of spirit to see through to
the human needs behind the unnatural existence of dissidents,
such as myself, is unbounded. Such kindness and generosity have
come from all over the world, not least from President Vaclav
Havel and others present at this conference today. May I wish
them all success in their endeavor to "create new structures of
stability and democratic institutions that will foster individual
liberties and more widespread observance of basic human
rights...(and) to develop a broader, more humanistic
consciousness that reflects the deep unity among peoples and
embraces the plurality of values in the present world."

I am confident that the generosity of spirit and the wisdom of
the participants of this conference will lead them to the right
answers.



Aung San Suu Kyi
September 3, 1997 

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