Civic reception held to honor Suu Kyi

REPUBLICA

KATHMANDU, June 15 : A civic reception was organized in honor of Myanmar opposition leader and democracy icon Ang San Suu Kyi in Kathmandu on Sunday.

Coordinator of the Civic Reception main organizing committee Haribol Bhattarai honored her in recognition of her relentless fight for the cause of democracy in Myanmar, also known as Burma. A group of musical band had performed a song written by Byakul Maila on the occasion.

In her emotional speech after receiving the civil reception, Suu Kyi said the warm welcome and the love of the Nepali people showed her had given more energy to fight the for cause of democracy in Burma. "Nepal has always been close to my heart not only because of its physical beauty and the friendliness of its people but Nepal has gone through the same experiences that my country has," she said.

Suu Kyi also said that the progress Nepal makes toward peaceful and united country is not only of Nepal but also of Burma. "In the past we were bound together by our common struggles and we are bound together by shared happiness. I hope, one day I will be able to welcome you in my country the way you have welcomed me here," she said while adding that people in Nepal and Burma are bound together by their common experience of struggles for democracy.

In her special message, Suu Kyi asked young people and children to work for the betterment of Nepal. "You are a beautiful country. You must be proud of it. You must nurture it. You must make sure that it is a country in which your children and grandchildren wish to grow up," she said.

Separately, Deputy Prime Minister and Local Development Minister Prakash Man Singh honored her with Dr Dilli Raman Regmi International Peace Award on the occasion. Various other organizations had also presented their token of love to her.

Suu Kyi had arrived in Kathmandu on Friday on a four-day visit to participate in a function organized jointly by B P Memorial Trust and BP Thought Academy to mark the birth centenary of BP Koirala, the first elected prime minister of Nepal. She delivered a key note speech on the relevance of social democracy at a function organized in Kathmandu on Saturday.

Earlier on Sunday morning, Suu Kyi visited Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Buddha. She also offered prayers to Mayadevi Temple and visited the temple premises.

Talking briefly to journalists, Suu Kyi said peace could be restored in the world by adhering to the message given by Lord Buddha. She also said that Lumbini was a pilgrimage not only for Buddhists but also to peace lovers across the world.

Vice chairman of the Lumbini Development Trust Acharya Karma Syangbo and member secretary Ajit Man Tamang had apprised her about the development of Lumbini. Suu Kyi is flying home on Monday afternoon.

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2014/06/16/civic-reception-held-to-honor-suu-kyi/