17 February 1993

“The world is watching you”, Nobel Peace Prize laureates unite against Myanmar junta

A group of Nobel Peace Prize laureates, including the Dalai Lama, launched an international campaign from Thailand for the release of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a fellow laureate in her fourth year of house arrest in Burma which had by then been renamed Myanmar.

The group also travelled to the Thailand-Myanmar border, where they met with Myanmar dissidents. ‘I hope the military government there is made to quake in their boots because of our mission,’ said Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa. ‘I say the world is watching you—watch out.’

Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai announced shortly after the laureates’ visit that Thailand had no policy to isolate Myanmar, and did not plan to offend its neighbour. Myanmar Deputy Foreign Minister U Nyunt Swe said the relationships between the two countries remained unaffected by the campaign.

Chuan defended the laureates’ presence in Thailand, saying, ‘We must uphold correct principles and our independence.’

Other laureates in attendance included Oscar Arias of Costa Rica, Mairead Corrigan and Betty Williams of Northern Ireland, and Adolfo Perez Esquivel of Argentina. Mikhail Gorbachev, Mother Theresa and Rigoberta Menchu sent messages of support.

17 February 1993

“The world is watching you”, Nobel Peace Prize laureates unite against Myanmar junta

A group of Nobel Peace Prize laureates, including the Dalai Lama, launched an international campaign from Thailand for the release of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a fellow laureate in her fourth year of house arrest in Burma which had by then been renamed Myanmar.

The group also travelled to the Thailand-Myanmar border, where they met with Myanmar dissidents. ‘I hope the military government there is made to quake in their boots because of our mission,’ said Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa. ‘I say the world is watching you—watch out.’

Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai announced shortly after the laureates’ visit that Thailand had no policy to isolate Myanmar, and did not plan to offend its neighbour. Myanmar Deputy Foreign Minister U Nyunt Swe said the relationships between the two countries remained unaffected by the campaign.

Chuan defended the laureates’ presence in Thailand, saying, ‘We must uphold correct principles and our independence.’

Other laureates in attendance included Oscar Arias of Costa Rica, Mairead Corrigan and Betty Williams of Northern Ireland, and Adolfo Perez Esquivel of Argentina. Mikhail Gorbachev, Mother Theresa and Rigoberta Menchu sent messages of support.