The announcement of the Citizen of Burma Award Organization on revoking awards to
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
Announcement No. 6/2018
Oct. 18, 2018
Many nations around the world who have been friendly with Myanmar have bestowed prestigious awards upon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, supporting her courage and effort to peacefully move Myanmar toward democracy over the decades.
Under the military dictatorship’s brutal rule for half a century, the people of Myanmar faced unbounded human rights violations, war crimes and crimes against humanity. We have always accepted and appreciated the support given by other countries and organizations to relieve this plight.
We have learned with great sadness of the recent revocations of honors given to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. We understand that these honors were given with respect for the integrity Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has always lived with. These revocations have made clear that in many cases, countries and organizations that had presented honors to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi had done so with their own political benefit as a motive.
Therefore, as the Citizen of Burma Award Organization, we condemn those organizations that have revoked awards given to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for prioritizing political benefit over moral responsibility.
The blame placed upon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the revocation of her awards and honors do nothing for the improvement of the condition of Myanmar. Conversely, they serve to exacerbate existing tensions in the region, and promote ignorance over discourse.
There are many facets to the situation in Myanmar, of which a select few have been amplified negatively around the world, regardless of consequence. This narrow-mindedness without consideration for context can prove harmful to the progress Myanmar and its people have made to shed the ignorance imposed by the military dictatorship.
We, Citizen of Burma Award Organization, strongly urge you as nations friendly to Myanmar to continue to analyze both the current and historical situation of our country, and take appropriate action in support of the welfare of all who are affected.
Central Executive Committee
Citizen of Burma Award Organization
