Cambridgeshire Euro MP Richard Howitt met one of the most famous political prisoners in history when he helped present a human rights award which had been denied to her during 15 years of imprisonment.
Burma democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi visited the European Parliament this week to receive the 1990 Sakharov prize, after finally being released from house arrest three years ago.
Labour’s Mr Howitt MEP is part of the organising committee for the prestigious European award, and has taken part in the Burma Campaign in the UK to work for the Burmese democracy leader’s release.
It is the first time he has met her in person.
In his speech during the public presentation ceremony, Richard Howitt MEP said: “We will continue to campaign for freedom for all your people.”
Aung San Suu Kyi was imprisoned after Burma’s military regime quashed a democratic uprising in the country, killing up to 5,000 demonstrators on one day alone in 1988.
Her National League for Democracy won 82% of the seats in the Burmese Parliament in elections in 1990, but the country’s dictatorship refused to hand over power.
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