Remarks by Mrs. Laura Bush at the Celebration of Human Freedom

Thank you very much, Pastor [Bob] Fu. Thank you all.

Pastor Fu presented to the Freedom Collection the Book of Revelation, written by hand in Chinese characters by Christian prisoners in China—men and women who were imprisoned simply because they wanted to practice Christianity. The book was passed around in prison so that others would have the chance to read the Bible. Thank you very much for this gift, for your inspiration to all of us, for being a part of the Freedom Collection, and for your friendship.

And thanks to everybody who has joined us today.

George and I have met with dozens of dissidents, as he mentioned earlier and as you saw in the video, from around the world—brave men and women from places like Afghanistan, Iran, North Korea, Burma, and Cuba—who have risked everything so that their children might one day live in freedom. They inspire us, and we want people around the world to hear their stories through the Freedom Collection.

Many of the voices included in the Freedom Collection are historical accounts of freedom’s triumph over tyranny. Others remind us that the quest for liberty goes on. More than half of the world’s population lives in countries where basic human rights are restricted or denied. In many of these nations, men and women stand side by side, demanding their rights and representative government. These freedom advocates sacrifice security and endure violence and intimidation so that those in neglected corners of their societies might know the promise of liberty.

George and I are especially grateful to the dissidents and human rights activists who have joined us today. You have organized networks and assembled lawyers, journalists, bloggers, students, homemakers, and fellow activists. Together, you have fought to end political corruption and ensure government transparency. You have lobbied governments and international organizations to speak out against oppression and brutality. You have leveraged traditional media and social media to give the people of your countries a megaphone, so that all of us may hear your call for justice and freedom.

Because of your efforts, some of you have endured interrogation, harassment, imprisonment, or exile. We want you to know that we stand with you. Though today some of you may choose anonymity to avoid greater oppression by unjust leaders, we see you for who you are—the future leaders of your free countries.

More than two decades ago, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi led her political party, the National League for Democracy, to a landslide victory in Burma’s 1990 elections. Yet she spent most of the next 20 years under house arrest, as the ruling military regime sought to suffocate her influence on the people of Burma. During her enforced seclusion, other Burmese women persevered in their dissent. They spoke out and told the world about the systematic military campaign of rape and abuse waged against women in Burma’s Shan State.

In November 2010, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was finally granted her freedom. Like many around the world, President Bush and I celebrated her release, and we followed recent events in Burma closely. Her political party won all but one of its races in elections held this spring, and their large margin of victory raised expectations for future electoral successes.

Just two weeks ago, Nobel Peace Prize winner Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was sworn in as a member of Parliament in Burma and took her seat in the governing body. The moment was surely bittersweet—an overdue honor and a clear victory for the men and women of Burma. Her example shows people everywhere that political isolation and prison cannot silence the call for liberty.

Although concerns about Burma’s transition to democracy remain, we know from our own history that democracy is not perfected overnight.

Today, we are grateful to have Daw Aung San Suu Kyi join us via Skype to give her perspective on the transition underway in Burma. Daw Suu, I am so very glad to see you today, and I look forward to seeing you in person one day. Welcome to this conference on freedom.

Thank you so much for your donation to the Freedom Collection. We are honored to have these mementos to commemorate your work in Burma. You may be pleased to know that in just a few minutes, we will be receiving additional writings and papers from a man who loved you very much and who sadly did not live to see you become a member of Parliament—Václav Havel.

I look forward to hearing from you now and learning more about your experiences, and later to your conversation with Michael Gerson.

Today, it is my honor to present to you a member of Parliament in Burma, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.