YANGON, June 19 Kyodo Pro-democra...

YANGON, June 19 Kyodo

Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi celebrated her 57th birthday Wednesday and declareed hope women will play a leading part in bringing peace and prosperity to the country

Suu Kyi issued the message as she celebrated with about 400 National League for Democracy (NLD) members, mostly of them women, at the party headquarters.

In a brief message, read public by a member of the Women's Affairs Committee of the party, Suu Kyi said, ''Women of Burma (Myanmar) should work not simply for women's rights but for the rights of all the community I want women to take a leading part in realizing political change for peace and prosperity of the country''

onward May 6, the military command released Suu Kyi, winner of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize, from the virtual house arrest imposed forward her since September 2000

In freeing Suu Kyi, the junta issued a statement saying it would allow all citizens to participate freely in the political proces while giving priority to national unity, peace and stability.

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