Summary:
Aung San Suu Kyi has become the second woman next to the Queen to address Parliament and the first person who is not a head of state to address both Houses.
Aung San Suu Kyi pays tribute to Westminster as a symbol of Freedom of Speech and is hoping that Burma can learn from other Parliamentary models.
She recognises Britain as the largest bilateral donor to Burma and welcomes "targetted assistance" to Burma.
She also calls on businesses to play their part appealing for "democracy-friendly investment", which will focus on environmental sustainability, accountability, investment and workers' rights.
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Daw Suu is now greeting Parliamentary dignitaries including Lord Strathclyde, Baroness Boothroyd and others. She has just greeted Sadiq Khan MP (shadow justice minister) and Emily Thornberry MP (shadow attorney general).
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The chamber orchestra in the background are performing Mozart. Earlier in her speech, Daw Suu mentioned that the music of Mozart helped her keep in touch with the outside world.
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The Lords Speaker thanks Daw Suu for her address to Parliament and reassures her that the people of Burma has “never left our minds”.
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D'Souza: "In post-war Europe we have seen that it is possible for countries to go from a totalitarian society to a democracy"
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Daw Suu is given a standing ovation as she finishes her speech.
Baroness D’Souza takes to the podium.
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Daw Suu is hoping that with the help of the British Parliament that Burma will join the ranks of democratic societies and hopes that Britain will play a role in that.
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is calling for people to support the efforts of Burma for a democratic society and thanks both houses for allowing her to address both Houses.
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To experience first hand that countries that are geographically distant are close to the aspirations of the people of Burma.
“no geographical distance or human made barriers can stand in our way.
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Daw Suu is hoping the will of the people will be reflected in Burma’s political landscape.
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Daw Suu: "Aid must empower the people and promote the principles of a genuine democratic society"
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Daw Suu says she hopes British businesses can play a role in Burma’s future, from accountability, investment, and worker’s rights.
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“Britain for so long under successive governments have been a staunch and unshakeable in our efforts in Burma.”
Daw Suu recognises that Britain is the largest bilateral donor to Burma.
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Britain has proved that a constitution does not need to be written down to be accepted.
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Daw Suu cites that the Burmese Parliament is based on the British Parliament and jokes that she is hoping to reflect the liveliness and informality in Westminster in a reference to the liveliness of PMQs
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Daw Suu talks about political participation where apathy among young people is rare and recalls seeing young people and toddlers waving NLD flags
“The passion of the electorate was a passion borne of hunger of something denied”
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Daw Suu mentions that she did not have the right to vote when living in the UK, but encouraged other people to vote.
She shares an anecdote about her late husband Michael Aris when they were both living in Oxford. Aris once asked a canvasser to come back later and said: “There’s no point canvassing me, my wife makes the decisions on who I should vote for.”
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“Politics shouldn’t be seen as something that exists above or beneath us but integral to our everyday existence.”
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“If we don’t regards the rights we have w erun the risk of seeing those rights eroded."
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On Freedom of speech: "I imagine some here would take this freedom for granted. In Burma, we have struggled for this long and hard, and we’re only now just beginning to see the fruits of our struggle."
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"In a speech about change and reform it’s appropaite to be in Westminster Hall.
"British Parliament is perhaps the pre-eminent symbol to oppressed peoples around the world on Freedom of Speech."
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"I strive to be as practical as my father was."
Daw Suu pays tribute to her father who believed that democracy was the only valid system.
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Daw Suu makes a joke about the weather, which is met with laughs from the hall.
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Daw Suu said visit of Downing Street felt familiar because of her history. She cites a photograph of her father standing outside Downing Street with Clement Attlee.
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Aung Sann Suu Kyi receives a standing ovation as she enters Westminster Hall. She is the second woman next to the Queen to address Parliament and is the first woman who is not a head of state and the first citizen of Asia to address both houses.
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