From one side of the world yesterday we watched the pictures of Rachel and Paul Chandler emerging from the Somali bush after 13 months as hostages. From another part of Asia we saw the euphoric scenes of the release of Aung San Su Kyi. Both have been the subject of terrible injustice. And even if we find it hard to imagine the suffering of the Chandlers and Aung San Su Kyi in captivity it is not hard to feel the appalling injustice that lies at the heart of their experience. There is something instinctive in the feeling that depriving a person of their freedom as a means to an unjust end is simply and fundamentally wrong. The release of the Chandlers and of Aung San Suu Kyi is long overdue.
On her release, Aung San Suu Kyi said, “I think it’s quite obvious what the people want; the people just want better lives based on security and on freedom.” And the idea of freedom is a powerful one. We remember Nelson Mandela. We remember the floods of East Germans crossing the crumbling Wall. So we can perhaps share the hope that the Burmese regime will now begin to release the other 2,100 political prisoners and begin a genuine dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi and all opposition and ethnic groups. These remain the crucial first steps to solving Burma’s many problems and addressing the pressing needs of its people.
Every public tragedy is also a personal one. I remember talking to someone who had lived for many years imprisoned by a regime that wanted him out of the way and out of sight. He told me that release was a sort of freedom, but a limited one. The experience of detention continued to live with him as a psychological restriction on his liberty. My thoughts are with Aung San Su Kyi, the Chandlers and the detainees of Burma and Somalia today.
nice to see the release of captives. do you think britain might view gilad shalit an israeli pow kidnapped by hamas as a deserving case? after all, your governements policies over the years (like much of europe) is to support the arab cause. the red cross are forbidden to visit him, although the red cross is a haven for hamas terrorsts or militants. perhaps britain might intervene in the release of israeli prisoners of war held for many years. some were paraded in damascus, a haven for all peace loving peoples.
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Whilst it is right and proper that I observe and comment on events around the globe, the vast majority of my time is spent protecting UK interests here in Sweden. One element of this is certainly concern for UK nationals living in Sweden.
This year, as in many before, we marked Armistice Day in the usual fashion with a coordinated observation of two minutes silence. In the moments before this I had talked to the gathered staff about the meaning of Remembrance, the inclusive nature of the period and the increasingly current element of remembering those that sacrifice so much so that we may live in a free, secure and democratic society. On Remembrance Day my team coordinated a Remembrance Service conducted by the Reverend Nicholas Howe in the Church of St Peter and St Sigfrid in Stockholm; the English Church. Wreaths were laid by the South African Ambassador, on behalf of the Commonwealth, and members of the UK and US military on behalf of their respective embassies. Representatives of a number of expatriate organisations, including former servicemen and women, were then invited to me and my family, diplomats and servicemen at a reception in the official residence. In addition, my Deputy and her family represented the Embassy at a Remembrance Service, at St Andrew’s Church in Gothenburg and then at wreath laying ceremonies with the German Defence Attaché, at the Commonwealth and German war graves at Kviberg Cemetery.
Remembrance day is an important day in the embassy’s calendar.
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Keep your eyes on Burma Mr. Ambassador. It must be more interesting than respecting Remembrance day. About time the British Embassy actually did something for the British citizens here in Sweden like the American Embassy does. Where are your words to help support us on these days?
No money in it for you? Disgrace
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