I picked up a free copy of the Toronto Star outside the Eaton's Centre and made my way to Union Station. The first thing that caught my eye was the possible release of one of the most famous political prisoners of our time --- Aung San Suu Kyi --- and her much awaited release from house arrest.
Given the time difference between Myanmar and Toronto I hurried to Sheridan College to check the news online. Sure enough the online newssites were abuzz with news of the Nobel Peace Prize winner's release from more than seven years of house arrest.
The BBC called it Myanmar's 'Mandela moment'. Listen to it here.
Aung San Suu Kyi paid a heavy personal price in her fight for democracy in her homeland. She could not visit her British husband when he was dying of cancer fearful that the Burmese military junta would block her return. He died in the UK without seeing her. According to her brother-in-law, Adrian Phillips, he hasn't spoken to her in twenty years so the whole family is delighted at the news of her release.
What's next for Aung San Suu Kyi?
Her lawyer, Nyan Win, told reporters that she will resume active politics and 'make organizing tours throughout the country,'
Like Nelson Mandela before her, Myanmar's pro-democracy leader showed grace after her release and called for 'talks with all groups to achieve national reconciliation'.
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