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Sent Sep 1, 2009 -- Burma Letter: An update on our Nobel initiative for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Attached please find a copy of the final letter that was delivered to Secretary general Ban-Ki Moon and the Ambassadors for the 15 countries comprising the UN Security Council. A second attachment describes the outcome of my trip to the UN when I delivered the letter personally to several people. My next goal is to secure a face-to-face meeting with the Chinese Ambassador to the UN and to continue to follow up with the US and UK Missions as well as the Secretary General's Office. I shall endeavor to keep you up on any progress I am able to make. You should also know that since August 18th we have secured three more signatures: Toni Morrison 1993 Literature Wole Soyinka 1975 Literature Derek Walcott 1979 Literature I thank you for your support. Rich Roberts Sent Nov 10, 2009 -- Burma Letter: I was trying to contact you over the summer to enlist your support for our fellow Nobel Laureate, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the 1991 Peace Prize winner. I'm sure that you have heard of her plight of having spent more than 14 of the last 18 years under house arrest in Rangoon. There have already been many protests around the world, including a letter by 11 Peace Prize Laureates to Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary General of the UN. I have organized a more extensive appeal that has attracted 210 Laureates to sign on (a list is attached) and am actively involved in dealing with the UN, the US and UK Missions to the UN as well as the Chinese Mission. The attached letter was sent to Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon on August 18th and to all members of the Security Council. I hand delivered that letter to Vijay Nambiar, Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon's Chef de Cabinet, as well as to the UK Ambassador to the UN, and representatives of the US and China Missions to the UN. A brief account of that visit is attached. The current situation with Ms. Suu Kyi makes a mockery of any idea of justice and calls for much more than just words. As Laureates we do have access to high levels of government around the world and this is a situation where we can encourage action by governments and their diplomats to help Ms. Suu Kyi and the Burmese people come out of their present dismal state. China, India and Russia are three of the major countries that are still actively trading with Burma and are in a position to influence the generals who currently rule the country with an iron hand. I am hoping to assemble a small group of Nobel Laureates, perhaps one representing each Prize category, to visit at the very least the leaders of China and India to exhort them to help. Both countries have a great deal of respect for Nobel Laureates and I am hoping we can use our prestige to convince both China and India that it is in their own interests to help resolve the current situation. I would note that 125 science laureates joined me in pressing for the resolution of the case of the Bulgarian nurses in Libya where our involvement prompted the diplomats to take the necessary actions to resolve that case successfully. I am hoping for the support of most of the living Laureates in what should be a very personal cause to help one of our own. Of course the situation with Ms. Suu Kyi is very different from that of Libya and not so easy to resolve. Nevertheless, perhaps our combined voices can convince the diplomats and governments involved that they must do everything in their power to solve this problem. I hope you will support this very important cause. Not only will your signature add weight in our dealings with the governments in the best position to help, but it will also be a source of important moral support for Ms. Suu Kyi herself. Rich Roberts |