A bill authored by New York Democratic Rep. Joe Crowley and co-sponsored by 280 lawmakers may be considered to give Daw Aung San Suu Kyi the Congressional Gold Medal. According to the bill, Daw Suu should be recognized for "her courageous and unwavering commitment to peace".
Just two month ago China expressed her disappointment that the US awarded the Dalai Lama with the Congressional Gold Medal, no dount Aung San Suu Kyi resides on much more delicate territory.
Crowley's office said Friday that the House could vote early next week on the bill, which praises Suu Kyi's fight for democracy "despite an assassination attempt against her life, her prolonged illegal imprisonment, the constant public vilification of her character and her inability to see her children or to see her husband before his death."
UPDATE:
The House voted to approve legislation to bestow Daw Aung San Suu Kyi with the Congressional Medal of Honor today. The Senate still has to approve bill H.R. 4286.
Supporters of the legislation, which passed 400-0, made clear the award was meant to send a message to the military leaders in Myanmar, or Burma, who have suppressed political freedoms in that Asian country the past two decades. By honoring Suu Kyi, said Rep. Joseph Crowley, D-N.Y., "we will continue to pressure the junta to release her and bring freedom and democracy to the people of Burma."
