Congressional Gold Medal for Burma’s Suu Kyi

The Congressional Gold Medal is to be awarded to the leader of Burma’s democratic opposition, Aung San Suu Kyi, Agence France-Presse reported Friday. She has spent 12 out of the past 18 years under house arrest, and is the only recipient in the award’s 232-year history to be given it while imprisoned.

The medal is the highest civilian honor the legislature can bestow, and has previously been awarded to Winston Churchill, Pope John Paul II, Mother Teresa, former South African president Nelson Mandela and Tibet’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

Suu Kyi’s latest period of detention began in 2003 after a deadly attack on her convoy by supporters of the ruling military junta. There is no sign that the generals plan to free her.

“This Congressional Gold Medal is a tribute to Suu Kyi's courage and conviction, and a symbol of solidarity with the oppressed people of Burma,” said Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), who proposed the legislation with Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

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