The Dalai Lama has sent his congratulations to the leader of Burma’s main opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), following its thumping win in the country’s Nov. 8 general election.
In a letter sent to fellow Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said the election result was “a reflection of the people’s confidence that you will be able to help them fulfill their hopes and aspirations.”
“These elections are a historic milestone for Myanmar,” he wrote.
His message to Aung San Suu Kyi came the day following official confirmation on Friday that the party had secured the parliamentary majority required to select the country’s next president and form government in 2016.
Suu Kyi on Tuesday sent letters requesting to meet with President Thein Sein, Burma Army commander-in-chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing and Union Parliament Speaker Shwe Mann, with all three men agreeing to sit down with her, though a date for the occasion has not yet been set.
In a meeting with political parties on Sunday, Thein Sein urged all in attendance to help ensure a stable transition period and reaffirmed commitments to respect the poll’s outcome.
In his letter to Suu Kyi, the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists, also referenced the need to build religious tolerance in the country.
“There is a need to build closer inter-religious relations among the whole population. This will not only earn the world’s goodwill and respect, but is also the proper and realistic way to take the country forward,” he said.
Other world leaders, including United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and US President Barack Obama, have joined in commending Suu Kyi on her political success. According to a White House press statement, Obama “commended her [Aung San Suu Kyi] for her tireless efforts and sacrifice over so many years to promote a more inclusive, peaceful, and democratic Burma.”
Former US Secretary of State and current presidential candidate Hillary Clinton also congratulated the NLD leader, writing on her Facebook page: “Proud of my friend Aung San Suu Kyi and the people of Burma for never giving up in the long struggle to bring change to their country.”
