"If people are placed under arbitrary detention for exercising their rights to a free conscience, then we diminish the value of the whole world. We diminish the value of thinking human beings."

The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention celebrates the 20th anniversary of its creation in November 2011. In this message, Aung San Suu Kyi thanks the Group for all what has been done for political prisoners in the world, especially in Burma. For captives, the knowledge that, somewhere, people are working for their release is a great help. It makes them believe it is worthwhile to stand up for ideas and free conscience.