Suu Kyi receives highest US civilian honour

The US Congress has honoured Myanmar’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi with the highest civilian award as she continues her 17-day visit that will see her hold a private meeting with President Barack Obama.The golden award was conferred on Wednesday on the pro-democracy campaigner who spent 15 years under house arrest in recognition for her tireless campaign to restore good governance in the Southeast Asian nation.But Washington was careful to balance praise for the Nobel laureate, removing Myanmar’s reformist president, Thein Sein, who is on a simultaneous visit, from a list of individuals who are barred from doing business or owning property in the US.A US official said Obama would hold a private meeting with Suu Kyi at the White House, his first with Myanmar’s best known politician.Al Jazeera’s Rosiland Jordan, reporting from Washington, said the ceremony had been several years in the making as Suu Kyi got the honour when she was under house arrest.“It is featuring a lot of pomp and circumstance, a full military colour guard, military musicians performing, and many invited guests, including many from the Myanmar community that has settled in the US,” she said.“What would be more interesting is next week when she visits the state if Indiana, which has the largest expatriate community of people from Myanmar or Burma.”