hosted many events over the past 900 years, in resent times, only a few international figures, charles degore. nelson mandella, pope benedict the xvi and barack obama have spoken here. today -- will become the first figure and the first woman from abroad and the first citizen from asia to do so. [ applause ] this is not a break from present without a purpose. the courage of our guest is legendary. she has ridgestood the unimaginable covering of separation from her family and her people. with a dignity fortude and resolve which most of us can barely conceive. her connections with the united kingdom are intimate. she has been the symbol of resistance to a regime which even in an imperfect world has been exception al. i can myself attest this is a cabal guilty of rape as a weapon of war, extra judicial killings, cupulsory relocation, incarceration of opponents in unspeakable conditions and exconstructie excrutiating torture where fear run ares through society like blood running through veins. one woman has depriprived such two decades. that is why she is with us here this afternoon. [ applause ]