14-20 June: Resounding International Support for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on her 65th Birthday

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the world’s only detained Nobel Peace Laureate, spent her 65^th birthday under house arrest in her Rangoon home on Saturday 19 June. Governments, Burmese communities, solidarity groups and individuals around the world held events to commemorate Daw Suu’s birthday, calling for her immediate release.

On 16 June, Freedom Now released a judgement by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention unequivocally declaring that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s ongoing detention of is illegal and in violation of international law. United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Tomás Ojea Quintana, supported the working group call, demanding the release of all political prisoners “in order to create the conditions for an inclusive election process and to demonstrate that it intends to take a more serious and sincere approach to its international obligations to uphold human rights.”

US President Barack Obama and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon both appealed for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners so that they may participate in national reconciliation, a necessary step for truly democratic progress. US Senators, Indian, Australian and EU parliamentarians called for Daw Suu’s release, while 90 British MPs signed a motion calling on the British government to support a UN led effort to secure dialogue in Burma. Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister David Cameron promised that the British government would do all it could to bring full human rights and true democracy to Burma.

Protests, concerts, prayers, cultural performances and other events were held in more than 20 countries around the world, including Bangladesh, India, Japan, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Australia, the Czech Republic, Italy, Spain, Ireland, Canada and the United States.

In Bangkok, the Ten Alliances of Burma’s movement for democracy and ethnic rights also marked the occasion of Daw Suu’s birthday with a closing ceremony for the “People’s Elections.” Launched on a Global Day of Action on 27 May, activists from over 35 countries around the world have signed nearly 40,000 postcard ballots voting for real elections in Burma rather than the military’s selection currently underway. The postcards will be sent to national governments calling on them to denounce the junta’s elections and refuse to recognize the results unless the regime changes course.

The international community has spoken. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all of Burma’s 2,100 political prisoners must be released for this year’s elections to be inclusively democratic. It is now time for governments to follow their words with actions, pressuring the military regime to take the necessary steps towards genuinely inclusive and democratic elections in Burma.

News Highlights

Members of the Union and Solidarity Development Association are being trained to monitor ballot boxes during the elections

National Democratic Force approved by Election Commission; leaders remain skeptical that elections will bring democracy

Inside Burma

Non-governmental organizations with connections to the junta are giving trainings to politicians and journalists

The Union Democratic Party called for the military government not to affiliate itself with the Union Solidarity and Development Party

Political parties are afraid to campaign in Shan State South, which is under the control of the anti-junta Shan State Army-South

Wa leader criticizes the Election Commission-approved Wa Democratic Party as not representing the people

Naypyidaw has ordered Shan traditional dresses for candidates to wear in the elections

The junta’s pressure on ethnic cease-fire groups such as the United Wa State Army and the Kachin Independence Organization has reportedly decreased recently

Burma’s air force purchases 50 K-8 jet trainer aircraft from China

More than 70 people have been killed in western Bangladesh and Burma’s Arakan State after heavy flooding destroyed roads and submerged towns and villages

Regional

Popular Burmese website photayokeking.org, edited by a Burmese army deserter, was recently attacked by hackers

Lao Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh will visit Burma soon

South Korea announces an agreement to exploit two new gas blocks in Burma that will give the regime US$30 billion over the next 30 years

International

Top level Iranian officials meet with senior ministers in Naypyidaw, including Foreign Minister Nyan Win

US State Department names Burma as among the 13 countries that fail to meet US minimum standards in fighting the human trafficking

Amnesty International launches an online campaign to collect money to buy 4,000 radios to be distributed in Burma

Latest from the Blog

Aung San Suu Kyi’s desperate plea to the world
By Andrew Buncombe

Action

Celebrations were held around the world to mark Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s 65^th Birthday

Opinion

Stop this ‘better than nothing’ talk
By Bo Kyi
Democratic Voice of Burma

We are walking a long road to peace and freedom
Mary Robinson
The Independent

The Burma-North Korea Axis
By Aung Lynn Htut
The New York Times

Statements and Press Releases

Ireland’s leading musicians honour Burma’s Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi
By Burma Action Ireland

Words Must Be Turned Into Action For Aung San Suu Kyi
By Burma Campaign UK

British MPs Call For UN Action On Burma
By Burma Campaign UK

NLD Leader U Win Tin Video Message For Aung San Suu Kyi
By Burma Campaign UK

Indian Parliamentarians Call for the Release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
By Burma Centre Delhi

CSW renews calls for UN inquiry into Burma’s Crimes Against Humanity on Aung San Suu Kyi’s 65th Birthday
By Christian Solidarity Worldwide

The Elders keep an empty chair for Aung San Suu Kyi
By The Elders

European MPs Reject Sham Elections and Pledge Support for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
By European Parliamentary Caucus on Burma

Philippine solidarity activists join int’l celebration of Aung San Suu Kyi’s 65th birthday
By Free Burma Coalition – Philippines

UN Declares Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi’s Detention Illegal
By Freedom Now

Thailand Threatened Migrant Worker Crackdown: Would Be Counter Productive and Lead to Gross Human Rights Violations
By Human Rights and Development Foundation

Message from the headquarters of the Karenni National Progressive Party on the occasion of the 135 Anniversary of the Karenni National Day
By Karenni National Progressive Party

Background on Karenni National Day
By Karenni National Progressive Party

Statement on Aung San Suu Kyi’s 65th Birthday
By Office of Tibet

Graffiti for Aung San Su Kyi: People in Need will commemorate the sixty-fifth birthday of a Burmese dissident in Prague
By People in Need

Aung San Suu Kyi: a fragile heroine and a great symbol
By People in Need

Members of the Senate Women’s Caucus on Burma Call on Burmese Military Junta to Release Democratic Leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Her Birthday
By Senate Women’s Caucus on Burma

Activists Celebrate Birthday of Nobel Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
By Ten Alliances

UN Special Rapporteur calls for the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi
By Tomás Ojea Quintana

Statement by the President on the Birthday of Aung San Suu Kyi
By US President Barack Obama

Statement on 65th birthday of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
By Women’s League of Burma

Reports

Week 14: 2010 Election Watch (8-14 June)
By Altsean-Burma

Weekly Political Events Regarding the SPDC’s Election (020-2010) (In Burmese and in English)
By Network for Democracy and Development

Weekly Political Events Regarding the SPDC’s Election (021-2010) (In Burmese)
By Network for Democracy and Development

Trafficking in Persons Report 2010
By US Department of State

This post is in: Weekly Highlights