Activists Celebrate Birthday of Nobel Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

By Ten Alliances • June 18, 2010

Government Officials Receive Results of the “People’s Elections”

At a press conference held today in Bangkok, Burma’s Ten Alliances of the movement for democracy and ethnic rights celebrated Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s birthday and announced the results of their global “People’s Elections.”

The events honoured Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s vision for Burma, one of a democratic federal union with equal rights for all ethnic people. In the days leading up to her birthday, groups around the world are celebrating her inspiring vision and condemning her continued house arrest which the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has recently declared contravenes international human rights law.

“We cannot give up on the vision, we cannot settle for less than what the people of Burma deserve. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi says, “There’s no use in having a vision and not having the means to realize it. ” We want elections where all the people have their own choice to elect the government they want, and not to be forced to elect a military government,” said Naw Zipporah Sein, General Secretary of the Karen National Union.

Honouring Daw Suu’s vision, members of Burmese communities and solidarity groups around the globe participated in the “People’s Elections” by collecting signed postcard ballots calling on their national governments to denounce and reject the results of the junta’s elections. Citizens from 35 countries spanning 6 continents collectively mobilized to sign over 39,000 postcards, with thousands more expected from Daw Suu birthday events over the coming days.

In Bangkok, representatives from Burma’ pro-democracy groups presented symbolic postcard ballots to Mr. Kraisak Choonhavan, President of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC), Canadian Ambassador His Excellency Ron Hoffmann, and representatives from the Embassies of the US and Czech Republic. The actual signed postcards will be delivered to national governments. The officials each delivered personal birthday messages to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and wished for her speedy release from house arrest.

“It is sad that as we celebrate her birthday, Daw Suu is not with us and has not been with us for so many birthdays,” said Ajarn Kraisak. At the end of his speech, Kraisak presented messages from 14 AIPMC members to Daw Suu on her birthday.

“We are happy to see today that so many members of governments support Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. These governments must now take the next step by denouncing the elections and refusing to recognize the results, unless Daw Suu and all political prisoners are released and an inclusive dialogue is initiated between the military regime and ethnic and opposition groups. The people have spoken, now it is the turn of governments,” said Moe Zaw Oo, Coordinator of the Foreign Affairs Coordinating Team of the Ten Alliances.

Birthday events are also being held for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in Banglaesh, India, Japan, the Philippines, Australia, the Czech Republic, Italy, the United States and many others countries. Please visit our website for more information on these events.

The Global Day of Action was part of the Global Campaign Against Burma’s 2010 Military Elections. The Campaign was initiated by the Ten Alliances of Burma’s democracy and ethnic rights movement, representing the most broad-based and multi-ethnic cooperation of political and civil society organizations from inside and in exile working for national reconciliation, peace, and freedom in Burma. It is endorsed by over 150 organizations around the world.

—

Contact:

Zipporah Sein, General Secretary of the Karen National Union: +66 (0)857511078

Moe Zaw Oo, Coordinator of the Foreign Affairs Coordinating Team: +66 (0)877735580

See more photos.

Tags: 65th Birthday, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Global Campaign Against Burma's 2010 Military Elections, Global Day of Action, Thailand

This post is in: Press Release

Activists Celebrate Birthday of Nobel Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

About Burma Partnership

Spotlight

Campaigns