Nonviolence International Wishes Daw Aung San Suu Kyi a Bittersweet Birthday

By Nonviolence International • June 23, 2010

Burmese opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi celebrated her 65^th birthday under house arrest this past Saturday, but her supporters celebrated worldwide. Our own Michael Beer sang “Bittersweet Birthday” to the democratic leader on Capitol Hill during one such celebration.

Supporters at the birthday rally on Capitol Hill sang chants, said prayers, and performed traditional Burmese dances.

“The nonviolent struggle in Burma has enormous worldwide support,” says NI Executive Director Michael Beer. “NI will continue to support, educate, and train Burmese in nonviolent resistance as we have over the past 20 years.”

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has spent the vast majority of her years under house arrest or in prison since 1990 when her party won the national election. The military junta has done all that it can to keep Daw Suu Kyi away from the political scene. The junta recently passed a law that barred Daw Suu Kyi from running in the next election because of her court conviction. The government also extended her stay under house arrest last August for housing American John Yattew for two days.

The world’s leaders including UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and UK Prime Minister David Cameron continue to demand Daw Suu Kyi’s realease.

President Obama released the following statement on Friday June 16^th, “I once again call on the Burmese government to release Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners immediately and unconditionally, and to allow them to build a more stable, prosperous Burma that respects the rights of all its citizens.”

For video on the birthday rally click here.

For video of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s birthday rally on Capitol Hill, click here.

For the complete interview with Sami Awad, click here.

Click here for more information on the El-Hibri Peace Education Prize and the online application.

Tags: 65th Birthday, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Nonviolence International, Political Prisoners

This post is in: Press Release

Nonviolence International Wishes Daw Aung San Suu Kyi a Bittersweet Birthday

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