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

By Burma Action Ireland • June 20, 2010

Tomorrow, Saturday 19 June marks the 65^th birthday of Burma’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, adding yet another day to the almost 15 years that she has spent under house arrest. To honour Daw Suu Kyi, some of Ireland’s leading entertainers including Christy Moore, broadcaster Eamon Dunphy and author Deirdre Purcell will perform music and readings at Dublin’s National Concert Hall on Saturday 19 June at 8pm, in a special tribute concert hosted by Marian Finucane.

Events are being held in many countries around the world to celebrate Daw Suu Kyi’s birthday, including Australia, UK, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Philippines and the US.

In Dublin, music activist Keith Donald has assembled a top line-up of Ireland’s music, literary and media greats, some of whom also celebrate their 65^th birthday this year. Among those performing music and readings will be the Dublin Gospel Choir, Fiachra Trench, Carmel McCreagh, Deirdre Purcell, Brendan Graham, Niall Toner, Noel Eccles and Damian Gorman.

Sending his message for this event, Bob Geldof said “It is not enough to remember Aung San Suu Kyi on her birthday. Her sacrifice demands that we not only remember her courage like a daily prayer but that we insist she be remembered and acted upon on a daily basis.”

In 1990, while under house arrest, Aung San Suu Kyi lead the National League for Democracy (NLD) to an overwhelming victory in Burma’s national elections but the result was never recognised by the Burmese ruling military junta. Many of MP-elects were harassed, imprisoned and tortured; others have fled into exile. 20 years on, with Aung San Suu Kyi still under house arrest, the junta have drafted a new constitution that is designed to entrench military rule. In recent months, Burma’s military rulers promulgated electoral laws that ban Daw Suu Kyi and many others, including key democracy and ethnic leaders, from taking part in ‘elections’ due later this year. Unwilling to accept the 2008 Constitution and the unjust electoral laws, the National League for Democracy did not register for the general elections and has been forced to dissolve.

For the people of Burma, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi continues to symbolise their struggle and hope for freedom, peace and democracy.

Note to Editors

Burma, a country with a population of over 50 million, has one of the world’s worst human rights records. Political prisoners, including journalists, students and political activists, are given lengthy sentences for expressing their views and are systematically tortured while in custody. Worse still are the abuses directed at the ethnic minorities, which include forced labour, rape and summary execution.

Nobel Peace Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is a Freewoman of the cities of Dublin and Galway.

Burma Action Ireland is a voluntary group established in May 1996 to raise awareness in Ireland of the current situation in Burma and the nature of the ruling regime, the State Peace and Development Council. The association is non-party political, non-denominational and committed to non-violent means.

For further information:

Gearóid Kilgallen / Eileen Seymour – Burma Action Ireland: 087 618 0321

This post is in: Press Release

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

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