YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi shared rice and chocolate cake with her prison guards to celebrate her 64th birthday Friday, as global condemnation of her trial galvanized rallies in capitals around the world.
European Union nations marked the Nobel Peace Prize laureate's birthday by warning they would step up sanctions against Myanmar's military government if she is not released.
Suu Kyi, who is being held in a "guest house" at Yangon's notorious Insein Prison, faces up to five years in jail on charges of violating the terms of her house arrest after an uninvited American man swam to her tightly guarded lakeside home and stayed two days.
Several miles (kilometers) from the prison, hundreds of supporters released 64 sparrows and 10 doves at the headquarters of her National League for Democracy party and sang "Happy Birthday."
Suu Kyi's lawyer, Nyan Win, took cakes, orchids and "birthday messages from her friends and the international community" to her at the prison along with 50 lunch boxes of rice to share with the prison staff.
"She really appreciates the efforts and said she was sorry she wasn't able to thank everyone individually," he said.
Suu Kyi has now spent 14 birthdays in detention. Friday's birthday stirred an outpouring of support from Hollywood stars including Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts, celebrities Madonna and David Beckham, and many Western governments.
Many posted online messages on social networking sites and videos on YouTube in what human rights groups called an unprecedented and enormously powerful tool to highlight her struggle.
Concerts, candlelight vigils and other gatherings for Suu Kyi were scheduled in more than 20 cities worldwide, including Bangkok, Dublin, London, Paris, Prague, Sydney, Tokyo and New York.
"We must not stand by as she is silenced again. Now is the time for the international community to speak with one voice," said part of a message on a Web site — http://64forsuu.org — signed by dozens of dignitaries and celebrities. They included George Clooney, Sarah Jessica Parker, Robert De Niro, Nicole Kidman, director Steven Spielberg and fellow Nobel Peace Prize laureates Elie Wiesel and Desmond Tutu.
"Aung San Suu Kyi is an inspiration to her country and to the rest of the world," Paul McCartney said in a message on the site.
The Web site is the online hub for a campaign — "64 words for Aung San Suu Kyi" — organized by a coalition of human rights groups including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the Burma Campaign UK and Not On Our Watch, a charity founded by Clooney, Pitt and other actors.
In Washington, State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said in a statement Thursday that Myanmar should drop its "unjustified and indefensible charges" against Suu Kyi. He said the United States looks "forward to the day when she will be able to celebrate her birthday in freedom."
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said in Brussels it was a "tragedy" that Suu Kyi spent her birthday in prison as the military junta "continues its absurd and contemptible sham trial of her."
EU leaders issued a stern declaration saying Myanmar's credibility in holding elections next year would be undermined unless she is released.They called on the military regime to undertake "a genuine transition to democracy."
Myanmar has been ruled by the military since 1962. The current junta came to power in 1988 after crushing a pro-democracy uprising.
Small protests were held Friday outside Myanmar embassies in Bangkok, Manila, Seoul and New Delhi.
Three dozen supporters in Manila formed the words "not guilty" with a wreath of roses in front of the Myanmar Embassy and sang the Beatles song "Imagine."
Many of Suu Kyi's supporters believe the junta is using the visit by the uninvited American to her house as a pretext to keep her in detention through next year's elections. Her party won Myanmar's last elections in 1990 but was not allowed to take power by the military.
Judges are expected to deliver a guilty verdict, since courts in Myanmar are known for handing out harsh sentences to political dissidents.
Suu Kyi has spent more than 13 of the last 19 years in detention, mostly under house arrest.
Associated Press writers Jocelyn Gecker and Michael Casey in Bangkok and Aoife White in Brussels contributed to this report.
by the associated press
AdBrite
AdBrite
Showing posts with label Aung San Suu Kyi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Aung San Suu Kyi. Show all posts
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
US ask Suu Kyi release on birthday
WASHINGTON (AFP) — The United States on Thursday urged Myanmar's junta to free Aung San Suu Kyi as the democracy icon prepared to spend her 64th birthday facing trial.
The US State Department in a birthday greeting called on Myanmar's junta to free the Nobel laureate "immediately" and hailed the woman who has "dedicated her life to achieving democratic change and promoting progress in Burma."
"We, along with all of her admirers in Burma and abroad, look forward to the day when she will be able to celebrate her birthday in freedom," the State Department statement said, using Myanmar's earlier name.
Aung San Suu Kyi has spent 13 of the last 19 years in detention since the junta refused to recognize her National League for Democracy's (NLD) landslide victory elections in 1990.
The Nobel laureate is set to spend her birthday on Friday at Yangon's notorious Insein prison, where she is being held on charges of violating her house arrest after an American man swam to her lakeside house.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi "deplorable" and urged all nations to condemn it.
"A clear message must be sent that Aung San Suu Kyi and all other prisoners of conscience in Burma must be released, immediately and unconditionally," she said.
The new administration of President Barack Obama has launched a review of policy on Myanmar, saying it hopes to work more closely with Asian nations who have pursued engagement with the junta.
But the State Department has indicated it is not considering a lifting of sanctions.
Kurt Campbell, the nominee to be the top US diplomat for Asia, told his Senate confirmation hearing last week that the Myanmar's detention of Aung San Suu Kyi had cast a shadow over efforts to build a new policy.
by the afp
The US State Department in a birthday greeting called on Myanmar's junta to free the Nobel laureate "immediately" and hailed the woman who has "dedicated her life to achieving democratic change and promoting progress in Burma."
"We, along with all of her admirers in Burma and abroad, look forward to the day when she will be able to celebrate her birthday in freedom," the State Department statement said, using Myanmar's earlier name.
Aung San Suu Kyi has spent 13 of the last 19 years in detention since the junta refused to recognize her National League for Democracy's (NLD) landslide victory elections in 1990.
The Nobel laureate is set to spend her birthday on Friday at Yangon's notorious Insein prison, where she is being held on charges of violating her house arrest after an American man swam to her lakeside house.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi "deplorable" and urged all nations to condemn it.
"A clear message must be sent that Aung San Suu Kyi and all other prisoners of conscience in Burma must be released, immediately and unconditionally," she said.
The new administration of President Barack Obama has launched a review of policy on Myanmar, saying it hopes to work more closely with Asian nations who have pursued engagement with the junta.
But the State Department has indicated it is not considering a lifting of sanctions.
Kurt Campbell, the nominee to be the top US diplomat for Asia, told his Senate confirmation hearing last week that the Myanmar's detention of Aung San Suu Kyi had cast a shadow over efforts to build a new policy.
by the afp
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Aung San Suu Kyi, trial may change U.S. approach on Myanmar
YANGON, Myanmar — Myanmar’s military regime appeared to be rushing through the trial of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, with five witnesses testifying for the prosecution Tuesday. Her followers say the proceedings are designed to ensure the Nobel Peace laureate remains locked up during elections next year.
Suu Kyi is accused of violating the terms of her house arrest by allowing John W. Yettaw, the American man who triggered the charges, to stay at her home without official permission. The offense is punishable by up to five years’ imprisonment.
U.S. State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said the charges against Suu Kyi were "unjustified” and called for her release.
Suu Kyi’s arrest could well derail a "softer” approach on Myanmar the Obama administration had been searching for.
by the associated press
Suu Kyi is accused of violating the terms of her house arrest by allowing John W. Yettaw, the American man who triggered the charges, to stay at her home without official permission. The offense is punishable by up to five years’ imprisonment.
U.S. State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said the charges against Suu Kyi were "unjustified” and called for her release.
Suu Kyi’s arrest could well derail a "softer” approach on Myanmar the Obama administration had been searching for.
by the associated press
Thursday, May 14, 2009
American still Detained
YANGON, Myanmar — Myanmar’s authorities allowed a U.S. diplomat to visit an American arrested last week for swimming across a lake to sneak into the home of detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, according to a state television report Wednesday.
Myanmar’s state television showed a still photo of John William Yettaw meeting with consular chief Colin Furst. A U.S. diplomat confirmed the meeting, saying Yettaw appeared to be in good spirits and said he had been treated well.
The diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that Yettaw had not yet been formally charged with any crime. He did not elaborate, calling the issue sensitive.
It was the first time a U.S. Embassy official had access to Yettaw, 53, of Falcon, Mo., since he was arrested May 6 after allegedly staying secretly at Suu Kyi’s house.
Myanmar’s state television showed a still photo of John William Yettaw meeting with consular chief Colin Furst. A U.S. diplomat confirmed the meeting, saying Yettaw appeared to be in good spirits and said he had been treated well.
The diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that Yettaw had not yet been formally charged with any crime. He did not elaborate, calling the issue sensitive.
It was the first time a U.S. Embassy official had access to Yettaw, 53, of Falcon, Mo., since he was arrested May 6 after allegedly staying secretly at Suu Kyi’s house.
by the associated press
Friday, May 8, 2009
American visits activist
YANGON, Myanmar — Myanmar’s detained democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi received an unexpected guest while under house arrest — an American who swam under the cover of darkness to her lakeside home, sneaked in, and stayed two nights.
According to a report in the New Light of Myanmar newspaper Thursday, a U.S. citizen named John Willian Yeattaw confessed that he swam in the lake to Suu Kyi’s home Sunday and left Tuesday night.
Yeattaw was arrested at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, said the report.
It was unclear whether Suu Kyi, head of National League for Democracy party, was in contact with the intruder.
Nyan Win, spokesman for her party, said it was worrisome how easily the American accessed the tightly guarded home.
by the associated press
According to a report in the New Light of Myanmar newspaper Thursday, a U.S. citizen named John Willian Yeattaw confessed that he swam in the lake to Suu Kyi’s home Sunday and left Tuesday night.
Yeattaw was arrested at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, said the report.
It was unclear whether Suu Kyi, head of National League for Democracy party, was in contact with the intruder.
Nyan Win, spokesman for her party, said it was worrisome how easily the American accessed the tightly guarded home.
by the associated press
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)