Tuesday 23 June 2009

Suu Kyi Support Explodes Online As Regime's Cyber Crackdown Fails

* 100,000+ support Suu Kyi on Facebook
* Tens of thousands leave birthday messages of support
* Regime attacks pro Suu Kyi website on her 64th Birthday

Online Support for Aung San Suu Kyi has exploded in recent days as Burma's Democracy leader spent her 64th birthday in detention.

Aung San Suu Kyi's Facebook page now has over 100,000 Supporters, it has attracted 60,000 new supporters in the last month alone.

"Her supporters are everywhere, from Moscow to Bangkok, from Hong Kong to Washington. Tens of thousands of people are leaving message of support for Suu Kyi on Facebook and at 64forSuu.org" said Johnny Chatterton, Campaigns Officer at the Burma Campaign UK. "These people are saying that they will never forget Burma's true democracy leader, they are urging her to be strong as she spent yet another birthday in detention. "

On Friday a cyber attack by the Burmese regime against 64forSuu.org was foiled after the attack forced the site offline for 20 minutes. 64forSuu.org has attracted support from U2, George Clooney, Paul McCartney, and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. It has generated thousands of media articles.

"These online supporters are vital in keeping the pressure on the international community to do all they can to ensure that Burma's brutal regime releases all of Burma's political prisoners" said Chatterton.

For more information contact Johnny Chatterton on +44 (0)7786316523

Note to editors:

Visit Aung San Suu Kyi's Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/aungsansuukyi

Find out more about the cyber attack against 64forSuu.org here: http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/index.php/burma/news/cyberattack-on-64forsuu.org

About 64forSuu.org
64forSuu.org was created by Burma Campaign UK, US Campaign for Burma, Open Society Institute, Not On Our Watch, Amnesty International, Avaaz, English Pen, Trade Union Congress, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Human Rights Watch, Norwegian Burma Committee, Burma Campaign Australia, Burma Info Japan, Info Birmanie (France), Burma Action Ireland, Article 19, International Peace Bureau (IPB), People in Peril (Slovakia), The Free Burma Campaign (South Africa), Austrian Burma Center, People in Need (Czech Republic), Altsean-Burma, Swedish Burma Committee, Freedom Now, and Forum of Burmese in Europe.