64 Words for Aung San Suu Kyi

Women Protest At Aung San Suu Kyi's Detention As UN Secretary-General Arrives In Burma

2009-07-03T10:01:00.004+01:00

Media Release From 64forSuu.org

As United Nations Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon today arrives in Burma for his long-awaited visit, leading women from across the world have joined together to call for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi.

In the latest move in the growing global condemnation of the actions of the Burmese authorities, Sarah Brown, Graca Machel, Ingrid Betancourt and Wangaari Mathai are joining fifty First Ladies, Nobel Laureates, and leaders from the world of politics, human rights and the arts, to issue a 64 word message calling for the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi.

The statement reads:

"Aung San Suu Kyi inspires us all. In recent weeks regional leaders have led demands for her freedom and for reform in Burma. Today we – women from all around the world – add our voices to that call. Until she, and the thousands of other political prisoners in Burma, is released we must keep the spotlight on their plight. The world must not stand by."

These signatories add their call to the likes of Julia Roberts, Paul McCartney, Gordon Brown, Bono and Yoko Ono, who have issued statements of support in recent days, as part of the 64forSuu campaign. The campaign website 64forSuu.org has received over 16,000 messages of support for the campaign for reform in Burma and to ensure that her 64th birthday is the last that Aung San Suu Kyi’s spends in detention.

Sarah Brown said today: "The strength of support shown for Aung San Suu Kyi from all corners of the globe has been phenomenal. I am sure that the message we have posted today reflects the views of many who share our outrage at her treatment, and I would encourage them to go online and make their own voices heard too."

Ban-Ki Moon will be in Burma on Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th July to meet with Burmese leaders and add his voice to the growing international calls for the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi. Ban Ki-Moon has said that the release of all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, is a top priority.

The list of signatories includes Christine Lagarde (French Minister of Economy, Finance and Employment), Dora Bakoyannis (Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs), Ela Bhatt (Founder of SEWA), Glenys Kinnock (UK Minister for Europe), Gro Bruntland (Former PM of Norway), Martha Lane Fox (Founder of Lastminute.com), Rebekah Wade (Editor, The Sun), Joanna Lumley (UK actress and campaigner), Rigoberta Menchu tum (Nobel Laureate), Shami Chakarbarti (Liberty), Shirin Ebadi (Nobel Laureate), Somaly Mam (Pianist), Tin Tin Aung (Womens League of Burma), Ulla Tornaeas (Danish Minister for Development Cooperation), Wangaari Mathai (Nobel Laureate).

"To be able to create a true and lasting peace, there needs to be trust and cooperation between people and leaders in a country. Daw Suu and those serving as political prisoners are firm examples of the leaders needed to create a new Burma. We want our country to be built on hope and understanding, and not continue the cycle of violence and Daw Suu is the one who can lead us to build this new country. " Said Khin Ohmar from the Forum for Democracy in Burma.

Notes to editors

The full list of women backing this campaign and statement are:
Arianna Huffington
Carmen Callil
Cheery Zahau
Christine Lagarde
Cathy Ashton
Cynthia Maung
Diane Von Furstenberg
Dora Bakoyannis
Ela Bhatt
Gail Rebuck
Gail Porter
Graca Machel
Glenys Kinnock
Gro Bruntland
Ingrid Betancourt
Jane Hamlyn
Joanna Lumley
Jody Williams
Kathy Ashton
Khin Ohmar
Liz Forgan
Lucy Porter
Lway Aye Nang
Mairead Corrigan Maguire
Martha Lane Fox
Mary Labang
Mary Robinson
Margaret Wallstrom
Marina Warner
Majorie Scardino
Mi Sue Pwint
Rebekah Wade
Rigoberta Menchu tum
Rosie Boycott
Sarah Brown
Saw Mra Raza Lin
Shami Chakrabarti
Shirin Ebadi
Somaly Mam
Sue Perkins
Theresa Rein
Tin Tin Aung
Trudi Styler
Ulla Tornaes
Wangaari Mathai
Ms Yoriko Kawaguchi
Zipporah Sein
Zoya Phan
Prima Rusdi
Fira Basuki

Background:

Aung San Suu Kyi was on arrested on May 14 and is now being held in Insein Prison in Rangoon. For the past month, the UK Government has been supporting the work of a coalition of NGOs in calling for her immediate release.

Campaign activity to date has included the following:

64forSuu.org

A website calling for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi was launched on 26 May – the day that, according to the Burmese regime, her house arrest expired.

64forSuu.org allows anyone to upload video, text, image or twitter, and in the run up to her 64th birthday encouraged them to leave 64 word/character messages of support.

With over 16,000 messages, and the backing of political leaders, major celebrities such as Julia Roberts, Yoko Ono, Paul McCartney and Bono, 64forSuu.org has demonstrated the scale of global outrage.

There have been over 76,000 unique visits, the site has proved popular in ASEAN countries.
Thailand and Singapore rank third and fourth in number of visits, while Burma is eighth.

Burma VJ Screening

To mark Aung San Suu Kyi’s Birthday, Sarah Brown hosted No.10’s first ever film screening.

Anders Østergaard’s award-winning documentary, Burma VJ, shows a rare inside look into the 2007 uprising in Myanmar through the cameras of the independent journalist group, Democratic Voice of Burma.

Østergaard attended the screening and took questions from the audience.

Birthday

On her birthday (June 19), outrage at Aung San Suu Kyi’s detention was voiced throughout Europe, when her image was projected onto the side of European Parliament and Council buildings, and EU leaders released a statement calling for her immediate release. Added to this, over 100 political prisoners from around the world - including Terry Waite, Dr Kim Dae-jung and Lech Walesa - have added their names to a 64 word statement in support of the cause.

Twitter

Through replies and re-tweets, the campaign message reached an estimated 5 million people through Twitter alone in its first five days.

Celebrities who tweeted include:

• Stephen Fry
• Yoko Ono
• Kevin Spacey
• Demi Moore

Others signed an open letter on 64forsuu.org including

• Bono
• Paul McCartney
• Daniel Craig
• David Beckham

In total, over 6 million people have been exposed to the campaign, and this is the first political campaign to use twitter with an integrated website to harness the reach and influence of some of the world’s most influential celebrities.

Former political prisoners call for Aung San Suu Kyi’s release

On 15 June, over 100 former political prisoners added their names to a 64 word statement calling for Aung San Suu Kyi’s release and for the United Nations Security Council to establish a global arms embargo on Burma/Myanmar.

“The continued denial of your freedom unacceptably attacks the human rights of all 2,156 political prisoners in Myanmar. As those also incarcerated for our political beliefs, we share the world’s outrage. We call on the United Nations Security Council to press the Myanmar Government to immediately release all political prisoners, and to restrict the weapons that strengthen its hand through a global arms embargo.”

Signatories include: Anwar Ibrahim, former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia; Ingrid Betancourt, former senator and Nobel Peace Prize nominee kidnapped by the Colombian FARDC; Dr Kim Dae-jung, former president of the Republic of Korea and Nobel Peace Prize laureate; Lech Walesa, former president of Poland and Nobel Peace Prize laureate; the Nelson Mandela Foundation; Shirin Ebadi, lawyer and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate; Shao Jiang, a Tiananmen survivor; Terry Waite, the British humanitarian and author; Vaclav Havel, writer and former President of the Czech Republic; and Yuri Feodorovich Orlov, nuclear physicist and former Soviet dissident.

For more information contact Zoya Phan on 0207 324 4710, or Johnny Chatterton, project manager for 64forsuu.org, on 0207 324 4710

U2 urge fans to campaign for release of Aung San Suu Kyi as their 360° Tour opens

2009-07-02T18:21:00.012+01:00

Media Release From Burma Campaign UK

Thousands of U2 fans wore Aung San Suu Kyi masks of her image at a packed concert in Barcelona, as U2 kicked off the European leg of their tour. U2 open their North American tour on 12 September in Chicago.

Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of Burma’s democracy movement, is currently on trial in Burma, and could face a further five years in jail. She has already spent more than 13 years in detention. The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, arrives in Burma on Friday, and securing the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners in Burma is a top priority.

Introducing “Walk On”, which was written by the band for Aung San Suu Kyi in 2000, Bono said; “This next song is dedicated to Aung San Suu Kyi and the people of Burma. Let’s send her a message of love and support. Let us stand with her… Put on your masks.”

Audience goers held up masks, which are in the tour programme or can be downloaded from the U2.com website. At the end of the song the band invited selected members of the audience up on the stage wearing the masks.

As well as the Burma Campaign UK, the 360° Tour is associated with the ONE campaign to fight extreme poverty, (RED), Amnesty International, Music Rising, The Angiogenesis Foundation, Mencap and Greenpeace.

Pictures of the concert are available from info@burmacampaign.org.uk.
For more information contact Mark Farmaner on 0207 324 4710

Photo Credit: Martin Roe

Photo Credit: Dave Hogan

G8 Leaders Statement on Burma after Trieste meeting

2009-06-30T10:20:00.001+01:00

We are deeply concerned about the recent developments. A real process of dialogue and national reconciliation is needed, with the full participation of representatives of all political parties and ethnic groups, leading to transparent, fair and democratic multiparty elections. In this regard we call on the Government of Myanmar to release all political prisoners, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi whose continued detention would undermine the credibility of the elections planned for 2010.

We reaffirm our full support to the UN Secretary General’s good office mission and the initiatives aimed at fostering dialogue and democratic transition in Myanmar, demanding international community to do likewise. We call on the Government of Myanmar to fully cooperate with the UNSG Special Advisor, as well as with the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar. We remain prepared to respond positively to substantive political progress undertaken by Myanmar.

Aung San Suu Kyi reaches 5,000 days in detention on 5th July.

2009-06-29T14:46:00.000+01:00

Media Notice From Burma Campaign UK

Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of Burma’s democracy movement, will have spent a total of 5,000 days in detention on Sunday 5th July. Aung San Suu Kyi is currently on trial for breaking the terms of her house arrest, after an American man swam to her house and refused to leave. Her trial resumes on Friday 3rd July.

Aung San Suu Kyi has been detained on three separate occasions. The first was 20th July 1989 – 10th July 2005. The second 23rd September 200 – 6th May 2002. The third started on 30th May 2003 – present. In March 2009 the UN declared Aung San Suu Kyi’s detention to be illegal under international law and Burmese law.

On Sunday 5th July 2009 the Burmese Community in Oxford will be holding a Burmese cultural event in Oxford Town Hall 12-3pm. There will be traditional food, dancing, and talks on Burma’s culture and history.

Other key dates coming up:

20th July 2009 - 20th anniversary of Aung San Suu Kyi first being placed under house arrest.

8th August 2009 – 21st anniversary of 1988 uprising.

24th October 2009 – Aung San Suu Kyi will reach 14 years in detention (if/when convicted in current trial)

For more information contact Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK, on 0207 324 4710.

European MPs call for a global arms embargo to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

2009-06-24T09:44:00.000+01:00

Parliamentarians from 16 European countries, members of the European Parliamentary Caucus on Burma (EPCB), today called on United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to immediately impose a global arms embargo against the military regime in Burma to pressure the dictatorship to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners in Burma.

In a letter to all Security Council members, the EPCB expressed its deep concern over the continued detention of Burma’s democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi saying; “Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of Burma’s democracy movement, is now spending her 14th birthday in detention, and a sham of a trial will ensure she will remain detained when elections take place next year.”

The EPCB pointed out that three statements by the Security Council calling on the dictatorship to reform have been ignored by the ruling regime, the State Peace and Development Council.

“This defiance cannot be allowed to stand unchallenged. The time is long overdue for a global arms embargo against Burma, and we call on your government to publicly commit itself to such a step” the letter said.

The European Parliamentary Caucus on Burma was founded in June 2008 to raise awareness on Burma in Europe and promote human rights and democracy in Burma.

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

2009-06-23T14:12:00.000+01:00

* 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.

Poem dedicated to Aung San Suu Kyi from the NLD

2009-06-22T16:23:00.001+01:00

Below is a poem by the National League for Democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi's party, dedicated to her:

Mother Peacock of Peace
(Dedicated to the 64th Birthday of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the democracy leader of Burmese populace)

Benevolent…..
Like clear spring water.
Her bosom serene and peaceful
Wish your mind be in peace.

O mother of peace…
May your heart be joyful and smiling,
Your strength may able to fetch the stars in the sky.

O mother of peace…
Your heart is clean.
Like rays of the sun shining on the world,
Your strength is bright.

Surrounded by stars
Competing with the Moon
Her love prestigious
Spreading a pleasing aroma
Myanmar Hey Myanmar
The only one in the whole world.

Though the storm is violent
Mother Peacock will reign the world
With a flower in hear hair.

Cyberattack on 64forSuu.org

2009-06-21T12:47:00.000+01:00

Media Release From 64forSuu.org

64forSuu.org, the website which features messages of support for Burma’s democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi on her 64th birthday, faced a cyberattack on Friday 19th June. The attack is likely to have been by the Burmese dictatorship, which has previously attacked Burma related websites.

Aung San Suu Kyi spent her 14th birthday in detention on Friday, and the website has received more than 15,000 messages of support, including from U2, George Clooney, Paul McCartney, and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. It has generated thousands of media articles.

The attack happened just after 8pm on Friday 19th June, and the site was down for 20 minutes. No information was lost and no data compromised. The attack was a highly sophisticated one, attempting to bring down the website by an indirect method to avoid the existing security measures used to protect the site. For security reasons we cannot reveal more details about the attack.

In recent years, websites run by Burmese exiles which report on Burma, such as www.irrawaddy.org, www.mizzima.com, and www.dvb.no, have come under attack. Analysis by the Burma Campaign UK indicated these attacks originated in Burma. With the dictatorship’s tight control over the internet, it would be impossible for these attacks to happen without their authorisation.

“The dictatorship is now trying to censor at an international level,” said Johnny Chatterton, Project Manager at 64for.org. “They censor information in Burma, and arrest those who support Aung San Suu Kyi. Now they are trying to silence those around the world who support her. They won’t succeed. The attack was quickly identified and dealt with.”

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.

For more information contact Johnny Chatterton on 0207 324 4710 or johnny.chatterton@burmacampaign.org.uk

AIPMC: Yet another birthday, yet another unwanted ‘gift’ from ASEAN to Aung San Suu Kyi and her fellow Burma citizens

2009-06-19T17:24:00.001+01:00

Press Release from ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY MYANMAR CAUCUS

The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) calls on ASEAN leaders to urgently
meet to deliver new and effective policies and mechanisms that are desperately needed vis-a-vis Myanmar’s military junta that will enable a tangible and lasting solution to the country’s crisis.

Members of Parliament from various ASEAN countries, at a forum co-organised and co-hosted by the AIPMC, ‘Friends of Burma’, the Regional Centre for Social Science and Sustainable Development, and the Centre for Ethnic Studies and Development of the Chiang Mai University delivered strong messages to ASEAN leaders calling for change in the dire situation in the military ruled nation.

“There has been a considerable increase in military offensives and armed fighting in ethnic states especially in the Karen State over the past few weeks. Ethnic communities are fleeing their villages into Thailand while some remain as internally displaced persons in Burma,” said AIPMC President
Kraisak Choonhavan.

“Where is the intervention and assistance by ASEAN’s leaders? Recent reports indicate soldiers in Eastern Burma have recruited up to 200 civilians as slave labourers and more than 4,000 civilians have been forced to abandon their homes while 4,000 more are at risk.”

AIPMC Senior Adviser Loretta Ann P Rosales added that in the Shan State, acts amounting to systematic sexual violence are used by Myanmar’s military as weapons of war.

“Testimonies and documentation by Shan people, fleeing their homes, indicate that women and children are subjected to rape and torture by soldiers,” said the former Philippines Congresswoman adding that since 2001 till now, there have been 297 rape cases in Shan State alone.
“This is outrageous and unacceptable. AIPMC condemns such acts by the regime and armed groups.

We insist that ASEAN uses its human rights charter to investigate and put a stop to such atrocities,” stressed Loretta at the sidelines of the event marking Aung San Suu Kyi’s 64th birthday.

Parliamentarians M. Kulasegaran and Charles Chong, from Malaysia and Singapore respectively,reminded ASEAN that its ‘constructive engagement’ with the military regime has failed.

“It’s all about dollars and cents at the end of the day for governments such as Malaysia whom invest with a military that uses the money to repress and harm its leaders like Aung San Suu Kyi and its citizens and not help them at all,” said Kulasegaran.

Participants at the event, primarily from Chiang Mai University’s academia, delivered messages of support and solidarity to Aung San Suu Kyi who celebrates her birthday once again in detention.

For media contact or to facilitate interviews with Parliamentarians, please contact AIPMC Executive Director Roshan Jason at +6012-3750974

European Council Conclusions Declaration On Burma

2009-06-19T17:20:00.001+01:00

The European Council calls for the immediate unconditional release of Aung San Suu Kyi, who has tirelessly defended universal values of freedom and democracy. Unless she is released, with all other political prisoners, the credibility of the 2010 elections will be further undermined. The EU will respond with additional targeted measures. We urge Burma/Myanmar to embark on a genuine transition to democracy bringing peace and prosperity to its people.

In this regard the European Council welcomes the clear calls from neighbouring countries for a free, fair and inclusive political process. Moreover, the EU reiterates its strong support for the UN Good Offices Mission and for the personal engagement of the Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, including his early visit to Burma/Myanmar.

Senate calls on Australian government to support global arms embargo against Burma

2009-06-19T17:07:00.001+01:00

Burma Campaign Australia congratulates the Senate on unanimously passing a motion calling on the Australian government to support a global arms embargo against Burma’s military dictatorship.

Burma Campaign Australia spokesperson Dr Myint Cho said that while the motion is welcomed, the Australian government needs to follow up with action.
“The Australian government needs to take a stronger stance by supporting a global arms embargo,” Dr Cho said.

“We have seen the regime uses its strength of arms to brutally oppress Burma’s population time and time again. Despite this there is no global ban on the sale of arms to Burma.”

Australia has an arms embargo against Burma, but China, Russia, India, North Korea and other countries continue to sell arms to the regime.

Green Senator Scott Ludlam proposed the motion.

Senator Ludlam said, “Appalling human rights abusers should not be able to purchase their weapons in the global market”.

“The Australian government should heed yesterday’s Senate motion and join this international campaign for a globalarms embargo against Burma.”

For interviews contact Dr Myint Cho on 0404091143 and contact Robert Simms on 0417174302 for Senator Ludlam.

U2, Paul McCartney and Yoko Ono 64 word messages for Aung San Suu Kyi

2009-06-19T00:01:00.001+01:00

U2, Paul McCartney and Yoko Ono are the latest high profile supporters of Aung San Suu Kyi to add their 64 word message of support for her on 64forSuu.org. The messages will be posted on the site from midnight.

Aung San Suu Kyi is spending her 64th birthday, Friday 19th June in detention. It is her 14th birthday in detention.

The message from U2 is adapted from their 2001 Grammy Award winning single, Walk On, which is dedicated to Aung San Suu Kyi:
“Packing a suitcase for a place none of us has been/A place that has to be believed to be seen/You could have flown away/A singing bird in an open cage/Who will only fly, fly for freedom/Walk on, walk on/What you've got they can't deny it/Can’t sell it, can’t buy it/Walk on, walk on/Stay safe tonight.”

Paul McCartney said:
“Aung San Suu Kyi is an inspiration to her country and to the rest of the world. I truly admire her infallible resolve and her determination to stand up for what she believes in. It is vital that Aung San Suu Kyi is released so that she can govern the people who elected her and give Burma back the freedom we all take for granted”.

Yoko Ono said:

Aung San Suu Kyi,

Your heart beats with my heart.
My eyes see what you see.
My belief is your belief.
And my life is connected to thousands of universes, as is yours.

Every twinkle of the star must travel billions of years to be seen by us.
But our minds do not have to travel at all to be seen by each other.
Because we are altogether.

Other celebrities that have sent messages include George Clooney, David Beckham, Julia Roberts, Daniel Craig and Richard Branson. Stephen Fry, Eddie Izzard, Kevin Spacey and Sarah Brown have been “tweeting” about the campaign.

There will also be protests in more than 20 cities around the world. Details can be found at: http://www.64forsuu.com/events.php

For more information contact Johnny Chatterton, 64forSuu project manager, on 0207 324 4710

Unsubscribe from 64ForSuu.org

2009-06-18T15:45:00.002+01:00

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2000 UNISON ACTIVISTS IN AUNG SAN SUU KYI MASK PROTEST

2009-06-18T14:08:00.004+01:00

More than 2,000 delegates at the UNISON national conference in Brighton today donned masks of Burma pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi in protest at her continued detention by the Burmese military.

It was a show of solidarity and support for the National League for Democracy leader on the eve of her 64th birthday. During the masked protest, UNISON Vice-President, Angela Lynes, read out a message calling for Suu Kyi’s immediate release and for the Burmese Government to end the “repression” of its people and respect human and labour rights. Angela Lynes read out the following statement:

“On the eve of your 64th birthday, UNISON condemns your continued imprisonment at the hands of a brutal military dictatorship who have no respect for human rights, international law, democracy or the welfare of their own people, and who use every odious means at their disposal to cling on to power.

“We call on the United Nations to work tirelessly for your release and that of the more than 2,000 other political prisoners, many of whom are fellow trade unionists.

“We will continue to protest your loss of liberty and campaign for your release. We will continue to remember you and all those who are suffering in Burma. Your suffering will not be in vain.

“Happy birthday, Aung San Suu Kyi”.

The National League for Democracy won the elections in 1990, the result of which was overturned by the military. Aung San Suu Kyi is on trial for “violating” the terms of her house arrest after a man uninvited swam a lake to her home. She is an honorary life member of UNISON and the union has been campaigning with Burma support groups in the UK and overseas for her release.

41 German parliamentarians 64 for Aung San Suu Kyi

2009-06-18T13:48:00.004+01:00

41 German parliamentarians 64 for Aung San Suu Kyi
A common belief brings us, parliamentary representatives of Germany, to raise our determined joint voice: The claim for your unconditional and immediate release! The unjust imprisonment of you and other illegally incarcerated prisoners of conscience has to end. Your birthday incites a global claim for democracy, justice, solidarity, and Human Rights. We join this call wholeheartedly. May it be your last birthday in prison.

Signed by:

Dr. Karl Addicks (FDP), Volker Beck (B90/Grüne), Birgit Bender (B90/Grüne), Prof. Dr. Hertha Däubler-Gmelin (SPD), Dr. Thea Dückert (B90/Grüne), Herr Detlef Dzembritzki (SPD), Dr. Uschi Eid (B90/Grüne), Hans Josef Fell (B90/Grüne), Kai Gehring (B90/Grüne), Angelika Graf (SPD), Gabriele Groneberg (SPD), Holger Haibach (CDU/CSU), Priska Hinz (B90/Grüne Dr. Anton Hofreiter (B90/Grüne), Frau Birgitt Homburger (FDP), Thilo Hoppe (B90/Grüne), Dr. Werner Hoyer (FDP), Ute Koczy (B90/Grüne), Heinrich L. Kolb (FDP), Jürgen Koppelin (FDP), Fritz Kuhn (B90/Grüne), Renate Künast (B90/Grüne), Harald Leibrecht (FDP), Michael Leutert (Die Linke), Michael Georg Link (FDP), Kerstin Müller (B90/Grüne), Omid Nouripour (B90/Grüne), Cornelia Pieper (FDP), Christel Riemann-Hanewinckel (SPD), Claudia Roth (B90/Grüne), Manuel Sarrazin (B90/Grüne), Christine Scheel (B90/Grüne), Irmingard Schewe Gerigk (B90/Grüne), Dr. Ilja Seifert (Die Linke), Silke Stokar von Neuforn (B90/Grüne), Christoph Strässer (SPD), Florian Toncar (FDP), Alexander Ulrich (Die Linke), Christoph Waitz (FDP), Wolfgang Wieland (B90/Grüne), Josef Winkler (B90/Grüne).

(FDP = Free Democratic Party, B90/Grüne = Alliance 90/ The Greens, SPD = Social Democratic Party of Germany, CDU = Christian Democratic Union, Die Linke = The Left)

German Media release:

Internationaler Aktionstag zum Geburtstag von Birmas inhaftierter Oppositionsführerin Aung San Suu Kyi

Öffentliche Aktion am Brandenburger Tor: Freitag, 19. Juni, 11-13 Uhr

38* Bundestagsabgeordnete senden gemeinsame Grußbotschaft an Birmas Oppositionsführerin

Berlin/Essen, 18. Juni 2009 - Am morgigen Freitag feiert Birmas Oppositionsführerin Aung San Suu Kyi ihren 64. Geburtstag - als politische Gefangene im Gefängnis. Eine erneute Verurteilung der Friedensnobelpreisträgerin von 1991 steht unmittelbar bevor.

Menschenrechtsorganisationen auf der ganzen Welt rufen deswegen am Freitag zu Solidaritätskundgebungen für Aung San Suu Kyi und die über 2.100 politischen Gefangenen Birmas auf. In Deutschland laden die Burma Initiative und Amnesty International zu einer öffentlichen Aktion am Brandenburger Tor ein.

Bereits heute haben 38* Bundestagsabgeordnete aller Fraktionen eine gemeinsame Grußbotschaft an Aung San Suu Kyi gesendet. "Ihr Geburtstag steht für die weltweite Forderung nach Demokratie, Gerechtigkeit, Solidarität und Menschenrechten. Wir schließen uns diesem Ruf aus ganzem Herzen an und hoffen, dass dies Ihr letzter Geburtstag im Gefängnis ist!"

Unter den Unterstützern sind die Vorsitzende und der stellvertretende Vorsitzende des Menschenrechtsausschuss, Hertha Däubler-Gmelin (SPD) und Holger Haibach (CDU), die Parteivorsitzende Claudia Roth (B90/Grüne) sowie die menschenrechtspolitischen Sprecher Florian Toncar (FDP) und Michael Leutert (Linke) - kompletter Text und Unterstützerliste siehe unten.

Die Grußbotschaft wurde auf der Internetseite www.64forSuu.org veröffentlicht. Dort haben bereits Kofi Annan, Desmond Tutu, Jimmy Carter und andere Prominente eine gemeinsame Grußbotschaft veröffentlicht, ebenso wie prominente Politiker und ehemalige politische Gefangene aus der ganzen Welt.

-Ende-
* 41 (aktualisierte Version von Freitag, den 19. Juni 2009)

Technische Hinweise und Hintergrund für Ihre Berichterstattung

Kontakt für Rückfragen und Interviews:
Ulrike Bey (Burma-Initiative Asienhaus): Tel. 0201-830 38 25, mobil
0179-8070607
Martin Petrich (Amnesty International): mobil 0176-6171 6009

Für Fotoredaktionen:
- Die Burma-Initiative, Amnesty International, Exilbirmanen und deutsche Unterstützer stehen mit einem drei Meter breiten Transparent "Freiheit für Aung San Suu Kyi" und DIN A2-Plakaten mit Portraits von Aung San Suu Kyi auf dem Pariser Platz. Für 12 Uhr erwarten wir Bundestagsabgeordnete zu einem Fototermin.
- Fotos von Aung San Suu Kyi der internationalen Kampagne www.64forSuu.org stehen in hochaufgelöster Qualität zum Download zur Verfügung:http://www.flickr.com/photos/39385533@N03/sets/72157619730230177/detail/ Unmittelbar nach der Kundgebung stehen dort auch Fotos der Mahnwache am Brandenburger Tor zur Verfügung.

Aktueller Hintergrund
Die Lage von Aung San Suu Kyi und den politischen Gefangenen in Birma:

Aung San Suu Kyi steht derzeit zusammen mit ihren Mitarbeiterinnen Khin Khin Win und Win Ma Ma vor Gericht. Alle drei waren zuvor gemeinsam unter Hausarrest, Aung San Suu Kyi selbst lebte über 13 der letzten 19 Jahre unter Hausarrest.

Ihnen wird aktuell vorgeworfen, gegen die Auflagen des Hausarrests verstoßen zu haben. Anfang Mai war ein US-Staatsbürger angeblich durch den Inya-See zu ihrem Haus geschwommen und hatte sich gegen den Willen Aung San Suu Kyis zwei Tage auf ihrem Grundstück aufgehalten.

Der Schauprozess gegen die nach wie vor populäre Generalsekretärin der National League for Democracy (NLD) ist ein Vorwand, um sie weiterhin in Haft zu halten. Ihre Teilnahme an den für 2010 geplanten Wahlen soll verhindert werden. Das Urteil soll nach neuesten Informationen am 26.
Juni gefällt werden, der Prozess kann sich aber auch weiterhin verzögern.

Gegenwärtig gibt es 2.155 politische Gefangene in Birma. Seit Oktober
2008 sind viele Oppositionelle zu langen Haftstrafen von bis zu 104 Jahren verurteilt worden. Viele Gefangene sind in Gefängnisse fernab von ihren Familien verlegt worden. Das macht es den Angehörigen schwer, die Gefangenen zu besuchen und zu versorgen.

Seit Anfang Juni führt die Regierung Burmas zudem eine Militäroffensive gegen bewaffnete Rebellen im Karen-Teilstaat. Mehr als 4000 Zivilisten, darunter viele Frauen und Kinder, sind in Richtung thai-burmesischer Grenze geflohen. Die Vereinten Nationen haben Mitarbeiter in die Grenzregion entsandt, wo sich die geflohenen Dorfbewohner verstecken.

Die tschechische EU-Präsidentschaft hat im Namen der Europäischen Union am 11. Juni zu einem sofortigen Waffenstillstand aufgerufen und eine friedliche Lösung der Konflikte in den Gebieten der ethnischen Minderheiten gefordert.

Burma protests across the world mark Aung San Suu Kyi’s birthday

2009-06-18T11:52:00.000+01:00

To commemorate Aung San Suu Kyi’s 64th birthday on 19 June (her 14th in detention), local and Burmese citizens will be holding protests and events in over 20 cities across the world, calling for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and the 2,156 political prisoners currently held in Burma/Myanmar. The protesters will also be calling on the UNSC to step up the pressure on the military regime by establishing a global arms embargo on Burma/Myanmar.

Aung San Suu Kyi is currently being prosecuted by the authorities in Burma/Myanmar for violating the terms of her house arrest, after an American man swam across a lake to visit her house in early May. For this, she faces up to five years imprisonment.

Paul McCartney and others add their voices:
Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono and other celebrities will be making special 64-word statements commemorating Aung San Suu Kyi’s birthday. These statements will be available at www.64forSuu.org . Other celebrities that have sent messages include George Clooney, David Beckham, Julia Roberts, Daniel Craig and Richard Branson. Stephen Fry, Eddie Izzard, Kevin Spacey and Sarah Brown have been “tweeting” about the campaign.

Iconic new image pays tribute to Aung San Suu Kyi:
The international protests and events will be using a new image of Aung San Suu Kyi released to mark her 64th birthday. A high resolution version of the image is available at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/39385533@N03/sets/72157619730230177/detail/

Protests and events include:

Bangkok: 1pm – 5pm Friday 19 June
Public forum on: ‘Democracy in Burma? The Answer is Blowing in the Wind’
Thammasat University. Tha Phrachan Campus – Room 301 Liberal Arts

London: 1pm – 2pm Friday 19 June
Demonstration at the Burmese embassy, 19A Charles St London W1J 5DX, including speeches by:
- Venerable Monk U Uttara (International Buddhist Monk Organisation)
- Wai Hnin (daughter of Burmese political prisoner Ko Mya Aye)

Prague: 5pm Thursday 18 June
Gathering at Na Kampě , Prague
Life lettering (from protesters’ bodies) of the words: FREE SUU KYI!

Sydney: 10.30am Thursday 18 June
Morning tea at NSW Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney
Speeches by leading female NSW parliamentarians and Burmese women

Taipei: 7pm – 9pm
Music concert and the release of the CD ‘Free Burma’ at Jhonghe Park No.4, Taipei

Tokyo: 5pm Friday 19 June
Religious ceremony and candlelight vigil
United Nations University Headquarters Building, 5-53-70, Jingumae, Shibuya-ku

Kuala Lumpur: 8pm to 10pm Friday 19 June
Gathering at Taman Jaya (near Amcorp mall) with live music performances and speeches

New York: 1pm to 4pm 20 June 2009
Gathering at 777, United Nations Plaza, 10th Floor, 44th St. & 1st Ave.

Full event listings are available at http://64forsuu.com/events.php. The protests, events and image are part of the www.64forSuu.org campaign, which is supported by:
Altsean-Burma
Amnesty International
Article 19
Austrian Burma Center
Avaaz
Burma Action Ireland
Burma Campaign Australia
Burma Campaign UK
Burma Info Japan
Christian Solidarity Worldwide
English Pen
Free Burma Campaign (South Africa)
Human Rights Watch
Info Birmanie (France)
International Peace Bureau
Not On Our Watch
Norwegian Burma Committee
Open Society Institute
Trade Union Congress
People in Need (Czech Republic)
People in Peril (Slovakia)
US Campaign for Burma

Editors notes:

For more information and interview requests please contact Marianna Brungs, +44 7534 990 178, marianna.brungs@crisisaction.org
Available interviewees:
- Zoya Phan, author of Little Daughter: A Memoir of Survival in Burma and the West
- Venerable Monk U Uttara, International Buddhist Monk Organisation
- Wai Hnin, daughter of Burmese political prisoner Ko Mya Aye
- Mark Farmaner, Director, Burma Campaign UK
- Haider Kikhaboy, Burma campaigner, Amnesty International
- Elaine Pearson, Deputy Asia Director, Human Rights Watch

European Parliament President Pöttering calls for the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi

2009-06-18T10:16:00.002+01:00

President Pöttering calls for the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi

Following the developments concerning the imprisonment and trial of Nobel Peace Prize winner and European Parliament Sakharov Prize 1990, Aung San Suu Kyi, the President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Pöttering, made the following statement:

"Now that the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi is set to resume on June 26, I strongly urge Myanmar's military rulers to release her immediately and unconditionally. She was arrested on 14 May accused of violating the conditions of her detention under house arrest, as an obvious pretext for keeping her detained as the country approaches new multi-party elections in 2010.

I appeal for a fair and transparent trial in accordance with international standards, which include full media access and the possibility of all witnesses to testify.

The European Parliament, which enshrines the values of democracy and freedom for which the European Union is a beacon throughout the world, reaffirms its complete support and solidarity with Aung San Suu Kyi. This courageous woman represents the best hopes of her people for a free and prosperous future."

For further information:
Jesús Gómez GSM: +32 498 983 309
www.europarl.europa.eu/president

* * * * * * * * * * * *
Brüssel, 17. Juni 2009

Präsident Pöttering fordert die sofortige Freilassung von Aung San Suu Kyi

In Reaktion auf die Entwicklungen im Zusammenhang mit der Inhaftierung und dem Prozess gegen die Trägerin des Friedensnobelpreises, Aung San Suu Kyi, gab der Präsident des Europäischen Parlaments, Hans-Gert Pöttering, folgende Erklärung ab:

"Da das Gerichtsverfahren gegen Aung San Suu Kyi am 26. Juni wieder aufgenommen werden soll, fordere ich die Militärmachthaber in Myanmar auf, sie unverzüglich und ohne Auflagen freizulassen. Sie wurde am 14. Mai unter dem Vorwurf verhaftet, gegen die Bedingungen ihres Hausarrests verstoßen zu haben. Dies ist ganz offenkundig ein Vorwand, sie weiterhin in Haft zu halten, da im Jahr 2010 Wahlen stattfinden, an denen sich mehrere Parteien beteiligen.

Ich fordere ein faires und transparentes Verfahren nach international anerkannten Standards. Dazu gehört auch, dass die Medien uneingeschränkt darüber berichten können und dass sämtliche Zeugen zugelassen werden.

Das Europäische Parlament als Garant für die Werte Demokratie und Freiheit, für die die Europäische Union weltweit ein leuchtendes Beispiel ist, bekräftig erneut seine uneingeschränkte Unterstützung für Aung San Suu Kyi und erklärt sich voll und ganz solidarisch mit ihr. Diese mutige Frau verkörpert die großen Hoffnungen ihres Volkes auf eine freie Zukunft in Wohlstand."

Für weitere Informationen:
Jesús Gómez GSM: +32 498 983 309
www.europarl.europa.eu/president

* * * * * * * * * * * *
Bruxelles, le 17 juin 2009

Le Président Pöttering appelle à la libération immédiate d'Aung San Suu Kyi

Suite aux récents événements relatifs à l'emprisonnement et au procès d'Aung San Suu Kyi, à qui ont été décernés le prix Nobel de la paix (1991) et le prix Sakharov (1990), le Président du Parlement européen, Hans-Gert Pöttering, a déclaré:

"Alors que le procès d'Aung San Suu Kyi doit reprendre le 26 juin, je prie instamment les autorités militaires birmanes de la libérer sans délai et sans condition. L'accusation portée contre Aung San Suu Kyi suite à son arrestation le 14 mai, à savoir la violation des conditions de son assignation à domicile, est selon toute vraisemblance un prétexte destiné à la maintenir en détention alors que l'échéance des élections multipartites de 2010 se rapproche.

J'appelle à l'organisation d'un procès équitable et transparent en accord avec les normes internationales, permettant notamment le libre accès des média et la possibilité pour tous les témoins de faire une déposition.

Le Parlement européen, qui défend les valeurs de démocratie et de liberté pour lesquelles l'Union européenne est connue à travers le monde, réaffirme son soutien et sa solidarité avec Aung San Suu Kyi. Cette femme courageuse représente le meilleur espoir pour son peuple d'un avenir libre et prospère."

Pour de plus amples informations:
Jesús Gómez GSM: +32 498 983 309
www.europarl.europa.eu/president

Former political prisoners call for Aung San Suu Kyi’s release

2009-06-15T11:28:00.003+01:00

Kim Dae-jung: “Aung San Suu Kyi’s continued detention shames Asia.”

Anwar Ibrahim: “ASEAN cannot continue its policy of non-intervention. It’s time to work together for regional stability and prosperity.”

Shirin Ebadi: “Aung San Suu Kyi is an inspiration to us all. We want to let her know that she is not alone during her trial and continuing detention.”

Shao Jiang: “As a survivor of Tiananmen Square, I know the true value of democracy and freedom, and the need to release all political prisoners in Burma.”

Just a few days before Aung San Suu Kyi’s birthday (on 19 June), over 100 former political prisoners from around the world have added their names to a statement calling for her release and for the United Nations Security Council to establish a global arms embargo on Burma/Myanmar.

Aung San Suu Kyi is currently being prosecuted by the authorities in Burma/Myanmar for violating the terms of her house arrest, after an American man swam across a lake to visit her house in early May. For this, she faces up to five years imprisonment.

The former political prisoners calling for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners in Burma come from over 20 countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe. They have all signed a special 64 word message to Aung San Suu Kyi to mark her 64th birthday (her 14th in detention). The former prisoners also call on the UNSC to step up the pressure on the government of Burma/Myanmar:
“The continued denial of your freedom unacceptably attacks the human rights of all 2,156 political prisoners in Myanmar. As those also incarcerated for our political beliefs, we share the world’s outrage. We call on the United Nations Security Council to press the Myanmar Government to immediately release all political prisoners, and to restrict the weapons that strengthen its hand through a global arms embargo.”

Several of the signatories are themselves under house arrest in China, including Yuan Weijing and Zeng Jinyan. Others who have added their names include Anwar Ibrahim, former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia; Ingrid Betancourt, former senator and Nobel Peace Prize nominee kidnapped by the Colombian FARDC; Dr Kim Dae-jung, former president of the Republic of Korea and Nobel Peace Prize laureate; Lech Walesa, former president of Poland and Nobel Peace Prize laureate; the Nelson Mandela Foundation; Shirin Ebadi, lawyer and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate; Shao Jiang, a Tiananmen survivor; Terry Waite, the British humanitarian and author; Vaclav Havel, writer and former President of the Czech Republic; and Yuri Feodorovich Orlov, nuclear physicist and former Soviet dissident.

Former Korean president Kim Dae-jung said: “Aung San Suu Kyi’s continued detention shames Asia. Burma’s authoritarian rulers have suppressed the people for too long. Political reform and the peaceful transition to democracy in Burma must be seen as a priority by the international community and the region.”

Former Malaysian deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim said: “ASEAN’s policy of non intervention is not helping to serve regional interests. We need to work together in ASEAN for regional stability and prosperity. Political progress in Burma is an integral part of this, including the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners.”

Iranian human rights campaigner and Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi said: “Aung San Suu Kyi is an inspiration to us all. As former political prisoners, we want to let her know that she is not alone during her trial and continuing detention. She has a network of friends and supporters around the world.”

Tiananmen Square survivor, Shao Jiang: “As a survivor of Tiananmen Square, I know the true value of democracy and freedom. The international community, including the United Nations Security Council, needs to take strong action to ensure the immediate release of all political prisoners in Burma. Citizens around the world, let’s unite and bring down the dictators!”

Political prisoners have signed the statement as part of the www.64forSuu.org campaign, which is supported by:

Altsean-Burma
Amnesty International
Article 19
Austrian Burma Center
Avaaz
Burma Action Ireland
Burma Campaign Australia
Burma Campaign UK
Burma Info Japan
Christian Solidarity Worldwide
English Pen
Free Burma Campaign (South Africa)
Human Rights Watch
Info Birmanie (France)
International Peace Bureau
Not On Our Watch
Norwegian Burma Committee
Open Society Institute
Trade Union Congress
People in Need (Czech Republic)
People in Peril (Slovakia)
US Campaign for Burma

ENDS

Editors notes:

For more information and interview requests please contact Marianna Brungs, +44 7534 990 178, marianna.brungs@crisisaction.org

Full list of signatories:

Cambodia
1. Cheam Channy, opposition parliamentarian; imprisoned in 2005 by a military court for his political views (released by a Royal Pardon in February 2006).
2. Kem Sokha, former head of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights; detained on charges of criminal defamation over a banner used at an International Human Rights Day rally in 2005.

China
3. Gao Yu, Chinese journalist; winner of Laureate of the UNESCO / Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize 1997; former deputy chief editor of Economics Weekly. She has been labelled an “enemy of the people” and imprisoned multiple times for publishing controversial articles.
4. Rebiya Kadeer, Uighur democracy leader; sentenced by the Chinese government to eight years’ imprisonment in 2000 on charges relating to endangering national security; she is now living in exile in the USA.
5. Shao Jiang - Tiananmen survivor and one of the organisers of the 1989 pro-democracy protests; imprisoned for 18 months after the crackdown and suffered ongoing persecution; he fled to the UK in 1997.
6. Tsering Woeser, Tibetan poet and essayist born in Lhasa; persecuted by the authorities for her writing; put under house arrest with her husband during the 2008 unrest in Tibet.
7. Yuan Weijing, activist currently under residential surveillance/ house arrest; wife of imprisoned activist Chen Guangcheng. She became the victim of retaliation by local authorities after helping her husband to reveal the use of violence in the local birth control campaign and publicly opposing the illegal imprisonment of her husband.
8. Zeng Jinyan, Chinese blogger and human rights activist; currently under house arrest with her one-and-a-half year baby girl; wife of imprisoned AIDS and environmental activist Hu Jia; one of TIME Magazine’s 100 People Who Shape Our World 2007.
9. Zhang Zhuhua, political critic of China; currently under surveillance / house arrest after launching Charter 08, a public statement calling for political and legal reform.

Colombia / France
10. Ingrid Betancourt, former senator; Nobel Peace Prize nominee; kidnapped by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia in 2002 and held for over six years.

Cuba
11. José Gabriel Ramón Castillo, sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2003;now living in exile.
12. Alejandro González Raga, sentenced to 14 years in prison in 2003; now living in exile.
13. Pedro Fuentes-Cid, Esq,served 16 years in Castro’s prisons; co-founder of the Ex-Club and Consejo Presidio Politico Cubano.

Czech Republic
14. Vaclav Havel, writer and former President of the Czech Republic.

Ethiopia
15. Daniel Bekele, imprisoned in November 2005, following demonstrations against disputed election results for provoking “outrages against the Constitution”; sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment. After signing a letter “acknowledging mistakes” committed in relation to the elections, he received a presidential pardon in March 2008 and is currently studying at St. Hugh’s college, Oxford.

16. Netsanet Demissie, also imprisoned in 2005 following demonstrations against disputed election results for provoking “outrages against the Constitution”.

India
17. Dr Binayak Sen, pioneer of health care to marginalized and indigenous communities in Chhattisgarh (where there is an active Maoist insurgency); was imprisoned for 2 years.

Indonesia
18. Dita Indah Sari, Indonesian trade union and social activist; was imprisoned for sedition in 1996 on charges of sedition under Suharto. In 2002 she refused a $50000 human rights award from Reebok in protest against the company’s poor record on workers’ rights.
19. Ignatius Mahendra, sentenced in 2003 to 3 years’ imprisonment for insulting the President and Vice President in Indonesia.

Iran
20. Emadeddin Baghi, journalist; faces further court cases in relation to his human rights work; 2009 recipient of the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders.
21. Shirin Ebadi, lawyer; human rights activist; Nobel Peace Prize laureate 2003.

Malaysia
22. Anwar Ibrahim (official title: Dato’ Seri Anwar), former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia; current de facto leader of Keadilan, the People’s Justice Party. Following mass protests calling for political reform in 1997, he was sentenced to six years in prison for corruption and to another nine years for sodomy in 2009. He reportedly endured six years in solitary confinement. In 2004 his conviction was reversed and he was released. In July 2008, the government brought new charges against him, the trial date has been set for 1 July 2009.
23. Dr Chandra Muzaffar, President, International Movement for a Just World (JUST)
24. Irene Fernandez, director and founder of Tenaganita, a migrants rights organisation in Malaysia; arrested in 1996 and charged with ‘maliciously publishing false news’ following the reports of ill-treatment of undocumented migrant workers in detention centres. She underwent the longest running trial in Malaysia’s legal history and was imprisoned for several years before being released on bail and finally acquitted in November 2008.
25. Lim Kit Siang, has been detained numerous times under the Internal Security Act.
26. M Manoharan, former HINDRAF detainee from December 2007-April 2009
27. Dr. Mohd Nasir Hashim, Malaysia, member of the State Assembly
28. Teresa Kok , Secretary, AIPMC (The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus); Malaysian opposition leader and Member of the Parliament since 1999, arrested under Malaysia’s Internal Security Act in September 2008, on the grounds of being a threat to security. She was later released without being charged.
29. Uthayakumar, lawyer, Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF)

Mongolia
30. G. Jamyan, journalist
31. L. Sanjaasuren, lawyer
32. General Baatar, former head of Mongolia’s Central Intelligence Agency

Morocco
33. Ali Lmrabet, journalist; sentenced by a court in 2003 to four years’ imprisonment on charges of insulting King Mohamed VI, “undermining the monarchy” and “threatening the integrity of the national territory”.

Philippines
34. Aida Santos, poet, detained 1976-77, Chairperson of Women’s Education, Development, Productivity and Research Organization.
35. Alex Arellano, detained from 1974-78; former Amnesty International case
36. Dr Aurora Corazon Parong, current AI Philippines Section Director; detained for 18 months in 1982; former Executive Director of Task force Detainees of the Philippines.
37. Esperanza Santos &
38. Luzviminda Santos, sisters, both detained in 1987, both lead the Philippine Global Exchange.
39. George Parong, detained in the early 70s
40. Jun Paas, detained from 1989-1994; one of the last political prisoners in Camp Crame (national headquarters of the Philippine National Police)
41. Loretta ‘Etta’ Ann Rosales, detained in 1972 and 1976, former Member of the Philippine House of Representatives.
42. Max De Mesa, detained in 1972 and 1971, current Chairperson and spokesperson of the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Activists.
43. Dr Nymia Simbulan, detained 1973-74; Executive Director of the Philippine Human Rights Information Center.
44. Pepito Frias, detained 1972, 1973-74 and 1976; works for the Philippine Human Rights Information Center.
45. Ramon Perdon, detained 1998-2000, currently Amnesty International IT consultant.
46. Rep. Satur Ocampo, Congressman; political prisoner under the Marcos dictatorship
47. Sixto Carlos Jr, detained from 1979 – 1983; currently heads the International Committee of the AKBAYAN Citizens’ Action Partylist.

Poland
48. Lach Walesa, former president of Poland (1990 to 1995) and Nobel Peace Prize laureate 1983; arrested and detained in 1981 for 11 months following trade union activism.

Russia
49. Ludmilla Alexeeva, author; former Soviet dissident; Chair of the Moscow Helsinki Group and the doyenne of Russia’s human rights community.
50. Yuri Feodorovich Orlov, nuclear physicist; former Soviet dissident; arrested in 1977 and detained in the Siberian Gulag for almost ten years; freed in 1986 and deported to the U.S., now a Professor of Physics and Government at Cornell University.

Singapore
51. Dr. Chee Soon Juan, the Secretary-General of the Singapore Democratic Party has been imprisoned in 1999, 2002 and in 2006. He has also been bankrupted for voicing his opinion. Although released, as a bankrupt, he has been barred from seeking parliamentary seats or leaving the country without permission.

South Africa
52. Nelson Mandela Foundation, through the Centre of Memory and Dialogue, the Nelson Mandela Foundation contributes to the making of a just society by promoting the values, vision and work of Nelson Mandela.

South Korea
53. Bang Yang-Kyun, imprisoned for 7 years in 1990 on charges relating to endangering national security; former secretary of an opposition MP.
54. Cho Kuk, imprisoned in 1994 under the National Security Law as a Professor at Seoul National University.
55. Han Seung Hun, human rights lawyer.
56. Hwang Sok-Yong, writer; sentenced to 8 years imprisonment in 1994 under the National Security Law.
57. Kang Young Ju, sentenced to life imprisonment under the National Security Law as a medical school student; released under amnesty after 14 years.
58. Dr Kim Dae-jung, former president of the Republic of Korea and 2000 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.
59. Kim Hak-Min, imprisoned in 1974 under the National Security Law.
60. Kim Seong Man, sentenced to death as a university student in 1986 under the National Security Law, reduced to life imprisonment, was given amnesty after 13 years.
61. Kwon Young Ghil, Labour Party MP.
62. Lee Si Woo, photographer and anti-mining activist; imprisoned on charges under National Security Law in 2006; released in 2007.
63. MINKAHYUP HR Group, organisation for families of prisoners of conscience.
64. Park Lae Goon, imprisoned following a peaceful demonstration for farmers against eviction.
65. Park No Hae, poet; arrested in 1991, tortured for 24 days, and sentenced to death under the National Security Law. His sentence was reduced to life imprisonment, received amnesty after 8 years.
66. Yoo Ihntae, former student activist; sentenced to death under the National Security Law; imprisoned for 4 years.

Sri Lanka
67. Prins Gunasekara, human rights lawyer and journalist; persecuted by authorities for appealing the arbitrary detention of young Leftist members of the JVP (Janata Vimukhti Peramuna).

Taiwan
68. Aang Bun-kheng, sentenced to life, serving 16+ years.
69. C.M. Kao, Reverend and former general secretary of the Presbyterian Church.
70. Chang Chang-mei, served 12 years.
71. Chang Tse-chou, served 12 years, professor of National Taiwan University, director of the Panchiao Community University.
72. Chen Chin, served 5 years.
73. Chen Chu, elected Mayor of Kaohsiung City in 2008.
74. Chen Chung-shin, former congressman.
75. Chen Meng-huo, served 15 years, painter and photographer.
76. Chen Ying-tai, served 12 years.
77. Hsieh Tsung-min, former congressman, 2 terms in jail, served 11.5 years.
78. Hsu Ching-fu, served 2 terms, 12 years in total.
79. Hsu Tien-hsien, Reverend of the Presbyterian Church, arrested from the pulpit during the Christmas service in 1979.
80. Hsu Tsao-te, 2 terms in jail, served 12 years in total.
81. Huang Hua, 4 terms in jail, served 23 years in total, former councilor to the President.
82. Hung We-Huo, sentenced to life, serving 13+ years.
83. Kao Chin-lang, served 15 years, navy crew journalist.
84. Kueh Chin-suun, sentenced to life, served 22+ years.
85. Lin Chih-chieh, served 10 years, professor of literature.
86. Lin Shu-chih, served 2 terms, 11 year in total.
87. Lin Yi-hsiung, human rights lawyer and former chairman of Democratic Progressive Party.
88. Lu Hsiu-lien, women’s rights activist, former Vice President of R.O.C.
89. Mao Fu-cheng, navy crew, served 5 years.
90. Nguo Chiong-leng, served 10 years, high school teacher.
91. Peng Ming-min, professor of international law at National Taiwan University, former presidential candidate of R.O.C.
92. Su You-peng, served 10 years, medical doctor.
93. Tai Chen-yao, former congressman and vice chairman of the Council of Agriculture.
94. Thuo Ping-lang, served 10 years, painter.
95. Tien Ching-you, army officer, served 11 years.
96. Tsai Kuan-yu, served 13 years.
97. Tsai Kun-lin, served 10 years, publisher.
98. Wang Dan, student leader of the Tiananmen demonstration in 1989, served 2 terms afterwards, will teach in NCCU Taiwan from August 2009.
99. Wang Tuoh, novelist and former congressman.
100. Yang Ching-chu, novelist and the first chairman of Taiwanese Pen Association.
101. Yao Chia-wen, human rights lawyer and former president of the Examination Yuan of R.O.C.

United Kingdom
102. Terry Waite, humanitarian, author; held captive for four years from 1987 by the Islamic Jihad Organization in Lebanon following his efforts to secure the release of hostages in Lebanon.

Uzbekistan
103. Mutabar Tajibaeva,winner of the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders 2008 and the 2008 US State Department’s Award for International Women of Courage.
104. Tamara Chikunova, leader of the ‘Mothers Against Death Penalty and Torture’; winner of the ‘Golden Doves for Peace 2004’ award; ‘Nurnberg’ 2005; ‘La Donna ell’Anno’ 2004.
105. Umida Niyazova, leader of the Uzbek-German Forum for Human Rights; winner of the Human Rights Watch Human Rights Defender Award 2008

Vietnam
106. Professor Doan Viet Hoat, writer, academic; has spent 20 years in jail - 12 years without charge or trial and eight years for “counter-revoluntionary” activities. Released in September 1998 under a presidential amnesty; lives in exile in the USA.
107. Dr Nguyen Dan Que, imprisoned three times for a total of 20 years for his non-violent struggle for human rights and democracy; last released from prison in January 2005.

EP President Hans-Gert Pöttering strongly appeals for the release of Sakharov Prize winner Aun San Suu Kyi

2009-06-08T16:39:00.003+01:00

Brussels, 14 May 2009

EP President Hans-Gert Pöttering strongly appeals for the release of Sakharov Prize winner Aun San Suu Kyi

Following the imprisonment today in Burma of the 1990 Sakharov Prize winner, Aun San Suu Kyi, the President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Pöttering, made the following statement:

"After hearing the news that Nobel Peace Prize winner and European Parliament Sakharov Prize Aun San Suu Kyi has been accused of breaching the conditions of her detention under house arrest and taken to prison, I strongly call on the Burmese authorities to immediately release her without further delay or conditions.

Now that her six-year illegal house arrest is due to expire on 27 May, this imprisonment appears to be another pretext to keep her detained as the country approaches new elections in 2010.

The European Parliament reaffirms its complete solidarity with Aun San Suu Kyi and calls on the Burmese authorities to release her immediately and unconditionally".

日本からも参加しよう！ (Instructions for the website in Japanese)

2009-06-05T08:10:00.004+01:00

日本からも参加しよう！　

スーチーさんは6月19日に64歳の誕生日を迎えます。これに合わせ、動画や画像、文、Twitterなどを使ってスーチーさんを応援する「６４語のメッセージ」を送りませんか。

ブラッド・ピット、デイビッド・ベッカム、ボノ、スカーレット・ヨハンソン、ニコール・キッドマン、マドンナなどからもメッセージが寄せられています！

また、世界中の市民からも続々とメッセージが届いています。

メッセージを送るのは簡単です。次の３つのステップを踏めばOK。

＜ステップ１＞

まず、伝えたいメッセージを考えます。

このキャンペーンの趣旨は「スーチーさんを応援する６４語のメッセージを送ろう」というものですが、厳密に「６４」という数字にこだわる必要はありません。自由にメッセージを創作してください。

・映像メッセージの場合は、まず　YouTube　にアップロードしてください。
・画像（写真など）の場合は、ご使用のパソコンに保存してください。

＜ステップ２＞

下のページに行ってください。
http://www.64forsuu.org/add.php　

（１）Name、Email、Countryの欄に、それぞれ氏名（ローマ字）、メールアドレス、国名（Japan）を記入してください。

（２）オプションを選択します。

「Keep my location and name private and confidential」
→氏名と国名を非公開にしたい場合は、チェック印を入れてください。

「Sign me up for news about Aung San Suu Kyi and Burma」
→アウンサンスーチーさんやビルマ（ミャンマー）についてニュースを受け取りたい場合は、チェック印を入れてください。

＜ステップ３＞

いよいよ、メッセージを送ります！　

【映像の場合】

ページの下の方にある、この画像を
PICTURE THREE

クリックしてください。すると空欄が出てくるので、そこに投稿したい映像のURLを貼り付けて、「Submit」ボタンを押します。
これで完了！　
次のページに出てくるURLが、あなたのメッセージのページです。

【画像の場合】

ページの下の方にある、この画像を
PICTURE ONE

クリックしてください。すると空欄が出てくるので、「Browse」をクリックして、自分のパソコンの中から、投稿したい映像を選びます。選んだら、「Submit」ボタンを押します。
これで完了！　
次のページに出てくるURLが、あなたのメッセージのページです。

【文書のメッセージを投稿したい場合】

ページの下の方にある、この画像を

PICTURE TWO

クリックしてください。すると空欄が出てくるので、そこにメッセージを入力します。日本語でも英語でもOkです。ただし字数制限があるので注意！　書き終わったら、「Submit」ボタンを押します。これで完了！
これで完了！　
次のページに出てくるURLが、あなたのメッセージのページです。

【Twitterする場合】

Twitterで、メッセージの前に「#assk64」をつけて送信してください。

========================================
サンプル～既に寄せられたメッセージから
========================================

【デビッド・ベッカム（サッカー選手）の「６４語」】

ここから見られます：
http://www.64forsuu.org/word.php?wid=4992

～メッセージの日本語訳～
「１９年前、ビルマの人びとはアウンサンスーチーさんを次の指導者に選びました。以来１９年間のうちほとんどを、スーチーさんは自宅軟禁されたまま過ごしました。彼女がまた閉じ込められようとしている今、私たちは黙ってはいられません。今こそ、国際社会は声をそろえて「アウンサンスーチーさんに自由を」と求めるべきです。」

【オノ・ヨーコさんのメッセージ（Twitter経由）】

FREE Daw Aung San Suu Kyi NOW！（今こそアウンサンスーチーさんを自由に！）

【リチャード・ブランソン（ヴァージン・レコーズ創設者）の６４語（映像）】

ここから見られます：
http://www.64forsuu.org/word.php?wid=5184

～メッセージの日本語訳～

「アウンサンスーチーさん、６４才の誕生日おめでとう。私たちはみな、ビルマの人びとへのあなたの献身ぶりを応援しています。あなたの勇気ある精神は、私たちみなにとって明るい光のようです。スーチーさんは、ビルマ国民のために身を捧げています。今こそ、スーチーさんの不当な訴追を止めるために私たちも立ち上がりましょう。皆さんも私たちと一緒に、http://64forsuu.org/で、スーチーさんの誕生日を祝い、自由を願いましょう。」

Celebrities Back 64ForSuu.org on Twitter

2009-06-02T16:04:00.000+01:00

Celebrities from around the world have been “tweeting” about a new campaign launched on Wednesday 27 May allowing visitors to leave a message of support for Burma's imprisoned democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi in the run up to her 64th birthday.

Since then, Demi Moore, Yoko Ono, Kevin Spacey, Sarah Brown, and Eddie Izzard have all asked their followers to back the major new campaign. It is the first political campaign to use twitter with an integrated website to harness the reach and influence of some of the world’s most influential celebrities. Through replies and re-tweets, the campaign message reached an estimated 5 million people through Twitter alone in its first five days.

On May 18th Aung San Suu Kyi was put on trial, charged with breaching the terms of her house arrest after an American man, John Yettaw, swam to her house and refused to leave. The dictatorship are using the visit as an opportunity to extend her detention, which was expected to expire yesterday. Her trial is ongoing and she could face a further five years in detention.

Yoko Ono tweeted “FREE Daw Aung San Suu Kyi NOW! http://bit.ly/assk http://www.64forSuu.org #assk64”.

Stephen Fry tweeted “Free Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi!!! http://www.64forSuu.org #assk64”

Kevin Spacey tweeted ““Free Burma’s Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi!!! #assk64 www.64forsuu.org (via @SarahBrown10) RT “.

As well as celebrities, the website is receiving political support featuring video messages to Aung San Suu Kyi from heads of state including British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Mohamed Nasheed, President of the Maldives and President Jose Ramos Horta, President of Timor-Leste.

For more information contact Johnny Chatterton on 020 7324 4710

Notes to editor:

The website 64forSuu.org can be viewed here: http://64forsuu.org/. It is backed by a coalition of organisations including, Burma Campaign UK, Open Society Institute, Not On Our Watch, Amnesty International, Avaaz, English Pen, US Campaign for Burma, The 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), Birmania Por La Paz (Spain), and Austria Burma Center .

Explanation of tweets

The tweets mention the promotional hashtag #assk64 which is used to promote the website 64forsuu.org

RT refers to a retweet when someone on twitter retweets another person’s tweet.

The tweets can be viewed here:

Demi Moore

“@sunsetcruise It is horrible what is happening to Aung San Suu Kyi. I am grateful her story recently has been brought to my attention.”

Yoko Ono

“FREE Daw Aung San Suu Kyi NOW! http://bit.ly/assk http://www.64forSuu.org #assk64”

Kevin Spacey

“Free Burma’s Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi!!! #assk64 http://www.64forSuu.org (via @SarahBrown10) RT “

Stephen Fry

“Free Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi!!! http://www.64forSuu.org #assk64” http://twitter.com/stephenfry/statuses/1933131470

Eddie Izzard http://twitter.com/eddieizzard

“Free Burma’s dignified Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi !!! #assk64 http://www.64forSuu.org- please RT” - Sarah Brown”

Jimmy Carr

“I know its not the type of thing I usually twitter about but can you Free Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi !!! #assk64 http://www.64forSuu.org”

Sarah Brown http://twitter.com/SarahBrown10/statuses/1929209237

“Free Burma’s dignified Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi !!! #assk64 http://www.64forSuu.org - big new campaign, please RT “

Emma Freud http://twitter.com/emmafreud

“Free Burma’s Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi!!! #assk64 http://www.64forSuu.org (via @SarahBrown10) RT”

David Baddiel http://twitter.com/ronskanky

“Free Burma’s Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi!!! #assk64 http://www.64forSuu.org (via @SarahBrown10)”

Omid Djalili http://twitter.com/omiddjalili

Free Burma’s Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi!!! #assk64 http://www.64forSuu.org (via @SarahBrown10)

Burma Must Face Serious Consequences If Suu Kyi Kept in Detention

2009-05-28T17:15:00.003+01:00

Press Release from the Burma Campaign UK
The Burma Campaign UK today called for Burma’s military dictatorship to face serious consequences if Aung San Suu Kyi is not released at the end of the current trial.

“We cannot have another groundhog day for Aung San Suu Kyi, where once again she is detained, once again the international community expresses outrage, and once again the generals get away with it,” said Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK. “The time is long overdue for a global arms embargo, and for a commission of inquiry into the crimes against humanity and war crimes being committed against ethnic groups in Eastern Burma.”

The Burma Campaign UK believes the United Nations and international community fundamentally misunderstand the nature of the dictatorship, still believing it can be reasoned with despite more than 20 years of failed diplomacy. 39 visits by UN envoys have failed to secure a single concession from the generals.

“The generals will have to be forced into talks by finally facing serious threats to their interests,” said Mark Farmaner. “So far, we have had a divided international community, and with the exception of the US, a few weak sanctions applied randomly. A total arms embargo, depriving them of the weapons they need to stay in power, and the threat of ending up in jail, could help push them into talks.”

The Burma Campaign UK is calling for a combination of economic, legal and diplomatic pressure. There is no single ‘magic bullet’ that will force the dictatorship into genuine talks, instead every point of leverage must be applied. The Burma Campaign UK has laid out detailed proposals of steps that the European Union could take at: http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/index.php/burma/news/new-eu-burma-sanctions-should-be-targeted-and-strategic

The Burma Campaign UK also cautioned that the dictatorship may back down from giving Aung San Suu Kyi the maximum sentence, and present it as a concession to the international community. Countries like Japan and China would likely praise such a step.

“The rigged elections due in 2010 are uppermost in the generals minds,” said Mark Farmaner. “Since the uprising in 2007 they have systematically rounded up all opposition, doubling the number of political prisoners. The generals do not want anyone, especially Aung San Suu Kyi, to expose them for the sham they are.”

For more information contact Mark Farmaner on 020 7324 4710

What's your favourite famous 64?

2009-05-28T12:12:00.002+01:00

There are lots of famous people adding 64's to www.64forSuu.org right now.

Which is your favorite famous 64? Have you seen David Beckham's? George Clooney's? Yoko Ono's? Stephen Fry's?

Add yours (including the link) in the comments below:

Trouble accesing 64forSuu.org?

2009-05-28T11:54:00.005+01:00

We are getting reports from a few sources around the world that people are having trouble accessing 64forSuu.org.

If you are having trouble please try accessing the website via 64forSuu.com.

If you are still having trouble please get in touch via email with us so we can investigate. Please include details of your location, the type of computer you are using and the browser you are using.

Thank you

Johnny Chatterton
Project Manager
64forSuu.org

CSW Joins Global Campaign To Free Aung San Suu Kyi Launchd Today

2009-05-27T17:14:00.001+01:00

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is delighted to announce its participation in a new website calling for the release of Burma’s democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and all of Burma’s political prisoners.

Launching today with the backing of major celebrities and a coalition of NGOs, the website will become the global hub of the international campaign to release Aung San Suu Kyi.

The launch coincides with the day that, according to the Burmese regime, Aung San Suu Kyi’s house arrest expires. The UN has already ruled that her detention is illegal.

64forSuu.org allows anyone to upload video, text, image or twitter messages of support to Burma’s imprisoned democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. 64forSuu.org aims to demonstrate the scale of outrage over her continued detention by encouraging high profile individuals and the public around the world to write a 64 word message, a “64”, that will be delivered on Aung San Suu Kyi’s 64th birthday on 19 June.

The website is supported by Burma Campaign UK, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Amnesty International, Not On Our Watch, Open Society Institute, Avaaz, English Pen, the Trade Union Congress and the US Campaign for Burma.

Messages have been posted on the site by high-profile supporters including the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, the Leader of the Opposition David Cameron, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and some of the world’s best known celebrities and politicians including George Clooney, former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Senator John McCain, David Beckham, Bono, Robert De Niro and Steven Spielberg.

This announcement follows the closure of a global petition, launched by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners and supported by CSW, for the release of Burma’s politicial prisoners. Over 650,000 people from more than 220 countries and territories signed the petition, in “the largest global coordinated action for Burma”. CSW secured signatures from some of the UK’s most high-profile politicians, including the Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague and former Labour Party leader Lord Kinnock. The petition will be delivered to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Commenting on the campaign launch, CSW East Asia Team Leader, Benedict Rogers, said: “We are excited to be involved in this groundbreaking campaign. We encourage everyone to take five minutes to provide a “64” in support of Aung San Suu Kyi, and show her that she hasn’t been forgotten. Aung San Suu Kyi has committed no crime whatsoever yet is imprisoned by a criminal regime. The military dictatorship must not be given any excuse to continue to hold her captive - we are determined to see her returned to freedom.”

For further information contact Matthew Jones, Public Affairs Officer at Christian Solidarity Worldwide on 020 8329 0063, email matthewjones@csw.org.uk or visit www.csw.org.uk

CSW is a human rights organisation which specialises in religious freedom, works on behalf of those persecuted for their Christian beliefs and promotes religious liberty for all.

ENDS

Press coverage of 64ForSuu.Org

2009-05-27T17:12:00.000+01:00

It seems that it's not just social networks spreading the word about 64ForSuu.org, newspapers all over the world are writing about the website. Here are a few of them:

India: The Times of India, British PM, Clooney in plea for Suu Kyi

United States of America: The Nation,NET CAMPAIGN FOR IRON LADY:Helping Suu Kyi through mouse clicks

United Kingdom: The Telegraph,George Clooney and David Beckham back Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi

United Kingdom : Mirror,Clooney and Beckham's Suu Kyi help

United Kingdom: Christian Today, CSW joins global campaign to free Aung San Suu Kyi

India: Mizzima,Web campaign launched for Suu Kyi’s release

United Kingdom: The Sun, Stars in 'Free Suu Kyi' plea to Burma

Taiwan: Taiwan News,Obama calls on Myanmar to free Aung San Suu Kyi

United States of America: The Citizen,American says God told him to warn Suu Kyi

Indonesia: The Jakarta Globe,American says God told him to warn Suu Kyi

Özel Web Tasarım,A global internet campaign kicks off today, with support from world celebrities, to express support for Burma's detained political leader

India: Duniyalive, Clooney, Becks support Burma’’s Aung San Suu Kyi release campaign

Australia: Sky News Australia,Celebrities join online campaign
Celebrities join online campaign

India: Zeenews, Clooney, Beckham and Craig pen messages of support for Suu Kyi

India: DNA ,Clooney, Beckham and Craig pen messages of support for Suu Kyi

India: Newstrack,Clooney, Becks support Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi release campaign

Pakistan Sindh Today, Clooney, Becks support Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi release campaign

UK: Metro, Clooney and Beckham's Suu Kyi help

64ForSuu.org on Twitter + Facebook

2009-05-27T16:58:00.002+01:00

In the last few hours we’ve seen a huge response to the website with hundreds of 64’s being updated every hour.

This morning we’ve seen Twitter bursting to life about the website, Jimmy Carr got the ball rolling , Sarah Brown, wife of the British Prime Minister tweeted next then Eddie Izzard passed the campaign on . Stephen Fry tweeted about the campaign a while later and Yoko Ono has just sent another tweet. Today we’ve seen hundreds and hundreds of retweets. Thank you to everyone that has tweeted and retweeted, please keep it up!

It’s fantastic to see so many people spreading the word.

Here’s a quick guide to how you can help us tell more people about the campaign:
Facebook: Update your Status with a link to 64forSuu.org and then invite your friends to become fans of 64forSuu.org
Twitter: Tweet about the campaign using the hashtag #assk64
Email: email your friends and family with the link www.64forsuu.org
Word of mouth: And don’t forget, word of mouth, you could always just tell your friends about it.

Finally, don’t forget to upload your 64.

Johnny

Statement by President Obama on Aung San Suu Kyi's House Arrest and Detention

2009-05-27T10:27:00.003+01:00

Below is a statements just released by President Obama:

THE WHITE HOUSE

Statement by the President on Aung San Suu Kyi's House Arrest and Detention

I call on the Burmese government to release National League for Democracy Secretary General and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi from detention immediately and unconditionally. I strongly condemn her house arrest and detention, which have also been condemned around the world. The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has issued opinions affirming that the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi dating back to 2003 is arbitrary, unjustified, and in contravention of Burma's own law, and the United Nations Security Council reaffirmed on May 22 their concern about the situation and called for the release of all political prisoners.

Aung San Suu Kyi's continued detention, isolation, and show trial based on spurious charges cast serious doubt on the Burmese regime's willingness to be a responsible member of the international community. This is an important opportunity for the government in Burma to demonstrate that it respects its own laws and its own people, is ready to work with the National League for Democracy and other ethnic and opposition groups, and is prepared to move toward reconciliation.

By her actions, Aung San Suu Kyi has represented profound patriotism, sacrifice, and the vision of a democratic and prosperous Burma. It is time for the Burmese government to drop all charges against Aung San Suu Kyi and unconditionally release her and her fellow political prisoners. Such an action would be an affirmative and significant step on Burma's part to begin to restore its standing in the eyes of the United States and the world community and to move toward a better future for its people.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Statement-by-the-President-on-Aung-San-Suu-Kyis-House-Arrest-and-Detention/

64forSuu.org Launched today – Send your messages to Aung San Suu Kyi now

2009-05-27T07:00:00.000+01:00

Today we launched 64forSuu.org, a groundbreaking site created so that you can send your message of support for Burma’s democracy leader,Aung San Suu Kyi.

The website already has dozens of statements from celebrities, politicians and members of the public. We’re aiming to bring together thousands of people from every corner of the world to call for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all of Burma’s political prisoners by Suu Kyi’s birthday on June 19th 2009.

Already we’ve seen phenomenal support from celebrities, politicians and the public. Go to the Gallery and have a look around, you’ll see 64’s from Brad Pitt, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, the General Secretary, International Trade Union Confederation, Guy Ryder, and dozens of other entries:

We’d like to thank the following organisations for making this site possible: Burma Campaign UK, Amnesty International,Christian Solidarity Worldwide,Open Society Institute, Avaaz, the Trade Union Congress ,English Pen, Human Rights Watch and Not On Our Watch

Finally I’d like to thank the team that made 64forSuu.org possible. We created the site in just 6 days, it would not have been possible without Rechord, who designed and built the site or Catalyst 2, who generously providing hosting for the website at very short notice.

Please now explore the site and show your support for Aung San Suu Kyi by adding your 64 now.

Johnny Chatterton
Website Manager, 64forSuu.org

64ForSuu.org: Global Campaign To Free Aung San Suu Kyi launched today

2009-05-26T23:59:00.000+01:00

A new website calling for the release of Burma’s democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and all of Burma’s political prisoners, launches today with the backing of major celebrities and a coalition of NGOs and trade unions. The website will become the global hub of the international campaign to release Aung San Suu Kyi.

The launch coincides with the day that, according to the Burmese regime, Aung San Suu Kyi’s house arrest expires. The UN has already ruled that her detention is illegal. More than 2,100 political prisoners are being held in Burma’s jails.

64forSuu.org allows anyone to upload video, text, image or twitter messages of support to Burma’s imprisoned democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. 64forSuu.org aims to demonstrate the scale of outrage over her continued detention by encouraging high profile individuals and the public around the world to write a 64 word message, a “64”, that will be delivered on Aung San Suu Kyi’s 64th birthday on June 19th.

Organisations supporting the website include; Burma Campaign UK, Amnesty International,Christian Solidarity Worldwide,Open Society Institute, Avaaz, theTrade Union Congress ,English Pen, Human Rights Watch and Not On Our Watch. The site will launch with messages from high-profile supporters including George Clooney, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Vaclav Havel, David Beckham, Daniel Craig, and the British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown.

Stephen Fry, Eddie Izzard, Kevin Spacey and Sarah Brown will be twittering on the site.

A selection of the 64’s from the site are below:

Not On Our Watch:
“Nineteen years ago, the Burmese people chose Aung San Suu Kyi as their next leader. For most of those 19 years she has been kept under house arrest by the military junta that runs the country. We must not stand by as she is silenced again. Now is the time for the international community to speak with one voice: Free Aung San Suu Kyi.”

Signed by: George Clooney, Sec. Madeleine Albright, Wes Anderson, Drew Barrymore, David Beckham, Bono, Matthew Broderick, Sandra Bullock, James Carville, Michael Chabon, Daniel Craig, John Cusack, Matt Damon, Robert De Niro, Dave Eggers, Jake Gyllenhaal, Václav Havel, Helen Hunt, Anjelica Huston, Scarlett Johansson, Nicole Kidman, Ashton Kutcher, Norman Lear, Madonna, Mary Matalin, Sen. John & Cindy McCain, Rose McGowan, Orhan Pamuk, Sarah Jessica Parker, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Robert Rodriguez, Meg Ryan, Liev Schreiber, George Soros, Steven Spielberg, Meryl Streep, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Naomi Watts, Prof. Elie Wiesel, Owen Wilson.

British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown’s “64”:

“I add my voice to the growing chorus of those demanding your release. For too long the world has failed to act in the face of this intolerable injustice. That is now changing. The clamour for your release is growing across Europe, Asia, and the entire world. We must do all we can to make this Birthday the last you spend without your freedom.”

Notes to editors:
About Aung San Suu Kyi:
Aung San Suu Kyi (pronounced Ong San Soo Chee), Burma’s pro-democracy leader and Nobel Peace laureate, symbolises the struggle of Burma's people to be free. She has been detained for over 13 years by the Burmese regime for campaigning for human rights and democracy in Burma.
On May 18th Aung San Suu Kyi was put on trial, charged with breaching the terms of her house arrest after an American man, John Yettaw, swam to her house and refused to leave. The dictatorship are using the visit as an opportunity to extend her detention, which was expected to expire this month. Her trial is ongoing and she could face a further five years in detention.

In 1990 she led her party to win 82% of seats in national elections in Burma, despite being placed under house arrest. She has been in and out of detention ever since. She was held under house arrest from 1989-1995, and again from 2000-2002. She was again arrested in May 2003 after the Depayin massacre, during which up to 100 of her supporters were beaten to death by the regime's militia. Aung San Suu Kyi remains under house arrest in Rangoon. Her phone line has been cut, her post is intercepted and National League for Democracy volunteers providing security at her compound were removed in December 2004.

She has won numerous international awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize, the Sakharov Prize from the European Parliament and the United States Presidential Medal of Freedom. She has called on people around the world to join the struggle for freedom in Burma, saying "Please use your liberty to promote ours.”

For more information contact Johnny Chatterton, and Website Manager for 64forsuu.org, and Campaigns Officer at Burma Campaign UK on 0207 324 4710.

The Elders demand release of Aung San Suu Kyi on 27 May 2009

2009-05-26T19:56:00.001+01:00

Eminent global leaders question legitimacy of 2010 elections

Desmond Tutu: Aung San Suu Kyi, a member of the Elders, remains a symbol of hope for her nation like our founder Nelson Mandela.
Lakhdar Brahimi: ASEAN leaders must reject election results in 2010 if minimum conditions are not met.
Mary Robinson: Aung San Suu Kyi is being punished for conduct over which she had no control.
Jimmy Carter: Aung San Suu Kyi is a hero… Her ongoing detention is a further reflection on the integrity of the government.
Fernando Henrique Cardoso: The path to acceptance for the government of Burma/Myanmar is inclusive dialogue and transition to a more open society।

Marrakech, 26 May 2009

The Elders – a group of eminent global leaders founded by Nelson Mandela – have repeated their call for the release of their fellow Elder Aung San Suu Kyi as her latest 6-year period of house arrest is due to expire.

Chair of The Elders, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, said: “Despite the latest efforts to exclude and silence our sister Aung San Suu Kyi, she remains a symbol of hope for her nation and the world. We are moved by her courage and dignity. She shows the same steel as Nelson Mandela, who endured 27 years in prison. Like him, she has right and goodness on her side.”

Daw Suu Kyi is due for release on 27 May after 6 years under house arrest, but was re-arrested on 13 May and is being held in the notorious Insein prison with thousands of other political prisoners. Her re-arrest followed an uninvited visit to her house by an American citizen. Daw Suu Kyi, her doctor and two staff members are on trial and face five years in prison if found guilty.

Former United States President Jimmy Carter said: “Aung San Suu Kyi is a hero for those who believe in human rights and democracy. Her ongoing detention is a further reflection on the integrity of the government.”

Mary Robinson, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said: “It hurts profoundly that an eminent woman leader has been wrongly held under house arrest for 6 years and now faces being even further punished for conduct over which she had no control.”

The Elders are currently meeting in Morocco and have kept an empty chair for Aung San Suu Kyi, as they always do. Their discussions covered a range of global issues, including events in Burma/Myanmar.

The Elders urge ASEAN governments in particular to make it clear to Myanmar’s leaders that their current actions are jeopardising the legitimacy of elections due in 2010 and the results will not be recognised unless minimum conditions are met.

Those conditions should include the release of all political prisoners, an inclusive national process to review the 2008 constitution and participation by the NLD and other parties in the 2010 election. International observers must also be allowed to supervise the 2010 poll.

The Elders also address the government of Myanmar – urging leaders to increase spending on the health, education and welfare of the people and to accept further humanitarian assistance to help alleviate their country’s poverty and suffering.

Lakhdar Brahimi, former Algerian Foreign Minister, called on ASEAN leaders to send a strong message to the government of Burma/Myanmar: “ASEAN must put the wellbeing of the people of Burma and the region above all else. My fellow Elders and I urge ASEAN to insist that minimum election conditions are met as an important step towards ending the terrible suffering and poverty of the Burmese people.

“The legitimacy of the 2010 poll is dependent on the government meeting those minimum conditions. If it does not, ASEAN and the rest of the world should not accept the election results.”

Former Brazilian President, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, said: “The government of Myanmar is looking for acceptance, especially in the region. The leaders must be told that their current efforts will result in failure. The path to acceptance is inclusive dialogue with the NLD and other parties, the release of political prisoners and peaceful transition to a more open society.”

The Elders said that the entire trial of Aung San Suu Kyi and her companions is a gross travesty of justice.

Desmond Tutu: “We should be very aware that this government will try to convince the world that they are making concessions in relation to Aung San Suu Kyi. I fear that they will find her guilty - but return her to house arrest instead of prison. This is not a concession – it is a manipulation of an illegal process. It must not be accepted by any government, ASEAN or the UN. She must be freed.”

Global Statements Calling For The Release Of Aung San Suu Kyi

2009-05-26T19:20:00.002+01:00

Global Statements Calling For The Release Of Aung San Suu Kyi

1 - Statement from British Prime Minister Gordon Brown
2 - Statement of the UN Secretary-General
3 - EU - Declaration of the Presidency on behalf of the EU on the arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
4 - UK - British Opposition Party Leader Calls For Aung San Suu Kyi Release
5 - France utterly condemns the arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi and her transfer to Insein prison.
6 - New Zealand - McCully condemns detention of Aung San Suu Kyi
7 - Australian Parliamentarians for Democracy in Burma Statement
8 - The Elders call for release of fellow Elder Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
9 - Canada Deeply Concerned Over New Charges Against Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi
10 - Ireland - Minister for Foreign Affairs condemns the arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
11 - Norway demands release of Aung San Suu Kyi
12 - Bono, Clooney, Madonna, McCain, Tutu—Call for Release of Burmese Leader Aung San Suu Kyi
13 - USA - Statement of US Secretary Of State, Hillary Clinton
15 - Philippines - Statement of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo on the Detention of Aung San Suu Kyi at Insein Prison 17 May 2009
16 - Switzerland appeals to release all Political Prisoners in Myanmar
17 - ASEAN MPs condemn Myanmar military regime actions and takes ASEAN to task
18 - Desmond Tutu, Jody Williams, Rigoberta Menchu Tum, Adolfo Perez Esquivel, Wangari Mathaai, Shirin Ebadi, Betty Williams, Mairead Corrigan Maguire open letter to Asean Secretariat.
19 - Japan - Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, on the situation in Myanmar (lawsuit against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi)
20 - Germany - Deeply concerned about the situation and health of opposition leader and Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi
21 - Austria - "Immediate and unconditional release of Aung San Suu Kyi" - Federal Ministry for European and international Affairs
22 - United Nations Special Rapporteur calls for release of Aung San Suu Kyi
23 - South Africa - COSATU condemns Burma’s military junta
24 - ABMA, 88 Generation Students & ABFSU condemn the Burma's military government for its imprisonment of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and will oppose by any means including mass protests
25 - KNU Statement on Charges against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
26 - RELEASE DAW SUU IMMEDIATELY - ARAKAN ROHINGYA NATIONAL ORGANISATION
27 - Club De Madrid Letter to Ban Ki-moon
28 – UK - Message of Support from Lord Provost John R Letford, Dundee
29 - Singapore - Ministry Of Foreign Affairs Spokesman’s Comments
30 - UK- Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s Open Letter to Aung San Suu Kyi

1 - UK- Statement from British Prime Minister Gordon Brown Prime Minister's Statement
14.05.2009

“I am deeply disturbed that Aung San Suu Kyi may be charged with breaching the terms of her detention. The Burmese regime is clearly intent on finding any pretext, no matter how tenuous, to extend her unlawful detention. The real injustice, the real illegality, is that she is still detained in the first place. If the 2010 elections are to have any semblance of credibility, she and all political prisoners must be freed to participate. Only then will Burma be set on the road to real democracy, stability and prosperity.”
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2 - UN - Statement of the UN Secretary-General
14.05.2009
Read out today at the Secretary-General's Spokesperson's noon briefing:
"The Secretary-General is gravely concerned about the news that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been moved to the Insein Prison to face criminal charges. The Secretary-General believes that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is an essential partner for dialogue in Myanmar’s national reconciliation and calls on the Government not to take any further action that could undermine this important process. As he has said repeatedly, the Secretary-General believes strongly that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all those who have a contribution to make to the future of their country must be free to be able to do so to ensure that the political process is credible.
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3 - EU - Declaration of the Presidency on behalf of the EU on the arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
14.05.2009

The EU deeply regrets that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the National League of Democracy, and members of her household have been arrested and charged with breaching the terms of her detention, which the United Nations had determined violates international and national law. It is especially striking that these events practically coincide with the expiry of her house arrest.

The EU strongly urges Burma/Myanmar's authorities to release Aung San Suu Kyi and engage in an inclusive process of national reconciliation, which is essential for setting Burma/Myanmar on a genuine path to stability and prosperity and initiate a new phase in the development of the country.
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4 - UK - British Opposition Party Leader Calls For Aung San Suu Kyi Release
14.05.2009

Commenting on the latest reports from Burma about Aung San Suu Kyi, David Cameron said:
“We are shocked by the news that Aung San Suu Kyi and her doctor have been transferred to Insein Prison and by reports that she is being denied the medical treatment she desperately needs.

“This innocent woman has been illegally detained by the Burmese authorities for the last 13 years. She has been denied her liberty, just as the Burmese people have been denied theirs.

“Her imprisonment in Insein Prison is yet another attempt to suppress democracy in Burma and shut off this courageous leader from her people.

“We call for her immediate release, for the UN and ASEAN to immediately send envoys to Burma, and for an end to this travesty of justice.”
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5 - France utterly condemns the arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi and her transfer to Insein prison.
Paris, 14.05.09

Joint statement by Bernard Kouchner, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, and Rama Yade, Minister of State responsible for Foreign Affairs and Human Rights

This decision is even more unacceptable in that the Nobel Peace Prizewinner’s health has deteriorated over the past several days. We reiterate our condemnation of her doctor’s arrest last week.

France holds the Burmese authorities responsible for the conditions under which Aung San Suu Kyi is being detained and for any further deterioration in her state of health. Her release is becoming more urgent than ever.

France again condemns the Burmese authorities’ repeated human rights violations. She calls on the Burmese government to release unconditionally Aung San Suu Kyi and the leaders of the Burmese opposition and begin a necessary dialogue with them, the only way to confer on the elections scheduled in 2010 a legitimacy and credibility which, in the current circumstances, they totally lack.

We are keen to discuss the political and human rights situation in Burma with our European Union partners at Monday’s General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting.
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6 - New Zealand - McCully condemns detention of Aung San Suu Kyi
15.05.09

Foreign Minister Murray McCully today condemned the apparent imprisonment of Burmese pro-democracy leader and Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

"This is totally unacceptable. The only thing Aung San Suu Kyi is guilty of is standing up for the rights of the Burmese people in the face of appalling repression," Mr McCully said.

"Reports from Burma say Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under home detention for many years, was taken from her house yesterday to a
Rangoon prison

"The reports say the arrest came after unauthorised visits by supporters, and that Aung San Suu Kyi is likely to stand trial for breaches of detention conditions. She could face a substantial prison term if found guilty

"This action is yet another setback for Burma, and throws more doubt over the credibility of the planned 2010 elections.

"The Burmese government must release Aung San Suu Kyi immediately, and take meaningful steps towards the restoration of democracy," Mr McCully said.
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7 - Australian Parliamentarians for Democracy in Burma Statement

Aung San Suu Kyi was to face court at 9 am this morning alleged to have broken the conditions of her house arrest. This is a grave development and the Australian Parliamentarians for Democracy in Burma (APDB) believe that the Burmese military dictatorship is using this incident as an opportunity to illegally extend Aung San Suu Kyi’s house arrest, which is due to expire 24 May 2009.

Earlier this year, the UN working group on arbitrary detention stated that Aung San Suu Kyi’s house arrest was illegal under international, and Burmese, law. However, this decision may be the trigger for these new charges.

It is also unclear what has transpired with regards to the US swimmer John Yettaw. That issue also needs to be clarified, as soon as possible, by the Burmese authorities and the US Embassy in Rangoon.

APDB firmly believe that the Burmese military junta has no intention of releasing Aung San Suu Kyi, the democratically elected leader of Burma, or of implementing democratic reforms in Burma. General Than Shwe, Head of the SPDC, must be held to account by the international community.

Last year, Burma’s military junta extended Aung San Suu Kyi’s house arrest illegally for a sixth year and APDB believes they are trying to extend it yet again. She has been under house arrest, on and off, since 1989.
Laurie Ferguson MP , Senator Marise Payne, Senator Scott Ludlam, Janelle Saffin MP
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8 - The Elders call for release of fellow Elder Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
14 May 2009, London. World leaders must not tolerate latest attempt to extend her imprisonment

Desmond Tutu: Release our sister now! Absurd ‘trial’ is an excuse to extend her incarceration.
Jimmy Carter: We stand by Aung San Suu Kyi and call on world leaders to demand her immediate release.
Mary Robinson: Aung San Suu Kyi has been illegally imprisoned for 13 years – this trial is also illegal.

On Monday 18 May the Burmese political leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, is to be put on trial. Along with her two housekeepers and US citizen John Yettaw, she has been charged with violating the terms of her house arrest. All those charged, including Aung San Suu Kyi, are currently being held in Insein maximum security prison outside Yangon where numerous other political prisoners are also detained. The trial will be held inside the prison.

The Elders, of whom Aung San Suu Kyi is an honorary member, urge world leaders not to tolerate this latest attempt by the military regime in Burma/Myanmar to extend her detention, which has been found to be illegal by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.

Aung San Suu Kyi’s latest period of house arrest began in 2003 and is due to expire on 27 May 2009. Her Burmese lawyer U Kyi Win says the latest charges carry a penalty of up to 5 years in prison.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, chair of the Elders said: “This so-called trial is absurd. It is an excuse by the junta to extend her incarceration yet again. Our sister must be released immediately!”

President Jimmy Carter said: “The regime is clearly seeking reasons not to release her. We stand by Aung San Suu Kyi, our fellow Elder, and urge the United Nations and ASEAN to dispatch envoys to Burma to demand her immediate release.”

Mary Robinson said: “Aung San Suu Kyi has been illegally detained for 13 years. This trial is just as illegal. It is not credible for the government to persist with this strategy in order to extend her imprisonment. She should be freed immediately. ”

Aung San Suu Kyi has been detained alone in her home in Yangon for 13 of the past 19 years by the military junta of Burma/Myanmar.

Nelson Mandela and Graça Machel, who co-founded The Elders, invited Aung San Suu Kyi to join the group when it was formally convened in 2007. Because of her ongoing house arrest, Aung San Suu Kyi has been unable to join her fellow Elders, who nevertheless always keep an empty chair for her at their meetings.

About The Elders
The Elders are an independent group of eminent global leaders brought together by Nelson Mandela and Graça Machel, who offer their collective influence and experience to help resolve conflicts, address major causes of human suffering and promote the shared interests of humanity.

The Elders are Kofi Annan, Ela Bhatt, Lakhdar Brahimi, Gro Brundtland, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Jimmy Carter, Graça Machel, Mary Robinson, Desmond Tutu (Chair) and Muhammad Yunus. Nelson Mandela and Aung San Suu Kyi are honorary Elders.
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9 - Canada Deeply Concerned Over New Charges Against Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi

The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement denouncing the continued, unlawful detention of Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi:

“Canada is seriously concerned with the new charges laid against Aung San Suu Kyi, and calls upon the Burmese regime to respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all the people of Burma.

“Recent concerns regarding Aung San Suu Kyi’s health will only be heightened by her transfer to harsh prison conditions. Canada strongly urges the Burmese authorities to provide appropriate medical care to all inmates in its prisons and to immediately release Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners, a number of whom suffer from serious health problems.

“Freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law are values fundamental to Canada’s foreign policy. Canada believes that the elections planned for 2010 will only be credible if the Burmese regime unconditionally frees all political prisoners and allows opposition groups to participate freely in the electoral process.

“Canada continues to urge the Burmese authorities to engage in genuine dialogue with the democratic opposition and ethnic minorities. We have shown our solidarity with the people of Burma by imposing the toughest sanctions in the world on the regime and by conferring honorary Canadian citizenship on Aung San Suu Kyi.”
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10 - Ireland - Minister for Foreign Affairs condemns the arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Micheál Martin, T.D., has condemned the arrest on 14 May of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the National League for Democracy in Burma and Nobel Peace laureate. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was arrested in connection with the illegal intrusion of a US tourist who entered her compound in early May. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is expected to be tried on 18 May.

The Minister said:
“I utterly deplore the arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the National League for Democracy in Burma and esteemed Nobel Peace laureate, her imprisonment in the notorious Insein Prison in Rangoon, and plans to bring her to trial on Monday.

Her arrest is the latest chapter in an ongoing effort to silence this courageous pro-democracy advocate and opposition leader before, during and after the elections which are due to be held in 2010. Her arrest and incarceration at this time are particularly distressing, given the very real concerns regarding her state of health.

I have repeatedly made clear the Government's demand that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, together with all political prisoners in Burma, should be released at once and a process of dialogue and national reconciliation initiated.

I will continue to work in the EU and UN frameworks and with the countries of the region to do all possible to advance these objectives.”
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11 - Norway demands release of Aung San Suu Kyi

In connection with the initiation of court proceedings against Burmese opposition leader and Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in Insein Prison in Rangoon today, Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre made the following comment:

“The Norwegian Government is concerned about reports that Aung San Suu Kyi has been imprisoned, and demands that she is released immediately. Norway has repeatedly insisted that the regime in Burma must release Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners.

“The imprisonment of Aung San Suu Kyi is a step in the wrong direction. I will today instruct Norwegian diplomatic missions to raise the matter with the countries in the region, including China and India, as well as with the UN Secretary General.”

Aung San Suu Kyi has spent 13 of the last 19 years under arrest, including the last six. Her present house arrest comes to an end on 27 May. It is reported that the next court hearing will be on 18 May.

“Recent reports about the state of Aung San Suu Kyi’s health also give grounds for concern. I expect her to be given proper medical attention. I am therefore concerned about reports that her doctor was arrested last week,” added Mr Støre.
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12 - Bono, Clooney, Madonna, McCain, Tutu—Call for Release of Burmese Leader Aung San Suu Kyi
Not On Our Watch unites politicians, entertainers, artists in support of incarcerated Burmese freedom fighter

(NEW YORK, NY – May 15, 2009) As the ruling Burmese military junta attempts to prolong the unlawful imprisonment of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, Not On Our Watch, the international advocacy and aid organization, has united preeminent voices from across the cultural, political, and social spheres in a call to the international community and the United Nations to press for the release of the Burmese freedom fighter.

“Nineteen years ago, the Burmese people chose Aung San Suu Kyi to be their next leader. And for most of those 19 years she has been kept under house arrest by the military junta that now runs the country. She is the world’s only incarcerated Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

Yesterday Suu Kyi was taken to Burma’s Insein prison to face criminal charges as part of a concerted plan to deny her freedom.
We must not stand by as she is silenced once again. Now is the time for the United Nations and the entire international community to speak clearly, and with one voice: Free Aung San Suu Kyi.”

Endorsed by Not On Our Watch founders George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Matt Damon, signatories to the statement also include cultural icons Bono, Madonna, Steven Spielberg, Nobel Laureates Professor Elie Wiesel and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and Senator John McCain, among others.

The head of Burma’s leading opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), Aung San Suu Kyi was first placed under house arrest 19 years ago. Following nationwide elections in 1990 in which the NLD won 82 percent of the vote, the ruling Burmese military junta extended Suu Kyi’s imprisonment and refused to recognize the results. For 13 of the past 19 years, she has been under house arrest in the Burmese capital of Rangoon. The UN has declared that her incarceration not only “violates international law but also national domestic laws of Myanmar [Burma].”

Originally scheduled to be released at the end of May 2009, a bizarre turn of events has thrown Suu Kyi’s future into doubt. Earlier this month, an American unlawfully swam to her compound, staying there for two nights against Suu Kyi’s wishes. Upon the discovery of this visit, Burmese authorities arrested the intruder, and on May 14, took Suu Kyi to the Insein prison to face criminal charges aimed at further extending her incarceration. They have declared that she will stand trial on May 18.

FREE AUNG SAN SUU KYI

Nineteen years ago, the Burmese people chose Aung San Suu Kyi to be their next leader. And for most of those 19 years she has been kept under house arrest by the military junta that now runs the country. She is the world’s only incarcerated Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.
Yesterday Suu Kyi was taken to Burma’s Insein prison to face criminal charges as part of a concerted plan to deny her freedom.
We must not stand by as she is silenced once again. Now is the time for the United Nations and the entire international community to speak clearly, and with one voice: Free Aung San Suu Kyi.

In support, (partial list, for full list please see www.notonourwatchproject.org )
Sec. Madeleine Albright, Bono, George Clooney, Matt Damon, Robert De Niro, Václav Havel, Norman Lear, Madonna, Sen. John & Cindy McCain, Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, Brad Pitt, Salman Rushdie, Steven Spielberg, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Prof. Elie Wiesel
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13 - USA - Statement of US Secretary Of State, Hillary Clinton
May 14, 2009

I am deeply troubled by the Burmese Government’s decision to charge Aung San Suu Kyi for a baseless crime. It comes just before the six-year anniversary of her house arrest, and it is not in keeping with the rule of law, the ASEAN charter, or efforts to promote national reconciliation and progress in Burma.

We oppose the regime’s efforts to use this incident as a pretext to place further unjustified restrictions on her, and therefore we call on the Burmese authorities to release her immediately and unconditionally, along with her doctor and the more than 2,100 political prisoners currently being held.

I have a great admiration for Aung San Suu Kyi, for her sacrifices and her love of her country. There are certainly political differences that exist in any society. The minister and I understand that. But we all should be striving to enhance the rule of law. And the ASEAN charter, which the minister and I spoke about in our meeting, sets a very clear direction for all the countries in the region to be headed.
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14 - Nobel Laureates Call for Release of Aung San Suu Kyi

We six women Nobel Peace Laureates—Jody Williams, Mairead Maguire, Shirin Ebadi, Wangari Maathai, Betty Williams and Rigoberta Menchu Tum—call for the immediate release of Burma’s democratically elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi from prison. We are shocked and appalled by the Burmese junta’s imprisonment of our sister Nobel Peace Laureate. Already detained under house arrest against Burma’s own laws, her transfer to Burma’s notorious Insein prison is a stark illustration of the brutality and lawlessness of the regime, which now holds more than 2000 democracy activists in prison.

Aung San Suu Kyi is ill and in need of medical treatment. Her doctor, who tried to tend to her last week, was detained on Thursday, May 7, and unable to visit her. Aung San Suu Kyi’s imprisonment in a prison notorious for its mistreatment of prisoners poses a significant threat to her health. We are deeply concerned for our colleague. The people of Burma have suffered unimaginable injustices and human rights abuses over five decades of dictatorship. As a strong voice for freedom and nonviolence, Aung San Suu Kyi represents the best hope for a peaceful and democratic future for Burma.

Along with the other political prisoners and activists within Burma, she must be free to do her work.

Nearly two years ago, in September 2007, a significant nonviolent movement of monks, nuns and democracy activists demonstrated against the military regime in what is now called the Saffron Revolution. The demonstrations continued for 11 days before the military started killing and arresting demonstrators, opening fire on large crowds. In response, some countries introduced new sanctions, the Association of South East Nations (ASEAN) issued a statement—and the UN Security Council did nothing.

The people of Burma were left alone in their nonviolent struggle against a brutal regime. Less than a year later, the regime in Burma capitalized on a devastating cyclone to arrest still more activists and ratify a new constitution through a fraudulent referendum, held mere days after the storm. Now Aung San Suu Kyi has been put in prison. What will take for the international community to respond?

We urge the international community to exert immediate pressure on Burma to release Aung San Suu Kyi and, specifically, for the Security Council of the United Nations to issue a resolution denouncing the imprisonment. Equally important, an effective global arms embargo—and an end to the arms sales to Burma from China and Russia in particular—is more urgent then ever. Burma’s chief economic partners cannot, in good conscience, stand by while Burma’s rulers violently repress the democratic aspirations of their people and lock up those who seek nonviolent change. We strongly urge Burma’s
allies in the ASEAN, and in China, to denounce Burma’s actions.
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15 - Philippines - Statement of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo on the Detention of Aung San Suu Kyi at Insein Prison 17 May 2009
17.05.09

The Philippine Government is deeply troubled and outraged over the filing of trumped up charges against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her transfer to Insein prison, particularly when concerns have been raised regarding her health condition.
These recent incidents will surely impede the process of national reconciliation and the Roadmap to Democracy in Myanmar.
We urge the government of Myanmar to resolve the matter speedily, and to release Aung San Suu Kyi immediately and unconditionally.
The Myanmar Government need not be sidetracked by the recent trumped up charges. As we have conveyed earlier, it is high time for the Myanmar Government to carry out its own “Roadmap for Democracy”: its avowed program of releasing political detainees, including unfettering the National League for Democracy, and allowing its unconditional participation in free elections.
Fulfilling these commitments is long overdue.
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16 - Switzerland appeals to release all Political Prisoners in Myanmar
15.05.2009

The Swiss government is concerned about reports of deterioration in the state of health of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her transfer to a prison. The Swiss Government appeals to the Government of Myanmar to release immediately and unconditionally all political prisoners in the country, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Respect for human rights is a fundamental condition for achieving the rule of law, national reconciliation and democracy. The Government of Switzerland is seriously concerned that persons continue to be arrested and imprisoned in the Union of Myanmar solely on account of their peaceful exercise of the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly, or solely on the basis of their peaceful political activities. Switzerland deplores the fact that the number of political prisoners has increased in the last two years and today totals over 2000. This practice constitutes a serious violation of international human rights law and is having generally adverse effects on peace and national reconciliation in Myanmar.

Some years ago the Swiss Government took note with interest of the announced roadmap to democracy. However, despite the recent adoption of a constitution and the announcement of elections in 2010, the Swiss Government deeply regrets that the Government of Myanmar has not followed up the roadmap with convincing measures to strengthen and sustain its credibility.

The Swiss Government appeals to the Government of Myanmar to enter into serious and systematic cooperation with the United Nations with a view to improving compliance with human rights in the country.
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17 - ASEAN MPs condemn Myanmar military regime actions and takes ASEAN to task
14.05.2009

The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) unequivocally condemns the actions of Myanmar’s military regime in detaining and charging Burma’s democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and calls on tougher action by ASEAN.

Parliamentarians from countries in ASEAN strongly call on its leaders to intervene in the current debacle by urging their Myanmar counterparts to release Aung San Suu Kyi and to be firm with the regime in respecting principles in the ASEAN Charter that are clearly breached in this instance.

“What has happened to Aung San Suu Kyi and her female companions is shocking and upsetting. It is shameful and illogical.

“Our Parliamentarians have always reminded ASEAN leaders not to fall for the fallacy of the regime’s image making. This current manipulation and misuse of the law and legal systems in Myanmar is what the regime are famous for and ASEAN buys into it,” said AIPMC President Kraisak Choonhavan, speaking from Bangkok.

AIPMC views the current trial as an appalling ploy of the regime to convict and extend Aung San Suu Kyi’s already lengthy and unjust detention.

“The purpose here clearly is to stretch her detention, past its supposed expiry date this month, and through to the controversial elections in 2010, which is an apparent important plank of the junta’s sham 12-step roadmap to democracy,” AIPMC Vice-President Lim Kit Siang added from Kuala Lumpur.

Additionally over 50 Parliamentarians from Indonesia, supportive of AIPMC’s calls, have sent an appeal letter to the President of Indonesia urging action.

“Indonesia should show its leadership in ASEAN by not tolerating repressive measures against democracy in any country in the region. We as Indonesian parliamentarians want to see reconciliation between the military junta, the opposition and the various ethnic groups in Myanmar,” said Indonesia’s former attorney general and AIPMC member Marzuki Darusman.

AIPMC also urges ASEAN to review it engagement policies and soft approach to the regime, which have yielded little positive results, if nothing else, have made the regime braver in its repressiveness.

“ASEAN has so far been too lenient in its stance on anti-democratic developments in Myanmar. The US and European Union have already taken more advanced steps. ASEAN should adopt an even firmer stance, than the US and the EU, on happenings in Myanmar,” AIPMC member Eva Kusuma Sundari added from Jakarta.

AIPMC Senior Adviser Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail also urged ASEAN leaders to use its leverage over the regime to ensure Aung San Suu Kyi is provided with necessary medical attention.

“In light of her poor health over the last week and the fact that she has been denied access to her personal physician, the latest action by the military junta against her is deeply troubling.

“I humbly appeal to ASEAN to speak out and take action to ensure that Aung San Suu Kyi, and the people of Myanmar, enjoy basic human rights that are already recognised and enjoyed by others throughout the world,”
said Dr. Wan Azizah.

AIPMC further urges regional and world leaders to come together and find an immediate resolution to the political stalemate in Myanmar.

“World leaders must solve this crisis once and for all. And they should do so in an urgent fashion. The junta’s behaviour and abuse is unacceptable and must be brought to an end. The regime must be held accountable. Burma’s people cannot afford any more political appeasing,”
added AIPMC Vice-President Son Chhay, speaking from Phnom Penh.

AIPMC acknowledges the strong statements and actions on the matter made by leaders, activists and prominent figures around the world and urges continued pressure on Myanmar and ASEAN to act accordingly.

Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary General, ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta, Indonesia
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18 - Desmond Tutu, Jody Williams, Rigoberta Menchu Tum, Adolfo Perez Esquivel, Wangari Mathaai, Shirin Ebadi, Betty Williams, Mairead Corrigan Maguire open letter to Asean Secretariat.
14.05.09

Dear Secretary General,

We are writing to you to urge your immediate action against the false imprisonment of our friend and fellow Nobel Laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi. As you probably know, Ms. Suu Kyi was arrested May 14, 2009 for supposedly breaking the terms of her unlawful detainment by the military junta of Burma and placed in the notorious Insein Prison.

It is clear that this is an excuse by the military junta to add trumped-up charges at a time when her unlawful detention was scheduled to end May 27, 2009. She is to stand trial on Monday, May 18th. The trial is a mockery. There is no judicial system in Burma.

We are extremely concerned about the health of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. As you know, she was diagnosed with low blood pressure and dehydration. Her personal physician has been imprisoned along with the two women who take care of her. They have all been taken to Insein Prison, which is infamous for its inhumane and treacherous conditions, where prisoners endure mental and physical torture.

We are outraged by the deplorable actions of the military junta against Ms. Suu Kyi and strongly encourage challenge this obvious harassment and intimidation of our fellow Nobel Laureate. We urge you to do everything possible to procur her release. The protection of Ms. Suu Kyi and other peaceful political leaders in Burma is integral in maintaining the prosperity and stability of the country and the Southeast Asian region. Aung San Suu Kyi needs ASEAN to use its political power and esteem in this dire time of need.

It is time for the ASEAN and the international community to join in voicing their outrage for this horrible injustice. We urgently express our views to you and implore you to do everything in your power to free this internationally champion of non violence, human rights and democracy.
Yours sincerely,

Desmond Tutu, Jody Williams, Rigoberta Menchu Tum, Adolfo Perez Esquivel, Wangari Mathaai, Shirin Ebadi, Betty Williams, Mairead Corrigan Maguire
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19 - Japan - Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, on the situation in Myanmar (lawsuit against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi)
15.05.09

Regarding the case that on May 14 (Thu), Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who was under house arrest, was transferred to Insein Prison where a trial was held in the special court, Japan expresses its deep concern, and will keep observing the situation.

In the morning of May 15 (Fri), Mr. Hiroshi Inomata, Director General for Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs Department, MOFA, delivered the view of the Government of Japan to H.E. Hla Mynt, Ambassador of Myanmar to Japan, saying that the Government of Japan observes the situation with deep concern, and hopes that democratization in Myanmar will be promoted with participation of all the parties concerned and that international community could give a high regard for a general election in 2010.

Japan strongly hopes that the democratization process in Myanmar will be advanced at an early time, in a way that involves all the parties concerned including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
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20 - Germany - Deeply concerned about the situation and health of opposition leader and Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi
14.05.09

We are deeply concerned about the situation and health of opposition leader and Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. We urge the Myanmar government to dismiss the process and immediately lift her house arrest.
Only a policy that includes all political and ethnic groups can lead to permanent reconciliation and stability in Myanmar.
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21 - Austria - "Immediate and unconditional release of Aung San Suu Kyi" - Federal Ministry for European and international Affairs
15.05.09

Plassnik: We are talking about a courageous politician and the future of Burma
Vienna,–"The next step can only be the immediate and unconditional release of Aung San Suu Kiy," stated Ursula Plassnik today. The Special Representative for International Women's Issues at the Austrian Foreign Ministryexpressed her greatconcern about the renewed and grossly arbitrary actions taken against the leader of the Burmese opposition. "The international community cannot tolerate this. We are talking about a courageous politician, and we are also talking about a better future for Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi is a beacon of hope for her compatriots and an impressive example of non-violent resistance. We must not allow her to be robbed of her most fundamental human rights. The international community and above all the United Nations have to do everything in their power to finally secure freedom and recognition for the leader of the Burmese opposition," said Plassnik.
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22 - United Nations Special Rapporteur calls for release of Aung San Suu Kyi
14.05.09

GENEVA -- The United Nations Special Rapporteur on situation of human rights in Myanmar, Tomás Ojea Quintana, expressed serious concern Thursday regarding the unlawful detention of Aung San Suu Kyi, General Secretary of the National League for Democracy (NLD), and called for her unconditional release.

According to information received by Ojea Quintana, Aung San Suu Kyi and two aides were escorted this morning by security forces to Insein prison. They appeared before a special court and were charged under article 22 of the State Protection law. Their trial has been scheduled for 18 May 2009. They are currently detained in the Insein compound.

The new charges are said to be in connection with the recent intrusion of an American citizen into the home of Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for the past six years. “Since her house is well guarded by security forces, the responsibility for preventing such intrusions, and alerting the authorities, lies with the security forces and not with Aung San Suu Kyi and her aides,” Ojea Quintana said.

Ojea Quintana said that Aung San Suu Kyi’s detention has been in contravention of Articles 9, 10 and 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as Myanmar’s own State Protection Law of 1975 under which she was initially charged in 2003, which allows for a maximum of five years’ detention – meaning she should have been released a year ago.

“I call on the Government of Myanmar to release Aung San Suu Kyi and her aides unconditionally,” Ojea Quintana said. He added that in order to ensure national reconciliation and democratic transition, to which the Myanmar leadership has committed itself, all 2156 prisoners of conscience currently detained by the authorities should be released before the 2010 elections.

For more information or interview requests, please call + 41 22 928 9214
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23 - South Africa - COSATU condemns Burma’s military junta
16.05.09
The military Junta ruling Myanmar (Burma) continues to frustrate the legitimate aspirations of the Burmese people, particularly the winner of the last democratic elections, Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been detained without trial for more than 13 of the last 20 years, with the military refusing to recognise her National League for Democracy's (NLD) landslide victory in the country's last elections in 1990.
Aung San Suu Kyi, also a Nobel Peace laureate, has been again charged with violating the terms of her house arrest after an American allegedly sneaked into her home, according to her lawyer. Her trial will start on May 18, with the possibility of a five-year jail term. She was taken, with two female aides who live with her, from her home in Yangon on Thursday morning and driven to Insein prison. The trial is seen as another way of seeking to extend her house arrest which officially expires on May 27.

The American said to have sparked the furore is John William Yettaw, who was arrested last week for allegedly swimming across a lake to secretly enter Aung San Suu Kyi’s home in Yangon and stayed there for two days.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions will continue to call on the international community to boycott the Myanmar military junta and support the struggle for democracy, particularly to recognise Aung San Suu Kyi’s right to resume her position as the democratically elected leader of the Burmese people. We shall continue to interact with the workers and oppressed peoples of Burma to raise the international profile of their struggle.

COSATU further notes that following last year’s disastrous floods in that country, the military junta has continued to deny people access to humanitarian aid. The UN’s efforts towards the democratisation of the country are noteworthy, but far more needs to be done and only the global progressive movement, central to which is the trade union movement, can make decisive headways in ensuring that effective pressure is put to effectively isolate the junta and ensure an advance towards democracy.

The federation will continue to raise the profile of the Burmese people’s struggle and mobilise whatever support is possible towards that end. We also call on the South African government to terminate relations with the military junta and send their embassy in Pretoria packing.

Patrick Craven (National Spokesperson)
Congress of South African Trade Unions
1-5 Leyds Cnr Biccard Streets
Braamfontein, 2017

P.O. Box 1019, Johannesburg, 2000, SOUTH AFRICA
Tel: +27 11 339-4911/24
Fax: +27 11 339-5080/6940/ 086 603 9667
Cell: 0828217456, E-Mail: patrick@cosatu.org.za
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24 - ABMA, 88 Generation Students & ABFSU condemn the Burma's military government for its imprisonment of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and will oppose by any means including mass protests
No. 2/2009(ABMA+88G+ABFSU)
17.05.09

1. The six-year term of house arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is to end on May 27, 2009. Not only the Burmese people but also the international community have been aware of this fact and that the Burmese military regime does not have any possible legal grounds to extending the terms of her house arrest under Article 10 (B) of the Act of "Protection the State from Danger of Subversive Elements". Therefore, the junta had no choice but to release her.

2. The military regime no doubt felt that if Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was released, she would inevitably become the vanguard challenger to the junta's campaign plan and the strongest opposition to the 2010 Elections and the unilaterally enacted 2008 Constitution which ultimately entrenches permanent military rule in Burma.

3. Thus the military government has made an attempt to hush its biggest obstacle and made a political plot against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi by charging her under Article 22 relating to the case of a foreigner invading into her home. It is clear that she did not make any effort to break her house arrest, and why would she, when she was so close to completing the terms of her house arrest. If there is any fault to be had in the situation, the total responsibility lies with the military regime failure to take the necessary security precautions.

4. Instead of taking full responsibility for their security breach, the regime is now trying to jail Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and is finding a ploy to detain her without just cause. This is the latest exemplification of the regime’s complete disregard to international law and respect for fundamental freedoms.

5. Furthermore, it is clearly indicative of the military junta’s rejection of holding genuine political dialogue and national reconciliation with the National League for Democracy (NLD) that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and various international bodies such as the United Nations, European Union, The United States, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have consistently asked for. This latest action on the regime’s part is also an obvious and deliberate attempt by the military regime to refrain from the "Shwe-gone-dine Declaration" released by the NLD after its two-day meeting on April 28 and 29, 2009.

6. We stand united with the world leaders who have expressed concern over the case of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and demand for her release. However, our past 20 years of experience in dealing with the military regime has taught us one thing: it does not respond to any verbal and/or written statements. Therefore, we seriously urge the international community along with the United Nations to act immediately with concrete measures on the Burmese military junta for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

7. We call all political forces for Free Aung San Suu Kyi to mobilize all over Burma, by holding praying sessions in homes, places of worship for her release, and holding silent peaceful rallies in front of Insein Prison each day until she is released from now on to the court hearing.

8. We, the All Burma Monks Alliance (ABMA), 88 Generation Students and All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU) strongly condemn the military government for its bullying over Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and will oppose this latest atrocity using any means until Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is freed.

All Burma Monks' Alliance (ABMA), The 88 Generation Students, All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU)
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25 - KNU Statement on Charges against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
OFFICE OF THE SUPREME HEADQUARTERS - KAREN NATIONAL UNION - KAWTHOOLEI
17.05.09

KNU Statement on Charges against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

The US citizen, John W. Yettaw, who swam across Inya Lake and entered Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s (Daw Suu) residence, is clearly a mentally unbalanced person. He should have been sent to a mental hospital for treatment and the security for Daw Suu should have been enhanced. Instead, the SPDC military dictatorship is accusing Daw Suu of protecting a criminal and preparing to subject her to a criminal trial, in the notorious Insein Jail.

For her activism to free the people of Burma from tyrannical and arbitrary rule, for winning the Nobel Peace laureate for her peace effort and for leading her party to win a landslide victory in the 1990 elections, Daw Suu has been unlawfully detained by the dictatorship, time and again, for 13 of the past 19 years. It is clear that the vengeful and hate-laden SPDC dictators are plotting to further extend the detention of her beyond the 2010 elections, they are preparing to hold.

Obviously, the SPDC is using the incident as an opportunity to cause even more harm to Daw Suu, similar to the attack on her and her entourage, at Depeyin. It is clear that under influence of the perverted ideology of total control, the SPDC dictators have no sense yet for national reconciliation, peace and justice.

We, the KNU, strongly condemn this vengeful and confrontational act by the SPDC dictatorship against the people’s leader, Daw Suu, and call upon it to release her and all the political prisoners immediately.

It is our perception that the dictatorship has been emboldened to the extent of committing crimes tantamount to crimes against humanity, time and again, by the policy of appeasement and pseudo-national reconciliation process promoted by some wooly-headed Burma experts, INGOs and opportunist groups.

6. In conclusion, we call upon justice and peace loving leaders of the world to concertedly push the SPDC military dictatorship onto the right tract of meaningful dialogue, with leaders of democratic and ethnic forces, for genuine national reconciliation, lasting peace and progress.

The Executive Committee
Karen National Union
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26 - RELEASE DAW SUU IMMEDIATELY - ARAKAN ROHINGYA NATIONAL ORGANISATION
14.05.09

We strongly denounce the new charges against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. SPDC is very unjust to accuse her of violating the law following US national John Yettaw swam to her lakeside house. Daw Suu did not invite John but she told him to leave her home. The accident was merely breach of security where the authorities watched over her house.

The trial against her in the notorious Insein Jail is nothing but a design to justify another extension of her yearlong detention, which ends May 27, 2009. The United Nations and international jurors have had said that her house arrest is illegal even under Burmese law.

We also express our concern that her transfer from her home to notorious Insein jail will aggravate her health due to the harsh prison condition.

We urge upon the international community, the United Nations, EU, ASEAN and neighbouring India and China to put pressure on the SPDC:

To provide proper medical care to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all inmates.
To immediately release Daw Suu and all other political prisoners.
To engage in genuine dialogue with the democratic forces and ethnic nationalities on the basis of all-inclusive democratic and political process.

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27 - Club De Madrid Letter to Ban Ki-moon
Mr. Ban Ki-moon
Secretary General
United Nations
UN Headquarters
First Avenue 46th Street
New York, NY 10017 May 15, 2009

Dear Mr. Secretary General,
We write this letter in connection with the imprisonment of Honorary Member of the Club de Madrid and Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and the unjustified charges raised against her by the Burmese military junta.

As you are aware, on 11 October 2007, the United Nations Security Council issued a presidential statement calling on the Burmese military junta to release all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi.

In defiance of the United Nations Security Council, the Burmese junta has not only almost doubled the number of political prisoners, but now also imprisoned and charged Aung San Suu Kyi with breaching the terms of her house arrest. Hearing of the court will start on 18 May, 2009. The charges carry a maximum jail term of five years.

Club de Madrid condemns the arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi in the strongest terms. We urge you to make use of every possible means, including considering to travel to Burma on behalf of the United Nations, to press for her immediate release.

Yours sincerely,
Ricardo Lagos Mary Robinson Kjell Magne Bondevik
President Vice President Board member
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28 – UK - Message of Support from Lord Provost John R Letford, Dundee
(Letford John):
Democracy continues to be ignored in Burma through the disgraceful and cynical
exercise of ensuring that Aung San Suu Kyi can play no part in her country's
future.

When will the free world take the necessary steps to remove this immoral and
discredited regime.

John R Letford
Lord Provost
Dundee, Scotland
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Singapore - Ministry Of Foreign Affairs Spokesman's Comments

In response to media queries that the Singapore Ambassador to Myanmar Mr Robert Chua was among three Ambassadors invited to meet Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on 20 May 2009 in Yangon, the MFA Spokesman said:

The Myanmar Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) had today invited members of the diplomatic community to observe the ongoing trial of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi at Insein Prison in Yangon. The Myanmar MOFA also invited the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, currently the Singapore Ambassador, as well as a representative of Thailand as the

ASEAN Chair and a representative from Russia, as the current President of the United Nations Security Council, to meet Daw Aung San Suu Kyi after the adjournment of her trial this afternoon.

Our Ambassador in Yangon Mr Robert Chua has reported that the meeting took place at a guest house within Insein Prison. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi informed the diplomatic representatives that she and her two housekeepers are well and being well treated by the Myanmar authorities. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi also informed the three diplomatic representatives that there could be many opportunities for national reconciliation if all parties so wished, and that she did not wish to use the intrusion into her home as a way to get at the Myanmar authorities. She also expressed the view that it was not too late for something good to come out of this unfortunate incident. As Dean and an behalf of the diplomatic corps, Ambassador Chua expressed the hope that there would be peaceful national reconciliation and that representatives of the diplomatic corps would be able to meet both Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Myanmar leaders regularly.
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30 - UK- Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s Open Letter to Aung San Suu Kyi
19 May 2009

Dear Daw Suu

The Burmese regime continues to resist the righteous clamour from your people and from the international community for your release. As you and the Burmese people are denied your democratic rights and freedoms the only way for me to communicate with you is through this open letter.

I wanted to publish it to let you know that you are not alone - that people are standing with you not just here in Britain, but everywhere that democracy and freedom are upheld.

We are heartened by your tremendous courage, your inspirational leadership, and by the knowledge that no oppression is so great that the forces of liberty cannot prevail The history books are full of stories of injustice. But they are also full of stories of hope, resistance and the victories that satisfy the deep human yearning to be free. I am confident that your story will stand prominently among those that show that from the deepest wells of despair can come the greatest triumphs of human endeavour.

Inspired by and in solidarity with you, the British Government will continue to work with our international partners to support Burma’s path to stability, peace and economic recovery. The UN Security Council has set out the steps necessary for a return to democracy in Burma. I have worked with our partners in the EU to maintain sanctions that are tough and targeted against those individuals who wish to deny the Burmese people their rights. And I will continue to press your neighbours in Asia to work even harder for your release and that of all political prisoners in Burma.
Continued here.

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Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Open Letter to Aung San Suu Kyi

2009-05-26T17:42:00.002+01:00

Dear Daw Suu

The Burmese regime continues to resist the righteous clamour from your people and from the international community for your release. As you and the Burmese people are denied your democratic rights and freedoms the only way for me to communicate with you is through this open letter.

I wanted to publish it to let you know that you are not alone - that people are standing with you not just here in Britain, but everywhere that democracy and freedom are upheld.

We are heartened by your tremendous courage, your inspirational leadership, and by the knowledge that no oppression is so great that the forces of liberty cannot prevail The history books are full of stories of injustice. But they are also full of stories of hope, resistance and the victories that satisfy the deep human yearning to be free. I am confident that your story will stand prominently among those that show that from the deepest wells of despair can come the greatest triumphs of human endeavour.

Inspired by and in solidarity with you, the British Government will continue to work with our international partners to support Burma’s path to stability, peace and economic recovery. The UN Security Council has set out the steps necessary for a return to democracy in Burma. I have worked with our partners in the EU to maintain sanctions that are tough and targeted against those individuals who wish to deny the Burmese people their rights. And I will continue to press your neighbours in Asia to work even harder for your release and that of all political prisoners in Burma.

My message to the Burmese regime is clear the people of Burma have suffered nearly half a century of conflict and isolation, it is time to embrace a new beginning. So I say to the Generals who imprison you: the time for a transition to democracy is now. By excluding you from that future, by silencing and imprisoning you, they condemn your country to further decades of poverty and exclusion.

Your continued imprisonment reminds all of us that we should not take for granted the institution of democracy for which you campaign That we should not rest until you are able to play your rightful role in a free and secure Burma. And that our place is alongside all those who face imprisonment, repression and despair in their battle to build democracy, confront poverty and protect human rights. Daw Suu I want you to know: you are not alone.

Yours sincerely

Gordon Brown

Free Aung San Suu Kyi - Not On Our Watch

2009-05-26T14:23:00.021+01:00

Nineteen years ago, the Burmese people chose Aung San Suu Kyi as their next leader. For most of those 19 years she has been kept under house arrest by the military junta that runs the country. We must not stand by as she is silenced again. Now is the time for the international community to speak with one voice: Free Aung San Suu Kyi.

In support,

George Clooney
(Image courtesy of Efloch, Wikipedia)

Sec. Madeleine Albright

Wes Anderson

Drew Barrymore
(Image courtesy of David Shankbone)

David Beckham
(Image courtesy of Caleb Williams)

Bono
(Image courtesy of Ricardo Stuckert, PR Agência Brasil, cropped by Zanaq, Wikipedia)

Matthew Broderick

Sandra Bullock
(Image courtesy of Caroline Bonarde)

James Carville
(Image courtesy of Karen Apricot)

Michael Chabon
(Image courtesy of Charlie Reiman)

Daniel Craig
(Image courtesy of Caroline Bonarde)

John Cusack
(Image courtesy of David Sifry)

Matt Damon

Robert De Niro
(Image courtesy of Agon S. Buchholz)

Dave Eggers
(Image courtesy of David Shankbone)

Jake Gyllenhaal
(Image courtesy of Tony Shek)

Václav Havel
(Image courtesy of Martin Kozák)

Helen Hunt
(Image courtesy of Tom Purves)

Anjelica Huston

Scarlett Johansson

Nicole Kidman
(Image courtesy of Michael Albov)

Ashton Kutcher
(Image courtesy of Steve Maller)

Norman Lear
(Image courtesy of Matt Stoller)

Madonna

Mary Matalin

Sen. John & Cindy McCain

Rose McGowan
(Image courtesy of Penguino K, Flickr)

Orhan Pamuk

Sarah Jessica Parker
(Image courtesy of Christopher Peterson)

Paulo Sergio Pinheiro

Brad Pitt
(Image courtesy of Maggiejumps, Flickr)

Julia Roberts

Robert Rodriguez
(Image courtesy of Penguino K, Flickr)

Salman Rushdie
(Image courtesy of David Shankbone)

Meg Ryan

Liev Schreiber

George Soros

Steven Spielberg

Meryl Streep

Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Naomi Watts
(Image courtesy of Caroline Bonarde)

Prof. Elie Wiesel
(Image courtesy of Вени Марковски)

Owen Wilson

Security Council Press Statement On Myanmar

2009-05-22T11:33:00.000+01:00

The following Security Council press statement on Myanmar was read out today by Council President Vitaly Churkin ( Russian Federation):

The members of the Security Council express their concern about the political impact of recent developments relating to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

The members of the Security Council reaffirm, in this context, their statements of 11 October 2007 and 2 May 2008 and, in this regard, reiterate the importance of the release of all political prisoners. The members of the Security Council reiterate the need for the Government of Myanmar to create the necessary conditions for a genuine dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all concerned parties and ethnic groups in order to achieve an inclusive national reconciliation with the support of the United Nations.

The members of the Security Council affirm their commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Myanmar and, in that context, reiterate that the future of Myanmar lies in the hands of all of its people.