On Monday 19th June Aung San Suu Kyi will spend her 61st birthday in detention. On that day she will have spent a total of 10 years and 238 days (3888 days) in detention. She is isolated, allowed no visitors, her phone line has been cut, and her post is intercepted. She is being denied access to regular medical care.
Protests demanding that the international community take action to secure the release of Aung San Suu Kyi will take place in more than 25 countries worldwide. Campaigners are calling on the United Nations Security Council to pass a binding resolution demanding the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners in Burma, and the restoration of democracy to the country. The United States government recently announced it would push for the Council to pass a resolution on Burma.
“Aung San Suu Kyi could spend the rest of her life in detention if the Security Council continues to avoid its responsibility to tackle the situation in Burma,” said Yvette Mahon, Director of the Burma Campaign UK. “She has been praised by world leaders, but most have ignored her requests for practical international support. On her 60th birthday last year we saw a chorus of calls for her release, but this wasn’t followed by any concrete steps by the UN or governments to secure her release.”
The regime in Burma has consistently defied the United Nations, ignoring over a dozen calls for Aung San Suu Kyi’s release by the Secretary General, and 28 resolutions by the UN General Assembly and Human Rights Commission.
Demands for UN Security Council intervention increased following the arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi in 2003. The campaign was given fresh momentum following publication in September 2005 of a report – A Threat to the Peace – commissioned by Bishop Desmond Tutu and former Czech President Vaclav Havel from global law firm DLA Piper. The report found that Burma does fit the criteria for UNSC intervention. The Security Council held its first discussion on Burma in December 2005, and a second in May 2006, but on both occasions failed to take any concrete action.
Aung San Suu Kyi’s current period of detention began on May 30th 2003 when a convoy she was travelling in was attacked by a regime run militia, the Union Solidarity Development Association (USDA). USDA thugs beat around 100 National League for Democracy supporters to death in a failed assassination attempt against Aung San Suu Kyi.
For more information, contact Mark Farmaner, Media & Campaigns Manager, on 020 7324 4713.
The following is a list of some of the actions taking place internationally:
UNITED KINGDOM
Campaigners are sending birthday cards to Aung San Suu Kyi.
Friday 16th June Edinburgh: Launch of newly commissioned portrait of Aung San Suu Kyi commissioned by Edinburgh City Council. For more information contact murray.forgie@educ.edin.gov.uk
Saturday 17th June 5-10pm: London. Burmese community in UK holding a party with traditional Burmese food and dancing. Media welcome. Call for details.
Monday 19th June 12.30-1.30pm: London. Jo Brand, & John Bercow MP join protest outside Burmese Embassy in London. 19a Charles St. London, nearest tube Green Park.
Monday 19th June 3.30-4.30pm: London All Party Parliamentary Group for Democracy in Burma to hold a meeting on Aung San Suu Kyi in the House of Commons. The meeting will be addressed by two Burmese MPs and Yvette Mahon, Director of the Burma Campaign UK.
AUSTRIA
Monday 19th June: Vienna Birthday party with Austrian singer plus exhibition.
Innsbruck: Lecture on Aung San Suu Kyi. For more information on these events contact Margot Pires on 43 (0) 699 10007645
BELGIUM
Monday 19th June, Brussels: Birthday cards will be distributed to the employees of banks and investment funds which invest in companies operating in Burma.
CANADA/BURMA
June. Birthday wish campaign. Democracy activists in Canada are working with democracy activists inside Burma to write pro-democracy and ‘Happy Birthday Aung San Suu Kyi’ messages on Burmese currency. For more information contact Tin Maung Htoo on 519 860 4745, email cfob@cfob.org
CZECH REPUBLIC
Saturday 17th June Prague “Arrest yourself” protest. Supporters will stay at home for 24 hours. For more information contact info@burma-center.org
Monday 19th June 4-6pm Prague Red Rose for the Unfree, Protests at the embassies of United Nations Security Council members calling for action. For more information contact Marie Peoniva, People In Need, + 420 2262004672.
Monday 19th June Prague: Evening Public screening of documentary on Burma. For more information contact Marie Peoniva, People In Need, +420 2262004672.
Monday 19th June Prague, Burma Center Prague and Czech Buddhists will hold a meditation session in Prague dedicated to Aung San Suu Kyi and the people of Burma. For more information contact info@burma-center.org
IRELAND
Birthday cards being sent to Aung San Suu Kyi.
Sunday 18th June Dublin: Speech at Speakers Corner, Temple-Bar
Monday 19th June, Dublin: Photo exhibition opens
ITALY
Postcard action campaign to Italian foreign ministry calling for action.
NETHERLANDS
Monday 19th June: 1,000 special birthday cards will be given to a representative of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Bot. A petition calling for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners will also be handed over. 61 yellow balloons carrying birthday cards will also be released. For more information contact + 31-20-671 6952, e-mail: bcn@xs4all.nl
NORWAY
Monday June 19:
Bergen: Seminar at the Rafto Foundation: ‘Burma – a country behind bars’. Contact tormod@raftohuset.no
Stavanger: The Stavanger Chin Organization (SCO), an organization of the Chin Community in Norway, NLD (liberated area) and other democracy forces will be holding a Campaign / Demonstration in front of Stavanger Culture House/National Library.
Sørumsand: The Burmese community in Sørumsand will arrange an open meeting about the political situation in Burma.
For more information about these events contact the Norwegian Burma Committee (NBC) on Tel: + 47 – 22 47 92 37
POLAND
Warsaw: Aung San Suu Kyi focus at a festival on human rights.
USA
Saturday 17th June 35 American states. ‘Arrest Yourself’ 24 hour protests. For more information contact Jeremy Woodrum, US Campaign For Burma on 1 202 223 0300.
ARREST YOURSELF protests will also take place in Canada, Australia, Costa Rica, France, India, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and United Kingdom.