On the day marking ten years under house arrest for Aung San Suu Kyi, Sheffield Hallam University announces an honorary degree for the imprisoned Burmese pro-democracy leader.
The world’s only detained Nobel Peace Prize winner has been selected to receive the degree to help draw international attention to her plight and pay tribute to her outstanding courage in the face of oppression.
Thousands of supporters are expected to take part in events worldwide on Monday 24 October, 2005 campaigning for her release after ten years of detention.
Suu Kyi, who turned 60 earlier this year, is currently secured inside her dilapidated home in the Burma capital Rangoon. She is not permitted to see visitors, her post is intercepted and she has no access to the telephone.
In 1988 she founded the National League for Democracy (NDL) in a bid to end human rights violations in Burma and secure freedom for its citizens. Under her leadership the NDL won the 1990 elections by an 82 per cent margin, but has never been allowed into power.
Suu Kyi has been under house arrest several times over the last 16 years. Her latest spell dates back to the Depayin massacre in 2003, when Suu Kyi and a group of NDL supporters were attacked, with 100 losing their lives.
Professor Nicholas Round will accept the degree on behalf of Suu Kyi in front of an audience of more than 300 Sheffield Hallam students during the University’s graduation ceremonies in November. He is a family friend and has been one of the many British campaigners for the release of Suu Kyi, daughter of independence hero and national leader General Aung San, who was assassinated in Burma in 1947.
Professor Round said: “I’m overwhelmed by being asked to accept this honorary degree on behalf of Suu Kyi. I can’t think of anything else that puts one’s own life in more perspective.
“It’s crucial that this lady is honoured in the West, both in solidarity with her political campaign, and because her words and her example have shown us how richly the Burmese people deserve our respect, as well as the freedom for which she and they together strive.”
The honorary degree is one of a string of plaudits Suu Kyi has been awarded during her incarceration. Since 1990 she has been honoured more than 70 times, with awards including
- 1991 Nobel Peace Prize
- Presidential Medal of Freedom from the USA
- Kwangju Human Rights Award from South Korea
- Profiles in Courage Award from Denmark
Irish singer Damien Rice visited Burma in July and was so moved by the plight of Suu Kyi that he joined up with Lisa Hannigan to pen a song for her, called Unplayed Piano. The video will be played at the conferment of her honorary award, on Thursday 17 November, 2005.
He said: “I prefer not to interfere too much with what is going on in the world, but when someone has been thrown into a hole and they ask you to throw down a rope, I am happy to look for a rope especially for a woman of such grace.”
Other supporters include U2 frontman Bono and REM.
Notes to editors:
Aung San Suu Kyi is among 21 honorary awards being conferred this year at Sheffield Hallam University’s graduation ceremonies in November. Other recipients this year include acting legend Sir Derek Jacobi, England cricket captain Michael Vaughan and Dame Tanni Grey Thompson, Paralympic champion.
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