Myanmar's National League for Democracy (NLD) yesterday prepared to celebrate the 60th birthday of their detained leader, Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, as international pressure mounted for the democracy leader's release from house arrest.
Events around the world have highlighted Suu Kyi's and her country's plight -- from a small celebration of Myanmar culture in Thailand, to anti-regime protests outside Myanmar embassies, to calls for her freedom from world leaders, including US President George W. Bush.
Bush issued a statement saying that "only a return to democracy and reintegration with the international community can bring the freedom and prosperity that the people of Burma deserve."
PHOTO: AFP
Suu Kyi, the daughter of the country's independence hero, is under her third term of house arrest since the junta ignored the NLD's sweeping victory in 1990 elections. She has no communication with the outside world, save for her shortwave radio.
Her latest detention began in May 2003, after she and NLD members travelling in a convoy were attacked in northern Myanmar by thugs in what was believed to be a botched assassination attempt ordered by the junta.
To mark her birthday, NLD members in Yangon planned to release 10 doves, representing peace, and 60 balloons, one for each year of Suu Kyi's life, as well as issue a letter urging dialogue with the ruling generals.
PHOTO: AP
One balloon would feature a card with the words "may Daw Aung San Suu Kyi be freed," and anyone returning both items to the NLD's headquarters would receive 10,000 kyats (US$11), NLD women's committee member Lai Lai said.
The NLD has invited diplomats, officials from political parties allied with the NLD, former student leaders and veterans to attend the celebrations. Ten Buddhist monks were scheduled to perform religious rites at dawn before offering food alms.
"The number 10 in Burmese also means either `save' or `salvage' and conveys our desire to have all political prisoners, including Daw Suu Kyi, saved from their present predicament," Lai Lai said.
"Whether or not Daw Suu is freed ultimately depends on the whims and fancies of the military leaders. We can but hope and pray for her freedom," Lai Lai said.
During the celebrations stationary and other school materials would be given to the children of political prisoners, of whom, watchdog group Amnesty International estimates, at least 1,350 remain in Myanmar's prisons.
Suu Kyi remains in good health, NLD spokesman U Lwin said.
"Her personal doctor, who gets to see her but once a month, assured us that her health is generally good," he said, without adding when the last visit was.
Meanwhile, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has taken the rare step of making a public statement about a past Nobel Peace Prize winner, asking Myanmar's military regime to free Suu Kyi.
The five-member committee on Friday expressed its continuing admiration for Suu Ky.
``We ask that she be set free immediately. We look forward to the day that democracy again rules her country,'' said a statement issued by committee chairman Ole Mjoes.
Suu Kyi won the coveted prize for her nonviolent efforts to bring democracy and human rights to her country. She was unable to attend her 1991 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo.
Fellow Noble laureates, South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama have sent messages.
Meanwhile, at the Myanmar Embassy in Washington on Friday, Democratic Representative Tom Lantos hailed Suu Kyi as "one of the greats of our age" and delivered a box containing hundreds of birthday cards sent from from 20 countries and each of the 50 US states. The mission appeared shut and no one accepted the cards.
The gesture by Lantos, the only Holocaust survivor to serve in the US Congress, capped a protest of about 100 Myanmar exiles and US activists.
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