Suu Kyi: Burmese Supporters Mark Jailed Opposition Leader’s Birthday

Around 30 Filipino activists held a peaceful protest in front of the Burmese embassy in Manila on Friday. That’s because today marks the 64th birthday of jailed Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Protesters from the Free Burma Coalition-Philippines and the Asia Pacific Solidarity Coalition brought a birthday cake with Suu Kyi’s picture on it.

The words “not guilty” were spelled out with hundreds of red roses on the pavement.

Suu Kyi’s supporters are demanding her release and denouncing her ongoing trial. She’s on trial in Burma for allegedly violating he terms of her long-standing house arrest.

[Rasti Delizo, Sanlakas Rights Group]:
„We believe that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is innocent and not guilty. We also believe that the dictatorship intends to find a guilty plea against her in order to keep her detained for another, at least five more years, so that she and her leadership will not be able to effectively provide any resistance nor opposition in the coming general elections of Burma.“

Activists from Free Burma Coalition-Philippines said the Burmese military junta was acting as witness, prosecutor and judge all at once.

They called on the ASEAN and the U.N. to translate their statements of support for Suu Kyi and other political prisoners into concrete actions.

In Rangoon, some members and supporters of Aung San Suu Kyi’s political party, the National League for Democracy, gathered at the Shwedagon pagoda to pray for her.

Suu Kyi has been detained for more than 13 of the last 19 years.

(NTDTV)