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Prayers on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's b
- Subject: Prayers on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's b
- From: maung@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 03 Jun 1995 21:37:00
Subject: Prayers on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's birthday
Dear Friends:
We are making a joint appeal to different religious organizations and
institutions for special prayers for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on Sunday
(June 18, 1995). Her birthday is on the 19th.
We'll be grateful if you can pass on our appeal to the institutions
that you are familiar with. Please feel free to make changes and to
add (or remove the organizations) since you will be the one who's
going to make the appeal.
The intent is to get the message to the religious institutions so as
to raise the awareness about Daw Suu and about Burma in general.
Thank you.
Soe Pyne
//begin message//
---------
June 1995
---------
A REQUEST FOR A PRAYER SESSION FOR A DETAINED NATIONAL LEADER
Dear Mesdames/Sirs:
The Burmese community, particularly those interested in peace, freedom
and justice in Burma, are seeking the help of Churches and other
religious institutions in the United States, Canada, Germany, Japan and
India to hold a special prayer session for Burmese national leader and
1991 Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi who, without any legal
justification, has been kept under house arrest for six years by a
military regime.
She has remained under house arrest and her husband and two sons are
barred from visits because the military generals who seized power in
September 1988 feel her popularity is a threat to them. The party she
founded, the National League for Democracy, won a landslide victory in
May 1990 over a party preferred by the military but the junta has
refused to honor the results of the elections they themselves had held.
The international community considers Aung San Suu Kyi the symbol of
Burmese democratic movement. Her dedication to the quest for peace and
bring freedom to the people have inspired many at home and abroad. She
has already been honored with a multitude of international awards and
honors.
Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi's 50th birthday falls on June 19, 1995 and Burmese
communities worldwide as well as Burma support groups are holding
various commemorative activities to mark the event.
We, the undersigned organizations, feel that since Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi
is internationally well known for her advocacy of peace and freedom, the
best commemorative activity would be to pray for her on June 18, Sunday,
by different Churches and religious institutions. We are therefore
jointly appealing to you to help arrange a brief prayer session on that
day. We hope that your reponse will be favorable to our request.
We are also enclosing a brief biography of Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi and
comments from international organizations about her, and her brief
writings for your information.
Yours sincerely,
National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma
Asian American Civil Alliance (Florida) (AACA)
Aung San Suu Kyi Liberte' (Germany)
All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF)
All Burma Students League (ABSL)
Burma-Canada Society (BCS)
Burma Democratic Council (International)(BDC)
Burma Youth Volunteer Association (BYVA), Japan
Committee for the Restoration of Democracy in Burma (USA)(CRDB)
Democratic Burmese Students Organization (USA)(DBSO)
Foundation for Democracy in Burma (FDB)
Federation of Human Rights and Democracy (FHRD)(California)
Federation of Trade Unions of Burma (FTUB)
Laime Association (LA)
National League for Democracy (LA)
Overseas Lahu Development Organization (OLDO)
Shan State Association (USA) (SSA)
United Front for Human Rights and Democracy in Burma (UFHRDB)
United States of Burma Relief Fund Committee (USBRFC)
WHAT THE OTHERS SAY:
-------------------
The 1990 Rafto Human Rights Prize Commission:
"Aung San Suu Kyi personifies Burma's mass movement for democracy.
Through her courageous and devoted work for human rights and democracy
Aung San Suu Kyi has become the focal point of the Burmese opposition
demanding an end to the iron-fisted military rule in the country,
restoration of fundamental human rights and democracy."
The European Parliament in awarding the Sakharov Prize:
"...A woman whose name has become synonymous with the non-violent
struggle for freedom and democracy ... (she) has been imbued with the
principles of freedom, discipline and self-sacrifice for which (her
father) is always remembered by the people of Burma. Like Gandhi, like
Havel and like Andrei Sakharov himself, she knows that these values are
much more powerful than the instruments of repression."
The 1991 Nobel Peace Prize Commission:
"... Suu Kyi's struggle is one of the most extaordinary examples of
civil courage in Asia in recent decades. She has become and important
symbol in the struggle against oppression. ... the Commission wishes to
honor this woman for her unflagging efforts and to show its support for
the many people throughout the world who are striving to attain
democracy, human rights and ethnic conciliation by peaceful means."
The Jury for the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding:
"After careful consideration of the numerous nominations received from
all over the world, the jury has decided that the Award for the year
1993 be given to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi of Burma..... The honor is in
recognition for outstanding contribution to the promotion of
international understanding, goodwill and friendship among the people of
the world."
Aung San Suu Kyi's writings:
On May 14, 1992: In an acceptance speech for the Award of the
International Human Rights Law Group, delivered by her son Alexander,
Aung San Suu Kyi wrote: "The reestablishment of trust after a long
period of bitter antagonism depends on a willingness by all to face the
truth about deeds, emotions and attitudes which cause suffering and
discord... The accceptance of the need to work towards the truth will
open the door to true reconciliation which goes beyond token gestures of
appeasement..."
On May 9, 1993: The Joyce Perce Memorial Lecture, Towards a True Refuge
written by Aung San Suu Kyi is delivered on her behalf by her husband
Michael Aris. In it she wrote "It is true that even the smallest light
cannot be extinguished by all the darkness in the world ... but a small
light cannot dispel acres of encircling gloom. It needs to grow
stronger, to shed its brightness further and further...We are so much in
need of a brighter world which will offer adquate refuge to all its
inhabitants."
INTERNATIONAL AWARDS, HONORS & APPOINTMENTS
-------------------------------------------
1. 1990 Honorary Fellow. St. Hugh's College (Oxford, UK)
2. 1990 Thorolf Rafto Award for Human Rights (Norway)
3. 1991 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought (European Parliament)
4. 1991 Nobel Peace Prize (Oslo, Norway)
5. 1991 Honorary Member, International PEN (Norwegian Center)
6. 1991 Humanities Human Rights Award (USA)
7. 1991 Honorary Member. International PEN (Canadia Center)
8. 1992 Marisa Bellisario Prize (Italy)
9. 1992 Annual Award of the International Human Rights Law Group (USA)
10. 1992 Honorary President, Students' Union London School of Economics
and Political Science (UK)
11. 1992 Honorary Member, International PEN (English Centre)
12. 1992 Honorary Life Member, University of London Union (UK)
13. 1992 Honorary Professional Fellowship, Law and Society Trust (Sri
Lanka)
14. 1992 Honorary Doctorate in Political Science, Thammasat University
(Thailand)
15. 1992 International Simon Bol ivar Prize (UNESCO)
16. 1992 Prix Litteraire des Droits de l'Homme (Nouveaux Droits de l'Homme,
France)
17. 1992 Honorary Member, World Commission on Culture and Development
(UNESCO)
18. 1993 Member, Academie Universelle des Cultures (Paris)
19. 1993 Rose Prize (Arbejderbevaegelsens Internationale Forum /
International Forum of the Danish Labour Movement, Copenhagen)
20. 1993 Premio Mujer Progresista (Federacion Mujeres Progresistas /
Spanish Federation of Progressive Women, Madrid)
21. 1993 Victor Jara International Human Rights Award (Center for
Human Rights and Constitutional Law, Los Angeles, USA)
22. 1993 Member of the Advisory Board, Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Center
for Health and Human Rights, Harvard University.
23. 1993 Honorary Doctorate of Law, University of Toronto (Canada)
24. 1993 The Freedom of the City, Commune of Giugliano, Italy
25. 1993 Bremen Solidarity Prize (City of Bremen, Germany)
26. 1994 Honorary Doctorate, Philosophy & Letters, Free University of
Brussels
27. 1994 Honorary Adviser, Forum of Democratic Leaders in the Asia-
Pacific
28. 1995 The Freedom of the City, Aversa, Italy
29. 1995 Liberal International Prize for Freedom, (UK)
30. 1995 Honorary Doctorate of Laws, Queen's University, Canada
31. 1995 Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding (for
1993), India
32. 1995 Gandhi Award, Simon Fraser University, Canada (to be awarded
in October)
33. 1995 Honorary Doctorate of Civil Law, University of Oxford
(awaiting collection in person)
BRIEF BIOGRAPHY and BACKGROUND:
------------------------------
1945 : June 19: Born in Rangoon, Burma, as the daughter of
national leader General Aung San (assassinated July 19
1947) and Daw Khin Kyi; educated in Rangoon until 15
years old.
1960 : Accompanied mother to Delhi on her appointment as
Burmese ambassador to India and Nepal; studied
politics at Delhi University
1964-67 : BA in philosphy, Politics and Economics, St Hugh's
College,Oxford University (elected Honorary Fellow,
1990)
1969-71 : Assistant Secretary, Advisory Committee on
Administrative & Budgetary Questions, United Nations
Secretariat, New York.
1972 : Research Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bhutan;
married Dr Michael Aris, a British scholar.
1973-77 : Birth of sons Alexander in London (1973) and Kim
(1977) in Oxford.
1985-86 : Visiting scholar, Center of Southeast Asian Studies,
Kyoto University.
1987 : Fellow, Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Simla
1988 : August 15: Proposed the formation of a People's
Consultative Committee during the democratic uprising
in Burma.
Sept 24: Co-founder, secretary general of National
League for Democracy
July-October 1989: As leader of the NLD, delivered
over a hundred public addresses during extensive
campaign tours in Rangoon, Pegu, Magwe, Sagaing,
Mandalay, Moulmein, Tavoy, Mergui, Pakkoku, Taunggyi,
Kyaukpadaung, Monywa, Myinmu, Myitkyina, etc.
1989 : July 20: The military regime that seized power from
the people on September 18 1988 placed her under house
arrest in Rangoon under martial law that allows for
detention without charge or trial for three years;
went on hunger strike to protect the students taken
from her house to the Military Intelligence
Interrogation Center; recognized as a prisoner
of conscience by Amnesty International.
1990 : May 27: Despite her continuing detention, the National
League for Democracy won a landslide victory in the
general elections by securing 82 percent of the seats;
the military junta refuses to recognize the results of
the election.
October 12: Awarded -- in absentia -- the 1990 Rafto
Human Rights Prize.
December 19: In response to a call by UN Secretary
General Perez de Cuellar for her release, the SLORC
issued a statement that "should she wish to stay
together with her husband and children, she would she
allowed to leave Burma on humanitarian grounds."
1991 : July 10 : Awarded - in abstentia - the 1990 Sakharov
Prize (human rights prize of the European Parliament).
August 10: The military regime retroactively amends
the law under which Aung San Suu Kyi is held to allow
for detention for up to five years without charge or
trial.
October 14: Awarded the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize.
December 10: Aung San Suu Kyi's Freedom from Fear and
Other Writings published in London.
1992 : The Nobel Committee revealed that "Aung San Suu Kyi
has established a health and education trust in
support of the Burmese people" to use the $1.3 million
prize money.
1993 : Seven fellow Nobel Laureates flew into Thailand having
been denied entry into Burma. From there they called
for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, visited refugee
camps an offered support to the democratic and ethnic
opposition of Burma. They traveled on to Geneva to
repeat their appeal at the UN Commission for Human
Rights.
1994 : January 21: The military junta used another excuse to
continue the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi. It says
she can be detained for up to six years under their
law. Whilst the regime as a whole can choose to
detain a person for five years, the regime said an
extra year can be added by the decision of a three-
member committee comprising the Ministers of Foreign
Affairs, Home Affairs and Defense.
1995 : July 19: Aung San Suu Kyi's release is due on this
date. But no one believes that the military will set
her free.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
//end text//