Aung San Suu Kyi: Peaceful Warrior

Aung San Suu Kyi spends her 60th birthday under house arrest in her relentless battle for democracy.

BY JM

Others of her age probably enjoy their quiet 60th birthdays with afternoon coffee under the tree, a loving husband and kids bringing colourful cards.  Today, on Sunday June 19, 2005, Aung San Suu Kyi spends hers under house arrest, 16 years after winning the Nobel prize for peace. The battle is very much on. There is no sign that she will ever give up either.

American President George Bush -- often erroneously called the most powerful man on earth -- could help little more than sending sweet wishes. American gumboots are still far from the Burmese soil. The junta raj is very much out of the American radar.

However, in a statement on Friday, the American President said the Burmese pro-democracy leader's "strength, courage, and personal sacrifice" have inspired those who stand for freedom.

Coinciding with her birthday, artists Damien Rice and Lisa Hannigan will release a new single - ‘Unplayed Piano’. The song was written for Suu Kyi following a visit by Damien Rice to Burma in July 2004. 

The West's calls for democracy in the Asian nation have been by and large perfunctory. Aung San Suu Kyi's party swept the democratic elections held in Burma in 1990, but the military junta never allowed her party to take power. Since then, she he has been in and out of detention. Currently, she is under house arrest in Rangoon.

Britain, UN and Malaysia have joined human rights activists worldwide calling for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi from prison.The Nobel Committee has also raised a clamour for Aung San Suu Kyi's immediate release. She had won her Nobel prize for her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights.

"We ask that she will immediately be given full freedom, and look forward to the day when there will again be democratic rule in her homeland," Nobel Prize Committee Chairman Ole D. Mjoes said in a statement.

Malaysia, Britain, the United States and the United Nations --- as well as human rights activists worldwide --- have echoed similar calls for her release.

On her 60th birthday, protests have been held at several Burmese embassies worldwide -- including in the United States, London, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul and Pretoria.

When the marines came looking, macho men Bin Laden and Mullah Omar buried into Tora Bora. Suu Kyi returned from abroad to fight for her country. She landed behind bars, and refused freedom in exchange for a promise to leave the country.

On Friday, US Congressman Tom Lantos delivered to the Burmese Embassy in Washington a box containing thousands of pieces of mail to Aung San Suu Kyi. Nobody came out of the building and he left the box outside. One wonders if any of those cards will find their way to Suu Kyi. May be it would make some difference tio her. Anyway, on her 60th birthday, she has much harsher realities of Burma in her mind.