Some of you will know that my father is from Burma – one of those fortunate people that was able to escape the military regime. This, obviously, means I am half Burmese (although I have only been aware of this for the last 10 years – long story,another time, another post) and so I feel very passionate about the way Aung San Suu Kyi is being treated by the Burmese ruling generals and also by most western leaders who choose to ignore the treatment of a democratically elected leader who is under prolonged house arrest in a country where she polled a massive majority of 80% that our western leders could only ever dream of – and then only when they had spent a day in an Amsterdam Coffee Shop!

I received this email while away from The Burma Campaign:

On Sunday 19th June is the 60th Birthday of Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of Burma’s democracy movement. On that day she will have spent a total of 9 years and 238 days in detention. Armed soldiers behind a barricade of barbed wire turn away any visitors. The regime has also cut her phone line, so no-one can call to wish her happy birthday.

The brutal generals who rule Burma have already made one attempt on her life, attacking a convoy she was travelling in on May 30th 2003. Up to 100 of her supporters were beaten to death in the attack. Aung San Suu Kyi’s car managed to speed away, but she was later arrested.

The regime are doing everything they can to isolate Aung San Suu Kyi. They want the world to forget about her. They fear her popularity. She is the main threat to their continuing rule, and there are growing fears for her safety.

Please send a birthday card to Aung San Suu Kyi. Although the card is likely to be intercepted by the regime, thousands of cards arriving will send a powerful message to the regime. If they know the world is watching, it will make it less likely that they will take action against Aung San Suu Kyi, as they will fear the international reaction. Your card will help keep her safe from further attacks.

Send your card to:

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
54 University Avenue
Bahan 11201
Yangon
Myanmar (Burma)

Please forward this message to friends and colleagues.

This action is part of a global campaign to free Aung San Suu Kyi. For more information visit:
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/aungsansuukyi.php

To stay in touch with the campaign, join our email network. Send a blank email to burmacampaign-subscribe@topica.com.

If you feel you can write, email or send a card, please do so. Currently the situation seems hopeless, but we now from the experience of South Africa and others that our voice can and does make a difference.