On the occasion of the 64th birthday of Aung San Suu Kyi, pro-democracy leader
of Burma today, FORUM-ASIA reiterates its
call for Burmese authorities to end the ongoing sham trial, to withdraw
all charges against her together with the other 2,156 prisoners
of conscience in Burma, immediately and unconditionally.
(Bangkok, 19
June 2009) On the occasion of the 64th birthday of Aung San Suu Kyi, pro-democracy leader
of Burma today, FORUM-ASIA reiterates its
call for Burmese authorities to end the ongoing sham trial, to withdraw
all charges against her together with the other 2,156 prisoners
of conscience in Burma, immediately and unconditionally.

The new charges
against her recently are said to ensure that the most feasible pro-democracy
candidates will be unable to run in the 2010 elections as Burma authority-drafted
constitution prohibits individuals who are serving prison sentences
for any offense from standing for election to Parliament.

Aung San Suu
Kyi has been detained without trial for more than 13 of the past 19
years. The Burmese authorities continue to imprison Suu Kyi with the
hope that the world will forget her, yet this is not to be the case.
Since her attempted murder in the Depayin incident in May 2003 when
she was almost killed, the issue of Suu Kyi's incarceration has become
more serious for the Burma people. Her popularity and the trust people
have in her leadership grows and becomes more visible.

On 27 May 1990, the National League for Democracy, led by Suu Kyi won 82 percent
of the parliamentary seats in that year's election, but SLORC (State
Law and Order Restoration Council) rejected the result. The Council
feared that Burma will disintegrate into separate ethnic realms under
Suu Kyi's leadership, and therefore, launched a military onslaught
to capture the democracy leader and throw her behind bars. The Burmese
authorities felt that only the military was capable of preserving national
unity, peace and development.

Over the years,
Aung San Suu Kyi's release has become increasingly part of the political
discussions at the national, regional and international level. ASEAN's
strong position on this matter recently should be followed by firm action
as the oppression inside Burma, the detention of 2,155 political prisoners
and the trial of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi are considered a serious breach
of the Charter's principles.

As the ASEAN
Charter Article 20.4 provides "in the case of serious breach of the
Charter or non-compliance, the matter shall be referred to the ASEAN
Summit for decision", its members must deliberate on this issue urgently.
Failure to address democracy and human rights issues in Burma will inevitably
result in the ineffectiveness and lack of credibility of ASEAN as a
regional bloc among other regional and international community.

Aung San Suu
Kyi's further detention as she spends her 64th birthday
in a Burmese notorious prison is yet another sad milestone in her long
and unjustified imprisonment. Therefore, FORUM-ASIA stands firm once
again in unity and solidarity with the international community to demand
justice and freedom for Aung San Suu Kyi and for the people in Burma.
Her determination and conviction remain unchanged, which makes her the
icon of democracy and beacon of hope for the people in Burma.

Aung San
Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize recipient in 1991, was born in Rangoon
on 19 June 1946 as the third child of General Aung San, who
founded the modern Burmese army.

Also related:

• 64 for Aung San Suu Kyi's – a website for her birthday, with all the events held for the commemoration
• Women's
  League of Burma – Remarking Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's 64th Birthday
  (Burmese)
• Myanmar
  Ethnic Rohingyas Human Rights Organization Malaysia – Daw Aung San Suu
  Kyi's 64th birthday – An interpretation of a barbaric military ruler   
  
• 16 June – Burma activists deliver political prisoner petition to Ban Ki-moon