Myanmar: 64 Words for Aung San Suu Kyi
Do you want to show support for Myanmar opposition leader and global democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi? A new website was launched last week where anyone from around the world can leave a 64-word message of solidarity for imprisoned leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The website 64forSuu.org is named as such to mark Suu Kyi’s 64th birthday on June 19.
Supporters of Aung San Suu Kyi can leave and view video, text, twitter and picture messages on the website. A sample of 64-word message of support:
“Nineteen years ago, the Burmese people chose Aung San Suu Kyi as their next leader. For most of those 19 years she has been kept under house arrest by the military junta that runs the country. We must not stand by as she is silenced again. Now is the time for the international community to speak with one voice: Free Aung San Suu Kyi.”
This brief statement was signed by many personalities and other famous names which included George Clooney, Sec. Madeleine Albright, Drew Barrymore, David Beckham, Bono, Matthew Broderick, Sandra Bullock, John Cusack, Matt Damon, Robert De Niro, Václav Havel, Helen Hunt, Anjelica Huston, Scarlett Johansson, Nicole Kidman, Ashton Kutcher, Madonna, Sarah Jessica Parker, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Meg Ryan, Steven Spielberg, Meryl Streep, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Naomi Watts.
Twitter is an integral part of the campaign:
It is the first political campaign to use twitter with an integrated website to harness the reach and influence of some of the world’s most influential celebrities. Through replies and re-tweets, the campaign message reached an estimated 5 million people through Twitter alone in its first five days.
One of those who tweeted support for Aung San Suu Kyi was Yoko Ono. The website launching was deemed successful as global leaders sent their statements of support for Aung San Suu Kyi.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is also a supporter of Aung San Suu Kyi. Check out his message on YouTube:
Brown’s 64 words of support:
“I add my voice to the growing chorus of those demanding your release. For too long the world has failed to act in the face of this intolerable injustice. That is now changing. The clamour for your release is growing across Europe, Asia, and the entire world. We must do all we can to make this Birthday the last you spend without your freedom.”
Many Southeast Asians also expressed support for Aung San Suu Kyi. From Erich Jao of the Philippines:
The free people of the world support your cause and the nobility of your sacrifice to further the freedom of Myanmar. Let this year be the last time you breathe the air of oppression and tyranny. Evil shall never thrive in light and let the world cast the spot light of truth upon your fight and let it not be delayed in acting swiftly!
Monika Neff from Malaysia left this message
Dear Aung San Suu Kyi Happy birthday,what you are doing for the People of Burma makes you a hero besides others who sacrificed their lives for their people,like Nelson Mandela and Ghandi.people like you are only a few,all we can do is show our support like this.We love you Suu Kyi,one day Burma will be free and it will be because of your sacrifice!
Picture message sent by a supporter from Thailand
I have alwys been in awe of your patience and wisdom. I pray that you will have the strength to continue to be a pillar of justice for Burma and us all. God Bless You.
64forSuu is also on Facebook. Are you ready with your 64 words of support for Aung San Suu Kyi?
10 comments
I support Aung San Suu Kyi! Where is the outrage from the media? This should be a much bigger story. I’m happy to see Gordon Brown is speaking up.
The court that Ms. Kyi is appearing in, by the way, is in a prison!
See this link for more details about the situation: http://www.mindreign.com/en/mindshare/Political-Science/Who-is-Daw-Aung-San-Suu-Kyi/sl4358144bp270cpp10pn1.html
Hang on in there. We’re proud of you. You’re an inspiraton
Freedom is everybody’s birthright and in today’s world we see many atrocities happening because of lack of courage due to various causes by individuals and organisations who are forced to make compromises on principles for various reasons. I really admire Aung San Suu Kyi for her courage and non compromising stance at the cost of numerous personal sacrifices. The world needs more people like her. I think I love my country but I do not knows if I love it to the extent that Suu Kyi has shown in her life…I would dearly love to see her free as well as her countrymen enjoying the fruits of democrazy that is enjoyed by many countries all over the world.
64forsuu.org is a great display, of how world outrage can be focused into
a single vehicle thanks to the WWW
My 64 (or less);
Fascist dictatorships are notoriously disinterested in popular support. They are also notoriously short-lived. Only democracies, endure the long run.
The freedom loving people of this world support you. Actions not words by the international community is clearly required. The Generals should be tried for human rights abuses and Treason to the people and nation. They need to be removed by force. They only care about themselves. Decades of promises all broken. Enough is enough.
Homage to Aung San Suu Kyi :
Orchid
At the seat of the Kings
An orchid
Dances its night
In the street the voices
Of the cuckoo of the crane
And the peacock
Are tinkling
Charged with emotion
The harp disguises
The goat, the cow, the horse
And the elephant
At the bestiary of the Kings
An orchid
Languishes the day
Anick Roschi July 09