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Obama, Activists Mark Aung San Suu Kyi's Birthday

   VOA News 19 June 2010
   Members  of  the  National  League  for  Democracy  Party pray for the
   release of Aung San Suu Kyi, as they celebrate her 65th birthday

Photo: AP

   Members  of  the  National  League  for  Democracy  Party pray for the
   release  of  Aung San Suu Kyi, their detained pro-democracy leader, in
   front  of her portrait as they celebrate her 65th birthday at the home
   of a member of the party, 19 Jun 2010, in Rangoon, Burma

   Supporters  of  Burmese  opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi around the
   world  are  celebrating  her 65th birthday, amid renewed calls for her
   release from house arrest.
   About 400 of her supporters gathered at one of their houses in Burma's
   main  city  of Rangoon Saturday.  They symbolically freed caged birds
   and lit a birthday cake at their assembly.
   Rallies  for  Aung  San  Suu  Kyi's  release  were  planned  in cities
   including Washington.
   Appeals  for the Nobel Laureate's release begun pouring in from around
   the world on Friday.
   U.S.  President  Barack  Obama  and  British Foreign Secretary William
   Hague called on Burma's military rulers to free Aung San Suu Kyi.
   Hague  said  her  continued  detention,  along  with about 2,000 other
   political prisoners in Burma, violates international human rights law.
   Burma's  military government has kept Aung San Suu Kyi in some form of
   detention for about 15 of the past 21 years.
   Her  political party, the National League for Democracy, won elections
   the  last  time Burma held them, in 1991.  But the country's military
   leaders have refused to step down from power.
   Burma's  military  has  announced elections for later this year, but a
   new electoral law prevents Aung San Suu Kyi from running.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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