JAPAN: Sylvestor Stallone advocates democracy in Myanmar through his "Rambo" film.

Record ID: 462236

  • Title: JAPAN: Sylvestor Stallone advocates democracy in Myanmar through his "Rambo" film.
  • Date: 9th May 2008
  • Summary: MAN HANDING STALLONE A BOW USED IN THE "RAMBO 4" FILM STALLONE SIGNING THE BOW STALLONE AIMING THE BOW AND POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHS STALLONE MAKING HIS HANDPRINT PHOTOGRAPHERS TAKING PHOTOS OF STALLONE STALLONE HOLDING HIS FRAMED HANDPRINT STALLONE, BENZ AND MCTAVISH POSING FOR THE PRESS
  • Embargoed: 24th May 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Reuters ID: LVAEOYJD64LL4JJYDDWTKLKJJK2O
  • Story Text: Hollywood actor Sylvester Stallone calls for democracy in Myanmar during his latest "Rambo" film promotion event in Tokyo, Japan.
    He was once a rags-to-riches boxer and tough-as-nails Vietnam veteran. Now box-office comeback champ Sylvester Stallone is set for his next mission -- to provoke a confrontation with the Myanmar junta over human rights -- just like his latest "Rambo" film.
    "I wanted to do something realistic, something responsible and something political and not may people in the world know about Burma even though it's the longest reigning civil war, 60 years, on the planet,"
    said Stallone, 61, at a "Rambo" film promotion event in Tokyo, Japan on Wednesday (May 7).
    "It also is a film that's opening up people's eyes to the sufferings of these poor people in another part of the world, which I think is very important for America to understand that there's a lot going on outside of our borders," he added.
    The veteran actor is back in Japan after 20 years not just to promote his film, which he starred, wrote and directed, but also to raise human rights issues in Myanmar. The country suddenly grabbed the spotlight in September when the military junta crushed a pro-democracy campaign led by Buddhist monks.
    "Just recently with this horrible cyclone, we see how these people were unprepared and are being treated terribly, suffering because of the indifference of the government," Stallone expressed his concerns to reporters.
    "I think what's gonna come out of this devastating cyclone and the fact that our film has made it much more apparent of the violence that these people live under, I think there's going to be great social change in that country because they can't hide anymore. So we're very happy and proud to be involved with doing our little effort and bring Burma into an area of democracy," he said.
    At the event, the action hero also signed a bow he used in the film, which is now expected to be worth over 10 million U.S. dollars with his signature. It will be listed on an online auction site in Japan and the proceeds will go to charity through UNICEF.
    At 61, Hollywood watchers have speculated about whether Stallone was up to the task of taking on the Rambo character again, but the star appeared in great shape after a gruelling three months in the Thai and Myanmar jungle making the film.
    Vietnam War veteran John Rambo -- best known for mowing down enemies with an M60 machine gun in the 1980's -- comes out of retirement in Thailand to save a group of Christian missionaries from a sadistic Myanmar army major.
    Stallone's movie specifically focuses on the Karen tribe of eastern Myanmar. UK-based Christian Aid says the Karen and other groups have suffered half a million cases of forced relocation and thousands more have been imprisoned, tortured or killed.
    Many ethnic rebel groups have fought Burmese governments for more autonomy since independence from Britain in 1948. Stallone said he was in communication with some, and several former freedom fighters acted in the movie despite fears over possible government threats.
    Hollywood actors including Stallone and Will Ferrell have recently joined a month-long video campaign to win support for jailed Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
    The 30-day Web video campaign will overlap with the May 27 date when the military will announce whether to release Suu Kyi or extend her detention another year.
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