THAILAND: 60TH BIRTHDAY OF MYANMAR'S DEMOCRACY ICON AUNG SAN SUU KYI IS MARKED IN BANGKOK.

Record ID: 644537

  • Title: THAILAND: 60TH BIRTHDAY OF MYANMAR'S DEMOCRACY ICON AUNG SAN SUU KYI IS MARKED IN BANGKOK.
  • Date: 19th June 2005
  • Summary: (ASIA) BANGKOK, THAILAND (JUNE 19, 2005) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. GV: SILENT VIGIL IN PROGRESS 0.06 2. CU: "HOUSE ARREST" SIGN SURROUNDED BY BARBED WIRE 0.11 3. VARIOUS: MONK LIGHTING CANDLES; PEOPLE MEDITATING AS MONK CHANTS (10 SHOTS) 1.11 4. MCU/CU: SUPPORTER LEANING OVER SUU KYI POSTER (2 SHOTS) 1.25 5. GV/CU: AUNG SAN SUU KYI AND OTHER MYANMAR POSTERS IN FRONT OF BUILDING; CLOSE ON PROTEST POSTER (2 SHOTS) 1.37 6. (SOUNDBITE) (THAI) THAI ACTION COMMITTEE FOR DEMOCRACY IN BURMA (TACDB) COORDINATOR NASSIR ACHWARIN SAYING: "We set up this area to look like an area of house arrest, and participants can sit here, meditating, for 61 minutes as symbol that her 61st year begins after today" 2.07 7. MV/CU: MORE OF POSTERS IN FRONT OF BUILDING (2 SHOTS) 2.16 8. (SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) OLIVIER GIRARD, 24-YEAR-OLD STUDENT FROM MONTREAL, SAYING: "That there is still much do, that we're here today for her birthday as a sign of solidarity but that everybody is responsible to be more conscientious. I think, I've come here to learn more about Burma as well, and I think that's the first responsibility of everyone - to learn more about what's going on, to learn about Aung San Suu Kyi, this great hero, and do more to free this country" 2.43 9. MV: GIRL HANDING OUT FLOWERS 2.47 10. MV/CU: ACTIVISTS SELLING SUU KYI T-SHIRTS AND HANDING OUT LEAFLETS (2 SHOTS) 2.57 11. MV/CU/GV: ROOM WITH SUU KYI BIRTHDAY ACTIVITIES (3 SHOTS) 3.12 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 4th July 2005 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BANGKOK, THAILAND
  • Country: Thailand
  • Reuters ID: LVAE81B98IEKF3GKM7E3BC7H3O2E
  • Story Text: Thais mark democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi's 60th birthday.



    Opponents of Myanmar's military junta marked the 60th birthday of
    detained democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi on Sunday (June 19) with a solemn
    silent vigil in Thailand.

    In the Thai capital Bangkok, the centre of operations for Myanmar
    exiles and refugees over the years until a police crackdown on anti-junta
    dissent last year, around 35 people held a 61-minute silent protest in honour
    of the Nobel laureate.

    It was the start of a muted day of commemoration, with activists
    deciding to hold panel discussions and dance events rather than a full-scale
    protest in front of the Myanmar embassy as in previous years.

    Thai activist Nassir Achwarin said the vigil was meant to send a
    message of hope to Suu Kyi and over 1300 other political prisoners in
    Myanmar.

    "We set up this area to look like an area of house arrest, and
    participants can sit here, meditating, for 61 minutes as symbol that her 61st
    year begins after today," he said.

    Suu Kyi has spent nine of the last 16 years under house arrest or
    behind bars. Her latest stretch of detention began in May 2003.

    Canadian student Olivier Girard said he had jumped at the chance to
    show his solidarity on her 60th birthday, but also hoped it would make others
    take the time to learn about the former Burma's plight.

    He said his message was clear.

    "That there is still much do, that we're here today for her
    birthday as a sign of solidarity but that everybody is responsible to be more
    conscientious. I think, I've come here to learn more about Burma as well, and
    I think that's the first responsibility of everyone - to learn more about
    what's going on, to learn about Aung San Suu Kyi, this great hero, and do more
    to free this country," he said.

    Given the isolation and intransigence of the former British colony,
    which has been under military rule for more than four decades, making noises
    and gestures from afar seems just about all the junta's opponents can do.






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