Vigil For Aung San Suu Kyi

Midland Park Lambton Quay

12.30 Thursday 21 May

This is an urgent call for support for a vigil on Thursday in support of Burma’s elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

On Monday Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of Burma’s democracy movement, was put on trial charged with breaking the terms of her house arrest after an American man, John Yettaw, swam to her house and refused to leave. She has been imprisoned in the notorious Insein Jail.

The military dictatorship of Burma are staging this farce to try and justify extending her detention, which was expected to expire this month. Aung San Suu Kyi faces a further five years in detention.

Demonstrations are taking place this week in more than 20 cities, including London, Bangkok, Sydney, San Francisco, Pretoria, Perth, Ottawa, Tokyo, Melbourne, Canberra, Taipei, Toronto, Indiana, Barcelona, Paris, Stockholm, Barcelona, Boston, Cadiz, Sevilla, Washington DC, Kuala Lumpur and Oslo.

The Wellington Vigil is being organized by the NZ Council of Trade Unions, the National Council of the Union of Burma New Zealand Office, and the Burma Campaign Aotearoa.

“We are gathering to show our support for Aung San Suu Kyi, and demand international action,” said Helen Kelly CTU president. “Aung San Suu Kyi has been detained for more than 13 years and she must be freed.”

Her current period of detention began in May 2003 after a convoy she was travelling in was ambushed by a regime militia. She escaped with her life but dozens of her supporters were killed.

“The trial is all about keeping any voices of dissent silent in the run up to rigged elections next year,” said Helen Kelly. “It exposes the lies the generals have been telling that elections next year will bring change. In fact, the election and constitution are all about keeping the generals in power.”

Join The Vigil For Aung San Suu Kyi On Thursday At Midland Park Lambton Quay

Support The Burma Democracy Movement

ENDS

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