UN's Kofi Annan Calls for Release of Burmese Activist on Her 60th Birthday

United Nations' Secretary-General Kofi Annan today marked the sixtieth birthday of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese opposition pro-democracy leader and Nobel Peace Prize-winner, by appealing to the military Government of the country to end her house arrest.

Wishing her a happy birthday Mr. Annan added, "I wish she were out amongst her people and her supporters, pushing for stability and democracy and democratisation of her society."

He joined the international coalition of organisations that are calling for her release. Recently, a protest took place outside the Burmese Embassy in London on 17th June, which was organised by Christian Solidarity Worldwide, the Free Burma Coalition UK and the Burma Campaign UK.

Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the National League for Democracy has been imprisoned under house arrest for a majority of the last 16 years.

Aung San Suu Kyi is now serving her third term of house arrest as the last detention took place on 30 May 2003 after the regime's militia attacked her convoy where at least 265 people were arrested and up to 100 killed or disappeared.

As she was dedicated to working for peace and democracy in Burma, she received more than 50 international awards, including the Sakharov Prize from the European Parliament in 1990 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom from the United States in 2000. In 1991 she received the Nobel Peace Prize as well.

Kofi Annan has re-appealed to Burmese leader General Than Shwe to release her: "I will still urge him to release her and let her join her party, and join the process on the national dialogue and national reconciliation."