Humanitarian groups urge the release of democracy icon Suu Kyi

GROUPS around the world yesterday marked the 62nd birthday of Burmese democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi by calling for her release.

In Dublin, filmmaker John Boorman, the honorary president of Burma Action Ireland, hosted a lunchtime reception to mark the occasion.

A Burma Action Ireland spokesperson said: “Aung San Suu Kyi is a symbol of hope for the people of Burma, a country with one of the world’s worst human rights records.

Ms Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for more than 11 years, has been granted the freedom of both Dublin and Galway cities.

Meanwhile, the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict, a network of civil society groups, said it has submitted a petition to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations seeking Ms Suu Kyi’s freedom.

The group’s more developed states have urged Burma to release the Nobel laureate and push through with promised democratic reforms, saying its refusal to do so has damaged the regional bloc’s international image.

The United States, European Union and rights groups have accused Burma’s ruling junta of political repression and massive human rights abuses.

The petition was read out in Singapore, where activists unfurled a 30m long banner with the words, ‘‘happy birthday Aung San Suu Kyi!”