Obama sends birthday greetings to Aung San Suu Kyi, imprisoned democracy activist in Myanmar
By APFriday, June 18, 2010
Obama sends birthday wishes to Aung San Suu Kyi
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is sending birthday wishes to Aung San Suu Kyi (ahng sahn soo chee), the democracy activist long held in detention by Myanmar’s military rulers.
Suu Kyi turns 65 on Saturday.
Obama issued a statement lauding her determination, courage and personal sacrifice in working for human rights and democratic change in her country. He again called for the immediate and unconditional release of Suu Kyi and all of Myanmar’s other political prisoners.
The president noted her status as the “world’s only imprisoned Nobel Peace Laureate.” Suu Kyi, the leader of Myanmar’s pro-democracy opposition, has been held under house arrest by the military government for about 14 of the past 20 years.
