Christian Group Joins Celebrities, Politicians to Free Burma Leader

By Ethan Cole, Christian Post Reporter Wednesday, May 27, 2009

A Christian human rights group joined major celebrities and world leaders Wednesday to call for the release of Burma's pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and all of the country's political prisoners.

U.K.-based Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has joined such celebrities as George Clooney, David Beckham, Daniel Craig, and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown as well as non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to help show on a large scale the global outrage over the Nobel Peace laureate's detention.

Suu Kyi has been under house arrest for 13 of the past 19 years, and is currently on trial over an American citizen that broke her terms of confinement. The number 64 on the Web site address www.64forsuu.org references the 64-word message that the public is encouraged to post on the site that will be delivered to Suu Kyi on her 64th birthday on June 19.

"We are excited to be involved in this groundbreaking campaign. We encourage everyone to take five minutes to provide a "64" in support of Aung San Suu Kyi, and show her that she hasn't been forgotten," said CSW East Asia team leader Benedict Rogers.

"Aung San Suu Kyi has committed no crime whatsoever yet is imprisoned by a criminal regime," Rogers emphasized. "The military dictatorship must not be given any excuse to continue to hold her captive – we are determined to see her returned to freedom."

Anyone can upload video, text, image or twitter messages of support to Aung San Suu Kyi on the site.

The site was launched on May 27 to coincide with the date her house arrest expires, according to the Burmese regime.

For decades, the military junta has suppressed democracy and killed thousands of civilians who dare protested against it. Suu Kyi, who was elected by the Burmese people to lead the country, is among the many political prisoners who are detained for their political views.

The junta also persecutes ethnic minorities, wiping out entire villages. Armed military often brutally attack villages of the Karen, Karenni, and Chin people – who are predominantly Christians – and are known to systematically rape the women.

Burma, also known as Myanmar, is listed under the list of "countries of particular concern" by the U.S. State Department for egregious and systematic violations of religious freedom.