Chiang Mai (mizzima) - Burma’s opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has thanked the thousands of people both at home and abroad who wished her a ‘Happy 64th Birthday’ on June 19, which she spent confined in Rangoon's Insein Prison.
The Burmese pro-democracy leader, during a meeting with her lawyers on Monday, conveyed her sincere gratitude to all supporters and well-wishers for remembering her on her birthday and wishing her good health.
Nyan Win, one of her lawyers as well as her party’s spokesperson, relayed the following message on her behalf, “As I am in no place to personally reply to all those who wish me well on my birthday, please convey my gratitude to all on my behalf.”
On Friday, June 19, as the Burma’s democracy icon turned 64, supporters, activists and well-wishers both inside Burma and abroad held various activities to mark her birthday and to call for her release. Birthday activities ranged from simple protests rallies to solidarity concerts and internet messaging.
World leaders including British Prime Minister Gordon Brown as well as celebrities including David Beckham and Julia Roberts sent a 64-word birthday message through the website 64wordsforsuu.com, created explicitly for the occasion.
The birthday wishes and activities calling for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi came as the Burmese opposition leader is facing trial in Insein prison under charges of breaching her detention law, which could find her spending another five years under detention if convicted.
On Monday, her legal team of four lawyers – Nyan Win, Kyi Win, Hla Myo Myint and Daw Khin Htay Kywe – was allowed a meeting with her in Insein Prison for about three hours to discuss the case and ongoing trial.
Nyan Win, however, declined to explain further details of their discussion.
Last week, the High Court accepted an appeal by her lawyers to review an earlier ruling to bar two out of the four defense witnesses. Arguments for the inclusion of all defense witnesses are scheduled to be heard tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the case against Aung San Suu Kyi is currently set to reconvene on Friday with the testimony of the second defense.
