This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8108473.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Protests marking Suu Kyi birthday | Protests marking Suu Kyi birthday |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Activists across the world are marking the 64th birthday of Burma's detained opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, with vigils and protests. | Activists across the world are marking the 64th birthday of Burma's detained opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, with vigils and protests. |
| Celebrities including author Salman Rushdie and actors George Clooney and Julia Roberts have signed an online petition demanding that she be freed. | Celebrities including author Salman Rushdie and actors George Clooney and Julia Roberts have signed an online petition demanding that she be freed. |
| The European Union has also renewed its calls for her "unconditional release". | The European Union has also renewed its calls for her "unconditional release". |
| Burma's military rulers have held the Nobel Peace Prize winner under house arrest for most of the past 19 years. | Burma's military rulers have held the Nobel Peace Prize winner under house arrest for most of the past 19 years. |
| She is currently on trial for breaking the terms of her detention. | She is currently on trial for breaking the terms of her detention. |
| Aung San Suu Kyi was charged after an American man swam to the house where she is being held, and stayed there overnight. | Aung San Suu Kyi was charged after an American man swam to the house where she is being held, and stayed there overnight. |
| Inside Burma's Insein prison Profile: Aung San Suu Kyi | Inside Burma's Insein prison Profile: Aung San Suu Kyi |
| Observers say the charges - which carry a maximum punishment of five years in jail - are designed to keep Ms Suu Kyi imprisoned until after a general election which the junta has scheduled for next year. | Observers say the charges - which carry a maximum punishment of five years in jail - are designed to keep Ms Suu Kyi imprisoned until after a general election which the junta has scheduled for next year. |
| While she is on trial, Ms Suu Kyi is imprisoned in Rangoon's Insein jail - a notorious facility where many political prisoners are held. | While she is on trial, Ms Suu Kyi is imprisoned in Rangoon's Insein jail - a notorious facility where many political prisoners are held. |
| Protesters in at least 20 cities - from Geneva to Kuala Lumpur - are marking her birthday with calls for her to be set free. | Protesters in at least 20 cities - from Geneva to Kuala Lumpur - are marking her birthday with calls for her to be set free. |
| The BBC's Jonathan Head, in Bangkok, says one of the most poignant events was the small celebration at the Rangoon headquarters of her political party, the National League for Democracy. | |
| Her supporters there released balloons and small birds, and made offerings of food to Buddhist monks in her honour. | |
| Burmese exile groups have launched a website called "64 for Suu" and invited celebrities, politicians and members of the public to send a 64-word birthday message to Ms Suu Kyi. | Burmese exile groups have launched a website called "64 for Suu" and invited celebrities, politicians and members of the public to send a 64-word birthday message to Ms Suu Kyi. |
| In his message, British tycoon Richard Branson called her a "shining light for us all". | In his message, British tycoon Richard Branson called her a "shining light for us all". |
| Another message came from a group of female Nobel Peace Prize laureates including Guatemalan rights activist Rigoberta Menchu and US anti-landmine campaigner Jody Williams. | Another message came from a group of female Nobel Peace Prize laureates including Guatemalan rights activist Rigoberta Menchu and US anti-landmine campaigner Jody Williams. |
| They said: "Your imprisonment and trial are a stark illustration of the brutality and lawlessness of the Burmese military regime." | They said: "Your imprisonment and trial are a stark illustration of the brutality and lawlessness of the Burmese military regime." |
| European Union leaders also joined the chorus of celebrities, activists and political leaders calling for Ms Suu Kyi's release. | European Union leaders also joined the chorus of celebrities, activists and political leaders calling for Ms Suu Kyi's release. |
| "Unless she is released, the credibility of the 2010 elections will be further undermined and the EU will respond with appropriate measures," a European Council draft statement said. | "Unless she is released, the credibility of the 2010 elections will be further undermined and the EU will respond with appropriate measures," a European Council draft statement said. |
| Ms Suu Kyi has been under house arrest and banned from seeing all but a small group of people for 13 of the past 19 years. | Ms Suu Kyi has been under house arrest and banned from seeing all but a small group of people for 13 of the past 19 years. |