art: Shephard Fairey
Spending 15 years under house arrest, Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel prize winner and political activist--whose goal has long been revolution without violence--was finally released on November 13th 2007, with a fixed eye upon her goal for Burmese democracy. A realist, rather than the optimist some would paint her, Aung is continuing with her goals for the party, with the perseverance necessary to achieve a goal that would change life entirely in Burma, where life under military control has kept the people under an inconceivably oppressive rule.
Impact Mag had this to say of Aung San Suu Kyi's struggle:
"The Amnesty International ‘Burma Campaign’ which had been campaigning for Aung San Suu’s release knows that even now the fight is not over. 2,002 political prisoners still remain in Burma, all under house arrest or detained in prison facilities. Each prisoner is further evidence of repressive rule by the Burmese junta, a regime accused by Harvard Law School of war crimes and crimes against humanity, a regime without freedom of speech and without freedom of political representation. The figurehead of resistance in Burma may be free at last, but many other dissidents will continue to be silenced as long as this regime is in power."
Aung's release is wonderful news, but it is news that should continue to fuel grassroots awareness-raising and action.
On behalf of political prisoners everywhere, I ask:
Related:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG9LizSi4zc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jR_e9mvaMMY&feature=fvw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4zs0T335NY&feature=related
http://www.impactnottingham.com/2010/11/aung-san-suu-kyi-may-be-free-but-burma-is-not/
