« Peut-être que si nous, personnes ordinaires, lançons un APPEL d’une si grande ampleur, nos gouverneurs, chefs d’états, Rois et Reines ne peuvent QUE comprendre à quel point le destin de cette femme hors du commun nous est cher, par sa volonté pour la démocratie, par son courage personnel, par ses sacrifices de femme, privée de ceux qu’elle aime, même de ses propres fils. Elle nous inspire par son pacifisme bouddhiste à la Gandhi, par sa droiture dans un monde corrompu, enfermée en prison ou sous "house arrest" depuis dix-sept ans. Et pourquoi ? Parce que justement cette femme frêle fait peur à la Junte Birmane... et son charisme demeure intact. Ils ont monté des coups contre elle, ils l’ont écartée physiquement au détriment de sa santé, pour qu’elle, prix Nobel de la Paix qui a GAGNÉ les élections en 1990, soit à JAMAIS invisible...
Il faut savoir que la prison dans laquelle elle croupie est l’une des pires au monde, que le régime militaire qui la détient est connu pour ses tortures, qu’il est cruel au point de laisser mourir son propre peuple, comme l’année dernière après le passage du cyclone Nargis, plutôt que d’accepter de l’aide étrangère de PEUR que l’on puisse voir l’étendue des dommages, des morts et de la puissance de sa dictature inimaginable ...
Aung San Suu Kyi risque la mort à petit feu ... On le sait et on est INCAPABLE d’infliger des sanctions qui feront mal aux dictateurs ... Eux, qui sont couverts de diamants, de rubis et autres pierres précieuses, grâce à l’argent des chinois avec qui ils ont fait des affaires en teck, gaz naturel et Pétrole ...
On sait que c’est l’un des pires pays pour les enfants soldats, que c’est une plaque tournante de la drogue et du VIH... 10 enfants sur 100 meurent avant l’âge de CINQ ans par manque de nourriture et de soins et nous, non seulement on fait RIEN ... mais on AIDE la junte Birmane ! TOTAL leur donne plus d’un MILLION de dollars pas JOUR !
Nous, simples citoyens, on peut dire que cela nous DÉGOUTE... que l’on compatit avec ces moines, étudiants, prisonniers politiques, artistes qui ont reçu une peine de prison allant de 25 à 65 ans, juste pour avoir osé marcher pour la démocratie !... "La marche Safran" de 2007...
Nous, nous sommes libres, eux ne le sont plus. Dans un pays où le régime les tient par la PEUR, les jeunes, les moines, les courageux ont risqué leur VIE, leur LIBERTÉ, si ça se trouve, à tout jamais ... Nous, on leur DOIT notre soutien, notre compassion, notre FORCE et nos pensées ... ET ON DEVRAIT HARCELER par nos incessantes marches et nos lettres, nos "leaders" pour qu’ils se montrent du côté d’Aung San Suu Kyi... Et pas de la Junte ... Et pas seulement par des discours mais par des actes !
Où est parti notre courage ? « Collabo » est un mot qui nous rappelle quoi ? la dernière guerre ? et « indifférence » ? la guerre d’Espagne ? Que faire ?... FAITES TOUT CE QUE VOUS CROYEZ POSSIBLE DE FAIRE, à n’importe quel niveau ... Pour ne pas avoir sur la conscience le vieux refrain "nous pouvions rien faire… C’était si loin … C’étaient les autres… On ne savait pas..."
Aung San Suu Kyi nous rappelle le meilleur de « l’être humain »... Quel bonheur d’être à ses côtés ... Quel honneur ... QUELLE CHANCE... Saisissons cette chance avant qu’il ne soit trop tard .... »
Jane Birkin
La suite de l’appel est en anglais
Kim Dae-jung : “Aung San Suu Kyi’s continued detention shames Asia.”
Anwar Ibrahim : “ASEAN cannot continue its policy of non-intervention. It’s time to work together for regional stability and prosperity.”
Shirin Ebadi : “Aung San Suu Kyi is an inspiration to us all. We want to let her know that she is not alone during her trial and continuing detention.”
Shao Jiang : “As a survivor of Tiananmen Square, I know the true value of democracy and freedom, and the need to release all political prisoners in Burma.”
Just a few days before Aung San Suu Kyi’s birthday (on 19 June), over 100 former political prisoners from around the world have added their names to a statement calling for her release and for the United Nations Security Council to establish a global arms embargo on Burma/Myanmar.
Aung San Suu Kyi is currently being prosecuted by the authorities in Burma/Myanmar for violating the terms of her house arrest, after an American man swam across a lake to visit her house in early May. For this, she faces up to five years in prison.
The former political prisoners calling for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners in Burma come from over 20 countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe. They have all signed a special 64 word message to Aung San Suu Kyi to mark her 64th birthday (her 14th in detention). The former prisoners also call on the UNSC to step up the pressure on the government of Burma/Myanmar :
“The continued denial of your freedom unacceptably attacks the human rights of all 2,156 political prisoners in Myanmar. As those also incarcerated for our political beliefs, we share the world’s outrage. We call on the United Nations Security Council to press the Myanmar Government to immediately release all political prisoners, and to restrict the weapons that strengthen its hand through a global arms embargo.”
Several of the signatories are themselves under house arrest in China, including Yuan Weijing and Zeng Jinyan. Others who have added their names include Anwar Ibrahim, former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia ; Ingrid Betancourt, former senator and Nobel Peace Prize nominee kidnapped by the Colombian FARDC ; Dr Kim Dae-jung, former president of the Republic of Korea and Nobel Peace Prize laureate ; Lech Walesa, former president of Poland and Nobel Peace Prize laureate ; the Nelson Mandela Foundation ; Shirin Ebadi, lawyer and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate ; Shao Jiang, a Tiananmen survivor ; Terry Waite, the British humanitarian and author ; Vaclav Havel, writer and former President of the Czech Republic ; and Yuri Feodorovich Orlov, nuclear physicist and former Soviet dissident.
Former Korean president Kim Dae-jung said : “Aung San Suu Kyi’s continued detention shames Asia. Burma’s authoritarian rulers have suppressed the people for too long. Political reform and the peaceful transition to democracy in Burma must be seen as a priority by the international community and the region.”
Former Malaysian deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim said : “ASEAN’s policy of non intervention is not helping to serve regional interests. We need to work together in ASEAN for regional stability and prosperity. Political progress in Burma is an integral part of this, including the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners.”
Iranian human rights campaigner and Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi said : “Aung San Suu Kyi is an inspiration to us all. As former political prisoners, we want to let her know that she is not alone during her trial and continuing detention. She has a network of friends and supporters around the world.”
Tiananmen Square survivor, Shao Jiang : “As a survivor of Tiananmen Square, I know the true value of democracy and freedom. The international community, including the United Nations Security Council, needs to take strong action to ensure the immediate release of all political prisoners in Burma. Citizens around the world, let’s unite and bring down the dictators !”
Political prisoners have signed the statement as part of the www.64forSuu.org campaign, which is supported by
Altsean-Burma -
Amnesty International -
Article 19 -
Austrian Burma Center -
Avaaz -
Burma Action Ireland -
Burma Campaign Australia -
Burma Campaign UK -
Burma Info Japan -
Christian Solidarity Worldwide -
English Pen -
Free Burma Campaign (South Africa) -
Human Rights Watch -
Info Birmanie (France) -
International Peace Bureau -
Not On Our Watch -
Norwegian Burma Committee -
Open Society Institute -
Trade Union Congress -
People in Need (Czech Republic) -
People in Peril (Slovakia) -
US Campaign for Burma -
Full list of signatories :
Cambodia
1. Cheam Channy, opposition parliamentarian ; imprisoned in 2005 by a military court for his political views (released by a Royal Pardon in February 2006).
2. Kem Sokha, former head of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights ; detained on charges of criminal defamation over a banner used at an International Human Rights Day rally in 2005.
China
3. Gao Yu, Chinese journalist ; winner of Laureate of the UNESCO / Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize 1997 ; former deputy chief editor of Economics Weekly. She has been labelled an “enemy of the people” and imprisoned multiple times for publishing controversial articles.
4. Rebiya Kadeer, Uighur democracy leader ; sentenced by the Chinese government to eight years’ imprisonment in 2000 on charges relating to endangering national security ; she is now living in exile in the USA.
5. Shao Jiang - Tiananmen survivor and one of the organisers of the 1989 pro-democracy protests ; imprisoned for 18 months after the crackdown and suffered ongoing persecution ; he fled to the UK in 1997.
6. Tsering Woeser, Tibetan poet and essayist born in Lhasa ; persecuted by the authorities for her writing ; put under house arrest with her husband during the 2008 unrest in Tibet.
7. Yuan Weijing, activist currently under residential surveillance/ house arrest ; wife of imprisoned activist Chen Guangcheng. She became the victim of retaliation by local authorities after helping her husband to reveal the use of violence in the local birth control campaign and publicly opposing the illegal imprisonment of her husband.
8. Zeng Jinyan, Chinese blogger and human rights activist ; currently under house arrest with her one-and-a-half year baby girl ; wife of imprisoned AIDS and environmental activist Hu Jia ; one of TIME Magazine’s 100 People Who Shape Our World 2007.
9. Zhang Zhuhua, political critic of China ; currently under surveillance / house arrest after launching Charter 08, a public statement calling for political and legal reform.
Colombia / France
10. Ingrid Betancourt, former senator ; Nobel Peace Prize nominee ; kidnapped by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia in 2002 and held for over six years.
Cuba
11. José Gabriel Ramón Castillo, sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2003 ;now living in exile.
12. Alejandro González Raga, sentenced to 14 years in prison in 2003 ; now living in exile.
13. Pedro Fuentes-Cid, Esq,served 16 years in Castro’s prisons ; co-founder of the Ex-Club and Consejo Presidio Politico Cubano.
Czech Republic
14. Vaclav Havel, writer and former President of the Czech Republic.
Ethiopia
15. Daniel Bekele, imprisoned in November 2005, following demonstrations against disputed election results for provoking "outrages against the Constitution" ; sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment. After signing a letter "acknowledging mistakes" committed in relation to the elections, he received a presidential pardon in March 2008 and is currently studying at St. Hugh’s college, Oxford.
16. Netsanet Demissie, also imprisoned in 2005 following demonstrations against disputed election results for provoking "outrages against the Constitution".
India
17. Dr Binayak Sen, pioneer of health care to marginalized and indigenous communities in Chhattisgarh (where there is an active Maoist insurgency) ; was imprisoned for 2 years.
Indonesia
18. Dita Indah Sari, Indonesian trade union and social activist ; was imprisoned for sedition in 1996 on charges of sedition under Suharto. In 2002 she refused a $50000 human rights award from Reebok in protest against the company’s poor record on workers’ rights.
19. Ignatius Mahendra, sentenced in 2003 to 3 years’ imprisonment for insulting the President and Vice President in Indonesia.
Iran
20. Emadeddin Baghi, journalist ; faces further court cases in relation to his human rights work ; 2009 recipient of the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders.
21. Shirin Ebadi, lawyer ; human rights activist ; Nobel Peace Prize laureate 2003.
Malaysia
22. Anwar Ibrahim (official title : Dato’ Seri Anwar), former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia ; current de facto leader of Keadilan, the People’s Justice Party. Following mass protests calling for political reform in 1997, he was sentenced to six years in prison for corruption and to another nine years for sodomy in 2009. He reportedly endured six years in solitary confinement. In 2004 his conviction was reversed and he was released. In July 2008, the government brought new charges against him, the trial date has been set for 1 July 2009.
23. Dr Chandra Muzaffar, President, International Movement for a Just World (JUST)
24. Irene Fernandez, director and founder of Tenaganita, a migrants rights organisation in Malaysia ; arrested in 1996 and charged with ‘maliciously publishing false news’ following the reports of ill-treatment of undocumented migrant workers in detention centres. She underwent the longest running trial in Malaysia’s legal history and was imprisoned for several years before being released on bail and finally acquitted in November 2008.
25. Lim Kit Siang, has been detained numerous times under the Internal Security Act.
26. M Manoharan, former HINDRAF detainee from December 2007-April 2009
27. Dr. Mohd Nasir Hashim, Malaysia, member of the State Assembly
28. Teresa Kok , Secretary, AIPMC (The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus) ; Malaysian opposition leader and Member of the Parliament since 1999, arrested under Malaysia’s Internal Security Act in September 2008, on the grounds of being a threat to security. She was later released without being charged.
29. Uthayakumar, lawyer, Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF)
Mongolia
30. G. Jamyan, journalist
31. L. Sanjaasuren, lawyer
32. General Baatar, former head of Mongolia’s Central Intelligence Agency
Morocco
33. Ali Lmrabet, journalist ; sentenced by a court in 2003 to four years’ imprisonment on charges of insulting King Mohamed VI, “undermining the monarchy” and “threatening the integrity of the national territory”.
Philippines
34. Aida Santos, poet, detained 1976-77, Chairperson of Women’s Education, Development, Productivity and Research Organization.
35. Alex Arellano, detained from 1974-78 ; former Amnesty International case
36. Dr Aurora Corazon Parong, current AI Philippines Section Director ; detained for 18 months in 1982 ; former Executive Director of Task force Detainees of the Philippines.
37. Esperanza Santos &
38. Luzviminda Santos, sisters, both detained in 1987, both lead the Philippine Global Exchange.
39. George Parong, detained in the early 70s
40. Jun Paas, detained from 1989-1994 ; one of the last political prisoners in Camp Crame (national headquarters of the Philippine National Police)
41. Loretta ’Etta’ Ann Rosales, detained in 1972 and 1976, former Member of the Philippine House of Representatives.
42. Max De Mesa, detained in 1972 and 1971, current Chairperson and spokesperson of the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Activists.
43. Dr Nymia Simbulan, detained 1973-74 ; Executive Director of the Philippine Human Rights Information Center.
44. Pepito Frias, detained 1972, 1973-74 and 1976 ; works for the Philippine Human Rights Information Center.
45. Ramon Perdon, detained 1998-2000, currently Amnesty International IT consultant.
46. Rep. Satur Ocampo, Congressman ; political prisoner under the Marcos dictatorship
47. Sixto Carlos Jr, detained from 1979 – 1983 ; currently heads the International Committee of the AKBAYAN Citizens’ Action Partylist.
Poland
48. Lach Walesa, former president of Poland (1990 to 1995) and Nobel Peace Prize laureate 1983 ; arrested and detained in 1981 for 11 months following trade union activism.
Russia
49. Ludmilla Alexeeva, author ; former Soviet dissident ; Chair of the Moscow Helsinki Group and the doyenne of Russia’s human rights community.
50. Yuri Feodorovich Orlov, nuclear physicist ; former Soviet dissident ; arrested in 1977 and detained in the Siberian Gulag for almost ten years ; freed in 1986 and deported to the U.S., now a Professor of Physics and Government at Cornell University.
Singapore
51. Dr. Chee Soon Juan, the Secretary-General of the Singapore Democratic Party has been imprisoned in 1999, 2002 and in 2006. He has also been bankrupted for voicing his opinion. Although released, as a bankrupt, he has been barred from seeking parliamentary seats or leaving the country without permission.
South Africa
52. Nelson Mandela Foundation, through the Centre of Memory and Dialogue, the Nelson Mandela Foundation contributes to the making of a just society by promoting the values, vision and work of Nelson Mandela.
South Korea
53. Bang Yang-Kyun, imprisoned for 7 years in 1990 on charges relating to endangering national security ; former secretary of an opposition MP.
54. Cho Kuk, imprisoned in 1994 under the National Security Law as a Professor at Seoul National University.
55. Han Seung Hun, human rights lawyer.
56. Hwang Sok-Yong, writer ; sentenced to 8 years imprisonment in 1994 under the National Security Law.
57. Kang Young Ju, sentenced to life imprisonment under the National Security Law as a medical school student ; released under amnesty after 14 years.
58. Dr Kim Dae-jung, former president of the Republic of Korea and 2000 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.
59. Kim Hak-Min, imprisoned in 1974 under the National Security Law.
60. Kim Seong Man, sentenced to death as a university student in 1986 under the National Security Law, reduced to life imprisonment, was given amnesty after 13 years.
61. Kwon Young Ghil, Labour Party MP.
62. Lee Si Woo, photographer and anti-mining activist ; imprisoned on charges under National Security Law in 2006 ; released in 2007.
63. MINKAHYUP HR Group, organisation for families of prisoners of conscience.
64. Park Lae Goon, imprisoned following a peaceful demonstration for farmers against eviction.
65. Park No Hae, poet ; arrested in 1991, tortured for 24 days, and sentenced to death under the National Security Law. His sentence was reduced to life imprisonment, received amnesty after 8 years.
66. Yoo Ihntae, former student activist ; sentenced to death under the National Security Law ; imprisoned for 4 years.
Sri Lanka
67. Prins Gunasekara, human rights lawyer and journalist ; persecuted by authorities for appealing the arbitrary detention of young Leftist members of the JVP (Janata Vimukhti Peramuna).
Taiwan
68. Aang Bun-kheng, sentenced to life, serving 16+ years.
69. C.M. Kao, Reverend and former general secretary of the Presbyterian Church.
70. Chang Chang-mei, served 12 years.
71. Tai Chen-yao, former congressman and vice chairman of the Council of Agriculture.
72. Yao Chia-wen, human rights lawyer and former president of the Examination Yuan of R.O.C.
73. Lin Chih-chieh, served 10 years, professor of literature.
74. Chen Chin, served 5 years.
75. Yang Ching-chu, novelist and the first chairman of Taiwanese Pen Association.
76. Hsu Ching-fu, served 2 terms, 12 years in total.
77. Tien Ching-you, army officer, served 11 years.
78. Kao Chin-lang, served 15 years, navy crew journalist.
79. Kueh Chin-suun, sentenced to life, served 22+ years.
80. Nguo Chiong-leng, served 10 years, high school teacher.
81. Chen Chu, elected Mayor of Kaohsiung City in 2008.
82. Chen Chung-shin, former congressman.
83. Wang Dan, student leader of the Tiananmen demonstration in 1989, served 2 terms afterwards, will teach in NCCU Taiwan from August 2009.
84. Mao Fu-cheng, navy crew, served 5 years.
85. Lu Hsiu-lien, women’s rights activist, former Vice President of R.O.C.
86. Huang Hua, 4 terms in jail, served 23 years in total, former councilor to the President.
87. Tsai Kuan-yu, served 13 years.
88. Tsai Kun-lin, served 10 years, publisher.
89. Chen Meng-huo, served 15 years, painter and photographer.
90. Peng Ming-min, professor of international law at National Taiwan University, former presidential candidate of R.O.C.
91. Thuo Ping-lang, served 10 years, painter.
92. Lin Shu-chih, served 2 terms, 11 year in total.
93. Hsu Tien-hsien, Reverend of the Presbyterian Church, arrested from the pulpit during the Christmas service in 1979.
94. Hsu Tsao-te, 2 terms in jail, served 12 years in total.
95. Chang Tse-chou, served 12 years, professor of National Taiwan University, director of the Panchiao Community University.
96. Hsieh Tsung-min, former congressman, 2 terms in jail, served 11.5 years.
97. Wang Tuoh, novelist and former congressman.
98. Hung We-Huo, sentenced to life, serving 13+ years.
99. Lin Yi-hsiung, human rights lawyer and former chairman of Democratic Progressive Party.
100. Chen Ying-tai, served 12 years.
101. Su You-peng, served 10 years, medical doctor.
United Kingdom
102. Terry Waite, humanitarian, author ; held captive for four years from 1987 by the Islamic Jihad Organization in Lebanon following his efforts to secure the release of hostages in Lebanon.
Uzbekistan
103. Mutabar Tajibaeva,winner of the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders 2008 and the 2008 US State Department’s Award for International Women of Courage.
104. Tamara Chikunova, leader of the ‘Mothers Against Death Penalty and Torture’ ; winner of the ‘Golden Doves for Peace 2004’ award ; ‘Nurnberg’ 2005 ; ‘La Donna ell’Anno’ 2004.
105. Umida Niyazova, leader of the Uzbek-German Forum for Human Rights ; winner of the Human Rights Watch Human Rights Defender Award 2008
Vietnam
106. Professor Doan Viet Hoat, writer, academic ; has spent 20 years in jail - 12 years without charge or trial and eight years for "counter-revoluntionary" activities. Released in September 1998 under a presidential amnesty ; lives in exile in the USA.
107. Dr Nguyen Dan Que, imprisoned three times for a total of 20 years for his non-violent struggle for human rights and democracy ; last released from prison in January 2005.