Makati City, Philippines – Solidarity activists, mostly women under the Free Burma Coalition – Philippines (FBC-Phils) today staged a rally in front of the Myanmar (Burma) Embassy in Makati City as part of the international celebration of the 65th birthday of Burma’s democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.

Born on June 19^th, 1945, Aung San Suu Kyi is the world's only imprisoned Nobel Peace laureate. She has been under house arrest for almost 15 of the last 21 years by Burma's military regime.

FBC-Phils reiterated its call for the immediate and unconditional release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners in Burma.

“Calling for Aung San Suu Kyi's immediate and unconditional release is the best gift that we could offer on her birthday. We see her continued detention as an insult to justice and democracy,” Egoy Bans, FBC-Phils spokesperson said.

According to reports by the Assistance Association of Political Prisoners- Burma (AAPPB), there are currently 2,157 political prisoners in Burma. Since the protests in August 2007 leading to September’s Saffron Revolution, a total of 1,159 activists have been arrested and are still in detention.

"Burma is a garrison state where human rights violations happen on a daily basis. Until today, thousands of political prisoners are suffering from torture and other forms of persecution at various detention centers in Burma," Bans added.

BURMA – WOMEN’s VOICES FOR PEACE

The group also took the occasion to launch a book entitled, “Burma - Women’s Voices for Peace, a collection of stories and poems written by the women of Burma narrating their experiences as refugees, human rights activists, migrant workers and political prisoners.

During the rally, members of FBC-Phils read some literary excerpts from the book including poems written by Aung San Suu Kyi. Women members of FBC-Phils also donned yellow chrysanthemums while others are chanting slogans and singing songs of freedom. The yellow chrysanthemums according to the group symbolize the Burma women’s aspiration for liberty, genuine peace and justice.

Yuen Abana, a member of the FBC-Phils Women’s committee said, “Despite being a signatory to the CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women), the military regime Burma remains one of the world's most notorious women-rights violators. The women of Burma continue to experience gender-based violence including sexual abuses, discrimination and denial of their fundamental rights.”

LIKE MOTHER, LIKE SON ?

FBC-Phils reiterated its demand for the incoming administration of Nonoy Aquino to lead the ASEAN in pushing the military generals of Burma to release Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners in Burma.

“The late Cory Aquino was among the 59 former heads of state who demanded the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners in Burma last year. We hope to see a like mother, like son situation when Noynoy assumes presidency,” Bans stressed.

Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL), Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP), Partido ng Manggagawa (PM), Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID), Bagong Kamalayan, Coalition Against Trafficking in Women – Asia Pacific (CATW-AP), and the Samahang Demokratiko ng Kabataan (SDK) were the roganizations present during the rally.