Feminist Peace Network

Words of Power has a beautiful tribute in honor of Aung San Suu Kyi’s birthday, including this account of Burmese activists’ attempt to honor her life:

“More than 20 Burmese women activists were driven out of a Rangoon pagoda today and were stopped from conducting a prayer vigil for the release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi by the pagoda management. … They were driven away by the pagoda management committee members, said NLD Women affairs in-charge Daw Myint Myint Sein.
“We went to the pagoda today. And we made swan offerings, and prayers. As we were about to finish, a man (chairman of the committee) came and asked us which group we belonged to and what we were doing here. Politics, he asked? We cannot allow this, go away, he said and chased us away,” Sein told Mizzima over telephone.
“He also said that the committee cannot allow it because ‘there is Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s name’,” added Sein.
Though the group was unable to conclude their prayers, Sein said that they could pray for about 20 minutes.
Though some activists started conducting prayers at pagodas for the release of detained Burmese Nobel Peace Laureate since her latest arrest in May 2003, the prayer vigils gained new momentum in Rangoon and across the country since the beginning of May 2007.
“This is the month of our leader’s [Suu Kyi] birth day. And since her arrest has been extended to another year, we are conducting prayers for her release and other political prisoners,” said Sein. …
“Despite the difficulties and crackdown, we will continue with the prayer vigil. We have vowed to conduct prayers from June 1 to 19,” Sein added. Mizzima News, 6-11-07“

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