U2 to award Suu Kyi top Amnesty honor
2009-07-27 17:12
DUBLIN (AFP) - Detained Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was to be awarded human rights group Amnesty International's highest honour Monday, during a concert by Irish rock band U2, Amnesty said.
The Nobel peace laureate -- whose trial in Yangon on charges of violating the terms of her house arrest is coming to an end -- will be named Amnesty's ambassador of conscience for 2009.
The largely symbolic honour has previously been awarded to the likes of South African former president Nelson Mandela and ex-Czech president Vaclav Havel.
It was to be announced by U2's singer Bono during a concert by the band in Dublin later Monday, Amnesty said. U2 have also previously won the award.
"This month marks the 20th anniversary of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s arrest and 20 years since Amnesty International declared her a prisoner of conscience," said Amnesty's secretary general Irene Khan.
"In those long and often dark years, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has remained a symbol of hope, courage and the undying defence of human rights, not only to the people of Myanmar but to people around the world."
Suu Kyi faces five years in jail if found guilty over a bizarre incident in which a man from the US swam uninvited to her lakeside home in Yangon in May.
Her trial began just days before the latest period of her house arrest was due to expire. She has spent most of the last two decades in detention since the junta refused to recognise her party's victory in 1990 elections. (AFP)
DUBLIN (AFP) - Detained Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was to be awarded human rights group Amnesty International's highest honour Monday, during a concert by Irish rock band U2, Amnesty said.
The Nobel peace laureate -- whose trial in Yangon on charges of violating the terms of her house arrest is coming to an end -- will be named Amnesty's ambassador of conscience for 2009.
The largely symbolic honour has previously been awarded to the likes of South African former president Nelson Mandela and ex-Czech president Vaclav Havel.
It was to be announced by U2's singer Bono during a concert by the band in Dublin later Monday, Amnesty said. U2 have also previously won the award.
"This month marks the 20th anniversary of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s arrest and 20 years since Amnesty International declared her a prisoner of conscience," said Amnesty's secretary general Irene Khan.
"In those long and often dark years, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has remained a symbol of hope, courage and the undying defence of human rights, not only to the people of Myanmar but to people around the world."
Suu Kyi faces five years in jail if found guilty over a bizarre incident in which a man from the US swam uninvited to her lakeside home in Yangon in May.
Her trial began just days before the latest period of her house arrest was due to expire. She has spent most of the last two decades in detention since the junta refused to recognise her party's victory in 1990 elections. (AFP)