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Suu Kyi marks 64th birthday in prison as thousands protest

Article published on the 2009-06-19 Latest update 2009-06-19 11:20 TU

Aung San Suu Kyi supporters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia release birds to celebrate her birthday(Credit: Reuters)

Aung San Suu Kyi supporters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia release birds to celebrate her birthday
(Credit: Reuters)

Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi celebrated her 64th birthday in prison in Yangon on Friday where she awaits the outcome of her latest trial, while dignitaries, celebrities and supporters around the world called for the ruling junta to free her. Suu Kyi's top aide Nyan Win brought flowers, a spicy rice dish and a chocolate cake to the prison, but was not allowed to see the Nobel laureate.

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"She ordered the food so that she could donate it to those around her in prison, and there are no other prisoners near her," said Nyan Win.

"She will hold a small ceremony there," he added.

In Yangon, some 300 supporters gathered at her National League for Democracy party offices at dawn to offer food to Buddhist monks in honour of her birthday.

In more than 15 cities throughout the world, people gathered on her birthday to acknowledge Suu Kyi's struggle. On Friday former Beatle Paul Mc Cartney, John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono and author Salman Rushdie added their clout and contributed special statements on the  64forSuu website. The site is meant for supporters to write and post online messages for support of Suu Kyi in 64 words or less.

Other dignitaries have weighed in, too. European Union leaders are expected to contribute 64 words to the site, while the US State Department urged the junta to free Suu Kyi "immediately",

Suu Kyi is currently in prison for reasons other than political, however. She is charged with harbouring an american man after he swam near her lakefront house and suffered with leg cramps.

If convicted, she could serve five more years. Myanmar's top judges are  scheduled to hear an appeal from her lawyers on Wednesday who have asked that two witnesses barred from testifying be reinstated.