Help free Burma and Aung San Suu Kyi!

This year, I am joining hundreds of people around the world in "Arrest Yourself" 2009 - a global action for Aung San Suu Kyi and Burma. I have committed to staying at home for 24 hours under self-imposed house arrest over the weekend of 13th June, in celebration of Aung San Suu Kyi's birthday on June 19th. I am doing this in solidarity with Aung San Suu Kyi and all 55 million people of Burma, who, in the words of Suu Kyi, live in "a prison without bars". I am also hosting a small dinner party for friends where I will (try to!) prepare some Burmese food, and show videos about Burma. I also hope to hold a stall in the centre of Chichester (south England) with information and petitions.

Burma has one of the worst situations of human rights abuses the world over. The country has been ruled by a brutal and repressive military dictatorship for over 4 decades. The regime has pursued a campaign of violence against ethnic minorities in the east of the country - over 3,000 villages have been razed; rape is used routinely as a weapon of war; and villagers are often forced to work as porters by the army. As a result, there are 1.5 million Burmese internally displaced, living in refugee camps in Thailand or in labour camps inside Burma. In addition, the regime pursues its own enrichment at the expense of its people. Healthcare and education are neglected. After Cyclone Nargis in 2007 the regime even blocked aid from reaching the people. About half of the regime’s annual expenditure is on the military – this in a country with no external enemies. Burma also has one of the highest numbers of child soldiers; and those who speak out against the regime are punished – there are over 2,000 political prisoners in Burma, including Aung San Suu Kyi.

In 1988, when student uprisings against the regime were violently crushed, Aung San Suu Kyi founded the National League for Democracy, campaigning for peace, human rights and democracy for the Burmese people. She has continued to lead this campaign with unswerving integrity and humanity despite attempts to isolate and intimidate her. Her work for peace and human rights has been recognised by numerous prestigious awards, including the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize. Despite this, for 13 of the last 20 years, she has lived alone in Rangoon, Burma, under house arrest, far from her loved ones and isolated from her political allies. On 14th May this year she was arrested and is now held in Rangoon's Insein Prison.

To me, Aung San Suu Kyi is one of the bravest people in the world. My heart is so filled with admiration and love and gratitude for such a woman. The world needs people like her, who have the courage to stand up against those who bully and abuse their power; who are strong enough to make huge personal sacrifices in order to stand for basic human freedoms and rights; and who have the charisma and vision to lead, yet lead with absolute personal integrity and honesty.

Suu Kyi has called on people around the world to "Please use your liberty to promote ours," and that is exactly what I am doing. Please support my "arrest" by making a donation below. Your contributions will be used by the U.S. Campaign for Burma to fund critical advocacy for freedom, democracy and human rights in Burma.

Thank you for your generosity.