News / Europe

Aung San Suu Kyi Honored in Ireland

TEXT SIZE - +
VOA News
Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi received a rock star welcome in Ireland Monday where she received Amnesty International's highest human rights award at a concert in her honor.
 
The Nobel peace laureate took to the stage with rock singer and philanthropist Bono to collect her long-postponed Ambassador of Conscience Award.  She won the human rights group's most prestigious prize in 2009, but could not collect it, because she was under house arrest in Burma at the time.
 
Amnesty's annual presentation is awarded to those showing "exceptional leadership" in promoting human rights and human conscience.

(Click to view photo gallery)

x
  • Aung San Suu Kyi and British Prime Minister David Cameron walk in the Rose Garden at the Prime Minister's country residence Chequers, near Ellesborough, Buckinghamshire, England, June 22, 2012.
  • Burma's opposition leader makes an address to a joint session of both Houses of Parliament, in Westminster Hall, in London, June 21, 2012.
  • Aung San Suu Kyi, Britain's Prince Charles and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall in the gardens of Clarence House, in London, 21 June 2012
  • Aung San Suu Kyi greets British Prime Minister David Cameron at 10 Downing Street in London, June 21, 2012.
  • Burmese opposition leader leaves through The Great Gate after receiving her honorary degree at Oxford University, in Oxford southern England, June 20, 2012.
  • Aung San Suu Kyi, center, meets with people at a reception in Oxford, England, June 19, 2012.
  • Burma's political leader is given a picture of her father for her birthday at The London School of Economics and Political Science in London, June, 19, 2012.
  • Aung San Suu Kyi accepts the Amnesty International Ambassador of Conscience Award from Amnesty International Secretary-General Salil Shetty (L) and singer Bono (R), Dublin, Ireland, June 18, 2012.
  • From left, Aung San Suu Kyi, Norway's Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere and Irish singer and activist Bono address the media after attending a conference of the Oslo Forum, Norway, June 18, 2012.
  • Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi (L) meets Naw Star Ri during a meeting with the Burmese community in Bergen, Norway, June 17, 2012.
  • Norway's Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store, left, welcomes Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi at the Foreign Ministry for a meeting in Oslo, June 17, 2012.
  • Aung San Suu Kyi signs a book at the Nobel Institute after a meeting with the Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo, June 16, 2012.
  • Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi speaks to a large audience outside Oslo's City Hall, Norway, June 16, 2012.
  • Aung San Suu Kyi, holds her speech during the Peace Nobel Prize lecture at the city hall in Oslo, June 16, 2012. She formally accepts the prize that thrust her into the global limelight two decades ago.
  • Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi is greeted by Norwegian King Harald and Norway's Queen Sonja (L-R) at the Royal Castle in Oslo, June 16, 2012.
  • Aung San Suu Kyi attends a news conference with Norway's Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg in central Oslo, June 15, 2012.
  • Burma's pro-democracy leader signs autographs outside the Swiss Parliament in Bern, Switzerland, June 14, 2012.
  • Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi delivers a speech during the last day of the 101st session of the International Labor Conference of the International Labor Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, June 14, 2012.

(Click to view photo gallery)

Aung San Suu Kyi was greeted at a riverside theater by crowds of wellwishers.  She attended a three-hour show organized in her honor by the London-based human rights group.  The show featured Irish stars, including Bono and Bob Geldof, as well as singers and entertainers from around the world. 
 
Aung San Suu Kyi, detained under harsh military rule in her homeland for much of the past two decades, arrived in Dublin from the Norwegian capital, Oslo, where she received a thunderous welcome and the Nobel Peace Prize denied her in 1991 by her jailers.
 
From Ireland, the democracy icon will continue to London, where she will be reunited with her two grown children.  On Wednesday, she will speak to students at Oxford University and on Thursday she will address both Houses of Parliament.
 
Aung San Suu Kyi was released from house arrest in late 2010, as a period of political change began in Burma, also known as Myanmar, following half a century of military rule.  A new, nominally civilian government was elected in November 2010 and took office four months later. 
 
After her release, Aung San Suu Kyi resumed active leadership of the National League for Democracy, which she co-founded, and won election to an open seat in parliament in April. 

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.

You May Like

Russia Cracks Down on Gay Activism

Arrest of 30 activists coincided with first-ever gay rights rally in neighboring Ukraine, which was allowed by authorities, protected by police More

In Hong Kong, Beef Over Sammy Kitchen's 3D Cow

Much to the dismay of restaurant owner Sammy Yip, authorities have turned an inhospitable eye toward his giant cow looming over Queen's Road West More

Cambodian Documentary Wins Cannes Prize for Innovative Cinema

In 'The Missing Picture', Rithy Panh uses clay figurines to tell story of Khmer Rouge brutality More

This forum has been closed.
Comment Sorting
Comments
     
by: Anonymous
June 18, 2012 5:28 PM
Her goal is not those thunderous welcomes, lowd cheers or big prize.Her goal still is the real humanrights and democracy for all Burmese.

Featured Videos

Your JavaScript is turned off or you have an old version of Adobe's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player.
Your JavaScript is turned off or you have an old version of Adobe's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player.
Video

Video Volunteers Help Revive LA's Concrete River

The Los Angeles River is a concrete drainage channel through much of its 80-kilometer length. It channels waste-water from storm drains and has become a receptacle for much of the city's trash. But as Mike O'Sullivan reports, the river is slowly being restored with the help of volunteers, who take part in an annual clean-up.