A number of A-listers including George Clooney, Bono and Madonna have come together to call for the release of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been unlawfully imprisoned by the ruling Burmese military junta.
“Nineteen years ago, the Burmese people chose Aung San Suu Kyi to be their next leader. And for most of those 19 years she has been kept under house arrest by the military junta that now runs the country," read a statement also signed by Steven Spielberg, Brad Pitt, Senator John McCain and others.
Suu Kyi was first imprisoned 19 years ago, and following nationwide elections in 1990, her imprisonment was extended. She has been under house arrest in the Burmese capital of Rangoon for 13 of the past 19 years.
She was originally scheduled to be released at the end of May 2009, but earlier this month, an American unlawfully swam to her compound and stayed for two nights against Suu Kyi’s wishes. When Burmese authorities arrested the intruder, they took Suu Kyi to the Insein prison on May 14, where she will face criminal charges which may further extend her incarceration. She will stand trial on May 18.
