Burma's opposition leader and democracy icon, Aung San Suu Kyi, is spending another birthday under arrest, while supporters rally at her party's headquarters to call for her release.
To mark her 62nd birthday, party members and supporters freed doves and released balloons today (Tuesday) at the National League for Democracy's headquarters.
Celebrations marking her birthday are scheduled in more than a dozen countries, with more than 300 events taking place in the United States alone. The U.S. Congressional Human Rights caucus is holding a reception to honor Aung San Suu Kyi today.
An Asian parliamentary caucus (ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus) issued a statement voicing support for Aung San Suu Kyi today. The group also is urging the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to do more to help Burma carry out long-awaited political reforms.
Authorities in Burma increased security near the democracy leader's residence in Rangoon today. She has been held under house arrest there for most of the past 18 years.
Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy won a landslide victory in elections in 1990, but the military government has never recognized the poll results. Burma's military rulers have promised general elections after a new constitution is drafted, but it is not clear when that will ever happen.