Burmese, Others Honor Daw Suu on Bi

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Merit-Making for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
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The National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma, 
organizations representing nationality groups in Burma, democracy 
and human rights organizations, and members of the Burmese 
community gathered at the Buddhist Vihara in Washington, DC, at 
11:00 am on June 19 1995 to commemorate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's 
50th birthday.  The ceremony was also attended by guests from the 
State Department, the NGOs and the National Endowment for 
Democracy as well as a Voice of America correspondent there to 
cover the event.

Monks, chanting prayers for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and for Burma, 
prayed that the Burmese people be freed from tyranny.  This was 
followed by the lay people reciting Buddhist prayers and wishing 
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi well.  They also offered food and alms to the 
monks. 

A buffet lunch was also provided for the guests and the lay 
people.

Organizations represented at the ceremony were the National League 
for Democracy (Liberated Area), the Committee for Restoration of 
Democracy in Burma, the Democratic Burmese Students Organization, 
the Foundation for Democracy in Burma, the Laime Association, the 
Shan State Association (USA), the United Front for Human Rights 
and Democracy in Burma.

Candlelight Vigil
-----------------
At 08:30pm on June 19, 1995, members of the National Coalition 
Government joined student leaders, members of the Burmese 
organizations and community and representatives of different 
organizations at a candlelight vigil in front of the Burmese 
Embassy in Washington, D.C. to pray for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and 
protest the ongoing injustices in Burma.

Slogans were chanted and speeches were delivered in Burmese and 
English by different representatives, including U Bo Hla Tint; U 
Win Khet of the National League for Democracy (Liberated Area); U 
Tin Maung Thaw, chairman of the Committee for the Restoration of 
Democracy in Burma; and student leaders.

U Caui (U Kya Oo) of the  Overseas Lahu Development Organization; 
U Roland of the Chin Youth Organization, and U Saw Kapi of the 
Karen Youth Organization also delivered speeches in Lahu, Chin and 
Karen, respectively.

The vigil ended at 09:30pm with a song dedicated to the release of 
the detained national leader-- "Free Aung San Suu Kyi."

Students Campaign
-----------------
The Democratic Burmese Students Organization officially opened its 
campaign month at 11:45am on June 19, 1995 with the organizers, Ko 
Yin Aye and Ko Nyi Nyi Lwin, unfurling banners in front of the 
Longworth House Office Building calling for sanctions against the 
Burmese military junta and for the U.S. Congress to take tougher 
action to free Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.  The campaign, according to 
the organizers, is to raise the awareness of the American public 
about Burma.

The students distributed pamphlets and answered questions from 
passers-by about Burma.