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Aung San Suu Kyi?s birthday to celebrate as Asian Women?s Day

16 June 1999
MIZZIMA News Group

Manushi, a leading women journal in India, has proposed Aung San Suu
Kyi?s birthday to celebrate as Asian Women?s Day. Aung San Suu Kyi?s
birthday, 19 June, has been celebrated by exiled Burma women groups as
Women of Burma Day since 1997.

Madu Kishwar, a well-known Indian woman activist and editor of the
Manushi journal said that Aung San Suu Kyi is the role model for the
women in Asia. ?For me, Aung San Suu Kyi is the spirit of Asia and I
would like to see this day celebrated as not just Burmese women day but
I would like this celebrated as Asian Women?s Day?, said Madhu Kishwar.

Aung San Suu Kyi is widely hailed as the Mahatma Gandhi of Burma for
having led courageous non-violent struggle against one of the world?s
most tyrannical military dictatorships. "She is one of the few women
leaders who has live up to Mahatma Gandhi?s vision that ?in the war
against war, women of the world will and should lead? and made the
Mahatma?s dream come true that women?s entry into politics would act as
a cleansing and humanising force?, said Madhu Kishwar.

The proposal to celebrate Aung San Suu Kyi?s birthday as Asian Women Day
will formally come up at a public meeting on coming Saturday, 19th  June
at India International Centre in Delhi. The meeting, under the theme of
?Women and Political Reforms: How to Make Politics Worthy of Women?,
will be initiated by eminent political leaders of India including Mrs.
Maneka Gandhi who is the social welfare minister in the Indian
government and Mrs. Najma Heptullah, Deputy-Chairperson of the Indian
Parliament (Raja Sabha). The public meeting is jointly organized by
Manushi, India International Centre and India-based Women Rights and
Welfare Association of Burma (WRWAB).

?Since this daughter of Asia has established high civilisational norms
through her leadership of the movement and done us all proud, we want to
see Aung San Suu Kyi?s birthday celebrated as Asian Women?s Day?, said
Manushi?s press statement on 16th June.

Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of Burma?s democratic movement and 1991 Nobel
Peace Laureate is entering her 54th birthday on June 19, 1999.


By: MIZZIMA News Group
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