May Lin, A Burmese Refugee, Wins Hu

[neo200@xxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: May Lin, A Burmese Refugee, Wins Human Rights Youth Award

Media Release
November 21, 1999

For Information, Contact:
Nonviolence Empowerment Organization, Inc. (NEO)
P.O. Box 6596
Ithaca, NY  14850


MAY LIN, A BURMESE REFUGEE, WINS HUMAN RIGHTS YOUTH AWARD

Ithaca, NY, November 21, 1999:  May Lin, a Burmese refugee, received the 
William De Winter Award last night at the 19th Annual Human Rights Award 
Ceremony in Ithaca, NY, a city located in upstate New York.  This 
prestigious award, sponsored by the Tompkins County Human Rights Commission, 
is a part of a series of awards given to people who have made significant 
impact on advancing the cause of human rights and combating oppression 
within Tompkins County.  The William De Winter Award, which Ms. Lin 
received, is awarded to a "young person involved in human rights work, 
informing the public on human rights and working toward positive solutions 
for these issues within Tompkins County."

Ms. Lin was nominated for the award by Cecelia Linscott of the Church World 
Service and the Nonviolence Empowerment Organization.  She received the 
award because of her work with the Nonviolence Empowerment Organization in 
educating the public about the situation of human rights and refugees all 
over the world.  Last year, she participated in Democracy in Burma Day on 
September 18, 1998, a demonstration to commemorate the 10th anniversary of 
the September 18th massacre and military coup in Burma.  During this 
demonstration, she spoke of her family's involvement in the democracy 
movement and their forced escape from the country. After she accepted the 
award last night, she urged the members of the audience to join in the 
struggle for human rights in Burma and all over world.

Ms. Lin has also assisted in the resettlement of several recent Burmese 
refugees in Tompkins County.  She has made phone calls to help refugees 
secure affordable housing and transported them to appointments.

Ms. Lin and her family came to the United States in 1997 and have resettled 
in Ithaca, NY.  Ms. Lin, a high school student at Ithaca High School, is 18 
years old and the third child of six children.


The Nonviolence Empowerment Organization, Inc. (NEO) is an organization 
dedicated to educating the public about the situation of human rights and 
refugees all over the world.

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