Hollywood: UN Must Act to help Aung San Suu Kyi and Burma

September 6, 2007

Dear UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon,

We are writing to urge you to personally intervene to secure the release of the world’s only imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Aung San Suu Kyi. As you know, she has been held under house arrest in the Southeast Asian country of Burma for 12 of the past 17 years. On June 19th, she spent her 62nd birthday under house arrest.

Aung San Suu Kyi is not just a charismatic leader, she is the elected leader of the Burmese people. In Burma’s last election, she won 82% of the seats in parliament, yet the military regime cruelly locked her up along with many members of her party. Meanwhile, according to the United Nations expert on human rights in Burma, the ruling military regime has burned down or otherwise destroyed over 3,000 villages in eastern Burma, forcing over 1 million and a half people to flee their homes.

This courageous, brave woman whom many call “Burma’s Nelson Mandela” should be released and the military regime should end its attacks on civilians. We urge you to take action to secure her immediate release.

Sincerely,
(In Alphabetical Order)

Jennifer Aniston
Anne Archer
Kabir Bedi
Julie Benz
Jane Birkin
Jim Carrey
Jorja Fox
Kris Hahn
Jack Healey
Dustin Hoffman
Anjelica Huston
Eddie Izzard
Mimi Kennedy
Walter Koenig
Christine Lahti
Padma Lakshmi
Laura Linney
Jimmy Miller
Damien Rice
Christina Ricci
Susan Sarandon
Liev Schreiber
Jason Schwartzman
Eric Szmanda
Bonnie Timmerman
Robin Williams
Owen Wilson
Elijah Wood
Robin Wright

Jim Carrey’s Call to Action for Aung San Suu Kyi and Burma

Jody Williams, Fellow Nobel Laureate

What Other People Are Saying:

“In physical stature she is petite and elegant, but in moral stature she is a giant.”
–Archbishop Desmond Tutu, 1984 Nobel Peace Prize Recipient

“Any person in any country who believes in the power of good, anyone
who believes in justice, will stand by Aung San Suu Kyi. Because Aung San Suu Kyi is one of the non-violent, compassionate leaders of our time.”
–Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, 1996, José Ramos-Horta

“She’s my hero.”
–Bono, lead singer of U2

“Her dedication, resolve, courage and patience are the mark of a leader. We stand tall for her, as she will again stand tall for herself.”
-–Michael Stipe, lead singer of R.E.M.

“It is time for all respectable members of the international community to put weight behind their words and take active measures to secure the freedom of Aung San Suu Kyi and the Burmese people.”
–US Senator John McCain (R-AZ)

“Please know that while you remain under house arrest, those of us who cherish freedom and democracy around the world stand by your side.”
–US Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)

“By dedicating her life to the fight for human rights and democracy in Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi is not only speaking out for justice in her own country, but also for all of those who want to be free to choose their own destiny.”
–Vaclav Havel, former President, Czech Republic

“As a tireless champion of human rights and democracy in Burma, Suu Kyi inspires countless people around the world who strive for peace, justice and freedom. In the face of great hardship she has never wavered in her commitment to peaceful change.”
–US President George W. Bush

“And let me say this morning that when the Burmese government tries to blame the victims for the crime, and say that Aung San Suu Kyi and her party are responsible for their own repression, I can only reply that much the same was once said about Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and Vaclav Havel. The world is not fooled. And we must not be silent.”
-–Madeleine Albright