Asia Protests Demand Immediate Release of Aung San Suu Kyi

Human rights activists and Burmese dissidents are protesting across Asia and demanding the immediate release of pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi. The Nobel peace laureate is facing charges of breaking the terms of her house arrest.
Over 100 former political prisoners and exiled dissidents from Burma demonstrated outside the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Wednesday the 27th.

They are demanding that the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and United Nations intervene in Burma for the release of pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.

[Thi Ha, Former Political Prisoner]:
"We need ASEAN and the United Nations as well as the international community need to put more pressure on Burma's government to release Suu Kyi and to bring democracy to Burma as soon as possible."

The protesters also released birds as a symbol of hope for the freedom for all political prisoners inside Burma.

Similar protests took place in the Thai capital, Bangkok, where about 40 Burmese activists marched to the embassy demanding Suu Kyis release.

The exiled dissidents and migrant workers from Burma chanted slogans demanding the end of the junta's rule and Development Council and urged the military rulers to free her.

Dissidents say the new charges against their leader was a plot by the military junta.

[Myo Naing, Burmese Activist]:
"They know that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is an icon and she will be trouble for them in 2010 election. That's why they used American swimmer (John) Yettaw as an excuse to extend her arrest.

Outside Southeast Asia, more than 200 protesters rallied on the streets of Tokyo on Wednesday to denounce Burma's charges against Suu Kyi.

[Thant Zin Oo, National League for Democracy, Japanese Branch]:
"We urge the government of Burma, to immediately release our leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The Japanese government gives refugees from Burma political refugee status rarely issued to other nationalities in Japan in similar conditions.
In Cambodia, about 100 human rights activists and some Burmese resident activists added their voices to others in Asia.

U.S. President Barack Obama is the latest world leader to demand her release "immediately and unconditionally.
But Burma's ruling generals are showing no signs of retreat.