Pressure on Burma

The recent demonstrations have again served to remind the world of the suffering of the Burmese people and the repressive nature of the Burmese regime.

The National League for Democracy (NLD), which won elections in 1990 with 82 per cent of the popular vote, has never been allowed to take its place as the legitimate government.

Aung San Suu Kyi, its leader, was the daughter of Burma's hero of independence, Aung San, but after his assassination in 1947, she was brought up in the United Kingdom, went on to study at St Hugh's College, Oxford, from 1964-67, and in 1972, married Oxford academic Dr Michael Aris, making her home here.

Her sons were educated here and one still lives in the city.

Many people in Oxford still have personal memories of her.

Following the wave of protests in 1988, Suu returned to Burma where she was elected leader of the NLD.

She was held under house arrest from 1989-1995, and again from 2000-2002.

In 1999, her husband died of cancer, having been denied permission to enter Burma to see her, while she refused to leave Burma, recognising that the military junta would not permit her to return.

She was again arrested in May 2003, after the Depayin massacre, during which up to 100 NLD supporters were beaten to death by the regime's militia, and remains under house arrest in Rangoon, a source of inspiration to the Burmese people and an example of quiet courage and determination to people everywhere.

Over the years since, many of the NLD's leading activists and supporters have been killed or jailed.

Similarly, hundreds of the monks, who led the recent street protests, have disappeared into government detention centres and are likely to have been physically and mentally abused.

We are asking people to sign letters to bring international pressure on the Burmese regime.

More information is available by sending an email to sophiablackwell@gmail.com STUART HATHAWAY Acting chairman Headington group Amnesty International