FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 10, 2011

CONTACT: Yasmin Vanya (408)-250-6227 yasnohana@sbcglobal.net

PALO ALTO, CA USA The Burmese American Womens Alliance (BAWA) will hold an event in honor of Nobel Peace Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyis birthday. The event will be held at the First Congregational Church of

Palo Alto (FCCPA), 1985 Luis Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303 on Saturday, June 18, 2011 from 6:00 pm to 10:00
pm. Daw Aung San Suu Kyis birthday, which is also known as Women of Burma Day, is celebrated by the Burmese community annually all over the world. This year the event has greater significance as Daw Suu will be sending

a video message to the audience. She is the Burma's democracy icon and the general secretary of National

League for Democracy that won a land slide victory in Burma's 1990 election, which the Junta refused to honor. Since her release from 15 years of house arrest in November 2011, Daw Suu has been reaching out to
the generals saying that she wants direct talks with the military's leaders in the interests of "national reconciliation". The Junta has not shown any interest and continues its human rights violations and oppression. Currently there are 2061 political prisoners.
The organizers expect a large turnout for this years event. The Peace and Justice Committee of FCCPA is cosponsoring the event to promote awareness of human rights issues in Burma as well as to build friendship and understanding to support just causes. There will be presentations, essays and poetry readings by Burmese. There will also be cultural performances. Burmese and other ethnic food will be served and there will be entertainment by Burmas legendary singer Jimmy Lashio (Lashio Thein Aung). The event is free but donations will be accepted and all of it will be donated to HIV/AIDS shelters run by Daw Aung San Suu Kyis NLD Social Welfare project. The NLD's main social project provides for three shelters in Rangoon that house HIV/AIDS patients, and provides food, bedding, antiretroviral treatment (ARVs) and other drugs. There was also an Award Ceremony for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Human Rights award and Daw Yee Yee Lay Community Service award. This year nominees are, late Naw Louisa Benson Craig for Community Service award and Daw Win Mya Mya (Political prisoner) and Dr. Daw May Win Myint (NLD), for Human Rights award. We call on people who love peace and justice to support Burmas cause, and come out and learn about this brave lady, Aung San Suu Kyi and celebrate with us. She is free but Burma is not, we pray for her and also for the unconditional and immediate release all political prisoners, said Daw Mabel Tun, BAWA President . We want people to come out and learn about each other. We want to build peace and friendships in honor of her as she symbolizes peace, non-violent struggle and love for all people. BAWA is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to support the struggle for democracy and human rights in Burma. BAWA also promotes the support of Burmese social and cultural traditions within Burmese American

communities. BAWA is involved in fund raising efforts to send funds and other relief assistance to Burmese communities all over the world. http://www.bawalliance.org/