Suu Kyi’s former college campaigns for her freedom

New Delhi, Sep 10 (IANS) While Myanmar’s Junta continues to remain entrenched in power, imprisoned pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s college here has kept up a campaign to support her and lobby for her freedom.
Suu Kyi’s house arrest was last month further extended for another 18 months by the military government after a trial for allegedly violating her terms of house arrest.
On Wednesday, Lady Shri Ram College, where Suu Kyi graduated in political science in 1964, screened a film on the struggle for democracy in the Southeast Asian country.
According to a press release issued by the college, the film, “Burma VJ: Reporting from a close country” by a Danish film-maker, shows the story of video journalists who run undercover reporters in Myanmar.
Present at the screening were two Burmese monks, Ashin Pannasiri and Ashin Thavara.
Recounting his experience of struggle against the junta as part of the monks’ uprising in 2007, his capture and subsequent escape from jail, Pannasiri told the audience, “I never give up hope.”
Thin Thin Aung of the Women’s League of Burma felt that there should be more support from the Indian government.
The college said in the statement that it had also organised an essay competition for students as well as a cross-country run, which saw participation by over 600 runners.
The film screening was followed by a panel discussion, which was attended by India’s former ambassador to Pakistan G. Parthasarthy, Samata Party leader Jaya Jaitley, human rights activist Ravi Nair and media personality Sagarika Ghose.