Aung San Suu Kyi

Branson, Clooney, Beckham, Among Celebs Supporting Imprisoned Burmese Leader

By JJ on

Virgin Empire Tycoon Richard Branson; Actor George Clooney; Soccer Great David Beckham (Getty Images)

George Clooney, Richard Branson and David Beckham are just 3 of the many well-known names that have taken up the cause of imprisoned Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi (pronounced Ong Saun Soo Chee), who is currently on trial for breaking the terms of her house arrest.

People of Myanmar living in Japan protest demanding the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and the democratization of Myanmar on May 24, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has been detained for giving a lodge to an U.S. citizen. (Photo by Junko Kimura/Getty Images AsiaPac) more pics >>

Journalists, politicians, and celebrities of all stripes have been moved by the story of the pro-democracy leader imprisoned for 13 of the last 19 years by the military junta government that took over Burma and renamed it Myanmar in 1988. Kyi found herself on the government's naughty list after she won a 1990 election that should have made her prime minister. The military government refused to recognize the results of the election and instead placed Kyi under house arrest.

While leaders such as British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and President Barack Obama have called for the release of Kyi, the site 64forsuu.org was created to both celebrate her 64th birthday June 19th, and give voice to her many international supporters. On the site, people leave 64-word messages of support for the leader, such as this one from David Beckham:
Nineteen years ago, the Burmese people chose Aung San Suu Kyi as their next leader. For most of those 19 years she has been kept under house arrest by the military junta that runs the country. We must not stand by as she is silenced again. Now is the time for the international community to speak with one voice: Free Aung San Suu Kyi. These are the video messages left by Richard Branson and Gordon Brown on 64forsuu.org: