Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Image Lights up Central Jakarta

The British embassy in Indonesia is displaying a large image of Burma’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in downtown Jakarta to coincide with the visit to Burma by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
The image is being projected on a large banner located at the perimeter of the Bundaran HI traffic circle in the Indonesian capital. The three-day action began on Thursday and ends at sunset on Saturday.

An Indonesian policeman walks past a giant image of imprisoned Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi near the British embassy in the Indonesian capital Jakarta.(Photo: AFP)

The British embassy said in a statement that the image of Suu Kyi was being shown to mark two important events—Ban’s visit to Burma, which began on Friday, and Suu Kyi’s trial.

The embassy said in a statement: “The visit will offer an opportunity for the Burmese regime to respond to the many calls for the release of all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi; and to allow the start of a genuinely inclusive political dialogue involving the opposition and minority groups.”

The British government also thought it was “essential that progress is made during the Secretary-General’s visit in laying the groundwork for free and fair elections in Burma in 2010,” the statement said.

In other official British comments on Ban’s visit, Foreign Office Minister Ivan Lewis said: "This is a key moment for Burma and its people and I wish the Secretary-General every success."

Britain’s Chargé d'Affaires in Indonesia, Matthew Rous, said: "Burma's neighbors have a duty to call loudly for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi. I am greatly encouraged by the fact that Indonesia's voice is being heard so loudly and clearly. I hope the British Embassy's initiative will help us all to keep Aung San Suu Kyi's image in front of our eyes during this hugely important visit."

In another high profile demonstration of solidarity with Suu Kyi, the hugely popular Irish rock group U2 urged its fans to don masks of Suu Kyi at concerts it is giving on a current European tour. The band’s concert program features a song, “Walk on,” dedicated to Suu Kyi.

Thousands of fans wore the masks at the first concert of the U2 European tour, in Barcelona, Spain, on Tuesday.