U2 Asks Fans To Support Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi

BANGKOK, Thailand — As U2 kicks off its world tour, the Irish rockers are turning a spotlight on Myanmar's jailed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

On its Web site and on stage, U2 is asking fans to wear a Suu Kyi mask in support of the 64-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner.

"Wear it to work or college. Wear it on the bus or the train. Wear it in the pub or at shops. And don't forget. Bring it to a U2 show," the band says on its official Web site.

A mask of Suu Kyi's smiling face can be downloaded and printed from and appears inside the program for the band's "360 degree" tour, which opened earlier this week in Barcelona. http://www.u2.com

Lead singer Bono paid tribute to Suu Kyi at a packed Barcelona stadium Tuesday night when he introduced U2's 2000 single, "Walk On," which was written for her.

"This next song is dedicated to Aung San Suu Kyi and the people of Burma," Bono told the crowd, according to a statement received Friday from the Burma Campaign UK. The London-based human rights group helped coordinate a recent campaign that groups celebrities, musicians and dignitaries calling for Suu Kyi's release.

"Let's send her a message of love and support. Let us stand with her ... Put on your masks," Bono said, according to the statement, which said thousands in the audience were wearing or holding the masks.

Suu Kyi's opposition party, the National League for Democracy, won Myanmar's last elections in 1990, but the ruling generals refused to hand over power. She has been under house arrest for nearly 14 of the past 20 years.

In May, Suu Kyi was arrested on charges of violating her house arrest in a case that has been globally criticized as a pretext to keep her behind bars. She faces five years in prison if convicted.

Comments

[davidmnc76]

From the July 2nd show:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGg7ZgJlnZo

[driven989]

I have never heard Bono say a thing about the plight of Palestinians. I wonder why?...

[address]

Because the Palestinians always had a home and its called Jordon?

[driven989]

That statement shows your racism, and the fact that you cannot even spell "Jordan" shows your intelligence level.

[SonnyBono]

Are you talking to me?

Oh, wait you mean the other Bono - well, excuseeee me.

[-0013]

Thank god rock stars are around to tell the rest of us what causes to champion and who to vote for.

Just play the music and keep the rest to yourself.

[-0013]

He likes working.

[Warthog]

Two places to start:
www.actionburma.com/
and
www.burmacampaign.org.uk

For broader scope, www.hrw.org is always a worthwhile cause to support

[SusiePundant]

What is hard to believe is that celebrities esp in Hollywood haven't stepped up to the plate to cover the expenses that the MJ Memorial will cost the city of LA. Where are all the well paid Movie stars, music, politicians ect... in California. What about your fans ? It will bring nothing but goodwill to step-up and donate to cover the cost involved. Contact the news outlets. They will publish your name and probably your up and coming projects. 1.4 million fans willing to spend hard earned money to attend the service. How symbolic to the Jackson family and fans, when our economy is in the tank. This is your industry, you all love MJ as much as the every day people, you are in a position to make a difference.

[NoSillyName]

Wearing a printed out mask is a silly idea. Isn't there some other way to support Kyi?

[MNmommy]

Wow, look at all the jealous h8ers. Poor you.

Thanks Bono, for always shining the light where it belongs.

Bless.

[solo50]

Yeah, when you don't agree with someone just call them haters. That's intelligent.

[Agentlady007]

It's sad really it is, but there are a lot of men in prison because theior income went below poverty level during the Wallstreet crash and their wives took them to the cleaners, and now they are in prison, because the courts don't care if income changes and men can't pay their alimony, so they go to jail. That's America, and it's wrong. It's wrong this woman is having these problems, yes, but it is global disfunctional world we are in, and we all need to make amendments to our past laws to fit our current life realities. Write your Governors and your Senators.

[Shawn de Montaigne]

The hypocrisy and stupidity of the U2 haters posting on this board is startling. One expects intelligence to have a low end, but these folks actually redefine it.

Bono and the group should give everything away in order to save the world? What a pathetic laugh you are. They're pretentiou­s--because they're successful? Or because they use their fame to help others? Or because they make lots of money? Or because they aren't burn-outs and wastoids and haven't broken up like your favorite flash-in-the-pan nihilistic garage band? Get real.

By the way--their latest has received rave reviews from around the world, including 5 stars from Rolling Stone, which, if you read that publication at all (do you read, period?), you'd know doesn't happen often.

Guess what, U2 haters: you lose. You expose yourselves by your comments. They reveal you as the asses you are. Go sew your venom somewhere else. Got it? Good.

[BikeFreak]

Ireland has some of the lowest poverty rates in Europe for decades.

Ireland also, for decades, had a law stating that artists did not have to pay income taxes. That changed and when U2 learned that after 20 + years of earning money without paying taxes, they moved their publishing biz from Ireland.

Maybe some poor fellow Irish would have benefitted from their tax dollars.

What about "the Edge"? He wants to tear up a Malibu mountain side to build a mansion. Can't the man find a home already built instead of causing harm to the environment?

And I don't give a f%^k what any magazine says about any music. I find there music pompous and over-rated. Maybe you don't like books or music unless a critic tells you to. I think for myself.

[Khirad]

They are a bit hypocritical and pretentious, but yes, at least they're aware of these things and bring attention to them.

I don't know why you had to dis nihilistic garage bands. There have been some incredibly political ones.

I'm definitely not a U2 hater, but I ain't huge fan either. Some of their songs are okay, but as a musician, I do find it incredibly overrated. In any case, the Virgin Prunes are far more my cup of tea.

In short, I find myself on neither side of any feud here. Chill out all. Try to focus on Aung San Suu Kyi instead.

[Riley74]

The South Park episode said it all about this millionaire prick. You want people to stop starving? Sell your cars, your treasure trove of possesions, and move into a smaller, more affordable house in a middle class neighbourhood and donate your millions. Then I won't laugh when I hear you speak. The only ethical response to a statement like this is total cynicism and contempt.

[BikeFreak]

Right On!

[Denemator]

Bono is a pompous a**

[deluk]

This morning Iran, now Burma, how would the world cope without Bono feeling the pain and taking the strain??

[marignymitch]

Americans to U2: What's a Myanmar?

[snruB]

Goddamn hippies

[Denemator]

And their music sucks too.

[address]

Obama is very friendly to the Chinese that tyrannizes Chinese people and the Tibetens!

Where is U2's protest against Obama and Nancy Pelosi's sucking up to China?

[Khirad]

Explain.

[address]

You need to read the news dude. Nancy Pelosi the alleged spokesperson and f!ghter for the Tibeten Cause was in China last month all smiles and what not with the Chinese premier. Obama sent his delegation too.

So what happened to the tibeten cause? what happened to the Chinese democracy cause?

What a bunch of hypocrites?

[address]

Yes, U2 did the same for the Tibetens... and just last month, Nancy Pelosi was in China sucking Chinese Sausage!

Go Iefties!

[PlaceboStudman]

U2 just needs to play one concert and dedicate Sunday Bloody Sunday to any and all revolutionaries around the world from Belfast to Myanmar, to Tehran to Kosovo. We should all stop and take a moment to listen to Sunday Bloody Sunday today and remember all those fighting for their own versions of the American Dream of lIfe, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. As a wise man (I forget who) once said "it is not the end of the journey that matters, but the journey that matters in the end"