Bono to present Amnesty award to Burma opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi
Bono speaks at the Symposium on Global Agriculture and Food Security following an appearance by President Barack Obama, May 18, 2012, in Washington.
/ APSuu Kyi is scheduled to visit Dublin on June 18, a day after collecting her Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway. Suu Kyi was awarded the Nobel in 1991, and Amnesty's Ambassador of Conscience award in 2009. She was unable to claim either award in person until now because she was under house arrest for 15 of the last 24 years and, even when free, afraid to leave Burma in case the country's military junta barred her return.
Bono devoted a series of U2's 2009 concerts to Suu Kyi, demanding her release from house arrest, and unveiled the Amnesty award at one of the band's Dublin concerts that year. He said the June 18 event would be the first time he's ever met the 66-year-old pro-democracy activist.
"It's so rare to see grace trump military might, and when it happens we should make the most joyful noise we can,'' Bono said in a prepared statement. "Aung San Suu Kyi's grace and courage have tilted a wobbly world further in the direction of democracy. We all feel we know her, but it will be such a thrill to meet her in person.''
Suu Kyi was elected to Parliament last month.
She is expected to visit Dublin solely to be guest of honor at the concert, called Electric Burma. Others taking part are Bob Geldof, Vanessa Redgrave and singer-songwriter Damien Rice.
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