icScotland - Suu Kyi flies in for Dublin visit
icScotland logo
icScotland News Sport icHomes
Search icScotland for:
Today's UK news
News  UK  Today's UK news  Article

Suu Kyi flies in for Dublin visit

08:05, Jun 18 2012

 

Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi will touch down in Dublin on Monday for a six-hour visit to the Irish capital.

Thousands of supporters are expected to honour the Nobel Peace Prize laureate as she delivers an open-air address and receives the freedom of Dublin city - 12 years after she was awarded the accolade.

Rock star Bono and fellow aid campaigner Bob Geldof will also stage a special tribute concert, where Ms Suu Kyi will be presented with Amnesty International's prestigious Ambassador of Conscience award.

Salil Shetty, Amnesty International's secretary general, said the human-rights organisation was tremendously honoured to welcome Ms Suu Kyi to Dublin.

"Celebrating her freedom is encouragement to millions of our supporters around the world to keep up the fight for freedom and human rights," she added.

Ms Suu Kyi was under house arrest or in prison for 15 of the last 24 years until her release last November.

The human-rights campaigner, who has accepted a Nobel Peace Prize she was awarded while under house arrest 21 years ago, is visiting Europe for the first time since 1988.

She will touch down at Dublin airport at 3pm, where she will be greeted by Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Gilmore.

Ms Suu Kyi will meet Irish president Michael D Higgins before she attends a special concert at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre in her honour - where she will also be conferred with an honorary degree from Trinity College Dublin. Bono, Geldof, musician Damien Rice, the Riverdance ensemble, actress Vanessa Redgrave and hip hop supremo Lupe Fiasco will be among the leading figures from the world of arts and music celebrating the event.

Outside, a scroll commemorating the visit will be presented to Ms Suu Kyi, who will sign the Roll of Honorary Freedom of the City and give a public address at 8pm. When the Freedom of the City was conferred on Ms Suu Kyi on March 18 2000, the award was accepted on her behalf by her son Kim.

 
Multi-faith invitation to service
Woolwich murder: Three more arrests
France probes Woolwich terror link
Road verge management questioned
Tories look at limiting GP visits
PM launches anti-terror task force
Murder sparks anti-Muslim backlash
Davey demands EU emissions target
Well-wishers flock to pay respects
Fatal tiger attack failings probed
EDL demo ends without major trouble
Thousands run final marathon mile
48 rescued as boat runs aground
Father's hope for missing daughter
Nine-year-old boy admits burglary
Wall of flowers for slain soldier
Three arrested ahead of EDL march
Child abduction cases up by 81%
Travellers escape UK's cold spring
Two questioned over mid-air 'fight'
Top Top

Back Back

E-mail this article to a friend

Printable VersionPrintable version

 
News  UK  Today's UK news  Article
 


Copyright and Trade Mark Notice
© owned by or licensed to Scottish & Universal Newspapers Limited 2013.
icScotland™ is a trade mark of Scottish & Universal Newspapers Limited.
Please read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Statement before using this site.

 
Advertisements
 
Jobs in Scotland: