Burma's imprisoned pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma's pro-democracy leader and Nobel Peace Laureate, continues to be a symbol for the Burmese people in their struggle to be free. Having spent 13 of the last 19 years under house arrest she has now begun a further eighteen months of incarceration which will effectively remove her from the elections due to take place in 2010.

Britain has long worked for the release of all political prisoners in Burma and supported the fight for human rights. The British High Commission in Australia has been closely involved in the campaign to free Aung San Suu Kyi and on October 27, Therese Rein, wife of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd; Lucy Turnbull, wife of opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull and Janelle Saffin MP led a gathering of prominent Australian women and supporters of the Burma Campaign including a representative from the British Consulate in a show of support for Aung San Suu Kyi on the steps of the Sydney Opera House.

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