When Aung San Suu Kyi appears in Dublin on June 18, U2 singer Bono, a longtime, staunch supporter of Suu Kyi, will present her with Amnesty International's highest honor.
She is scheduled to arrive in Dublin one day after accepting her Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway, originally awarded in 1991 when she was under house arrest.She was awarded Amnesty's Ambassador of Conscience award in 2009, during a period of time when she was again under house arrest.
In 2009, Bono devoted a series of U2 concerts to Suu Kyi, demanding her release from house arrest, and he unveiled the Amnesty award at one of the band's Dublin concerts that year.
“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 in April, along with 43 members of her National League for Democracy party.
She will be guest of honor at a concert called “Electric Burma.” Others taking part are Bob Geldof, Vanessa Redgrave and singer-songwriter Damien Rice, said organizers.
In 2001, Bono wrote a popular song about Suu Kyi called “Walk On,” which he performed in concerts.
According to the Songfacts website, the song was written for Suu Kyi and appeared on the album “All That You Can't Leave Behind,” which was banned in Burma because of the song. The album title comes from a line in the song: “The only baggage you can bring is all that you can’t leave behind. And love is not the easy thing."
Some of the lyrics:
"The only baggage you can bring...
And love is not the easy thing...
The only baggage you can bring
Is all that you can't leave behind
And if the darkness is to keep us apart
And if the daylight feels like it's a long way off
And if your glass heart should crack
And for a second you turn back
Oh no, be strong
Walk on, walk on....
What you got, they can't steal it
No they can't even feel it
Walk on, walk on...
Walk on, walk on
What you got they can't deny it
Can't sell it or buy it
After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the U.S., the actor George Clooney helped organize the “Tribute To Heroes” telethon to benefit the victims, and U2 helped out with a live performance of the song from London.
