U2 Frontman Bono to Present Human Rights Award to Aung San Suu Kyi

2012-05-31

Story by Charles Ken

U2 frontman taking part in an event honoring Aung San Suu Kyi

U2 frontman Bono is one of the famous faces who will take part in a unique event paying tribute to Burmese politician and human-rights activist Aung San Suu Kyi. Bono will be at the show to present Suu Kyi with Amnesty International’s very highest honor: the Ambassador of Conscience award. The event is slated to happen on June 18 in Dublin, Ireland. 

The U2 personally made the announcement back in July of 2009 that Suu Kyi had been picked to receive the major award.  The honor was delayed, however, since the Burmese opposition leader and 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner was under house arrest in her country for many of the past 21 years.

Bono isn’t the only big name taking part in the ceremony. The gala, named Electric Burma, will offer a diverse selection of international musicians, dancers and actors honoring Suu Kyi. Just a few of the other participants include Damien Rice, Bob Geldof, Angelique Kidjo and Oscar-winning actress Vanessa Redgrave. Funds raised by the event will be donated to Amnesty International and the Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Trust for Health and Education.

This isn’t Bono’s first experience with Suu Kyi. Bono and U2 are longstanding supporters of Suu Kyi and actually wrote their 2000 song, “Walk On,” as a tribute to her. On U2’s last tour, the 360 Tour, the band gave out cardboard masks of Suu Kyi for concertgoers to sport while the guys played “Walk On.”

 




Charles Ken
Latest posts by Charles Ken (see all)
Posted by Charles Ken | Music, Rock, Rock News

Related Posts