As heads of state from all around world gather at the UN General Assembly in New York today, two of the world’s most famous activists held a talk a few blocks away in mid-town Manhattan to discuss their own struggles against authoritarian regimes.
Desmond Tutu, South Africa’s charismatic anti-Apartheid activists and Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese opposition politician who spent more than 15 years under house arrest, were at the Clinton Global Initiative today to share experiences but also pay homage to unnamed political dissidents and human right defenders whose stories often go untold.
Aung San Suu Kyi says international exposure and her fame have protected her from violent reprisals, but she remains concerned over the fate her supporter supporters who continue their fight for “dignity and democracy,”
“It takes tremendous courage from unknown soldiers to defend our cause,” she told the New York audience via teleconference from Myanmar.
“When you stand out in a crowd, it is only because you are carried on the shoulders of others” added Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who of late has been focusing his advocacy work on combatting child marriages.
The 79 year old Archbishop says he has been reaching out to traditional and religious leaders in affected communities to create dialogue and understanding on the issue.
Aung San Suu Kyi and Bishop Tutu also discussed their role as spokespersons for their causes, agreeing that one of the most important contributions they can make is to cultivate the international community awareness and continue to support movements for democracy in a climate of freedom from fear.