Thousands of Burmese to greet Suu Kyi in Ind. city
Sep 25, 3:40 AM (ET)By CHARLES WILSON
Sep 25, 3:40 AM (ET)By CHARLES WILSON
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) - Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's
devoted followers are expected to turn out by the thousands Tuesday to
hear her speak in an Indiana city where one of the largest Burmese
communities in the United States has taken root.
The visit by the 67-year-old Nobel laureate, who spent 15 years under
house arrest for opposing military rule, marks the zenith of a
two-decade influx of Burmese refugees that has brought a new global
awareness to Fort Wayne, Ind., a city of 256,000 about two hours north
of Indianapolis.
Organizers say security will be tight for Suu Kyi's speech at Memorial
Coliseum. At least 7,000 people from as far away as Toronto and
Minneapolis have indicated they'll attend the speech, which Suu Kyi will
deliver in Burmese with English translations on video. The visit is
part of a 17-day trip to the U.S. during which she has met with
President Barack Obama and received the Congressional Gold Medal.
Since 1991, when a single Burmese refugee resettled in this city 8,000
miles from southeast Asia, thousands more have followed, many of them
relocating under a federal program after years in refugee camps in
Thailand. They join other political refugees from a host of countries
who have made the city a second home since the fall of Saigon in 1975,
thanks largely to the help of Catholic Charities.
Read more : http://apnews.myway.com/article/20120925/DA1GLVPG0.html
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