Hundreds of thousands people yesterday gathered in the cities across the country, to show their support for Myanmar State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi who led Myanmar team to defend the case filed by Gambia at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

In Yangon, the public demonstration was held in front of Yangon City Hall. At the ceremony, the messages sent by five major religions were read out.

Myawady Sayadaw Ashin Arirawan Tha read out the message sent by the Buddhist religion. The message said: “It is natural that peace and stability is a top priority for the world. There is an urgent need for the people to try to become civilized, dignified citizens through human ethics and standards such as compassion, sympathy, forgiveness and abiding by the laws that bar the occurrence of unfair cases. I want the people of the world, to know the fact that as part of its effort to take responsibility of the world, Myanmar is working with a full sense of responsibility. Together with our religious leaders, all Buddhists and all citizens fully support our leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi who has a full sense of accountability and responsibility.”

The message also includes the facts such as uncovering justice and truth to defend the interest of Myanmar, supporting Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s sense of responsibility and accountability and courage through the public unity and handing civilized, dignified State and Myanmar society abiding by and exercising human ethics and standards over to the next generations.

Daw Phyu Phyu Tin, Lower House MP from Mingala Taungnyunt Township said: “The public participate in the nationwide demonstration. I take pride in our leader’s efforts to solve this problem. As a citizen, I welcome the efforts to rightfully solve the case in accordance with the law. I pray that she can come back by promoting the dignity of our country and our people smoothly.”  

Likewise, more than 300,000 people participated in a similar event on the same day in Mandalay, to show their stance with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

U Hla Myint, Patron of the Demonstration Organizing Committee in Zalun Township said: “Young activists, town-elders and civil society organizations jointly organized this demonstration to show that all people are synonymous with Myanmar delegation which will defend the case filed by Gambia which is a member of the OIC.”

Yesterday, many people gathered in Yangon, Mandalay, Taunggyi, Zalun, Loikaw, Dawei, Monywa, Natmauk, Kalay, Phaungpyin, Pakokku and Myeik and Kawthoung.

The court hearings at the ICJ started at the Hague in Netherlands yesterday.