Myanmar’s Suu Kyi celebrates birthday in freedom

YANGON, Myanmar – For the first time in nearly a decade, Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi is celebrating her birthday in freedom.

The Nobel Peace laureate turned 66 on Sunday, and received a gift at Yangon’s international airport: the arrival of her youngest son, Kim Aris, who lives in Britain and kissed his mother on arrival.

Suu Kyi has celebrated 15 birthdays in detention or house arrest over the past 22 years, and this is the first time in nine years she has been able to mark it freely with friends, family and supporters.

Ruled by the military since 1962, Myanmar held its first elections in 20 years in November. Suu Kyi was released just days after the poll, which her party boycotted.