The Washington Oxi Day Foundation announced today that the first recipient of the annual Oxi Day Battle of Crete Award, honoring a woman for courageous action for freedom and democracy, in memory of the role women played against the Axis Forces in the Battle of Crete in World War II. The recipient will be Burmese pro-democracy leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
Suu Kyi, despite being under house arrest for 15 of the past 21 years, has remained a symbol of hope, defiance and moral strength for the 55 million people of Burma and is recognized as one of the world’s most renowned freedom fighters. She has received numerous honors for her work including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 and the Congressional Gold Medal — the highest civilian award in the United States — by a unanimous vote, in 2008. Suu Kyi is the General Secretary for the National League for Democracy in Burma and a pivotal figure in the Burmese democracy movement.
Just two weeks ago, on September 21, Suu Kyi joined President Barack Obama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu in addressing (via satellite) President Bill Clinton on the second day of his annual Clinton Global Initiative.
Because of political constraints, Suu Kyi is not allowed to leave her country and therefore will not be able to accept the award in person, but plans to acknowledge the honor via video message.
The Oxi Day Battle of Crete Award is inspired by the women of Crete, Greece, who showed tremendous courage in joining the fight against the invading Axis forces during WWII. In reprisal for their bravery: in battle; in hiding and caring for wounded fighters; in smuggling arms and messages when they knew that discovery meant certain death; nearly 1,000 Cretan women were killed and an additional 500 women were deported to Germany for taking part in the defense of their island.
This award will be presented at the Washington Oxi Day Celebration black tie dinner on Thursday, October 27 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington, DC before hundreds of America’s top policy makers and opinion leaders. Participants will include policymakers from the White House, State Department, Defense Department, US Congress, top US think tanks and human rights groups, leaders and Ambassadors from numerous countries involved in WWII, as well as Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America Demetrios along with Greek-American leaders from across the country and WWII veterans. The Master of Ceremonies will be one of America’s most far-reaching television journalists and authorChris Matthews.
That same evening, the Oxi Day Award, which honors a man who took courageous action to promote or protect freedom and democracy, will be presented to Tunisian activist Jamel Bettaieb, who will receive it on behalf of the people of the town of Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia, the birthplace of the historic Arab Spring.
More information about Aung Sang Suu Kyi and the Burmese democracy movement can be found on the website of the U.S. Campaign for Burma.