YANGON, Myanmar — The youth wing of the National League for Democracy (NLD) has issued a poignant appeal to the public, calling for a collective moment of prayer for the release of detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners on the first day of the Myanmar New Year.
The campaign, organized by the NLD Central Youth Working Group, encourages citizens to mark April 17—the traditional New Year’s Day—by praying for the health and safety of the 78-year-old Nobel laureate and ousted President Win Myint.
The youth group has requested participants to hold or wear “Thabyay” (Eugenia) flowers—a traditional Myanmar symbol of victory and luck—or roses, and to record a one-minute prayer video. “We want the world to see that the people have not forgotten their leaders,” a spokesperson for the group stated. “Depending on their security situation, we invite them to share these prayers on social media to keep the hope of freedom alive.”
The suggested prayers focus on the wellbeing and immediate release of all those unjustly detained since the February 2021 coup, as well as the safety of the entire Myanmar population currently caught in a spiraling civil war.
The call for prayers comes amidst heightening concerns regarding Aung San Suu Kyi’s health. Held in isolation for over five years, the veteran leader is reported to be suffering from dental issues and low blood pressure.
“Everyone hopes for the release of Mother Suu and all political prisoners,” a defecting military officer currently based in Mae Sot told MPA. “Given her age, her immediate release is a humanitarian necessity.”
Despite the spiritual optimism of the youth wing, senior political figures remain skeptical about the military junta’s willingness to compromise. “I do not believe they will release Aung San Suu Kyi anytime soon,” a 2020 elected NLD lawmaker told MPA. “The regime views her as their biggest threat, not a partner for peace.”
However, the NLD Central Working Committee maintains that there is no viable political exit for Myanmar’s crisis that does not include direct negotiations with Aung San Suu Kyi. By excluding her, the party argues, the military-led “sham” administration is ensuring that the conflict will only deepen.
As the country prepares for the Thingyan water festival and the subsequent New Year, the streets of Myanmar remain tense. While the military plans to host state-sponsored festivities to project an image of normalcy, this prayer campaign represents a quiet, spiritual counter-narrative, reminding the world that for many in Myanmar, the new year begins with the same old longing for democracy and the return of their elected leaders.
