On Friday, Filipino activists demonstrated in front of the Burmese Embassy in Manila to celebrate the 65th birthday of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, which falls on June 19.

They called for the release of Suu Kyi, who has spent 15 of the last 21 years in detention because of her fight for democracy in the army-ruled country.

[Yuen Abana, Activist, Free Burma Coalition]:
"We are hoping that she could be released by the military regime of Burma. She is very needed by her people. And this is the path for the real democracy and reconciliation with the people, if the regime is sincere with her road to democracy."

The demonstrators appealed to the Association of Southeast Nations, or ASEAN, to call on Burma for its human rights violations and pressure them to release all political prisoners.

They say Burma holds 2,000 political prisoners.

[Egoy Bans Activist, Free Burma Coalition]:
"The governments and states must come out stronger on Burma, so that it will realize the human rights and democratic tenets as written in the ASEAN charter."

Elections are planned in Burma for the end of the year, but the international community has criticized the junta for installing laws that have effectively barred Suu Kyi from participating.

Suu Kyi appealed last month to the Supreme Court to overturn a guilty verdict for her breach of a security law, which extended her detention term.

Even if the court agrees to her appeal, it is unlikely Suu Kyi will be freed because of her popularity and mesmerizing influence on the Burmese people.