Maradona speaks up for Aung San Suu Kyi

Posted on May 24, 2008
Filed Under Burma news |

The US Campaign for Burma has released a video featuring Diego Maradona. In it, the former Argentinean soccer captain calls for the freedom of Aung San Suu Kyi.

The video is the latest in a series of films that are part of a 30 day campaign to get one million people to join the US Campaign for Burma. The other films include a selection of B and in some case C list celebrities: Felicity Huffman, Jennifer Aniston, Woody Harrelson, Julie Benz (apparently she is an actress). And CSI’s Eric Szmanda and Jorja Fox.

According to an Email announcement I received yesterday, Maradona was chosen because he is, “one of the best-known athletes in the world.” It went on to add, “He is admired throughout Burma.” Really?

However, since he is not so well known in the US (which given the other celebrities involved, is clearly the target audience), the Email also adds that Maradona is the “Michael Jordan of soccer”.

Of course, since his retirement Jordan has never overdosed on cocaine nor has he had a series of run ins with law. Hardly the ideal person to speak out against wrongful imprisonment. What’s next? Convicted rapist Mike Tyson speaks out against the junta’s treatment of women?

Having Maradona record his film in Spanish will have the benefit of increasing the potential audience for this campaign. But, so would having people with genuine gravitas join the campaign. Sylvester Stallone and Rosanna Arquette are among the better known names in the campaign.

But, wouldn’t it have been more powerful with someone like Madeline Albright, or Hilary and Obama – lets face it, they’ll do anything for some free publicity right now. Burma has been a hot topic for the last year, and I’d bet, you might even be able to get Oprah to find some time in her schedule to record a short film.

Imagine the attention that would get!

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