Burma Faces Calls for Release of Pro-Democracy Leader
By Daniel Hollingsworth
May 23, 2007 Printer Friendly

Click here for May 29, 2007 update for this story

The United Nations, United States, European Union, and several members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are urging the Burma (Myanmar) government to end the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi, set to expire on Sunday, May 27.  Suu Kyi, the face of the pro-democracy movement in Burma and a Nobel Peace laureate, has been detained by the ruling junta since 2003 and for 11 out of the last 17 years.  Her party won elections held in 1990 which were subsequently overturned by the junta in favor of continued military rule.  Burma’s delegate to ASEAN has given no commitment on whether the detention will be renewed, but it is widely expected that the detention will be continued.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour also called for the release of over 1,000 other political prisoners currently being held in Burma:

“The release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners would demonstrate a willingness to abide by universally accepted human rights standards. It would also, I believe, facilitate national dialogue and free the Government and the people to focus on the need to unite the country and to allow the emergence of democratic structures to decide on the way forward.”

These calls come as ASEAN prepares for its annual conference in July in the Philippines.  Many ASEAN members have become increasingly vocal in their disappointment over Burma’s slow pace of democratization.  Yet the Philippine foreign affairs undersecretary for policy, Erlinda Basilio, has indicated that Suu Kyi’s release and the wider human rights concerns in Burma will not be discussed during the conference, adhering to ASEAN’s policy of non-interference in members states’ internal affairs.

Full statement of the U.S. Department of State, released May 23, 2007:

“U.S. Calls for Release of Aung San Suu Kyi and Other Political Prisoners                                                                     
                                                                        
“As the current term of her detention comes to an end, the United States calls on the Burmese military regime to end the house arrest of Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi immediately. The regime has detained Aung San Suu Kyi continuously since the May 30, 2003 attack on her and other members of the National League for Democracy, extending her captivity by a year most recently on May 27, 2006.
                                                                       
“In recent weeks, the Burmese regime has renewed its assault on human rights in Burma by arresting activists for peacefully gathering to pray for Aung San Suu Kyi's release, detaining demonstrators for peacefully protesting the deteriorating economic conditions in Burma, and orchestrating attacks on human rights advocates. These aggressive actions against those peacefully seeking democratic change belie the regime's professed commitment to national dialogue.
                                                                        
“The United States calls on the regime to cease all violations of human rights, release all political prisoners, and initiate a genuine political dialogue with all elements of Burmese society toward national reconciliation and transition to democratic rule.”

References:

International Herald Tribune: Release of Myanmar democracy leader sought

International Herald Tribune: U.N. rights chief says Suu Kyi release needed for democracy in Myanmar

Reuters: Philippines says Myanmar’s Suu Kyi not on ASEAN agenda

Text of Statement by Louise Arbour, United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights

U.S. Department of State: U.S. Calls for Release of Aung San Suu Kyi and Other Political Prisoners