BBC: Myanmar generals sign order to release Aung San Suu Kyi

[News_Editor]

BBC: Myanmar generals sign order to release Aung San Suu Kyi

2010-11-12 16:15:37 GMT+7 (ICT)

BANGKOK (BNO NEWS) -- Military authorities in Myanmar (Burma) have signed an order authorizing the release of pro-democracy leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, according to news reports.

The BBC reported, citing a number of sources inside Myanmar, that documents authorizing the release of Suu Kyi have been signed. She could be released as early as Saturday, according to her lawyer.

"There is no law to hold her for another day. Her detention period expires on Saturday and she will be released," said Nyan Win, who represents Suu Kyi. "They should release her for the country."

However, it was not immediately clear if it would be an unconditional release or a limited release, which would bar her from political activity. Nyan Win earlier said that Suu Kyi would not accept a limited release.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2010-11-12

[george]

Myanmar's Suu Kyi to face new landscape - Focus

YANGON, November 12, 2010 (AFP) - From web cafes to a skyline dotted with high-rise buildings, much has changed since Aung San Suu Kyi began her most recent stretch of detention -- including Myanmar's political landscape.

After seven straight years of confinement, deprived of access to a telephone line or the Internet, one of the first things the 65-year-old has said she plans to do is join Twitter to reach out to younger generations.

Myanmar's most famous dissident will also have a new political reality to deal with in the army-run country, which held its first election in 20 years on Sunday with Suu Kyi sidelined and silenced.

Her isolated existence has left her "out of touch", said Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a research fellow at the Institute of South East Asia Studies in Singapore.

"She cannot access the Internet and people who give her information all have their own agendas. Sometimes they read the situation completely wrongly," he said.

The big question is whether Suu Kyi can galvanise Myanmar's opposition, deeply divided by her support for a boycott of Sunday's vote, in which the military's political proxies have claimed a landslide win.

A group of former members of her National League for Democracy (NLD) which broke away to run in Sunday's poll was accused by Suu Kyi's closest associates of betraying the party.

Suu Kyi's NLD won a landslide victory in the previous poll in 1990 but the junta never allowed her to take power and she has been detained from most of the past two decades.

"If she wants to fight with the new government she has to make sure she strengthens opposition parties first... recruits new and young politicians to make sure there's someone who can carry out her message," said Pavin.

The fate of the country's many ethnic groups is another major issue and observers say Suu Kyi, an ethnic Burman, is perceived by some as part of the elite that have sidelined minority issues for decades.

For many though, the daughter of Myanmar's liberation hero General Aung San remains a beacon of hope for a better future, drawing large crowds when she was last freed in 2002.

While releasing her could deflect criticism of Sunday's poll, it may be risky for the junta because few expect her to give up her long struggle to bring democracy to what is one of the world's oldest dictatorships.

"She is not going to be a humanitarian queen. She is going to do politics. She is as political as ever," said Maung Zarni, a Myanmar research fellow at the London School of Economics.

In the past the regime has tried to put conditions on her freedom, such as by barring her from leaving Yangon.

Some fear they will do the same again, setting the scene for possible confrontation with the authorities that could land Suu Kyi back in detention.

Thailand-based expert Aung Naing Oo said freeing her would show that the generals "no longer fear her political potency" but the regime is still likely to insist on severe restrictions.

"She is not a quiet type... there will be an unspoken demand from the people for her to do something, perhaps about the election results," he said.

Many in Myanmar still look to Suu Kyi to bring them the democracy after almost five decades of autocratic rule.

"I think even the Gods are afraid of the junta. Someone will have to stop this military government and I think only Suu Kyi can," said a 60-year-old former gem miner in Yangon.

A 45-year-old businessman said Suu Kyi was the one person who could stand up to the junta.

"The lady is courageous. Despite all attempts to silence her, she continues to voice the hopes and aspirations of the people who want democracy," he said.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2010-11-12

[swifty5x5]

Baby steps.

[george]

Irrawaddy.org reporting that 4 trucks of riot police now stationed outside house of Kyi, as well as 100+ of supporters. /via @markmackinnon

Suu Kyi would be released by Sat 4 p.m Burma time, a Burmese source said. /The Nation

[taurus8]

The best news that come from that country,Burma, in Years.

Congratulations Aung San Suu Kyi. Good Luck

[ChiangMaiFun]

If only there was someone of even 10% of her character and leadership in Thailand! what a gutsy lady and all power to her

[IvanDobsky]

I hope this story is true but I'll only believe it when I see it.

She was out for a year before only to be banged up again after her entourage and supporters were attacked in Depayin by govt. thugs. If she attempts to restart her political movement they'll lock her up for good.

[Chiang2000]

Best news I've heard in a long, long time. Good luck to her - I fear she is the only real hope that democracy has in that country and it is well past time that the populace was given a better deal!<br>

[Para]

I wish her luck in securing her release and in dragging Burma out of the hole it is in. By the sounds of things she is their best albeit only hope.

Para

[george]

Update:

Myanmar's Suu Kyi on cusp of freedom: officials

YANGON, November 12, 2010 (AFP) - Myanmar's democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi is on the verge of being freed from house arrest, officials in the military-ruled country said Friday as anticipation grew among her legions of supporters.

Security was stepped up in Yangon, where Suu Kyi remained confined to her crumbling lakeside mansion, with police vehicles patrolling the city.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner, locked up for most of the past two decades, is still seen as the biggest threat to the junta, but her freedom appears to be a price it is willing to pay to deflect criticism of recent elections.

"The authorities will release her. It is certain," a government official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Lawyers for the 65-year-old dissident say her current term of house arrest started with her imprisonment on May 14 last year and so is due to end on Saturday.

"She will be released for sure as planned," said another government official who also declined to be named.

Suu Kyi's detention was extended by 18 months last year over a bizarre incident in which an American swam uninvited to her lakeside home, keeping her off the scene for the first election in 20 years.

Hundreds of supporters gathered at her National League for Democracy (NLD) party headquarters, where a banner hung alongside two portraits of their leader read: "The time is here for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi."

Some NLD members were planning to donate blood to a local hospital to mark her release.

When the softly-spoken but indomitable opposition leader was last released in 2002 she drew huge crowds wherever she went -- a reminder that years of detention had not dimmed her immense popularity.

Her supporters said they expected her to be freed but were still awaiting confirmation from the authorities.

"They cannot extend her detention according to the law," said one of her lawyers, Nyan Win. "They should release her for the country."

The daughter of Myanmar's independence hero General Aung San swept her party to victory in elections two decades ago, but the party was never allowed to take power.

Some observers believe her release could come with restrictions to ensure she cannot threaten the generals or the military-backed government to which they are preparing to hand over power.

But Nyan Win has suggested she would refuse to accept any conditions on her release, as in the past when she tried in vain to leave Yangon in defiance of the junta's orders.

Her supporters have said she will hold a news conference at the NLD's headquarters if freed.

Although some see her as a figure from the past, sidelined by recent political developments, she remains idolised by many in the impoverished nation.

"I am praying for her to be released," said a 30-year-old taxi driver in Yangon, adding that Suu Kyi had "suffered enough."

Her freedom is seen by observers as an effort by the regime to tame international condemnation of Sunday's election, the first since the 1990 vote.

Western nations and pro-democracy activists have criticised the poll as anything but free and fair following widespread reports of intimidation and fraud.

But key ally China along with Myanmar's Southeast Asian neighbours have welcomed the vote as a step towards democracy, and Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Friday that freeing Suu Kyi "would ease pressure" on the junta.

The NLD's decision not to participate in the election deeply split Myanmar's opposition and Suu Kyi's party has been disbanded, leaving her future role uncertain.

The main army-backed party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) claims it has won 80 percent of the seats in the election.

Partial official results show it has already secured a majority in the House of Representatives with 187 seats out of 219 counted so far, from the 326 that were available.

Another 110 seats in the 440-place chamber were already reserved for the military, which together with its political proxy looks set to have a comfortable majority for passing laws.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2010-11-12

[Brewsta]

I am sure that we all wish The Lady a safe and secure re-entry to life in her native land - but I pray that no 'accident' may be waiting for her,now, or if she chooses to continue to walk her path of Freedom.

GodSpeed dear Lady,

Brewsta

[zorro1]

Some nice news. I wonder how many of us would sacrifice our freedom for a cause. This will be applauded world wide

[ronrat]

Let her out to go where? What are the terms of the release. She deserves better than this.

[atyclb]

Big deal. after the leadership prevented her/ her party from running in the elections, created laws to bar a Burmese citizen that was married to a non Burmese to hold government office.

House arrest for what, 20 years????

Now Burmas leaders want to make a gesture of goodwill to the world. Try to appease other countries whose help and cooperation they hope to garnish.

If need be they will create/invent another reason to detain her.

Meaningful release = unconditional release and hold new elections that are monitored by UN and other third parties, and honor the results.

[george]

Suu Kyi's 15 years under house arrest - Facts

YANGON, November 12, 2010 (AFP) - Myanmar's pro-democracy icon, Aung San Suu Kyi, who has spent 15 of the past 21 years locked up, will soon be freed from house arrest, according to officials in the army-ruled nation.

Following is a summary of her time in detention:

- 1989-1995:

The junta places Suu Kyi under house arrest in July 1989, 10 months after she helped form the National League for Democracy (NLD) in the wake of national pro-democracy protests crushed by the military government.

Despite her confinement, the NLD scores a landslide victory in 1990 elections, but the junta does not recognise the result.

One year later, she is awarded the Nobel peace prize, accepted by her sons on her behalf. She is released in July 1995, after six years of being confined to her home in Yangon.

- 2000-2002:

Suu Kyi is again placed under house arrest in September 2000, after several face-offs with the regime, including attempts to leave Yangon on party business in defiance of the junta's orders.

Landmark secret talks on "national reconciliation" begin in October 2000, brokered by UN envoy Razali Ismail.

Suu Kyi receives regular visits at home from a junta liaison officer and her NLD deputies, and is freed in May 2002. Thousands of her supporters are allowed to greet her, and foreign press are allowed to cover her release.

- Since May 30, 2003:

Suu Kyi, travelling in a convoy with NLD members in northern Myanmar, is attacked in an ambush apparently organised by a regime frightened by her continued popularity.

The junta says four people are killed in the attack but the NLD puts the toll at nearly 100. Suu Kyi is arrested along with many party activists.

In September, she is moved back to her Yangon home and placed under house arrest for a third time.

In May 2009, shortly before her expected release, Suu Kyi is put on trial over a bizarre incident in which an American man swims uninvited to her lakeside home. She is sentenced to another 18 months of house arrest.

Suu Kyi writes to junta chief Than Shwe offering suggestions on getting sanctions lifted, marking an easing of her stance after years of advocating punitive measures against the ruling generals.

Her party boycotts the country's first poll in 20 years -- held on Sunday -- saying the rules are unfair. The NLD is disbanded by the authorities.

Supporters gather in Yangon as officials say her release is imminent.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2010-11-12

[george]

Thai PM: situation in Myanmar will ease if Suu Kyi is freed

BANGKOK, Nov 12 -- Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he believed that if Myanmar's democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi is freed, the situation in Myanmar would eventually ease and vent pressure inside and outside the country.

The 65-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner has been detained for 15 of the past 21 years and her detention was extended last August after a court found she had broken a law by allowing an American intruder to stay at her home for two nights. Her house arrest is due to expire on Saturday.

Mr Abhisit said he had not received any information from the Myanmar authorities on Suu Kyi's release.

It will not be known until Saturday whether she would get the promised freedom or not after completing her detention period, he said.

The premier said that the international community wanted to see her released, and that if she is really freed it will ease pressure on Myanmar government and overall domestic situation could eventually be alleviated.

The Myanmar government was urged to release her and other political prisoners and it was criticised on the Nov 7 election that was widely seen as flawed and fraudulent to ensure victory for the military's proxy party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).

The French news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP) quoted Myanmar officials, on condition of anonymity, as saying that she would be released as planned. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-11-12

[george]

It's impossible to release Suu Kyi today [Friday], it's not the deal date, A Burmese official said RT @supalakg_nt

[Thailand]

I read that her release is conditional on her not being involved in politics.

If that is the case you can bet she has more time to go under the scandalous house arrest.

I hope she lives long enough to see a similar occurrence to that which Nelson Mandela saw happen after his many years incarcerated in SA and some sort of freedom for her country.

Sadly, with the despots and their farcical "election" in charge I doubt it!

[Igor]

Step 1 - lock up beloved believer in democracy

Step 2 - steal first election in two decades by absurd margins

Step 3 - deflect international criticism of election by releasing beloved symbol of freedom

Step 4 - rearrest beloved symbol on trumped up charges

or - arrange for tragic car accident

Step 5 - continue to pillage country

[moetownblues]

Great news but her detention expired on Saturday the day before the election but they hold out until after the rigged election

[siam2007]

I see things a little different - and I just came back from Myanmar less than 2 months ago and know a lot of people there in all parts of the country.

many people who comment on Myanmar (I am not talking about Thaivisa specifically) issues have actually no clue what they are talking about and most of them have never been there anyway, nor do they know about the general conditions and the situation there.

Back to the topic, Aung Sun Suu Kyi actually is an ICON.

not more, not less. she is an ICON of the democracy-movement.

but she is a political lightweight, despite her prominent father.

do you really think she could lead a government or unite the many opposition splinter-group and ethnic interests ? you must be kidding !

things have changed a lot since she disappeared from public life due to the house-arrest.

thank's god, the people in Myanmar see things a bit more realistic. they welcome any change, but they are as well aware that things must happen SLOWLY, otherwise the country can easily get into an even bigger mess and misery.

In my opinion, it was a mistake to boycott the election, even it was of course 100% clear it would be a sham. but even if some opposition groups had won only a FEW seats, they would still have a VOICE at least ! now they have nothing.

some opposition parties participated in the elections (and NO; they are NOT friends of the Junta), and they got at least FEW seats, even the Junta made it VERY difficult for them to nominate candidates, as the fee for that was ridiculously high (think of a years salary to nominate one candidate or so)

anyway, ANY changes in this country with its lovely and friendly people can only be welcomed.

If only the Western governments would pay more attention......

[mythBuster]

Widely expected, though still nothing more than a rumour. For the real deal it is wise to follow the Irrawaddy on line.

[a99az]

If only they had more oil, then the US would have gone in to save the people from that Mad general . Like they did in Iraq .

[hardy1943]

I wish her luck in securing her release and in dragging Burma out of the hole it is in. By the sounds of things she is their best albeit only hope.

Para

Great News and I see that everyone here calls it Burma except for THE BOYS in BKK but then they where never known for their knowledge.

[siam2007]

If only they had more oil, then the US would have gone in to save the people from that Mad general . Like they did in Iraq .

you mean that General whose daughter received wedding presents worth no less than 50.000.000 $ when she married TAY ZA, who not only owns AIR BAGAN (therefore best to be avoided) but as well most petrol stations in the country.

is it allowed to post that link here:

http://www.irrawaddy...hp?art_id=17568

if not, Mods pls delete it

[siam2007]

I wish her luck in securing her release and in dragging Burma out of the hole it is in. By the sounds of things she is their best albeit only hope.

Para

Great News and I see that everyone here calls it Burma except for THE BOYS in BKK but then they where never known for their knowledge.

the people of Burma/Myanmar make not such a big religion out of that. they have no problem calling it either Myanmar or Burma.

it was the British, who actually re-named the country BURMA after it was Myanmar before.

and apart from that, this is so unimportant at this stage. better to work for the people in the country so they can decide by themselves one day which name they prefer.

and not being dictated by Western Powers as usual.

BTW, the UN calls it Myanmar

[Tonto21]

She is a true insperation in this world, I hope this news is correct. Fantastic! I wish her nothing but luck.

[RaoulDuke]

What a great diversion from their 'election' results. Cover up the bad press, get a little good press, and then lock her up again as so as she gets out and starts doing the same thing she was doing before. Oh well, as long as she is not doing hard time, like in places like Iran and N Korea, I guess it could be worse, but it is hardly something to celebrate, just another dog and pony show.

[george]

Maybe she should consider flying out of Burma very very ASAP and finally "get a life" outside the country after so many years in house arrest?

[siam2007]

Maybe she should consider flying out of Burma very very ASAP and finally "get a life" outside the country after so many years in house arrest?

I am sure the generals would be very happy about that.

But I am even more sure that this is exactly what she will NOT do - and right so