Myanmar releases Aung San Suu Kyi

[News_Editor]

Myanmar releases Aung San Suu Kyi

2010-11-13 20:26:09 GMT+7 (ICT)

YANGON, MYANMAR (BNO NEWS) -- Thousands greeted pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Saturday as she was released after years under house arrest.

After officials entered her home around 5 p.m. local time (10:30 GMT) to read the release order, the same day she completed her last sentence of 18 months under house arrest, police removed barricades near her house, and hundreds rushed to her compound.

Suu Kyi addressed her supporters and invited them to work "together" for the country's future. She said she will offer a speech on Sunday at noon local time (05:30 GMT) at the headquarters of her party, the now dissolved National League for Democracy (NLD).

"We must work together, united," she said. "If you want to hear me please come tomorrow at noon to my office," she added.

"She is a hero of mine and a source of inspiration for all who work to advance basic human rights in Burma and around the world. The United States welcomes her long overdue release," U.S. President Barack Obama said after her release.

"Whether Aung San Suu Kyi is living in the prison of her house, or the prison of her country, does not change the fact that she, and the political opposition she represents, has been systematically silenced, incarcerated, and deprived of any opportunity to engage in political processes that could change Burma. It is time for the Burmese regime to release all political prisoners, not just one," President Obama added.

Suu Kyi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights, is sometimes compared with former South African leader Nelson Mandela as an international symbol of heroic and peaceful resistance in the face of oppression.

In 1988, Suu Kyi returned to Myanmar after a period overseas but was quickly put under house arrest in Rangoon as the junta declared a martial law. Two years later, Myanmar held its first general election since 1960. The polls were by far won by Suu Kyi of the NLD, but the results were ignored by the military junta and has since ruled the country.

Years later, in 1995, Suu Kyi was released from her house arrest in Rangoon although her movements remained restricted. She eventually was placed under house arrest again from September 2000 to May 2002 after she traveled to the city of Mandalay, in defiance of her travel restrictions.

Her release in May 2002 was unconditionally, but just a year later she was arrested after a clash between NLD supporters and a government-backed mob. After several months in prison, in September 2003, Suu Kyi was put under house arrest again.

Ever since she has remained under house arrest but briefly appeared in public in September 2007 to greet protesting Buddhist monks. And in May 2009, she was charged with breaking detention rules after an American swam to her compound and broke into her compound even though he had not been invited by Suu Kyi.

After a trial that was widely condemned by the international community, Suu Kyi was convicted and sentenced in August 2009 to a further 18 months of house arrest.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2010-11-13

[george]

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