UN chief appeals to Burma to release Suu Kyi

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan today appealed to the leader of Burma’s ruling junta to release pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a day before her house arrest order was set to expire.

“The government will be reviewing her status within 24 hours. I take this opportunity to appeal to General Than Shwe and the government to release her,” Annan told reporters in Bangkok.

“I think it would be in the interest of Burma, the region and the world at large.”

Nobel laureate Suu Kyi, head of the opposition National League for Democracy, has been held mostly under house arrest for about 10 of the last 17 years. She was last arrested in May 2003, and her house arrest sentence was set to end tomorrow.

“For the democratic process and the reconciliation process to be truly successful, it has to be inclusive, and she has a role to play,” Annan said. “And I’m relying on you, Gen. Than Shwe to do the right thing.”

Annan said her release would “allow the government and the people, not only to build the nation together, but to focus on the essential issue of economic and social development”.

Last week, the junta allowed UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari to meet Suu Kyi. He was the first outsider to meet with her in two years.

Burma’s military junta took power in 1988 after crushing a pro-democracy movement. In 1990, it refused to hand over power when detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s political party won a landslide victory in general elections.