Democracy News

Date for Suu Kyi’s Release Announced for November 2010
January 26, 2010
By: Randi Zung | Printer Friendly

On January 18, Burma’s Supreme Court heard final arguments from Aung San Suu Kyi’s lawyers challenging her additional 18-month sentence.  The verdict of the appeal, based on a legal technicality, was not expected to be announced for at least one month.  According to CNN, Home Minister Major General Muang Oo announced plans for Suu Kyi’s November 2010 release during a January 21 meeting of government officials in the city of Kyaukpadaung.  In addition, Reuters reports that National League for Democracy (NLD) vice-chairman Tin Oo, a former defense minister and retired general who has been under house-arrest for more than a decade, will be released in February 2010.  The Washington Post reports that Nyan Win, a spokesman for the NLD, stated that news of Suu Kyi’s release was “nothing new or extraordinary.”  Win also stated that if the reports of Suu Kyi’s release were true, it would mean that her appeal was denied by the court. 

Reuters reports that according to this latest development, Suu Kyi will most likely miss Burma’s 2010 election.  This will be the country’s first election since 1990.  In the 1990 election, Suu Kyi’s NLD claimed a landslide victory but was prevented from taking office by the military junta.  In addition, Senior NLD official Khin Maung Swe stated that is was important for Suu Kyi and Tin Oo to be released prior to the election so that they could work towards reorganizing their party.  The NLD party has not announced if it will participate in the upcoming election.  Recently, the United States (US) has reaffirmed its stance on the economic sanctions that it has imposed on Burma, stating that they will not begin to reevaluate until Burma has made significant progress towards democracy.  Burmese officials have promised US President Barack Obama that their upcoming election would be “free, fair, and inclusive.”

Sources:
CNN - Minister: Suu Kyi to be freed in November
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/01/25/myanmar.suukyi/

The Washington Post - Myanmar party plays down Suu Kyi release report
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/25/AR2010012500660.html

Reuters - Myanmar minister says Suu Kyi to be freed November
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE60O0J020100125