Update: Burmese Government Extends Suu Kyi’s Detention and Arrests Her Supporters
By Daniel Hollingsworth
May 29, 2007 | Printer Friendly

The Burmese government extended the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi for one year on May 26, one day before it was set to expire.  The move was widely expected despite calls for her release from the international community.  See Burma Faces Calls for Release of Pro-Democracy Leader for original news update.

Additionally, supporters of Suu Kyi, including labor activist Su Su Nway, were arrested at a prayer rally leading up to the expiration of her detention.  Police arrested the supporters as they were praying at a Buddhist pagoda near Rangoon for Suu Kyi’s release.

Su Su Nway has led efforts to protect the rights of Burmese citizens, making international news for her successful campaign in 2005 against forced labor in Burma.  She pressed for action under a previously untested law prohibiting forced labor and registered the first ever legal victory over its long practice by the military regime in the country.  Shortly after this victory, in October 2005, she was arrested and sentenced to 18 months in prison.  She served nine months of the sentence before the Burmese government capitulated to calls for her release.

References:

Washington Post: Burma Extends House Arrest of Nobel-Winning Pro-Democracy Leader

Voice of America: Burma Detains Activists Praying for Aung San Suu Kyi's Release

Rights & Democracy: Su Su Nway (Burma) – Short Biography