Burma’s brutal military dictatorship today extended Aung San Suu Kyi’s detention, sending a strong signal to the international community that it has no intention of relinquishing power. The extension comes despite calls for her release from UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, and Burma’s Asian neighbours. It is also an embarrassment for UN Under-Secretary Ibrahim Gambari, who was duped by the regime’s lies and propaganda during his visit to Burma last week.
“We are disappointed but not surprised. This regime has no interest in turning a new page with the international community,” said Yvette Mahon, Director of the Burma Campaign UK. “The UN has tried and failed several times in the past to solve this problem with talks. What we need now is a binding Security Council resolution to compel the regime to release Aung San Suu Kyi and restore democracy to Burma.”
The regime has consistently defied the United Nations, ignoring over a dozen calls for Aung San Suu Kyi’s release by the Secretary General, and 28 resolutions by the UN General Assembly and Human Rights Commission.
Hopes for Aung San Suu Kyi’s release were stoked by Ibrahim Gambari, who said that her release would be concrete evidence that the regime was ready to turn a new page. Past UN envoys to Burma have also made similar overoptimistic predictions, only to be proved wrong. Gambari failed to learn the lessons of history. The regime engages with the international community only as a negotiating tactic to delay possible sanctions. It has twice before used the release of Aung San Suu Kyi as a trump card to alleviate international pressure, without introducing a single democratic reform. So far this tactic has worked.
As the generals smiled and posed for pictures with Gambari last weekend, their soldiers continued their military offensive against Karen civilians, with more than 16,000 people now forced to flee their homes. Intimidation of NLD members continues, and more than 1,100 political prisoners languish in jail, many regularly tortured.
Aung San Suu Kyi has now spent a total of more than ten years in detention (10 years and 215 days on 27th May 2006, Her current period of detention began on May 30th 2003 when a convoy she was traveling in was attacked by a regime run militia, the Union Solidarity Development Association (USDA). USDA thugs beat around 100 National League for Democracy supporters to death in the attack.
For more information contact Mark Farmaner, Media and Campaigns Manager, on 02073244713.