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26/09/2003
Burmese activist's house arrest slammed by Foreign Office
The continued detention of Aung San Su Kyi by Burmese authorities represents a "flagrant" disregard for democracy and human rights, Foreign Office Minister Mike O'Brien said today.
Mr O'Brien was speaking in the wake of reports which suggest that the Burmese human rights activist is being held under house arrest.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was detained by the Burmese military authorities on 30 May following a "regime-sponsored attack" on her and her National League for Democracy supporters in northern Burma. According to the regime she has been held under "protective custody".
Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been held under house arrest for eight of the last 15 years, was last released from house arrest in May 2002.
"I have heard the news today that Daw Aung San Su Kyi has been allowed back home. While this is a step in the right direction, sadly this development marks no more than a return to the situation in 1989, when the Nobel Peace Prize Winner was first placed under house arrest," he said.
"Nearly a decade and a half later Aung San Suu Kyi is again a prisoner in her own home and the military regime flagrantly continues to disregard the Burmese people's demands for democracy and human rights.
"Recently the regime in Burma outlined steps to turn Burma into a 'modern developed and democratic nation'. That is an objective we share. But simply moving Aung San Suu Kyi back home is not going to get us there."
Mr O'Brien called upon on the Burmese government to "engage" with the National League for Democracy (NLD) to find a way forward. However, for that to happen, those arrested with Aung San Suu Kyi in May must also be released and NLD offices re-opened, said Mr O'Brien.
(gmcg)
Mr O'Brien was speaking in the wake of reports which suggest that the Burmese human rights activist is being held under house arrest.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was detained by the Burmese military authorities on 30 May following a "regime-sponsored attack" on her and her National League for Democracy supporters in northern Burma. According to the regime she has been held under "protective custody".
Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been held under house arrest for eight of the last 15 years, was last released from house arrest in May 2002.
"I have heard the news today that Daw Aung San Su Kyi has been allowed back home. While this is a step in the right direction, sadly this development marks no more than a return to the situation in 1989, when the Nobel Peace Prize Winner was first placed under house arrest," he said.
"Nearly a decade and a half later Aung San Suu Kyi is again a prisoner in her own home and the military regime flagrantly continues to disregard the Burmese people's demands for democracy and human rights.
"Recently the regime in Burma outlined steps to turn Burma into a 'modern developed and democratic nation'. That is an objective we share. But simply moving Aung San Suu Kyi back home is not going to get us there."
Mr O'Brien called upon on the Burmese government to "engage" with the National League for Democracy (NLD) to find a way forward. However, for that to happen, those arrested with Aung San Suu Kyi in May must also be released and NLD offices re-opened, said Mr O'Brien.
(gmcg)
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