Myanmar Dissident Suu Kyi Has Been Released From House Arrest
The moment an entire nation had been waiting for has come to pass as the greatest rival of the military junta in Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been released on Saturday as the latest term for her detention expired.
Suu Kyi, 65, appeared in front of thousand of people who were gathered to welcome her release.
Reports say that the dissident appeared in front of people in a traditional jacket and a flower in her hair, with a smile upon her face, as she was coming at the gate of her house in front of the people who were chanting, cheering and singing the national anthem.
She addressed the people gathered in front of her house in Burmese in a very small speech saying that if they wish to achieve their goal they must be united. Then, she promised she would see them again on Sunday at their political party headquarters.
Suu Kyi has been under arrest for the last 15 years, and has become the symbol of fight for democracy in this small Asian country that has been ruled by the military junta since 1962.
She is a Nobel Prize laureate and is considered one of the most prominent political prisoners in the world.
Upon hearing she was released, U.S. President Barack Obama expressed his joy, calling her “a hero of mine,” and welcoming “her overdue release.”
He then said that whether she lived in the prison of her house or in the prison of her country, she was incarcerated and prevented from exercising her rights and her political abilities.
David Cameron, British PM, said Suu Kyi is an inspiration for everyone who believes in democracy, and human rights.
He added that the crucial fact is that her freedom be maintained and that she get the possibility to act as a citizen and political leader in her country.
The junta government is expected to make use of the release to show the transformations the country is undertaking since the last elections.
Suu Kyi warned against exaggerated optimism saying her release is not necessarily a great breakthrough for democracy, and that only when people in the country can enjoy freedom democracy would have won.
Suu Kyi’s release has been a key demand of the Western nations in order to acknowledge the elections in the country as democratic.
Before the elections, Suu Kyi had advised her followers to boycott elections that would only justify a dictatorial regime.
Her party, National League for Democracy, won elections in 1990 but was denied coming to power by the junta. Since then, the leaders have constantly been persecuted by the regime.11
