Annan 'Deeply Disappointed' At Extension Of Myanmar Activist's Detention
New York, Nov 28 2005
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said today that he is "deeply disappointed" that Myanmar's authorities have
extended the detention under house arrest of democracy activist Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for another six months.
"The Secretary-General reiterates his belief, shared by ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] and much of the
international community, that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's continued detention is not in the interest of Myanmar's processes
of national reconciliation and democratization," a UN spokesman said in a statement released today.
Over the past several years Mr. Annan has been pushing the Government of the South Asian country to release Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi and allow a role for opposition parties such as the National League for Democracy (NLD), which she heads.
While there had been signs of progress in 2003 when the Myanmar authorities announced their seven-point road map towards
democracy, basic goals have not been met since then, according to the most recent report by Mr. Annan. The National
Convention charged with drawing up principles for a new constitution continues to exclude representatives of many
political parties, including the NLD.
ENDS