Calls For The Release Of Aung San Suu Kyi

Independent UN Human Rights Expert Calls For Release Of Aung San Suu Kyi

New York, May 14 2009 1:10PM The independent United Nations human rights expert on Myanmar today called for the unconditional release of detained pro-democracy leader and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who was reportedly taken to a special court this morning and now faces new charges.

UN Special Rapporteur Tomás Ojea Quintana voiced serious concern regarding the unlawful detention of Ms. Suu Kyi, leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD), who has been under house arrest for the past six years.

The new charges, according to a news release issued in Geneva, are said to be in connection with the recent intrusion of an American citizen into the home of Ms. Suu Kyi.

“Since her house is well guarded by security forces, the responsibility for preventing such intrusions, and alerting the authorities, lies with the security forces and not with Aung San Suu Kyi and her aides,” Mr. Ojea Quintana said.

According to information received by the Special Rapporteur, Ms. Suu Kyi and two aides were escorted this morning by security forces to Insein prison, where they were charged by a special court. They are currently detained in the Insein compound and their trial has been scheduled for 18 May.

“I call on the Government of Myanmar to release Aung San Suu Kyi and her aides unconditionally,” Mr. Ojea Quintana said.

He added that in order to ensure national reconciliation and democratic transition, to which the Myanmar leadership has committed itself, all 2,156 prisoners of conscience currently detained by the authorities should be released before the 2010 elections.

Mr. Ojea Quintana, who reports to the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council in an independent and unpaid capacity, has visited Myanmar twice since he was appointed to his post in May 2008, most recently this past February.

ENDS

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