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Aung San Suu Kyi freed from house arrest
Myanmar`s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was freed on Monday after 19 months of house arrest, the military government said, marking a breakthrough toward ending the country`s political deadlock.
Myanmar`s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was freed on Monday after 19 months of house arrest, the military government said, marking a breakthrough toward ending the country`s political deadlock.
“I can confirm the restrictions (on Suu Kyi) have been
lifted,” said an official at the office of the chief of military intelligence. He spoke on condition of anonymity.
However, the Nobel Peace laureate, who has been confined to her lakeside villa since September 2000, did not come out to make public appearance.
Scores of reporters assembled at university drive, which leads to the villa, were blocked by a police barricade that has been in place since the restrictions on Suu Kyi were imposed.
Earlier on Monday, Myanmar`s ambassador to Washington told a news agency in a telephone interview: “With regard to Aung San Suu Kyi, I have been informed that she is at liberty to carry out all her activities, including matters concerning her party, as of May 6, 2002.”
The end of Suu Kyi`s detention had been widely expected for days following UN-brokered negotiations aimed at breaking a 12-year-old political deadlock in Myanmar, also known as Burma.
The Junta came to power in 1988 after crushing a pro-democracy movement during which Suu Kyi came into prominence.
The government put her under house arrest in 1989 and called general elections in 1990, which were won by her National League for democracy party. However, the Junta refused to hand over power.
Bureau Report
However, the Nobel Peace laureate, who has been confined to her lakeside villa since September 2000, did not come out to make public appearance.
Scores of reporters assembled at university drive, which leads to the villa, were blocked by a police barricade that has been in place since the restrictions on Suu Kyi were imposed.
Earlier on Monday, Myanmar`s ambassador to Washington told a news agency in a telephone interview: “With regard to Aung San Suu Kyi, I have been informed that she is at liberty to carry out all her activities, including matters concerning her party, as of May 6, 2002.”
The end of Suu Kyi`s detention had been widely expected for days following UN-brokered negotiations aimed at breaking a 12-year-old political deadlock in Myanmar, also known as Burma.
The Junta came to power in 1988 after crushing a pro-democracy movement during which Suu Kyi came into prominence.
The government put her under house arrest in 1989 and called general elections in 1990, which were won by her National League for democracy party. However, the Junta refused to hand over power.
Bureau Report