US calls for Suu Kyi's release from house arrest

Washington, June 20: The United States has renewed its call for the release of Myanmar's democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who spent her 61st birthday under house arrest.

The opposition National League for Democracy leader and Nobel laureate Suu Kyi, whose birthday falls on yesterday, has been detained at her residence in Myanmar's capital Rangoon since May 2003 when her convoy was attacked by a junta-backed militia.

Suu Kyi's political party won the general elections in 1990, but the country's military junta refused to relinquish power to her.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack yesterday said ''her message of non-violence and democracy continues to inspire those who yearn for freedom in Myanmar and throughout the world.'' Suu Kyi is among more than 1,100 Myanmarese who have been imprisoned by the military regime for peaceful expression of their political views, McCormack said.

These political prisoners include National League for Democracy Vice Chairman U Tin Oo, who also remains under house arrest and Hkun Htun Oo, leader of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy, who is serving two life sentences plus 53 years in a remote prison.

Also imprisoned is journalist U Win Tin, who has been jailed since 1989; U Kyaw Min, a Muslim leader elected to Parliament in 1990, who is currently serving a 47-year sentence for allegedly violating immigration laws and Aye Myint, who is serving a seven-year sentence for providing advice to farmers whose land had been confiscated by the military.

''It is long past time to redress these and other injustices,'' McCormack said. ''The United States reiterates its call on the Myanmarese regime to release these and all political prisoners and initiate the genuine dialogue with all elements of political life needed to bring about true national reconciliation.'' A White House statement released yesterday said, ''Aung San Suu Kyi's courage and fortitude are an inspiration to those who seek freedom and justice in all parts of the world.'' ''The United States urges the international community and the United Nations to take up its responsibility to address the plight of the Myanmarese people and the need for an inclusive, genuine political dialogue in Myanmar,'' the statement said.

UNI