Burma - human rights
Momentous release of Aung San Suu Kyi a litmus test for Burmese authorities
Commenting on the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, Burmese pro-democracy leader and the 1991 Nobel laureate who has been in detention for 15 of the past 21 years, Green MEP and chair of the European Parliament subcommittee on human rights Heidi Hautala said:
"The long-awaited release of Aung San Suu Kyi is clearly a momentous occasion. Hopefully, the decision by the Burmese military authorities is the first step on a path to democracy and the guarantee of basic rights for the people of Burma. In this sense, Ms Suu Kyi's release is a litmus test for the Burmese authorities. Only by allowing Ms Suu Kyi to engage in her political activity unhindered can Burma redeem itself in the eyes of the international community. Against the background of the recent electoral charade in Burma (1), it is imperative that the authorities agree to dialogue with Ms Suu Kyi without delay."
(1) Ms Suu Kyi was prohibited from taking part in the recent national election (6 November) and her party, National League for Democracy, boycotted the election, which the international community has strongly denounced as neither free nor fair.
