Myanmar's government released pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi after more than seven years of house arrest, offering a glimmer of hope for opposition groups that have been trying to unseat the country's harsh military regime for decades.
It was not immediately known whether Ms. Suu Kyi's release was unconditional, or if Myanmar's government intended to limit her movements and political activities, as it has attempted to do in past periods when she wasn't under detention. Ms. Suu Kyi had indicated she would not accept anything other than an unconditional release. There was no immediate comment from the Myanmar government.
Whatever the terms, Ms. Suu Kyi's release isn't likely to trigger major political change in Myanmar, an impoverished but strategically important southeast Asian nation with deep natural gas reserves between China and India. Despite being one of the world's most famous political prisoners, Ms. Suu Kyi's position has weakened considerably in recent years as Myanmar's ruling junta has fortified its financial and military strength through expanded ties with China and other Asian allies.
But freedom from house arrest gives the 65-year-old Nobel laureate at least one more shot at revitalizing the country's demoralized and divided opposition before she loses the energy to do so. It also could lead to renewed international pressure on Myanmar to contemplate reforms aimed at repairing its tattered relations with the Western world, including steps to release other political prisoners.
Speculation of a possible release had been building for weeks, mainly because Ms. Suu Kyi's latest term under house arrest was due to expire on Saturday. Around 4 p.m., authorities removed the barricades from in front of her lakeside villa in Yangon and entered to read a release order to Ms. Suu Kyi, as hundreds of supporters gathered nearby. Soon after she appeared at the gate of her compound and spoke to the crowd, which by then had grown to several thousand people and was singing the country's national anthem, the Associated Press reported.
An eyewitness said Ms. Suu Kyi told followers that they could meet her at the headquarters of her political organization, the National League for Democracy, on Sunday, and then returned back into her home along with several of her political allies.
The decision to release Ms. Suu Kyi came just days after Myanmar's government held a disputed national election that appeared to cement the military's control, with a government-backed organization known as the Union Solidarity and Development Party dominating the polls. Although the regime hasn't released full results, state media said the USDP secured a majority in both houses of the country's new parliament, winning roughly 85% of the seats whose results were released.
Dissidents and Western observers derided the election, Myanmar's first in 20 years, as a sham, with widespread reports of voting irregularities. But the vote was quickly endorsed by neighbors such as China and Vietnam, and the Myanmar government has repeatedly said its vote was free and fair.
source : http://online.wsj.com/
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