NLD doubts junta will release detained party leaders

Monday, 25 January 2010 21:26 Phanida

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) - Despite Burmese Home Minister Maj-Gen Maung Oo having reportedly said, detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi would be freed in November her party leaders doubt it.

Maj-Gen Maung Oo on Thursday told a meeting of local officials in central Burma’s Kyaukpadaung town that Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi would be released in November when her house arrest period is over.

But a NLD central executive committee member, Khin Maung Swe, on Monday told Mizzima that the information could not be relied on as it is word-of-mouth and carries no weight because it is not an official announcement.

“The word of mouth version is not official unless announced at an official press conference, or in a press statement,” Khin Maung Swe said.

According to an NLD member in Kyaukpadaung, Maj-Gen Maung Oo, during a meeting with local officials on January 21, said the government will release Aung San Suu Kyi in November and NLD Vice-Chairman Tin Oo in February.

Burma’s main opposition party - the National League for Democracy - on Monday said they cannot trust the Burmese Home Minister Major General Maung Oo.

The NLD member quoted Maj-Gen Maung Oo’s as saying, “the military is not a dirty government, and it is not crazy for power. Tin Oo will be released first and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi would be released in November.”

Though Tin Oo completes six years of house arrest on February 13, and Aung San Suu Kyi completes 18 months house arrest in November, observers said it does not have any significance.

A journalist in Rangoon, following the news, said, “Both Tin Oo and Aung San Suu Kyi should have been released by now. But if they are released in keeping with their sentences, it does not have any significance.”

He said releasing Aung San Suu Kyi in November would be in keeping with the junta’s plan, as it would have already completed the election or it would be too late for her if the junta holds the elections in December.

Tin Oo, retired Commander-in-Chief of the Burmese Army was arrested after he along with Aung San Suu Kyi were attacked by a junta-backed mob during their political tour in upper Burma town of Depayin in May 2003.

He was then sent to Kale Prison in Sagaing Division in Upper Burma and was later transferred to Rangoon in 2004, where he was kept under house arrest.

The Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi in November requested the junta’s supremo Snr Gen Than Shwe to allow her a meeting with her party central executive committee including Tin Oo.

So far, her request has gone unheeded by Than Shwe.