World Leaders’ Silence Betrays Aung San Suu Kyi

The Burma Campaign UK today condemned world leaders for failing to speak out about the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi in the run-up to her detention expiring today. It was reported today that her detention had been extended again, with some reports saying the detention is for another six months.

“It is shameful that Ban Ki-Moon went to Burma and failed even to utter her name,” said Mark Farmaner, Director of the Burma Campaign UK. “He is playing into the regime’s hands. The UN is crawling on its knees before the regime, afraid to speak the truth in case it affects aid access deals, which the regime is already breaking in any case.”

The Burma Campaign UK also dismissed suggestions that there is any significance to the regime extending her detention for six months instead of one year. At the start of her current period of house arrest in 2003 her detention was for six months at a time.

The regime is once again breaking its own laws by extending her detention for a total of more than five years. The State Protection Law 1975 under which she is held only allows the regime to detain her for a maximum of five years.

“The argument that politics should not be mentioned at the current time as the humanitarian crisis is the priority simply doesn’t make sense,” said Mark Farmaner. “The humanitarian crisis is being caused by a political problem, a dictatorship that refuses to allow aid to reach the people. Aung San Suu Kyi is key to solving that political problem.”

For more information, contact Mark Farmaner on 020 7324 4713

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