Myanmar Democracy Leader Aung San Suu Kyi Released

[Hissyspit]

Source: Reuters / Iraq State Television

Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi released

– 4 mins ago

YANGON, Myanmar – Myanmar's military government freed its archrival, democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, on Saturday after her latest term of detention expired. Several thousand jubilant supporters streamed to her residence.

A smiling Suu Kyi, wearing a traditional jacket, appeared at the gate of her compound as the crowd chanted, cheered and sang the national anthem.

The 65-year-old Noble Peace Prize laureate, whose latest period of detention spanned 7 1/2 years, has come to symbolize the struggle for democracy in the Southeast Asian nation ruled by the military since 1962.

The release from house arrest of one of the world's most prominent political prisoners came a week after an election that was swept by the military's proxy political party and decried by Western nations as a sham designed to perpetuate authoritarian control.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101113/ap_on_re_as/as_myanmar_suu_kyi

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http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6AB1UI20101113

Factbox: Facts about Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi

Sat Nov 13, 2010 3:14am EST

- snip -

-- The junta placed the charismatic and popular Suu Kyi under house arrest in July 1989 for "endangering the state." The next year, even without her, the NLD won 392 of 485 parliamentary seats in Myanmar's first election in almost 30 years. The military refused to relinquish power.

-- Suu Kyi, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, has been in prison or under house arrest off and on for 15 years since 1989.

-- Her husband died in Britain in 1999. Suu Kyi declined an offer from the junta to go to Britain for his funeral, fearing she would not be allowed back if she left.

-- She was initially freed in 1995, but was not allowed to travel outside Yangon to meet supporters. A pro-junta gang attacked a convoy carrying Suu Kyi, top party officials and supporters near Depayin town in 2003. The junta said four people were killed. Rights groups said as many as 70 were killed in the ambush. She was detained again soon after.

- She was found guilty on August 11, 2009, of breaking a security law by allowing American intruder John Yettaw to stay at her lakeside home for two nights. Critics said the charges were trumped up to stop her from having any influence over the polls.

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[pinboy3niner]

1. K&R

[Delphinus]

2. May she stay free! n/t

[mrs_p]

3. k/r

[uppityperson]

4. k&r and may she stay free.

[Uncle Joe]

5. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Hissyspit.

[Odin2005]

6. YAY!!!

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

7. K & R

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

8. Wonderful news

Though I do have concerns for her safety. I would put it past those Myanmar military thugs to try something.

[joe_sixpack]

9. Walk on!

And if the darkness is to keep us apart
And if the daylight feels like it's a long way off
And if your glass heart should crack
And for a second you turn back
Oh no, be strong

Walk on, walk on
What you got they can't steal it
No they can't even feel it
Walk on, walk on...
Stay safe tonight

[Kajsa]

10. This is the best news I've heard for some time.

K&R!

[postulater]

11. I hate them for their freedom.

:sarcasm:

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

12. Since you mention it...

Where are the rightwingers, with their legendary concern for human rights and democracy? you know, the ones who pushed for the Iraq war so they could 'spread freedom." you'd think they'd be all over this.
not a single post on free republic about her release. and drudge is ignoring the story as well.