02/13/2010, 00.00
MYANMAR
Send to a friend

Deputy of Aung San Suu Kyi to be freed today

Tin Oo, 83, has been imprisoned since 2003. The National League of Democracy waits for him to assess whether or not to participate in elections in the country to be held this year, even if they will ensure power to the junta.

Yangon (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The vice chairman of the opposition, a close aide to Aung San Suu Kyi, is about to be freed from house arrest today. Tin Oo, 83, has suffered detention without trial since 2003, when he was arrested together with Burmese leaders during a political demonstration.  

The release should take place one a day after the National Day of Unity, celebrated by the junta. Yesterday January Than Shwe praised the elections "free and fair" to be held this year. Tin Oo is vice chairman of the National League for Democracy (NLD), the party of Suu Kyi, who swept the elections in '90, but was deprived of victory by a military coup. As a result Aung San Suu Kyi has lived the last 20 years in prison or under house arrest. Last August she was sentenced to another 18 months of house arrest just to marginalize her from elections.  

The NLD has not yet decided whether to participate in elections or not. The vote will be based on a constitution rewritten in 2008 which ensures full power to the military, guaranteeing them 25% of seats in parliament. Some NLD members are awaiting the release of Tin Oo to assess the situation.

TAGs
Send to a friend
Printable version
CLOSE X
See also
Fresh charges against Aung San Suu Kyi, she now faces 15 years in prison
18/03/2021 10:33
Buddhist monks against the coup
17/03/2021 13:08
House arrest for 80-year-old pro-democracy leader Tin Oo extended
14/02/2006
Military junta lifts Aung San Suu Kyi’s house arrest order but keeps her in prison
26/05/2009
Supreme Court rejects appeal to overturn Aung San Suu Kyi’s conviction
11/11/2010


Newsletter

Subscribe to Asia News updates or change your preferences

Subscribe now
“L’Asia: ecco il nostro comune compito per il terzo millennio!” - Giovanni Paolo II, da “Alzatevi, andiamo”