Burma: Aung San Suu Kyi released

English PEN was delighted to learn of the release of our Honorary Member Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the Burmese National League for Democracy (NLD), on 13 November 2010. We call on the Burmese regime to further the cause of reconciliation by releasing all political prisoners unconditionally and to remove all restrictions on free expression in the media, literature, and the performing and visual arts, in accordance with Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

According to our information, Aung San Suu Kyi was released unconditionally when her latest house arrest order expired on 13 November 2010. She has spent much of the past twenty years in detention, and for the past eighteen months was held under Section 22 of the State Protection Law for “subversion” following an incident in which a US citizen swam across the lake to her home and in doing so violated the ban on her meeting with anyone without prior permission.

Despite this very welcome development, we continue to call to attention the estimated 2,000 other political prisoners currently languishing in Burma’s notorious jails.  Among them are eight writers who are serving long sentences for simply exercising their universal right to free expression. They include our Honorary Member Zarganar, a leading comedian, actor and poet, who was arrested in June 2008 after leading a private relief effort to deliver aid to victims of Cyclone Nargis. Zarganar is serving a thirty-five year sentence for his outspoken criticism of the government and his opposition activities. He is held in isolated conditions in Myitkyina Prison, and there are concerns for his health in detention. Following English PEN’s nomination, he has today been awarded the Liu Xiaobo Courage to Write Award by the board of the Independent Chinese PEN Centre (ICPC).

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, daughter of Burma’s independence hero General Aung San, became leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD) in September 1988, and in 1991 led the NLD to a landslide election victory which has never been recognised by the military government. Prior to this she had lived in the UK for many years, where she raised two sons with her late husband British academic Michael Aris, who died in March 1999 of cancer. Aung San Suu Kyi has spent a large part of the past twenty years in detention in Yangon, much of it in solitary confinement. She was held under de facto house arrest for six years from July 1989-July 1995, and again from September 2000 until May 2002, when she was released as part of UN-brokered confidential talks between the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) and the NLD which began in October 2000. On 30 May 2003 she was taken into ‘protective custody’ following violent clashes between her supporters and those of the government, and she was then held under renewable one-year detention orders until her arrest in 2009.  

Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in October 1991. She is the author of many books, including Freedom From Fear (1991), Letters from Burma (1997), The Voice of Hope (1997).

For details of Aung San Suu Kyi’s first interview since her release please click here.

Please send appeals:
-    Welcoming the release of opposition leader and writer Daw Aung San Suu Kyi;
-    Calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all those who remain detained in Myanmar in violation of Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, particularly the eight writers, including Honorary Member Zarganar, currently detained in violation of their right to free expression.

Appeals to:
Senior General Than Shwe
Chairman, State Peace and Development Council
c/o Ministry of Defence, Naypyitaw, Union of Myanmar.
Salutation: Dear General

Appeals to Myanmar (Burma) Embassies:
WiPC strongly recommends that you copy your appeal to the Burmese embassy in your country asking them to forward it to the Burmese authorities and welcoming any comments.

Letters to the press:
PEN members are encouraged to write letters to their national newspapers welcoming the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, and highlighting the cases of those writers who remain detained – including poet and comedian Zarganar – to illustrate the many years of repression in the country.

Support ‘This Prison Where I Live‘:
A feature length documentary featuring Zarganar has recently been released in the UK. If you are interested in finding out more, attending screenings, or supporting the film in any other way, please click here.