17 November - Aung San Suu Kyi is free but battle for reform in Burma continues

In a move welcomed by the UN, Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was released on 13 November. Her release was timed to coincide with the first general election held in Burma for 20 years, the result of which was widely condemned as fraudulent by many political commentators.

UNA-UK has long called for an end to Suu Kyi's detainment, most recently urging its members to support the Amnesty International campaign to free her when her detainment was extended in August 2009 for another 18 months. We would like to thank all our members who supported this campaign.

But whilst Suu Kyi’s release represents a positive step, there is little indication that the 2,200 other political prisoners currently detained by the Burmese government will be set free or that wider democratic reform will follow.

UNA-UK is therefore urging its members to support the Burma Campaign UK’s petition to the UN Secretary-General, asking him to lead international efforts to promote genuine democratic reform in Burma.

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