Outrage over Myanmar’s detention of Suu Kyi

updated 3:43 p.m. ET May 28, 2008

YANGON, Myanmar - Outrage was expressed Wednesday at a decision by Myanmar's military government to extend the detention of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi — days after donors pledged large sums of money to help the country's cyclone victims.

The United States, France and Australia were among countries issuing angry statements about the junta's move to keep the Nobel Peace laureate under house arrest for a sixth straight year.

She has been held for more than 12 of the past 18 years and serves as a symbol of the regime's heavy-handed intolerance of opposition.

"This measure testifies to the junta's absence of will to cooperate with the international community," French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said in a statement.

Free political prisoners
He called on the government to "free without delay" Suu Kyi and other political prisoners and opposition members being held.

Many nations critical of Myanmar's human rights record had pushed politics aside to help victims of Cyclone Nargis, which ravaged the country's Irrawaddy delta nearly a month ago, killing more than 78,000 and leaving about 1.5 million homeless. Representatives from 50 nations pledged up to $150 million on Sunday, while remaining quiet about Suu Kyi's plight.

Some of those countries expressed frustration Wednesday, a day after the junta extended her detention amid the international community's outpouring of goodwill.

"Given the terrible human tragedy that has unfolded in Burma, the Australian government has recently tempered its remarks so far as the Burmese military regime has been concerned," said Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith. "But this particular matter cannot go without comment."

He expressed "regret" over Suu Kyi's extended detention in the country previously known as Burma.

Myanmar law not being followed
Her National League for Democracy party denounced the extension Wednesday as illegal, saying it would launch an appeal. Party spokesman Nyan Win said the regime should also open a public hearing on the case.

Under Myanmar law, anyone held for five years must be released or put on trial. The regime has not officially announced its decision to extend her detention or explained why it is violating its own law. A government official confirmed the extension of Suu Kyi's house arrest on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg said in a statement he was "outraged" by the news.

In Washington, U.S. President Bush said Tuesday he was "deeply troubled" by it, but stressed the U.S. would continue to provide aid to cyclone survivors. He called on the junta to release all political prisoners and to begin a genuine dialogue with Suu Kyi, leading to a transition to democracy.

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