US Disappointed by Suu Kyi's Detention

By LALIT K JHA

WASHINGTON — The United States said on Tuesday it is disappointed by the continued detention of Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest and the Burmese junta’s failure to heed international calls for her release.

“We are disappointed that the regime continues to ignore the calls of the international community, including the UN Security Council, to release the more than 2,100 political prisoners immediately and unconditionally,” US State Department acting spokesman Robert Wood said in a statement.

The US once again urged Burmese authorities to release all political prisoners and initiate a genuine dialogue that can help move the country toward political reconciliation.

The statement came in the wake of the latest ruling from a UN body which said that the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi is illegal both under international and Burmese domestic laws.

The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in its order said the continued detentions of Aung San Suu Kyi, Aung Myin, Ko Jimmy, Paw Oo Tun, and Mtay Win Aung are arbitrary and unjustified.

It said the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi is in contravention of Burma’s own law. The UN working group urged the Burmese government to release these individuals immediately.

“The Working Group . . . declare[s] Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi’s placement under house arrest [is] arbitrary, being in contravention of Articles 9, 10, and 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights . . . and even domestic law . . . which itself contradicts to [sic] the basic principles and norms of modern international law . . . Consequent upon this Opinion, the Working Group requests the Government to immediately release, without any condition, Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi from her continued placement under house arrest,” the order said.

The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention is an independent and impartial body of the Human Rights Council. It consists of experts from Chile, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Senegal and Spain.

Meanwhile, Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs Karel Schwarzenberg also announced his concern upon the release of the UNWGAD opinion on the ongoing detention of Suu Kyi.

"I use this opportunity to urge again the Burmese authorities not to violate its own and international law. I appeal on the Burmese junta to immediately and unconditionally release ASSK and all other political prisoners and detainees and begin an inclusive and genuine dialogue with the opposition groups and ethnic groups leading to their equitable participation in the political process," Karel said.