Date: May 24, 2008

National League for Democracy (NLD) leader and Nobel Prize Winner Daw Aung San Suu Kyi must be released immediately, said the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) today.

The current detention order - which according to State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) law can be imposed for a maximum period of five years – is due to expire at midnight tonight.

“Now is a critical moment for Burma . If Senior General Than Shwe wisely decided to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and cooperate with her, especially to help cyclone victims, it would bring hope to the suffering. It would be the best medicine for people who are suffering from depression as a result of the humanitarian crisis,” said AAPP's Secretary General Ko Tate Naing.

“Otherwise, Than Shwe's regime is neglecting the interests of its people and openly flouting its own law. We strongly urge leaders around the world including the US , EU and ASEAN to put pressure on the regime to abide by its laws and release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi immediately,” continued Ko Tate Naing.

In May 2003, NLD Chairperson U Tin Oo and NLD General Secretary Daw Aung San Suu Kyi undertook a political tour of upper Burma . Whilst on the tour, their supporters were subjected to a brutal premeditated attack by the junta and its thug group, the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) led by Senior General Than Shwe. Although U Tin Oo, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and many NLD members managed to escape unharmed from the planned attacked by the junta, around 70 supporters were reportedly beaten to death and many more were injured. Following the incident, which became known as the Depayin massacre, NLD leaders U Tin Oo and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi were detained on 24 May 2003 .

U Tin Oo and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi were charged under the State Protection Act 10(b). In order to detain them under this law, the junta set up a central body, made up of Senior General Than Shwe, a Minister of Defense, a Minister for Home Affairs and a minister for Foreign Affairs. According to SPDC law, this central body has the right to place detention orders on individuals for a period not exceeding one year at a time, up to a maximum period of five years.

AAPP

For more information:

Please Contact: Ko Tate Naing at +66-81-2878751

Ko Bo Kyi at +66-81-3248935