Ban Ki-moon 'regrets' Suu Kyi detention decision
Ban Ki-moon has expressed his disappointment at the decision
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Wednesday, 28, May 2008 10:18
The United Nations (UN) secretary general Ban Ki-moon has expressed his disappointment at the decision by Burma's military to extend the house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi.
The country's ruling generals yesterday announced that were lengthening her house arrest.
Burma's democratically elected leader has been detained for 12 out of the last 18 years.
"I regret the decision of the government of Myanmar to extend, for a sixth consecutive year, the detention under house arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi," Mr Ban said.
The UN secretary general visited Burma last week but declared the reason for his trip was to discuss the aftermath of the recent cyclone only.
"I made it quite clear to them [the military government] that I was there for purely humanitarian grounds," he said.
Mr Ban made it clear, however, that he believed Aung San Suu Kyi should be released if democracy is to be restored in the country.
"The sooner restrictions on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other political figures are lifted, the sooner Myanmar (Burma) will be able to move towards inclusive national reconciliation, the restoration of democracy and full respect for human rights," Mr Ban concluded.
Yesterday, US president George Bush said he was "deeply troubled" by the extension of Suu Kyi's arrest.