PM calls for 'genuine dialogue' in Burma
Aung San Suu Kyi
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By Mike Trudeau.
Gordon Brown has written a personal letter to Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi pledging his continuing support and praising her courage.
In the letter, published on the Downing Street website on Wednesday, the prime minister expressed his dismay at her ongoing house arrest.
"Your continuing detention is only the most visible evidence of the bad faith of a regime which has so far shown no signs of listening to regional or international calls for an end to its violent behaviour," Mr Brown said.
"I continue to call upon the regime to engage with you and allow you further contact with diplomats in Rangoon, and to start a genuine dialogue that can give the Burmese people back their future and their hope."
Although she was elected as prime minister in the general election of 1990, Ms Suu Kyi had already been sentenced to house arrest. She has remained detained in Myanmar for the majority of the last 20 years.
In August 2009 her sentence was extended by 18 months after American John Yettaw swam across a lake to her villa in Rangoon and stayed the night.
In November 2009 a Burmese politician said that Ms Suu Kyi may be released so she could "organise her party" for the 2010 elections. However, he gave no details as to whether or not she would be allowed to campaign or stand for election herself.
Anna Roberts, the director of the Burma Campaign UK, said: "They've been saying these sorts of things for a long time but they have never delivered on them.
"The regime's main concern is to get economic sanctions lifted and get approval for the sham elections next year."