Timeline:
| 11 Nov |
loses an appeal against her house arrest |
| 13 Nov |
Released from house arrest
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14 Nov
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first public speech in front of 40,000 people followed by a press conference
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| 15 Nov |
meeting with diplomats in Yangon
meeting with leaders of her party
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| 16 Nov |
files an affidavit with the country's High Court to have her political party reinstated
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17 Nov
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visits a group of HIV sufferers at a "safe-house" run by her party
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Actions:
- promised to continue working towards national reconciliation and to work out differences with the Junta. She also said: “I want to meet and talk with [Than Shwe] directly.” (14 Nov)
- vowed to focus on political prisoners still in jail and did not ask for the lifting of international sanctions in her first meeting with diplomats (15 Nov)
- called for unity - saying “We must work together in unison” (13 Nov)
- urged the international community "to play an active and constructive role, most immediately by pressing the authorities to release the other 2,100 political prisoners."
Statements:
- Told diplomats that "no conditions had been imposed on her freedom" but she had no immediate travel plans.
- She said “I don’t hate the people who detained me.” and went on to thank her captors for treating her well, and asked them to do the same for the Burmese people.
- is sure democracy would come to the country eventually, although she does not know how long it would take
- her aim is for a peaceful revolution in Myanmar; she does not want the junta to fall but to change and serve the country better. She said "I don't want to see the military falling. I want to see the military rising to dignified heights of professionalism and true patriotism," and "I think we also have to try to make this thing happen... Velvet revolution sounds a little strange in the context of the military, but a non-violent revolution. Let's put it that way".
- “We need public support to achieve (national reconciliation), so I wish to listen to the people first”
- "I am willing to work hand in hand with other democratic forces in the country" (Nov 14th)
- told party colleagues she is even ready to work for democracy with the junta-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP)
Election activities :
The NLD has formed a committee to investigate allegations of election fraud
Partnership with New Parties elected :
- Democratic Party Myanmar - hopes to meet with ASSK in the coming weeks to discuss ways to work together
- National Democratic Force leader Khin Maung Swe said he was delighted ASSK had been released and that his National Democratic Force was ready to co-operate with her.
- Naing Ngwe Thein, the chairman of the All Mon Region Democracy Party, said that he and other ethnic leaders planned to meet with ASSK as soon as possible.
Ethnic issue:
ASSK expressed her intention to work on a second Panglong conference at which all ethnic leaders would meet to discuss the future of the country. Ethnic political party's leaders whose parties won seats in the Nov. 7 election have expressed support for her decision
International Reactions:
Leaders around the world hailed her release on November 13th
- ASEAN chief Surin Pitsuswan said was 'very, very relieved' at Aung San Suu Kyi's release, and that he hoped she will not be detained again.
- UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon called on the Burma's junta to follow Saturday's release of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi by freeing all political prisoners, a UN spokesman said.
- Chinese foreign ministry spokesman declined to comment on ASSK's release
- Thai Prime Minister said the release of ASSK is a positive sign but "exactly what this will lead to I think remains to be seen because there are a number of factors, transitions according to the constitution, elections, the clashes with the minorities that have taken place over the last week"
- Norway's Nobel committee invited Aung San Suu Kyi to Oslo to make a belated acceptance speech for the peace prize she won 19 years ago but did not pick up.
The UN Security Council and UN General Assembly are both to discuss Myanmar on Nov 18th.
A draft resolution on human rights in Myanmar, drawn up by European nations with the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, is to be voted at the UN General Assembly. It expresses grave concern at "arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, rape and other forms of sexual violence, torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment." It urges the government to undertake an "impartial and independent investigation" into reports of human rights but does not mention calls for an inquiry into possible crimes against humanity as a UN rights expert has urged.
Issue of Sanctions:
- ASSK noted that many of the people who flocked to see her looked poor. "If people really want sanctions to be lifted, I will consider this," she said.
- East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta urged the United States and Europe to lift sanctions against Myanmar, calling them "morally not good." (15 Nov)
- Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd has spoken to Ms Suu Kyi, and his spokeswoman made it clear Canberra could be flexible on the issue.
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