Mizzima News

New Delhi - At least 30 youth members from Burma's primary opposition party – National League for Democracy – on Friday arrived at the party's head office in hope of hearing the news that detained party leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi would be released.

The youth came to the party's head office in West Shwegondine of Bahan Township in Rangoon, after hearing a rumor suggesting that the detained Burmese democracy icon would be released.  

A party youth member, and in-charge of the South Dagon Township NLD, who was among the thirty youth that went to the office on Friday, said, "We all went to the party office to inquire about the release of Suu Kyi, but a party official said it was only a rumor."

Nyan Win, the NLD's spokesperson, said, "We have not heard anything about it. A number of our members have inquired about it," declining to further comment on the issue.

The rumors came only days after authorities removed barbwire barricades on University Avenue from blocking access to Aung San Suu Kyi's lakeside villa.

The rumor, whose origins are untraceable, began spreading like wildfire on Monday, the day after the barricades were removed.

"We heard about the rumor since Monday, though we don't know the source. And we heard that she [Aung San Suu Kyi] will be released on Friday, so youth members went to the office to check it out," the youth in-charge of South Dagon Township said.

The Burmese Nobel Peace Laureate has spent 13 of the past 19 years in solitary confinement. She was last arrested in May 2003, after her motorcade was attacked by a junta-backed mob in the town of Depayin while she was on a political tour of upper Burma.

In recent months, party members and her personal lawyer have complained that her period of detention exceeds more than what Burmese law permits without trial – a maximum of five years. But the junta said the law allows up to six years, and extended her detention period when the original five year term expired in May.

Her lawyer, Kyi Win, on her behalf, has submitted a petition to the government requesting for a review of her detention period.

But Nyan Win said there has so far been no reply from the government regarding the petition.