Myanmar extends Aung San Suu Kyi’s house arrest

YANGON – Myanmar’s junta has extended pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s house arrest by six months instead of a year as expected, an official said yesterday, raising hopes in her party that the Nobel peace laureate could be freed sooner than expected.

A spokesman for her National League for Democracy (NLD) also said the shorter-than-expected extension appeared to coincide with the military’s timetable for completing talks on a new constitution, set to resume next week. “She was officially informed on the evening of Sunday, November 27″ of the six-month extension, the government official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.The official could not explain why the latest extension was for only six months, or provide any details about the make-up of the delegation that delivered the notice.Aung San Suu Kyi has been detained since May 2003, with virtually no contact with the outside world.Her house arrest was last extended by 12 months one year ago.”Hopefully the shortened period means she will be released after six months,” said NLD spokesman U Lwin, adding that the party had yet to be officially informed of the extension.He said it meant her freedom could be tied to the junta’s timetable for completing its National Convention, where hand-picked delegates are working on a new constitution.- Nampa-AFP”She was officially informed on the evening of Sunday, November 27″ of the six-month extension, the government official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.The official could not explain why the latest extension was for only six months, or provide any details about the make-up of the delegation that delivered the notice.Aung San Suu Kyi has been detained since May 2003, with virtually no contact with the outside world.Her house arrest was last extended by 12 months one year ago.”Hopefully the shortened period means she will be released after six months,” said NLD spokesman U Lwin, adding that the party had yet to be officially informed of the extension.He said it meant her freedom could be tied to the junta’s timetable for completing its National Convention, where hand-picked delegates are working on a new constitution.- Nampa-AFP