U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Friday asked the government of Myanmar to release detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi “in the interest of the country, the region, and the world at large.” “I take this opportunity to appeal to General Than Shwe and the government to release her,” Annan said in a statement released in Bangkok, Thailand. He cited the recent visit to Myanmar by his envoy, U.N. top political affairs official Ibrahim Gambari, who met separately with Shwe and Suu Kyi. Suu Kyi has been under house arrest or detained for 10 of the past 16 years by Myanmar's military rulers for her role as leader of the National League of Democracy (NLD), which won a popular election in 1990. “I believe her release will facilitate national dialogue and allow for the National League for Democracy to participate in that dialogue,” said Annan. “For the democratic process and the reconciliation process to be truly successful, it has to be inclusive. And she has a role to play. And I'm relying on you, General Than Shwe, to do the right thing,” said Annan.
