Annan Tells Burma to Free Detainees After Release of Activist

June 8 (Bloomberg) - Myanmar should augment the release of a human rights activist by freeing all political prisoners, starting with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan said.

Su Su Nway, who was jailed last October after she sued local government officials for imposing forced labor, was released two days ago, the UN said on its Web site. She was prosecuted for alleged criminal intimidation, the UN said.

Myanmar's military junta should "follow up this measure with further action that will alleviate the political atmosphere and promote national reconciliation, including the lifting of remaining restrictions'' on Suu Kyi and other prisoners, Annan said yesterday in a statement, according to the UN.

The U.S. is seeking a UN Security Council resolution criticizing Myanmar's detention of political prisoners after the junta last month extended Suu Kyi's house detention for a year. Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, has been under international sanctions since the junta rejected the results of elections in 1990 won by Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy.

Suu Kyi, 60, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, has been held at her home in Yangon since May 2003 and has spent 10 of the past 17 years in detention. The government in February extended a detention order on Tin Oo, deputy leader of the NLD, for 12 months, Agence France-Presse reported at the time.

Su Su Nway said after her release she didn't know why she had been freed before her 18-month prison term was concluded, AFP reported from Rangoon.

"I will continue to work for human rights and democracy with other NLD members,'' AFP cited her as saying.

UN Resolution

The U.S. government wants a UN resolution that reflects international concern over the policies of Myanmar 's military rulers. The activities of Myanmar 's government pose a threat to the "stability, peace and security of the region,'' the U.S. State Department said May 31.

Russia and China, which have veto powers as permanent members of the Security Council, may not support the U.S. resolution. Russia, China and Japan disagreed with the U.S. view of Myanmar at a May 31 briefing at the UN, AFP reported at the time, without saying where it obtained the information.

The Security Council in November requested a report from Annan on Suu Kyi and other human rights issues in Myanmar to signal to the junta that it must make progress on democratic changes. It didn't pass any resolution at that time.

Myanmar considers Suu Kyi's detention to be a domestic and not an international issue, AFP cited Myanmar's Foreign Minister Nyan Win as saying while visiting Malaysia May 29.

The military announced in 2003 it was implementing a plan to introduce democratic changes. A national convention began meeting in May 2004 to draw up a new constitution.

The UN and the U.S. have said the convention lacks legitimacy because several political and ethnic groups are excluded. The NLD is boycotting the convention because its leaders remain in detention.