Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi released

After almost twenty years of continuous detention, first in a prison then in house arrest, the leader of the Burmese political party National League for Democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi was released by the ruling Burmese military junta.

Although her party, the NLD, won the 1990 general election in Burma, they were prevented from taking power by the military and forced into disbandment. Its leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, was arrested and held against her will until today.

Burma held elections last week, but the results, with more than 80% of all votes favoring the current military regime and parties allied with the regime, are widely held to be fixed, with many reports of coercion and the random disqualification of apparently qualified candidates.

Whether from international pressure, a need to restore their tattered reputation, or simply humanitarian good will, the Burmese generals decision to release the famous political prisoner has been meet with international celebration and applause.

On the other hand, President Obama stated today that “whether Aung San Suu Kyi is living in the prison of her house, or the prison of her country, does not change the fact that she, and the political opposition she represents, has been systematically silenced”.

In addition, since the NLD party was disbanded and many of its former members jailed or blacklisted, Aung San Suu Kyi’s future direction is very unclear at this point. How she will live up to her worldwide praise as an “inspiration” and “hero” in such an oppressive environment still remains to be seen.