Guest Comments by the Burma Partnership Secretariat

NEAR BURMA -- Rumors circulate about the possible release of Burma democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi within days after the upcoming elections. Her latest term of house arrest expires on November 13.

Agence France-Presse quotes an official from Burma's military regime: “November will be an important and busy month for us because of the election and Aung San Suu Kyi’s release.”

But as seen repeatedly, especially with disregard for election laws, the regime follows the law only when doing so suits its needs. We want Suu Kyi freed from house arrest, but the prospect raises key issues.

The regime often fails to live up to its words. As Burma Campaign UK director Mark Farmaner says, “We hope the reports are correct, but regime officials have said similar things in the past, and Suu Kyi remained in detention. We'll believe it when we see it.”

Time and again, the regime shows that rule of law does not apply to it and its cronies, but rather exists to exploit, oppress and restrict political opposition.

Suu Kyi's release date has been known since she was sentenced most recently in May 2009. Release after her sentence is not, and should not be seen as, a concession.

The release date falls six days after Burma's elections. When the regime announced its election date, many people noted a deliberate attempt to exclude the democracy leader from participating.

The regime knows that Suu Kyi remains a genuine threat to its hold on power. National League for Democracy leader U Win Tin indicates that once released, Suu Kyi plans to travel the country to educate the public about democracy. “Political awakening will be high again in the public,” he said.

Activists around the world urge the international community not to ease pressure on the Burma regime. Releasing the country's democracy leader does not make up for excluding her, the National League for Democracy, other democratic parties and thousands of political prisoners from the election.