SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN MYANMAR DEEPLY REGRETS EXTENSION OF HOUSE ARREST OF TIN OO

16 February 2007

The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, issued the following statement today:


The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, deeply regrets the extension, on Tuesday 14 February 2007, by one year of the house arrest of Tin Oo, the Vice-Chairman of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party. Tin Oo has been in detention since May 2003 despite calls by the party and international community to release him.

The Special Rapporteur urgently calls on the Government of Myanmar to unconditionally release Tin Oo, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been held hostage without charge or trial for over ten years, as well as all remaining prisoners of conscience. This will be critical in facilitating national reconciliation and democratic transition, to which the Myanmar leadership has committed itself.