YANGON, Myanmar — Myanmar’s ruling junta released the deputy leader of the country’s pro-democracy party from nearly seven years in detention but offered no indication that he or still-detained party leader Aung San Suu Kyi would be allowed to take part in this year’s elections.
The release of 82-year-old Tin Oo, who helped found the National League for Democracy with Suu Kyi, comes shortly before a U.N. envoy visits Myanmar, also known as Burma, to evaluate the regime’s progress on human rights.
“The release of Tin Oo is very welcome, but we should not attach any political significance to the release,” said Mark Farmaner, director of rights group Burma Campaign UK.
“Burmese democracy activists are regularly released when the generals want to score points with the international community, and are then arrested again later.”
Speaking after police officers entered his house and announced his release, a defiant Tin Oo told reporters, “I will continue to work for democracy.”
Tin Oo, whose latest term of detention expired Saturday, had spent nearly seven years in prison and under house arrest. The junta has renewed his detention on an annual basis since his arrest in 2003.
