Ex-political prisoner welcomes Suu Kyi's release

Naing Ko Ko. File photo / Paul Estcourt

A former Burmese political prisoner has welcomed the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and is hopeful she can pave the way for reconciliation and stability in Myanmar.

Naing Ko Ko, who now lives in Wellington, said he was confident the pro-democracy leader's release would see change in his homeland, also known as Burma.

"She is the hope of the nation," he said. "I think she is a hero of the freedom movement."

Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, 65, has spent the past seven years under house arrest, but the ruling military junta said there will be no restrictions on her freedoms. However, her National League for Democracy is still banned in the country.

Yesterday she told a gathering of around 5000 supporters the country must "strive for national reconciliation".

"I'm confident she will bring about reconciliation," Naing Ko Ko said. "It is very important she mentioned she doesn't hate the military regime, those that arrested her.

"She will need to encourage all the political groups to align with her. Then start dialogue with the generals and dialogue with the international community."

Naing Ko Ko was a student union leader and activist in Yangon and participated in the pro-democracy demonstrations of 1988. In 1992 he was suddenly arrested and spent the next seven years incarcerated. In 2006 he was accepted in New Zealand as a political refugee.

He said Suu Kyi's release highlights the plight of the country's 2202 political prisoners, dissidents the ruling junta refuse to acknowledge exist.

Naing Ko ko said Suu Kyi's release was timed to distract attention from the country's elections on November 8 (NZT), the first in 20 years.

The elections have been criticised as being manipulated to ensure the continuing rule of the military generals, who have been in power since 1962.

"Burma's economic and political situation cannot move without her," he said. "The release was in order to show international leaders they are doing well, to show they are progressing."

Naing Ko Ko said the Burmese people were badly oppressed in Myanmar, which has one of the world's worst human rights records.

"These generals are the most brutal - I could find a bad enough word for them," he said.

While pleased with Suu Kyi's release, Naing Ko Ko was concerned the leader might become a target.

"I'm really worried about her safety because she doesn't have her personal security. I'm wondering who will want to play the political game - who will want to assassinate her?

"We don't want to lose our national leader."

Naing Ko Ko, who intends to speak with Suu Kyi tonight, was hopeful he could safely return to the country in the future.

"I'm really excited to go back to Burma if I get the chance."