Myanmar's democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, freed from seven years of house arrest, told thousands of wildly cheering supporters Sunday that she would continue to fight for human rights and the rule of law in the military-ruled nation.
She spoke to about 5,000 people who crowded around the dilapidated headquarters of her political party, the first stop for the Nobel Peace Prize laureate after leaving the lakeside residence that had been her prison.
"I believe in human rights and I believe in the rule of law. I will always fight for these things," she said. "I want to work with all democratic forces and I need the support of the people."
Suu Kyi earlier slipped into the small compound of her National League for Democracy as people shouted "We love Suu" amid thunderous applause.
Inside, she met with diplomats and was later scheduled to talk with the media, attend the funeral of a close friend and pay a customary visit to the city's sacred Shwedagon pagoda.
"This is an unconditional release. No restrictions are placed on her," her lawyer Nyan Win said.
There was speculation whether she would use her newfound freedom to challenge the ruling military head-on, or be more conciliatory.
In her speech, she did not sound a strident note, speaking about working toward national reconciliation and saying she bore no grudge against those who had held her in detention for more than 15 of the last 21 years.
She thanked her well-wishers and asked them to pray for those still imprisoned by the regime. Human rights groups say the junta hold more than 2,200 political prisoners.
In her first public appearance Saturday evening, Suu Kyi indicated she would continue with her political activity but did not specify whether she would challenge the military with mass rallies and other activities that led to her earlier detentions.
"We have a lot of things to do," said Suu Kyi, the 65-year-old charismatic and relentlessly outspoken woman who has come to symbolize the struggle for democracy in the isolated and secretive nation once known as Burma. The country has been ruled by the military since 1962.
But while her release thrilled her supporters — and also clearly thrilled her — it came just days after an election that was swept by the ruling junta's proxy political party and decried by Western nations as a sham designed to perpetuate authoritarian control.
Many observers have questioned whether it was timed by the junta to distract the world's attention from the election. It is also unlikely that the ruling generals will allow Suu Kyi, who drew huge crowds of supporters during her few periods of freedom, to actively and publicly pursue her goal of bringing democracy to Myanmar.
While welcoming the release, European Commissioner Jose Manuel Barroso urged that no restrictions be placed on her.
"It is now crucial that Aung San Suu Kyi has unrestricted freedom of movement and speech and can participate fully in her country's political process," he said.
President Barack Obama called Suu Kyi "a hero of mine."
"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, incarcerated, and deprived of any opportunity to engage in political processes," he said in a statement.
Others in Myanmar hailed Suu Kyi as the only one who might unite the poor, isolated country.
"She's our country's hero," said Tin Tin Yu, a 20-year-old university student, standing near the house later Saturday night. "Our election was a sham. Everyone knows it, but they have guns so what can we do? She's the only one who can make our country a democracy."
Critics say the Nov. 7 elections were manipulated to give the pro-military party a sweeping victory.
Myanmar's last elections in 1990 were won overwhelmingly by her National League for Democracy, but the military refused to hand over power and instead clamped down on opponents.
Suu Kyi was convicted last year of violating the terms of her previous detention by briefly sheltering an American man who swam uninvited to her lakeside home, extending a period of continuous detention that began in 2003 after her motorcade was ambushed in northern Myanmar by a government-backed mob.
Suu Kyi took up the democracy struggle in 1988, as mass demonstrations were breaking out against 25 years of military rule. She was quickly thrust into a leadership role, mainly because she was the daughter of Aung San, who led Myanmar to independence from Britain before his assassination by political rivals.
She rode out the military's bloody suppression of street demonstrations to help found the NLD. Her defiance gained her fame and honor, most notably the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize.
In 1989, she was detained on national security charges and put under house arrest. Out of the last 21 years, she has been jailed or under house arrest for more than 15.
Suu Kyi's freedom had been a key demand of Western nations and groups critical of the military regime's poor human rights record, which includes the continued detention of some 2,200 political prisoners and brutal military campaigns against ethnic minorities. The military government, seeking to burnish its international image, had responded previously by offering to talk with her, only to later shy away from serious negotiations.
Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said the Republic welcomes the release of Myanmar's pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest.
It said her release is a positive step for Myanmar.
The ministry said Singapore, together with ASEAN, have consistently called on Myanmar to release Suu Kyi and engage in a meaningful dialogue with her and all political groups, in an open and inclusive process of national reconciliation.
It said this will lay the foundation for the country's long-term political stability and development.
The ministry also urges all parties to make a new beginning and work together for the good of the country and region.
Indonesia said the release of Myanmar's democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was a "positive step" towards national reconciliation in the country, an official said Sunday.
"Her release was a positive step towards national reconciliation in Myanmar, that's the president's (Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono) statement," presidential spokesman for international affairs Teuku Faizasyah told AFP.
"We welcome the decision to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and we strongly hope her release will generate national reconciliation in Myanmar," he added.
The 65-year-old dissident and Nobel Peace Prize winner walked free Saturday after seven years of house arrest, calling on a sea of jubilant supporters to unite in the face of repression by the country's military rulers.
Indonesia has embraced democracy since the fall of military strongman Suharto in 1998.
The Myanmar community in Malaysia is overjoyed with the release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, but they expressed scepticism over the sincerity of the military junta.
"Our people need her, the whole country needs her," National League for Democracy (Liberated Area) Malaysia spokesman Bobo Myint said yesterday.
He added that the community was gathering its members for a special meeting today at their office in Taman Puchong Intan here.
"We are very happy and welcome the announcement of her release," he said during a phone interview yesterday.
He said the movement had almost 10,000 members in Malaysia.
Student activist Tony was happy but sceptical about the junta's intention in releasing Suu Kyi.
"I think there must be some economic incentive or international political gains that have not been revealed yet.
"Maybe the junta sees this as a way to end economic sanctions or improve engagement with the international community," he said.
He said the military rulers could overturn the release anytime.
"They must be very confident that she will not mobilise the public or threaten security. They can still use several laws to detain her again if they feel threatened."
For blogger and former student leader Moe who has been living in Malaysia for the last decade, the release of Suu Kyi brought a ray of hope for him and his countrymen.
"She is the one who can create dialogue between the pro-democratic activists and the junta."
He was optimistic that Suu Kyi could mobilise the different factions in the country as well as outside to work towards democracy.
Moe, who formed the Burma Refugee Organisation here, said he hoped this would encourage the international community to take more action to help Myanmar refugees worldwide.
A refugee who only wanted to be known as Wayne, said the release of Suu Kyi made no difference to him and his family as he did not think that the junta would allow her to work towards reconciliation bet ween the central government and ethnic states.
"I don't think we will be able to go home any time soon."
Malaysia alongside with other Asean countries had been consistent in calling for her release.
"Malaysia firmly believes that the unconditional release of Aung San Suu Kyi will contribute significantly towards Mynamar's efforts in its national reconciliation process, which could pave the way for stability, peace and prosperity in the country," it said in a Bernama report.
It said Malaysia was of the view that the international community should look into providing aid and assistance to Myanmar to encourage Myanmar to develop its capacity to implement the country's "Road Map to Democracy".
Sources from: BERNAMA (MY), Malaysian Digest (MY), The Telegraph (UK), MSN News (US), The Star (MY), Channel News Asia (SG).
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