U2 Feedback - aung san suu kyi may be freed

from the Wall Street Journal

Myanmar Prepares to End Restrictions
On Opposition Leader Aung San Suu Kyi

By BARRY WAIN
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

Myanmar's military government is preparing to lift restrictions on opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi after the latest visit to the country of a special United Nations envoy, say people familiar with the matter.

Such a decision, which could be announced as early as this week, would be welcomed by the international community as a possible breakthrough in efforts to end the 12-year confrontation between the ruling State Peace and Development Council and Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition National League for Democracy. It would open the way for a dialogue between the two sides on substantive issues, probably starting with less-contentious matters such as humanitarian aid to Myanmar.

The country formerly known as Burma has been isolated by Japan and the West since the military refused to honor the results of an election in 1990 won overwhelmingly by the NLD. Razali Ismail, a retired Malaysian diplomat representing U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, brought the SPDC and Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi together for secret talks in October 2000, but they haven't gone beyond what they call the "confidence-building" stage.

Since Tan Sri Razali left Yangon Friday expressing confidence that the talks were on track, various parties have dropped hints that developments are imminent. U.N. spokesman Fred Eckhard said in New York Friday that Tan Sri Razali is hopeful that "significant progress" is on the way, and that the U.N. expects the military authorities to make an announcement "shortly."