(CNN) -- Amid reports that the house arrest of Nobel laureate and democracy advocate Aung San Suu Kyi has been extended for another year, eyewitnesses tell CNN security at her home was beefed up on Sunday.Road blocks were set up on the street, with only military vehicles allowed to pass, eyewitnesses said.A number of military vehicles traveled in and out of the main gate of Suu Kyi's lakeside villa in Yangon, Myanmar.Unconfirmed reports said a military team met Suu Kyi briefly to inform her that her house arrest was extended. Although she has spent most of the last 15 years under house arrest, the most recent punishment stems from a bloody May 2003 clash between her supporters and a pro-government group during her political campaign. Afterwards, she and the top officials of her party, the National League for Democracy, were put under military custody.In late 2003, Suu Kyi was transferred to the villa where she has lived alone. Her telephone service was discontinued and her television was seized. Her only connection to the outside world is through an NLD official she meets with monthly.The military has ruled Myanmar, also known as Burma, since 1962.Suu Kyi was first put under house arrest in 1990, after she won a landslide election victory. Rather than honor the result, military rulers imprisoned her and fellow party leaders.Suu Kyi was briefly released from house arrest in 1996 and again in 2002. Both times, she continued her political campaign for democracy.Asked about the reports that Suu Kyi's house arrest has been extended, NLD spokesman U Lwin told CNN on Sunday he has not been informed by any official and could not comment, but that the extension would not surprise him.No official representing the military junta was available for comment.CNN Producer Narunart Prapanya contributed to this report.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home