Waiting for Suu Kyi

Jailed or under house arrest for over 15 of the last 21 years,the Nobel Peace Prize laureate has become a symbol for a struggle to rid the Southeast Asian country of decades of military rule.

My sources tell me that the release order has been signed, said Tin Oo,vice chairman of Suu Kyis party. I hope she will be released. He did not say when she would be freed or when the order had been signed. About 300 people gathered excitedly at the headquarters of the National League for Democracy,some wearing T-shirts reading,We stand with you. There is no law to hold Suu Kyi for another day. Her detention period expires on Saturday and she will be released, her lawyer,Nyan Win,told reporters.

The country held its first elections in two decades last Sunday in what the junta called a major step toward democracy,but Suu Kyi was barred from participating and critics called the balloting a sham aimed at cementing the militarys power.

State media announced Thursday the pro-junta political party had secured a majority in both houses of Parliament.

The partial results showed the Union Solidarity and Development Party had won 190 of 219 constituencies reported in the 330-seat Lower House and 95 of 107 seats in the 168-seat Upper House. Top members of the ruling junta were among those who won seats,including Prime Minister Thein Sein,who also heads the USDP.

The victory is a clear sign that the military,in civilian guise,will continue to control the country for the foreseeable future.

If she is released,Suu Kyi,65,plans to help her disbanded party probe allegations of election fraud,said Nyan Win,who is also a spokesman for the party.

Re-entering politics,especially in a manner that would embarrass the junta,poses the sort of challenge the military has met in the past by detaining Suu Kyi. While her NLD party was disbanded because it refused to participate in the elections,it remains enormously popular as a social movement.

Facts about Aung San Suu Kyi

Born in Yangon in June 1945,she is the daughter of General Aung San,an independence hero assassinated in 1947.

Studied politics in New Delhi and philosophy,politics and economics at Britains Oxford University.

Returned to Yangon in April 1988 to take care of her dying mother at a time of countrywide pro-democracy protests against the army regime. Helped set up the NLD party.

The junta placed her under house arrest in July 1989 for endangering the state. In 1990,even without her,the NLD won 392 of 485 parliamentary seats in Myanmars first election in almost 30 years. The military refused to relinquish power.

Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991,has been in prison or under house arrest off and on for 15 years since 1989.

Her husband Michael Aris died in Britain in 1999. She declined an offer from the junta to go to Britain for his funeral,fearing she would not be allowed back if she left.

She was initially freed in 1995,but was not allowed to travel outside Yangon to meet supporters. She was detained again soon after.

She was found guilty on August 2009 of breaking a security law by allowing American intruder John Yettaw to stay at her lakeside home for two nights. Critics said the charges were trumped up.

Suu Kyis lawyer said she would not dream of taking part in last Sundays election and her NLD boycotted the vote. As a result,the party was officially dissolved. Reuters