Myanmar Reopens Headquarters of Opposition

Myanmar’s military government reopened the headquarters of Aung San Suu Kyi’s opposition National League for Democracy today, almost a year after shutting it, a party official said.

But it was unclear whether the step indicated that the government was preparing to release Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate detained last May after a clash between her followers and government supporters.

The junta, which denied orchestrating the violence, has come under fierce international pressure to end the crackdown on Suu Kyi, release hundreds of political prisoners and move toward democracy.

Early today, three government officials broke open the wax seal on a lock on the pro-democracy party’s office door near the Shwedagon Pagoda in the capital, Yangon, said Maung Maung Yin, an NLD official.

The development coincided with the first day of the new year in Myanmar, when people believe doing good deeds will earn them merit.

“It is an auspicious day, it’s New Year’s Day and we are very happy that the headquarters was reopened,” Maung Maung Yin said.

He said the three officials came to his house in the morning and asked him to accompany them while they broke the seal at the dilapidated two-story building.

Maung Maung Yin said the government officials told him that they would not enter the premises. “They said, ‘It is open now.’ ”

The military took power in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, in 1988 after crushing a democracy movement. It called elections in 1990 but refused to hand over power when the NLD won, instead jailing party workers and obstructing the group’s activities.

The military announced a “road map to democracy” in August, starting with fresh talks on a new constitution, which are due to begin May 17.

The NLD has refused to consider joining the talks until Suu Kyi and party Vice Chairman Tin Oo are freed from house arrest and meet with other senior party leaders.