AP

Posted: 2008-02-13 13:10:29

YANGON, Feb. 14 (Kyodo) – Myanmar’s military government on Wednesday extended the house arrest of the vice chairman of detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party for another year, official sources confirmed.

The order came just four days after the junta announced it would go ahead with its own democratic process by holding a constitutional referendum in May this year and a general election in 2010, the move critics say is a sham as the regime continues to ignore calls from the United Nations and the international community to engage in genuine dialogue with the NLD and the ethnic minorities.

Tin Oo, 81, who has been under house arrest since Feb. 13, 2004, was informed of the extension by the authorities Wednesday evening, the official sources who asked for anonymity said.

Before Tin Oo was placed under house arrest, he had been imprisoned following a deadly clash between supporters of Suu Kyi and pro-government demonstrators in northern Myanmar in late May 2003.

Under a 1975 security law, detention can be extended annually for up to five years.

Suu Kyi is also under house arrest, which was extended for another year on May 25, 2007.

The NLD won the general elections in 1990 by a landslide but was blocked by the junta from taking power.