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Burma appeal as detentions soar Suu Kyi appeal ruling next month
(about 7 hours later)
Lawyers for Burma's democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi are appealing against her 18-month house arrest extension. A Burmese court will give its verdict on opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's appeal against her extended house arrest next month, her lawyers said.
Ms Suu Kyi is not being allowed to appear in court in person. Official media have been defending the decision. Government and defence lawyers made their final arguments in a Rangoon hearing that was closed to Ms Suu Kyi.
Separately, Human Rights Watch has reported that the number of political prisoners in Burma has doubled in two years, to 2,200. She was found guilty of violating the terms of her house arrest after a US intruder stayed at her home.
The military regime has been marking 21 years in its current form by claiming the release of 7,000 prisoners. Ms Suu Kyi was sentenced to a further 18 months' house arrest, which will keep her out of elections next year.
Prison releases in the past have been used to free non-political prisoners and are often accompanied or followed by increased arrests of political and other prisoners. She has already spent 14 of the past 20 years in detention.
Burma's generals are planning elections next year that will be a sham if their opponents are in prison Tom Malinowski, Human Rights Watch Prisoner amnesty
Aung San Suu Kyi's detention was extended after she was convicted of breaching security laws by allowing an uninvited US man into her home. Her appeal hearing came a day after Burma's military rulers announced they would grant amnesty to more than 7,000 prisoners.
Ms Suu Kyi has spent 14 of the last 20 years in detention. The latest sentence has drawn international condemnation, and means she cannot take part in elections next year. They were expected to be released on Friday to mark the 21st anniversary of the seizure of power by the military junta.
Appeals have also been filed on behalf of two of the opposition leader's companions, who were convicted on similar charges, her lawyers added. Twenty political prisoners are reported to be among those to be released, including two prominent members of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) and two journalists jailed for their reporting of Cyclone Nargis last year.
Rights record Human Rights Watch has reported that the number of political prisoners in Burma has doubled in two years, to 2,200.
The number of political prisoners in Burma's notorious jails has doubled in the two years since the military crushed protests led by Buddhist monks, says the New York-based group Human Rights Watch (HRW). Burma has been ruled by its military since 1962. The NLD won elections in 1990 but the military never allowed it to take power.
It has reported that there are more than 2,200 people jailed for their beliefs in 43 jails, often held in solitary confinement in small, dark cells.
General Than Shwe has ruled Burma since 1992
"Burma's generals are planning elections next year that will be a sham if their opponents are in prison," said HRW's Tom Malinowski.
"Beginning in late 2008, closed courts and courts inside prisons sentenced more than 300 activists, including political figures, human rights defenders, labour activists, artists, journalists, Internet bloggers, and Buddhist monks and nuns to lengthy prison terms.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) suspended prison visits in the country in early 2006, citing the regime's failure to authorise visits since late 2005.
The regime had insisted its officers be present at visits - a contravention of the ICRC's operating procedures.
Meanwhile, there have been at least seven explosions in the northern part of Burma's main city, Rangoon.Meanwhile, there have been at least seven explosions in the northern part of Burma's main city, Rangoon.
A Burmese official said there was minor damage but no casualties.A Burmese official said there was minor damage but no casualties.
Information coming out of Burma is tightly controlled by the military government, and there has been no indication of who may have been behind the blasts. Information coming out of Burma is tightly controlled by the military government and there has been no indication of who may have been behind the blasts.