Reports are emerging from Burma that the Burmese military junta may be planning to release the imprisoned pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi in November. Burma’s Home Minister, Major General Maung Oo, reportedly told a meeting of business leaders and local officials that the Nobel Peace Prize winner would be released in November when her house arrest ends. Human rights activist Debbie Stothard said the promise to free Suu Kyi might be a false alarm ahead of the national elections.

Debbie Stothard: “We have to be cautious that the regime has always played a game with ASEAN and the international community by making false promises and raising expectations that Aung San Suu Kyi will be released. And they’ve always promised Aung San Suu Kyi’s release when they start to feel that the pressure is too much on them. We could see very clearly in the international community and also inside Burma that there is a lack of credibility over the election.”