UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has expressed regret at the decision of the Myanmar Supreme Court's decision to turn down the appeal by opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to release her for more than a decade-long house arrest. "The Secretary-General is disappointed to learn that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's appeal against her continued house arrest was again rejected today," UN spokesperson Martin Nesirky said in a statement. "The Secretary-General reiterates his call for the release of all political prisoners and their free participation in the political process. These are essential steps for national reconciliation and democratic transition in Myanmar,he added. During his two-day visit to Myanmar in July 2009,Ban made three demands on Myanmar leadership - to release 2,200 political prisoners,hold free and fair elections in 2010,and resume a dialogue between the government and opposition. In February,the UN's special envoy on human rights in Burma Tomas Ojea Quintana was again denied a meeting Suu Kyi. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi,64,has been under detention for most of the past two past decades. She is the leader of the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD),which won the national elections in 1990. Last year,Suu Kyi was sentenced to 18 months of house detention for violating terms of her detention after an uninvited American swam ashore to her house where she was already being held. Her lawyer appealed against the decision in November and now turning down her appeal will prevent her from running in the first elections in almost 20 years scheduled for 2010. The US and other Western nations have been imposing sanctions because of Myanmar's refusal to release Suu Kyi,and military junta has been accused of human rights violations in the country. In the past,China and Russia have vetoed Security Council resolutions against Myanmar. According to a report in 'The Guardian' British ambassador Andrew Heyn attended the court session along with diplomats from Australia,France and the US. "Although the decision comes as no surprise,it is deeply disappointing," he said. "We continue to believe that [Aung San Suu Kyi should be released immediately,along with the other 2,000 and more prisoners of conscience," he said. Earlier,this month Tin Oo,82,the deputy leader of the NLD was released after six years in detention.
