photo courtesy of al jazeera image:29646:0::0

Laura Bush, US first lady, and female US senators have added their voices to the international demands that Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, be freed.

The US state department has also condemned the detention of Suu Kyi and other activists in Myanmar. It said these detentions showed the government had "renewed its assault on human rights."

Earlier this week, the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean), of which Myanmar is a member, called for Aung San Suu Kyi's release. Asean has a policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of its member nations but broke this policy in asking for Suu Kyi's freedom.

"We have made these calls repeatedly, and Myanmar has found it difficult to respond," said Imron Cotan, head of the Indonesian delegation at a meeting of senior Asean diplomats.

Observers say that there is little indication that Suu Kyi will be freed when her term of detention expires. Most observers expect the government of Myanmar--formerly Burma--to extend her detention for another year. It has done this annually for the past three years.

"In a rare intervention in foreign policy matters, the US first lady also urged China to 'stand with us' in calling for Aung San Suu Kyi's release." China has close economic and military ties with Myanmar's government and has said it will not involve itself in Myanmar's internal affairs. It has vetoed United Nations resolutions condemning the Myanmar government in the past.

Democratic senator Dianne Feinstein said that the purpose of the newly-formed senate caucus was "to shine a light on one of the most critical human rights situations in the world today." She declared that Suu Kyi's detention "reflected the plight of all people in Myanmar."

photo courtesy of al jazeera image:29647:0::0

"The situation in Burma is not just about one woman," Feinstein stated. "It's also about the treatment of a people who live under the fist of repression."

Aung San Suu Kyi has been either in prison or under house arrest for 11 of the last 17 years. Her current term of detention started in May of 2003 when she and other members of her opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), were attacked by what human rights groups said was a "government orchestrated mob."

NLD officials declared that at least 60 activists were arrested this past week for holding prayer vigils calling for Suu Kyi to be released.