In an unprecedented move, 59 former heads of state from Europe, North and South Americas, Africa, and Asia today jointly called on Burma’s military regime to immediately release detained opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

The heads of state in a letter addressed to junta supremo Than Shwe, a copy of which was sent to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and all 15 members of the UN Security Council, urged the junta to release Burma’s Nobel Peace Laureate

“We strongly urge you to respond to the United Nations and countless other countries and regional groupings around the world by releasing Aung San Suu Kyi before May 27 and committing to participate in peaceful, tripartite dialogue as outlined by the General Assembly,” the letter said.

Aung San Suu Kyi, general secretary of Burma’s last election winning political party – the National League for Democracy, will complete her current term of detention on May 27.

She has been arrested thrice and has spent nearly 11 of the past 17 years in detention. She was last arrested in May 30, 2003 following a brutal attack on her entourage by junta-backed mobs during a political tour of central Burma.

The letter was released by former Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik and signed by former Presidents and Prime Ministers.

Among others, the letter was signed by former heads of state from Asia including Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, Filippino Presidents Corazon Aquino and Fidel Ramos, South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, Thailand Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, Indian Prime Ministers V.P. Singh and Chandra Shekhar, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammed, and Mongolian Prime Minister Elbegdorj Tsakhiagiin.

Meanwhile, the NLD today reiterated its call to Burma’s military junta to immediately release party leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The letter submitted to the junta head Than Shwe said as Suu Kyi’s current term of house arrest will expire on May 27 it is the appropriate time for the junta to release her for sake of national reconciliation in Burma.

The NLD won over 80 percent of parliamentary seats during Burma’s last general election 1990. Despite the then military leaders’ promise to hand over power, the junta refused to recognize the election results and detained Suu Kyi and her party elders.

Joining the chorus for the release of the 1991 Nobel Peace Laureate, Southeast Asian parliamentarians today reiterated their call for the immediate release of Burma ‘s democracy icon.

The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) in a statement released today said, it apprehends that Suu Kyi will not be released when her current term of house arrest comes under review on May 27.

The AIPMC said it is appalling that Suu Kyi is having to spend such a long period of time in detention without even a trial.

“AIPMC finds this abhorring and is appalled by the fact that Burma’s chosen leader is prevented from exercising her basic rights,” said the statement.

While supporting the initiative by the former Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik, who secured the endorsement of 50 former heads of state around the world to call for the immediate release of Suu Kyi, AIPMC called on governments around the world, particularly ASEAN countries, to strongly and willfully be vocal in ensuring that Suu Kyi’s detention is not extended.