PNoy welcomes Aung San Suu Kyi's release

President Benigno Aquino III on Sunday welcomed the release of Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, describing it as "a positive step in the direction towards democracy." "I welcome the decision of Myanmar's government to release Aung San Suu Kyi. While it is still unclear if there are conditions attached to her release, this is a positive step in the direction towards democracy," he said in a statement. Suu Kyi, 65, tasted freedom Saturday for the first time in seven and a half years. Her detention, which started in May 2003, has symbolized the struggle for democracy in the Southeast Asian nation ruled by the military since 1962. Suu Kyi has been jailed or under house arrest for more than 15 of the last 21 years. Despite this development, Aquino, son of Filipino democracy icon Corazon "Cory" Aquino, said Myanmar's struggle is far from over. "Other political prisoners have not been freed and the recently concluded elections has not been viewed as credible," he said. Aquino encouraged Myanmar's government to build upon the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and take concrete steps towards a more open and fair system. He said such efforts "will be surely welcomed by the rest of the international community." US President Barack Obama, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and British Prime Minister David Cameron had earlier welcomed Suu Kyi's release. - with AP/KBK, GMANews.TV