The remarks by Min Lwin, rare for a Myanmar government official on an overseas visit, were in line with vague comments in recent years by the junta that it intends to free Suu Kyi soon. But officials have given no time frame and have made no real moves to release her despite hinting they would.
The detention would prevent her from participating in next year’s elections, unless she is granted a special release.
“There is a plan to release her soon ... so she can organise her party,” Min Lwin, a director-general in the Foreign Ministry, told The Associated Press at the Manila airport before boarding a flight to Singapore en route to Yangon.
He refused to elaborate, and it was not clear if he meant that Suu Kyi would be allowed to campaign.
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