Today marks the twelfth year of detention and house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi of Burma.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner has been held by Burma’s military junta, mostly under house arrest, for 12 of the past 18 years.

Ironically today is also the 62nd anniversary of the formation of the United Nations.

Sadly, unlike Australia which has just imposed financial sanctions on the junta the UN (which was formed to allow governments to deal with crises like those seen in Burma) is doing little to resolve this matter and free her.

If it is to reach it’s hundredth year then it needs to devote more time and effort to matters such as these.

KERA: Twelve years and counting for Myanmar’s Suu Kyi (2007-10-24)

CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australia slapped financial sanctions on Myanmar’s generals and their families on Wednesday as supporters of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi marked her 12 years in captivity with protests in 12 cities across the world.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the measures, in response to last month’s bloody crackdown on the biggest democracy protests in two decades, would hit 418 people, including junta leader Senior General Than Shwe.

“These new measures are designed to put further pressure on the regime and its supporters while avoiding harm to the people of Burma,” Downer said in a statement.

Given that two-way trade with the former Burma amounted to just A$54 million ($48 million) in 2006, the measures appear to be aimed mainly at junta family members going to Australian schools and universities.