This is file footage of Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. She’s now under house arrest here in Rangoon. Last week, the military junta that rules Burma promised it would release her—but most likely only after the national elections in November. And her lawyer says that if that’s the case, the elections won’t mean much.

[Nyan Win, Aung San Suu Kyi’s Lawyer]:
“If it means Aung San Suu Kyi will be released after the election, we think there will be no national reconciliation.”

In 1990, Suu Kyi ran for Prime Minister. Her party won in a landslide—but the military junta prevented her from taking office. They’ve kept her in detention or under house arrest for 15 of the last 21 years.

This year, the Burmese junta plans to hold the first parliamentary elections in two decades.

Suu Kyi’s lawyers have lodged an appeal against her house arrest with the Supreme Court. But they don’t expect a rapid decision—or even necessarily a fair one.

[Nyan Win, Aung San Suu Kyi’s Lawyer]:
“I suspect that the Supreme Court could make a decision effectively, or not. It will depend on the home minister’s words.”

Suu Kyi’s party, the National League for Democracy, has not yet said whether it would take part in the elections. Burmese military generals are portraying the elections as a step towards multi-party democracy. But opponents call it a sham designed to let the military retain real power.

Burma put a new constitution into effect in 2008. But Human Rights Watch said in a report earlier this month that the new constitution, “entrenches military rule and limits the role of independent political parties.”