Following the August 11 ruling on the case of Burmese pro-democracy advocate Aung San Suu Kyi, international bodies and governments have joined in condemning the 18-month sentence imposed on Suu Kyi for the charge of violating the terms of her house arrest. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay echoed Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in a statement expressing her concern over the verdict:

“I deplore the ongoing persecution of a democratically elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, for almost a quarter of a century. I am seriously disturbed by her arbitrary detention.”

U.S. Secretary of State Clinton joined in condemning the sentence, calling for the immediate release of Suu Kyi and other political prisoners held in Myanmar: “She should not have been tried, and she should not have been convicted. We continue to call for her release. We also call for the release of more than 2,000 political prisoners.”

UN human rights chief joins call for release of Myanmar opposition figure-UN News Center

Myanmar Sentence Draws Criticism-The New York Times