Myanmar pro-democracy activist and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi lost her latest appeal for freedom Friday, October 2.
A divisional court found that Suu Kyi breached the terms of her house arrest when an uninvited guest stayed at her home in August. She was sentenced to 18 additional months of confinement in her home.
Suu Kyi has now been under house arrest for 14 of the past 20 years.
A Burmese court recently heard arguments from the lawyers of pro-democracy activist and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in an appeal of her criminal conviction, handed down in early August. Sentenced to three years in prison, Suu Kyi received a commuted sentence of 18 months shortly after the verdict in her case was read. For 14 of the past 20 years, the opposition leader has been in some form of detention. A decision is expected from the court at a later date.
In related news, the government of Myanmar granted amnesty to 7,114 prisoners on September 17, either on humanitarian grounds or for good behavior, VOA news reports. The news agency further adds that human rights groups believe an additional 2,200 political prisoners continue to be held in detention by the government.
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.”
In a verdict delivered on August 11, Burmese pro-democracy leader and activist Aung San Suu Kyi was convicted of violating the terms of her house arrest and sentenced to three years hard labor, a sentence which “was quickly commuted to a new term of house arrest for up to 18 months,” The New York Times reports. Suu Kyi will soon return to the villa where Myanmar’s junta has been keeping the Nobel Peace Prize laureate for 14 of the past 20 years. Jared Genser, international counsel for Suu Kyi based in Washington, responded to the verdict:
“The outcome of this trial has never been in doubt. The real question is how the international community will react –will it do more than simply condemn this latest injustice?”
The May re-arrest of Suu Kyi came about after an American intruded her home and Suu Kyi was subsequently charged with violating the terms of her house arrest. The commuted sentence will “ensure that Mrs. Aung San Suu Kyi will be confined during a parliamentary election due next year,” which many analysts believe was the true motive behind her arrest, as The New York Times describes.
Senior General Than Shwe delivered the commuted sentence in court, explaining the government’s decision with three reasons, as CNN reports: out of honor for Suu Kyi’s father, General Aung San, who “played an instrumental role in bringing about the country’s independence”; to avoid instability in preparation for the democratic elections next year; because leaders of the regime “did not want to create further division among citizens.”
A verdict is expected on August 11 after several delays in the case of Burmese democracy leader and activist Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been detained since May on what human rights advocates have regarded as arbitrary charges intended to prevent Suu Kyi from nationwide elections scheduled for 2010. Suu Kyi has been charged with violating the terms of her house arrest after a bizarre turn of events involving an American intruder, John Yettaw, in her home. For 14 of the last 20 years, the pro-democracy leader has been either imprisoned or under house arrest imposed by Myanmar government forces; her May re-arrest coincided with the expiration of Suu Kyi’s house arrest sentence.
The U.S. Department of State recently released a statement informing that it is revisiting its “policy of economic sanctions and political confrontation,” as related to Myanmar and the trial of Suu Kyi, The New York Times reports. The upcoming elections in Myanmar will be the first nationwide elections to be held since 1990, when the military annulled the election after Suu Kyi’s party, the National League for Democracy, won overwhelmingly.
July 31- A verdict in the trial of Burmese democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi has been further delayed, reports The New York Times, until August 11. Charged with violating the terms of her house arrest, which has been imposed for 14 of the last 20 years, Suu Kyi is currently being detained and faces a prison sentence if convicted. Suu Kyi had this to say of the impending ruling:
“I’m afraid the verdict will be painfully obvious.”
Jared M. Gesner, a lawyer specializing in trials of political prisoners and working with American non-profit Freedom Now on Suu Kyi’s case, expressed his opinion that the delay was an intentional move to “push off the verdict until the middle of August when numerous government and United Nations officials around the world will be on vacation.”
The UN Secretary-General recently traveled to Burma in what was perceived as a risky diplomatic effort, hoping to impress upon the leader of the military government a need for the preservation of human rights and the immediate release of imprisoned democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi. Unfortunately, Ban Ki-moon left Burma disappointed after a two day visit, with “nothing concrete to show for his venture” after having been denied a visit with Suu Kyi, according to TIME.
In honor of the 64th birthday of imprisoned Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, supporters within global civil society have launched a campaign called ’64 for Suu’, through which individuals can send the advocate a message of support.
Whether in the form of video, photo or written text, messages from around the world are paying tribute to the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, who has served as a symbol for the democratization of Burma. Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Bono of U2 have posted their 64 words alongside government officials, NGO activists and concerned citizens, forming a unique community of support for Suu Kyi, who is currently facing trial and a five-year imprisonment sentence.
Aung San Suu Kyi, Burmese opposition party leader and devoted advocate for the democratization of Myanmar, was charged in May alongside three activists and party members for the alleged violation of the rules of her house arrest. Currently being held in Insein Prison, Aung San Suu Kyi has been in court facing trial since May 18; if convicted, the human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate may face a five-year prison term. The present controversy and arbitrary charges laid out stem from a spurious attempt by a repressive government to extend the unlawful, 13-year long detention of Suu Kyi, which was set to expire on May27. As the Burmese people prepare for the 2010 elections, this shameful and transparent act on the part of the government to further silence a respected voice of democracy cannot be tolerated.
Vital Voices echoes the call of countless organizations and governments in a demand for the immediate and unconditional release of Aung San Suu Kyi and her fellow detainees. In the spring of 2008, Vital Voices honored the women of Burma with the Human Rights Global Leadership Award as a testimony to the remarkable courage and commitment of political activists such as Suu Kyi and Charm Tong. Today we again honor the work of Aung San Suu Kyi and insist upon her release as essential for the development and fulfillment of the democratic promise of Myanmar.
In an op-ed published by The Washington Post on June 28, Former First Lady Laura Bush discusses the situation of political prisoners in Burma, specifically mentioning imprisoned opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.Mrs. Bush writes that “the world must do more than express concern,” suggesting, as a recent Harvard Law School report has, that the UN Security Council establish a “commission of inquiry” on Burma and refer the crisis to the International Criminal Court, as it has done for Darfur.
The Former First Lady writes at a time when the UN envoy to Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, is set to brief Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on whether a visit is required by Mr. Ban himself, as BBC News reports.
Aung San Suu Kyi, Burmese opposition party leader and devoted advocate for the democratization of Myanmar, was today charged alongside 3 activists and party members for the alleged violation of the rules of her house arrest. Currently being held in Insein Prison, Aung San Suu Kyi is to reappear before the court on May 18th to face trial; if convicted, the human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate may face a 5-year prison term. The present controversy and arbitrary charges laid out today stem from a spurious attempt by a repressive government to extend the unlawful, 13-year long detention of Suu Kyi, which is set to expire on the 27th of this month. As the Burmese people prepare for the 2010 elections, this shameful and transparent act on the part of the government to further silence a respected voice of democracy cannot be tolerated.
Vital Voices echoes the call of countless organizations and governments in a demand for the immediate and unconditional release of Aung San Suu Kyi and her fellow detainees.
In the spring of 2008, Vital Voices honored the women of Burma with the Human Rights Global Leadership Award as a testimony to the remarkable courage and commitment of political activists such as Suu Kyi and Charm Tong. Today we again honor the work of Aung San Suu Kyi and insist upon her release as essential for the development and fulfillment of the democratic promise of Myanmar.
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