Thursday 14 May 2009

Aung San Suu Kyi to be Put on Trial for Having Visitor

The Burma Campaign UK today called for an intense diplomatic effort to secure the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, after she was detained in custody in Burma’s notorious Insein Jail.

Aung San Suu Kyi is being tried for breaking the terms of her house arrest, which forbids visitors, after an American man, John Yettaw, swam across Inya Lake and refused to leave her house.

The junta demands of all Burmese that local officials are notified about any overnight visitor who is not a family member. The law says foreigners are not allowed to spend the night at a local's home.

Some members of Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy, have been jailed for about two weeks for violating that law.

“The United Nations and ASEAN must dispatch envoys to Burma to demand the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all Burma’s political prisoners,” said Zoya Phan, International Coordinator at Burma Campaign UK. “Burma’s generals will use any excuse to keep Aung San Suu Kyi detained. If strong action isn’t taken, Aung San Suu Kyi could face the rest of her life in jail.”

The Burma Campaign UK is calling on the British government, EU and USA to use their influence to ensure the UN sends an envoy to Burma.

“Aung San Suu Kyi has committed no crime, she is the victim of crime,” said Zoya Phan. “There was an intruder in her house who refused to leave, but she is the one being imprisoned.”

Today Aung San Suu Kyi will have spent a total of 13 years and 202 days in detention. The United Nations has ruled that Aung San Suu Kyi’s detention is illegal under international law, and also under Burmese law. The United Nations Security Council has also told the dictatorship that they must release Aung San Suu Kyi. Read more

If you haven't already done so please sign the petition demanding UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon make the release of Burma's political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, his personal priority. We're aiming for 888,888 signatures by May 24th.
Sign the "Free Burma's Political Prisoners Now " Global Petition here

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