ID :
60629
Thu, 05/14/2009 - 21:39
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/60629
The shortlink copeid
Myanmar's Suu Kyi charged over detained American's visit+
YANGON, May 14 Kyodo - Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was moved from house arrest to prison Thursday and charged over an incident last week in which an American is accused of swimming across a lake and sneaking into her house to visit her.
Hla Myo Myint, a member of Suu Kyi's legal team, told reporters after coming
out of Insein Prison in Yangon that Suu Kyi and two of her companions ''have
been charged for violating the terms of her restriction order, which carries a
maximum five years, minimum three years, imprisonment.''
''This is a non-bailable case, but we will fight for bail,'' the lawyer said.
Suu Kyi's political party, the National League for Democracy, issued a
statement Thursday evening, saying it ''strongly condemns the act of charging
her as it is inappropriate.''
It said authorities charged her with violating Article 22 of the Law
Safeguarding the State from the Danger of Subversionists, although she did not
violate any law.
The article states, ''If a person against whom action has been taken acts
contrary to or in breach of or does not obey the restriction of fundamental
rights order or the restriction of movement order, he/she is liable to a
minimum sentence of three years and a maximum of five years imprisonment'' or a
fine.
Earlier, Suu Kyi's main lawyer Kyi Win said the 63-year-old Nobel Peace Prize
winner would be held at Insein Prison at least until a trial stemming from the
unauthorized visit by the American ends.
''She will be staying at one of the buildings inside Insein jail, which is not
far from the Insein jail court,'' Kyi Win said.
Hla Myo Myint said her trial is set to resume there on May 18.
John William Yettaw, a 54-year-old American, was arrested last week for
allegedly swimming across a lake and secretly entering Suu Kyi's home and then
staying there for two days.
''This American guy is a fool,'' Kyi Win told reporters.
Yettaw is charged with entering the restricted area where Suu Kyi has long been
under house arrest and also for violating immigration laws, Hla Myo Myint said.
He said Yettaw is facing up to five years imprisonment for entering a
restricted zone and up to one year more for violating the immigration act.
The U.S. State Department said Myanmar authorities granted consular access to
Yettaw.
It said the U.S. Embassy has stressed to them its ''strong interest in Mr.
Yettaw's case and our concerns for his health, welfare and fair treatment.''
The U.S. State Department said Monday it was concerned about reports that Suu
Kyi needs medical care and that authorities have detained her primary personal
physician Tin Myo Win.
Hla Myo Myint, a member of Suu Kyi's legal team, told reporters after coming
out of Insein Prison in Yangon that Suu Kyi and two of her companions ''have
been charged for violating the terms of her restriction order, which carries a
maximum five years, minimum three years, imprisonment.''
''This is a non-bailable case, but we will fight for bail,'' the lawyer said.
Suu Kyi's political party, the National League for Democracy, issued a
statement Thursday evening, saying it ''strongly condemns the act of charging
her as it is inappropriate.''
It said authorities charged her with violating Article 22 of the Law
Safeguarding the State from the Danger of Subversionists, although she did not
violate any law.
The article states, ''If a person against whom action has been taken acts
contrary to or in breach of or does not obey the restriction of fundamental
rights order or the restriction of movement order, he/she is liable to a
minimum sentence of three years and a maximum of five years imprisonment'' or a
fine.
Earlier, Suu Kyi's main lawyer Kyi Win said the 63-year-old Nobel Peace Prize
winner would be held at Insein Prison at least until a trial stemming from the
unauthorized visit by the American ends.
''She will be staying at one of the buildings inside Insein jail, which is not
far from the Insein jail court,'' Kyi Win said.
Hla Myo Myint said her trial is set to resume there on May 18.
John William Yettaw, a 54-year-old American, was arrested last week for
allegedly swimming across a lake and secretly entering Suu Kyi's home and then
staying there for two days.
''This American guy is a fool,'' Kyi Win told reporters.
Yettaw is charged with entering the restricted area where Suu Kyi has long been
under house arrest and also for violating immigration laws, Hla Myo Myint said.
He said Yettaw is facing up to five years imprisonment for entering a
restricted zone and up to one year more for violating the immigration act.
The U.S. State Department said Myanmar authorities granted consular access to
Yettaw.
It said the U.S. Embassy has stressed to them its ''strong interest in Mr.
Yettaw's case and our concerns for his health, welfare and fair treatment.''
The U.S. State Department said Monday it was concerned about reports that Suu
Kyi needs medical care and that authorities have detained her primary personal
physician Tin Myo Win.
