ID :
74764
Tue, 08/11/2009 - 18:56
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/74764
The shortlink copeid
MYANMAR JUNTA FEARFUL OF SUU KYI'S INFLUENCE
By D. Arul Rajoo
BANGKOK, Aug 11 (Bernama) -- The Myanmar military junta is desperate to keep
pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi under prolonged detention as it is fearful
of her influence and impact on the 2010 general election, said the Alternative
Asean Network on Burma (Altsean-Burma).
Debbie Stothard, coordinator of Altsean-Burma, said the junta knew that Suu
Kyi, who had been in detention for 14 of the last 20 years, was very popular
with the Myanmar population.
"They are very afraid of her influence, her popularity and the trust the
people have in her. That is why, she has been detained for the past 14 years and
now, for a further 18 months," she said, following a Myanmar court decision
Tuesday that found her guilty of violating her house arrest.
According to wire agency reports from Yangon, the court initially sentenced
Suu Kyi to a three-year prison term, but was reduced to 18 months on an order
made by junta leader Senior General Than Shwe.
She was accused of harbouring American John Yettaw who sneaked into her
heavily-guarded house in Yangon.
Yettaw, who told the court that God sent him to warn Suu Kyi she would be
assassinated by "terrorists", was sentenced to seven years in prison.
Despite the expected conviction and sentence, Stothard said that
Altsean-Burma -- a group lobbying for human rights and democracy in the country
-- felt that the military junta was feeling international pressure.
"The junta clearly intended to hand her the maximum five-year sentence. But
because of the pressure from Asean and United Nations, they changed that
intention," she said.
The 64-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate's house arrest order was supposed
to end at the end of May, but she was then charged for allowing the American to
stay at the house.
Stothard said the 2010 election would be illegitimate if all political
parties were not allowed to participate and over 2,100 political prisoners not
released.
"Asean and the United Nations must maintain the pressure against the
military junta.
"They must push for the regime to release Suu Kyi and hold a free and fair
election," she said.
-- BERNAMA
BANGKOK, Aug 11 (Bernama) -- The Myanmar military junta is desperate to keep
pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi under prolonged detention as it is fearful
of her influence and impact on the 2010 general election, said the Alternative
Asean Network on Burma (Altsean-Burma).
Debbie Stothard, coordinator of Altsean-Burma, said the junta knew that Suu
Kyi, who had been in detention for 14 of the last 20 years, was very popular
with the Myanmar population.
"They are very afraid of her influence, her popularity and the trust the
people have in her. That is why, she has been detained for the past 14 years and
now, for a further 18 months," she said, following a Myanmar court decision
Tuesday that found her guilty of violating her house arrest.
According to wire agency reports from Yangon, the court initially sentenced
Suu Kyi to a three-year prison term, but was reduced to 18 months on an order
made by junta leader Senior General Than Shwe.
She was accused of harbouring American John Yettaw who sneaked into her
heavily-guarded house in Yangon.
Yettaw, who told the court that God sent him to warn Suu Kyi she would be
assassinated by "terrorists", was sentenced to seven years in prison.
Despite the expected conviction and sentence, Stothard said that
Altsean-Burma -- a group lobbying for human rights and democracy in the country
-- felt that the military junta was feeling international pressure.
"The junta clearly intended to hand her the maximum five-year sentence. But
because of the pressure from Asean and United Nations, they changed that
intention," she said.
The 64-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate's house arrest order was supposed
to end at the end of May, but she was then charged for allowing the American to
stay at the house.
Stothard said the 2010 election would be illegitimate if all political
parties were not allowed to participate and over 2,100 political prisoners not
released.
"Asean and the United Nations must maintain the pressure against the
military junta.
"They must push for the regime to release Suu Kyi and hold a free and fair
election," she said.
-- BERNAMA
