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Aung San Suu Kyi, cease-fire armies and the Junta
Written by Sai WansaiSaturday, 16 May 2009 16:50
The latest episode, involving a U.S. citizen John Yettaw, who claimed to have swum acrossInya Lake and spent two days in Suu Kyi's compound and the consequent brewing anger of theBurmese junta, gearing to prosecute and imprison the reluctant host for breaching the generals'draconian law of failing to report an overnight staying guest,must be a rude awakening for those who preach the lifting of various sanctions andengagement would, one way or the other, paved way to soften the generals' attitude andbecome responsible players along the line of genuine democratic principle, levelled politicalplaying field and all-inclusiveness of all stakeholders and contenders.According to recent reports, Aung San Suu Kyi has been taken to notorious Insein jail andformally charged for violating the term of her house arrest, giving food and drinks to JohnYettaw and not reporting to the authority of an overnight stay of an alien in her house.In Burma,it is illegal and not allowed to accept foreigners to stay overnight in the homes of locals. Underthe recent circumstances, Aung San Suu Kyi could face up to five years in jail.Nyan Win, who is a spokesman for Aung San Suu Kyi’s political party, the National League forDemocracy, says the party asked Burmese authorities why she would be put on trial but theyrefused to answer."I think this is not a criminal issue. This is a political issue…Their motivation is to extend herdetention. Her present detention expires on 27th May," he said.Jared Genser told the BBC that if somebody showed up at her door step in violation of Burmeselaw she can not be held responsible for it."This is the cunning plan of the regime -- to put Aung San Suu Kyi in continuous detentionbeyond the six years allowed by the law they used to justify the detention," Aung Din, executivedirector of the Washington-based US Campaign for Burma, said in a statement.The junta, of course, is not taking chance and Aung San Suu Kyi’s popularity, even after somany years of house arrest is still in tact, and is determined to lock her away until 2010 electionturns out as planned without a hitch.The junta has its self-drawn constitution in place, where 25% of the seats will be granted to themilitary without having to go to election; self-created and sponsored political party like USDAand there might even be a small window of democratic trappings to allow some individual, smallparties to contest the election.At this stage, the junta might probably be ready with its elections law blue print and is onlywaiting for the right time to go public. No doubt, if the junta’s track record of cunningness is of
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