worto 16 FRIDAY MAY 25,2009 TODAY AUNG SAN SUU KYI TRIAL ‘It’s not a human rig Myanmar rejects foreign interference over Suu Kyi YANGON = Myanmar yesterday angrily rejected foreign “pressure and interfer- ence” over the trial of pro-democracy Ieader Aung San Suu Kyi, denying the case was a political ploy to keep her locked up for elections next yeas. ‘The ruling junta fired offa sting- ing rebuttal to Asian and European ministers ata meeting in Cambodia, in its strongest reaction yet to the storm of international outrage over its treat- ment of Ms Su Kyi. “itis not political itis neta human. rights issue, So we don’t accept pres- sure and interference from abroad,” Myanmar Deputy Foreign Minister Maung Myint told his counterparts in Phnom Penh. He told the meetingof Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean) and European Union ministers that Ms Suu Kyi’ trial for allegedly violat- ing the terms of her house arrest was an “internal legal issue”. The minister's remarks on live fideo appeared to have been acci- dentally broadcast to reporters atthe press centre outside the closed-door meeting: Myanmar’s Deputy For ‘Maung Myint talks toa the EU delegation ata ‘Myanmar's state media mean- while carried a Foreign Ministry state- ment saying that the trial would “not have any political impact” and that it would continue to hold elections next year under its “roadmap” to de- mocracy. hts issue Critics say the polls are a sham designed to entrench the regime's hold on power, The comments came as the sole defence witness yesterday took the stand at the closed-door trial in Yan- gon's Insein prison after judges dis- ‘qualified the only other three people called to testify for Ms Suu Kyi, Ms Suu Kyi, 63, faces up to five years behind bars on charges of vioat- ing her house arrest, stemming from bizarre incident in which American John Yettaw swam to her home to warn her of a divine vision that her life was at risk. Mr kyi Win, a legal expert and member of Ms Suu Kyi's National Teague for Democracy party, argued incourt there was no legal basis tothe charge that Ms Suu Kyi had violated the terms of her house arrest when MrYettaw secretly swamtoher home, She has spent 13 ofthe last 19 yeats in detention. Prosecutors seeméd very unhappy at his testimony, Mr kyi Win told re- porters outside the courtroom. He said both sides would give their closing statements on Monday, bbutitwas notyet clear when a verdict ‘would be reached. AGENCIES ra| | news B FRIDAY MAY'39, 2009 TODAY IN PARLIAMENT _ What's Myanmar’s worth to Asean? Better to engage than to expel Myanmar, says Zainul Abidin LEONG WEE KEAT weekenl@mediacorpcomsg AS THE: issue of Myanmar over- shadowed proceedings at the Eu- rope-Asean meetings in Cambodia, ‘Members of Parliament (MPs) here at yesterday's sitting, too, queried ‘whether it should be suspended from the regional grouping, ‘With MPS expressingconcem over the junta's treatment of pro-democ- racy leader AungSan Suki, on trial for violating her house arrest, Mr Charles Chong (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC) said: “What benefitor value has Myanmar’s, membership brought to Asean (Asso- ciation of South-east Asian Nations) other than grave concern, clsmay.and sometimes even revulsion?” “IF there is no’ provision in the ‘Asean Constitution tosuspend orexpet ‘Myanmar from Asean, is there any way ‘Aseancan persuade Myanmar to resign, from the association?" he continued, While he was not sure of any “di- rect effect in getting rid of” Myanmar from Asean, Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Zainul Abidin Rash- ‘eed said there were benefits in having. ‘Myanmar in the regional grouping. What benefit or value has Myanmar's membership brought to Asean other than grave concern, dismay, and sometimes even revulsion? IMP Charles Chong (Pasir Ris Punggol) ERAS “We believe that engaging Myan- mar will infact, bringabout the pos- sibility of getting more accountability from Myanmar," he said. “We have to be patient here and it may take time, but let's work on it ‘Asean had last week issued a rare condemnation of Myanmar, warning that the regime's “honour and cred- ibility” were at stake. ‘Mr Inderjit Singh (Ang Mo Kio GRC) wondered if concrete steps needed to be taken if Asean intends to be taken seriously by the world. “Hoping for (Myanmar) to come 1g to take a long time. Is it worth sacrificing Asean for this sake?" he wondered. Mr Zainul Abidin replied that Asean’s credibility “does not just hinge on Myanmar” and called on MBs to be “realistic” “We need to understand that ‘Myanmar is a country that is used to isolation by the international commu nity, and experience over the years has shown that it will not yield to sanc- tions and intimidation,” he added. Nominated MP Siew Kum Hong referred to how Myanmar had ac- cused Thailand — which had cri cised the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi — of meddling in its internal affairs. Did Singapore agree that the Asean. Charter’s principle of non-interfer~ cence “allows for precisely this sort of behaviour by Myanmar"? he asked. Mr Zainul Abidin’s reply was that while Myanmar “has the right to rebut" Thailand, the latter too had the right, asthe Asean chair, to “make that kind of statement”, » NS NOTA HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE'36