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The World Famous

Unjustified Trial of Aung San Suu Kyi in the 21st Century


Year 2009, Rangoon, Burma

Release to Public
3 November 2010

Contents
I. Introduction
II. Army Generals
III. National League for Democracy (NLD)
IV. International Communities
V. Chronicle

I. Introduction
For today world’s leaders and future generations to come, Burmese people truthfully reveal the unjustified
trial of the Prime Minister-Elect Aung San Suu Kyi; it has been lacking rule of law in Burma under Army
Generals since 1962. To understand the situation of judicial proceedings as well as suffering and desire of
the whole people and international community, all ethnicities living together create this record by collecting
information regarding her trial. The political activists, in addition, compile on the Executive Branch and
Cabinet of State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) and its followers: riot police, Union Solidarity
and Development Association (USDA/Kyant Phoot) / Swan Arr Shin / Police, setting to inspect and
interrogate the NLD members who attend the trial peacefully following their leader.
And then, the Ministry of Home Affairs of Executive Branch instructs both judges and prosecutors of
Judicial Branch about the verdict they want. The Home Minister of the SPDC outside his jurisdiction has
made decisions on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi first house arrest (1989-1995) and second house arrest (2000-
2002). Since 2003 third arrest, the military junta has continuously extended the house arrest at the end of
each period her term due to expire in May every year.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi received an unusual visit from an American man, John William Yettaw, who swam
across Inya Lake and intruded her tightly guarded residence. According to the intelligent sources, the
Burmese Embassy in USA hired and assigned John Yettaw to assassinate Aung San Suu Kyi by the order of
Generals and Ministers. Aung San Suu Kyi, her two live-in party members Khin Khin Win and her daughter
Win Ma Ma and an American man, John Yettaw appeared the first time at a special court in Insein Prison
compound to hear the charges against them on May 14, 2009 with under section 22 of the State Protection
Law. She could face three to five years in prison if found guilty. The regime’s courts were composed of
Rangoon Northern District Court, Divisional Court and High Court where the generals order their judges
and prosecutors about the verdict they have decided. The political activists describe that the regime start to
use the judiciary as a tool of oppression. Judges from the court has broken the law themselves. Such as, the
judicial proceedings are very unfair - the court has allowed 14 prosecution witnesses but only allow two

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from the defense witnesses. Aung San Suu Kyi was charged with and convicted of three years imprisonment
and hard labor under the State protection law 1975 section 22 of “Law to safeguard the State from the
dangers of destructive element” by Rangoon Northern District Court on August 11, 2009.
In fact, Senior General Than Shwe, the head of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) military
regime, interfered with Rangoon Northern District Court’s decision. Referring to the Head of the State, his
statement was read out in court on Tuesday that he would reduce Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s sentence. That
is the worst period for the non-independence of judiciary system and for outrageous rulings. Always above
the law, the regime’s Home Minister Maj-Gen Maung Oo entered and addressed the courtroom with a
prepared statement from Senior General Than Shwe. Maung Oo said that since Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was
the daughter of national hero Aung San, the junta chief had decided to exercise leniency upon her. The
assembled reporters and diplomats were told that Than Shwe had decided to intervene and cut the sentence
in half and to have it suspended to house arrest.
Whatever it may be, this paper will vividly identify with readers that there is no independent Judicial Branch
of government in Burma. To come to the point, Burmese people, in fact, have no right of fair and
independent court system.

Maung Maung Latt


B.A. Law; LL.B. (Advocate)
Member of Parliament 1990, National League for Democracy, Bilin (1), Mon State
16 August 2009, Edited

II. Army Generals


The Nazi Burmese Generals
The darkest hellhole of military dictatorship has terminated democracy and human rights since 2 March
1962 by Gen. Ne Win (Burma Socialist Program Party, BSPP / Ma Sa La, 4 July 1962) with his henchmen
Gen. Saw Maung 18 September 1988/ Gen. Than Shwe 23 April 1992 (State Law and Order Restoration
Council, SLORC / Na Wa Ta / Nyeinpi, 18 September 1988) and Gen. Than Shwe (State Peace and
Development Council, SPDC / Na Ah Pha, 15 November 1997). Power is centered on the ruling junta that
maintains strict authoritarian rule over the people of Burma.

State Peace and Development Council (SPDC / Na Ah Pha)


No. 1, Sr-Gen Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council, Butcher of Buddhist
Monks 2007. He has ordered the judges to sentence the Lady at least 3 years in jail. May 2009
No. 2, Vice Sr-Gen Maung Aye, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, Vice Chairman of the
State Peace and Development Council, Butcher of Dooplaya.
No. 3, Gen Thura Shwe Mann, Butcher of Mae Tha Waw 1989, Cunning Diplomatic General.
No. 4, Gen Thein Sein, Prime Minister, National Convention Chairman.
No. 5, Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo, Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council.
Rising Star in SPDC, Lt-Gen Myint Swe, Chief of the Bureau of Special Operations 5 and Military Affairs
Security, member of the State Peace and Development Council, Christie Island Massacre 1998.

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Left to Right: Shwe Mann, Than Shwe,
Maung Aye. AFP / MMK, 5 June 2009

Lt-Col Zaw Min Aung, Police Special Branch Officer.


Dr. Tin Aung Aye, Supreme Court Judge.
Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan, Minister of Information, Chief of World Information Working Committee and
Information Working Group, Head of Counter-media Campaign, Secretary of National Convention
Convening Committee, Comical Ali.
U Myint Kyaing, District Law Officer, Junta Lawyer.
U Aye Maung, Attorney General, Vice-Chairman of the National Convention Working Committee,
Secretary of Multiparty Democracy General Election Committee.
Maj-Gen Khin Aung Myint, Minister of Culture, former Director of Public Relations and Psychological
Warfare, Board Member of Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd.
U Thaung Nyunt, Judge, Rangoon Northern District Court.
Maj-Gen / U Htay Oo, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, Secretary-General of the Union Solidarity
and Development Association (USDA / Kyant Phoot, para-militia).
Maj-Gen Maung Oo, Minister of Home Affairs, Home Land Terrorist.
U Nyi Nyi Soe, Judge, Rangoon Western District Court.
Maj Tint Swe (a) Yeyint Tint Swe, Director of the Press Scrutiny and Registration Division, Ministry of
Information, consultant of Eleven Media Group.
Lt-Col / U Thaung, Minister of Science and Technology, Minister of Labour.
Col / U Aung Thaung, Minister of Industry (1), Secretariat member of Union Solidarity and Development
Association.
Col Win Naing Tun, Police Deputy Head of Special Intelligence Department (Special Branch).
U Aung Toe, Chief Justice, Vice-Chairman of National Convention Convening Committee.
Maj-Gen/U Nyan Win, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Brig-Gen Zaw Win, Director General of prisons of murderous terror, Ministry of Home Affairs.
Maj-Gen Khin Yi, Police Chief, Burma Police Force.
May 2009

Only Senior General Than Shwe, Burma’s military strongman, will decide “if and when” Aung San Suu
Kyi is freed; only he “knows exactly when she will be granted freedom,” wrote The Irrawaddy, a dissident
Burmese newspaper, citing two Burmese government officials. A close aid of the Nobel Prize winner says
that Burma’s main opposition leader plans to tour the country once she is released to rally support for
democracy. Aung San Suu Kyi spent 15 of the past 21 years in prison or under house arrest. Her latest
sentence, due to an American man who broke into her home in August 2009, will end on 13 November, a
few days after the country’s general elections on 7 November. The incident was a pretext to exclude her
from taking part in the elections, and give the military regime a large majority in the new parliament. For
opponents, analysts and western governments, the election process is in fact just a farce. speroforum.com, 2
October 2010

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Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA / Kyant Phoot)
The USDA has hired laborers and unemployed people, paying incentives of 2,000 - 5,000 kyat
(approximately US $2-$4) to intimidate and attack protestors. Recent legal analysis by the Burma
Lawyers’ Council found that under the existing Criminal Procedure Code, USDA is an “unlawful
association,” and called on the SPDC to declare it as such, stop its use of violence, and cease its criminal
acts. Failure to do so, according to the BLC, is proof that the regime is using the USDA to violently
crackdown on Burmese citizens exercising their right to freedom of expression. Burma Office (Australia),
30 August 2007

Founded in 1993, the USDA is a junta-backed organization, which acts as a local authority in many areas.
Analysts say that the military government is remodeling the organization to stand as a pro-junta political
party in the event of future elections. Irrawaddy, 23 November 2007

A powerful mass movement that supports Burma’s ruling junta has disbanded and transferred its assets to a
new political party, its spokesman has told the BBC’s Burmese service. The move is designed to ensure the
junta dominates the election later this year, critics say. The movement, USDA, has been blamed for assaults
on opposition activists, including Aung San Suu Kyi. The new party, USDP, was set up by senior members
of the junta. BBC, 15 July 2010

Swan Arr Shin


A Ministry of Home Affairs source said the Swan Arr Shin took orders from the junta’s feared Union
Solidarity and Development Association (USDA). Basically, they are junta-backed thugs. They come from
anywhere, and are the unemployed underclass. Everywhere you go, there are groups and truckloads of
grubby-looking men looking bored and looking for a fight. Reuters, 28 August 2007

Police
Police units might also be transformed into paramilitary outfits. “The junta is enhancing police forces for the
suppression of any kind of protest that might erupt, while the military will be maintained to sustain the fight
against ethnic rebels,” Mya Maung said. He said the junta has thus far expanded at least 16 to 18 battalions
of police across the country, with over 400 policemen in each battalion. Mizzima, 24 November 2008

SPDC / USDA / Swan Arr Shin / Police


Some of the methods, used by State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) to crackdown on peaceful
demonstrators in the city of Rangoon have been revealed. A man, who participated in the crackdown
programme told the New Era Journal (NEJ) how the police forces and Union Solidarity and Development
Association (USDA) militia members are systematically used to control and arrest pro democracy
protesters. “On the day of the events, the leader, who has been appointed by USDA would come around to
where we live to collect us in a pickup truck. We are told to sit up straight without any expression on our
faces. We just ride around, wherever we are driven. We get paid K 2000 (about US$ 2) for that.” “We were
told that if there are some protesters or there is someone they want to arrest, or to beat or harass, then the
fees will be up from K10,000 to 20,000. We are allowed to use force in any way we want.” “The rules in the
pick-up truck are simple. No speaking, no questions. We are not to ask about each other. We have been
assured that we will not be held responsible for any of our actions and that we will never be arrested by
police. When the time is up for the day, we will be taken back to our roads, with K 2000 guaranteed.” The
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man also went on to say that the pickup truck would go around to many different areas but never pick up
more than 2 people from any one quarter. Different people are being carried around each time so there is
little chance of them recognizing each other. Sometimes, the collection time is at night, when they have to
practice the drills. Recently, U Wisara Road and Myenigon Road were sealed off for the drill at mid-night.
The truck drivers have less choice. One truck driver told the NEJ that they are being organized by traffic
police and USDA members. The USDA official would sit in the passenger seat and give the driver
instructions. The driver is not supposed to ask any question. “The first stop is always to report at a police
station. Then we have to either cover up the number plates or remove them. After that we just have to drive
from one quarter to another to collect different people. Once the truck is full, the boss in the front seat would
tell me where to go and when to stop. I just have to follow instructions, without complaint.” The drivers’
fees is K 30,000 a day. If a driver refuses to do his round, then his driving license will be confiscated. The
SPDC military government have been using the same tried and tested crackdown method well before the
September Revolution, right the way through present time and every time they succeeded in defeating the
peaceful demonstrators. People who sit at the back of the pickup trucks and ride around the city are know as
Swan Arr Shin (The Swine Militia). They are hand-picked and selected by the local USDA members, who
then train and pay to do the casual jobs. A ‘swine’ is usually jobless, and a gambler or a criminal. Nay Chiu,
New Era Journal, jegsburma.blogspot.com, 11 June 2009

Military Judiciary System


Sr-Gen Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council, has ordered the judges to
sentence the Lady at least 3 years in jail. May 2009

There are two judges in the case, U Thaung Nyunt from Rangoon Northern District Court and U Nyi Nyi
Soe from Rangoon Western District Court. Lt. Colonel Police Special Branch Officer Zaw Min Aung read
out the statement of prosecution against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, her colleagues and John William Yettaw.
Her lawyers were able to raise counter-questions to Zaw Min Aung. Security preparations have been
underway since yesterday evening. Insein Road is closed off to traffic, and barbed wire fencing has been
erected. Riot police; members of the regime-affiliated militia, Swan Arr Shin; the regime’s social
organisation Union Solidarity and Development Association; and the Fire Brigade were all present. This
morning NLD Youth members distributed black ribbons and possibly armbands. NLD Youth member Htwe
Thein and others were arrested and taken away by security officers. They have now been released and are
back at their homes. NLD co-founder and Central Executive Committee member U Win Tin and hundreds
of NLD members and supporters tried to enter Insein Prison compound to listen to the court hearing, but
were prevented from doing so by security forces. Some youth and monks were seen wearing headbands and
holding placards which said, “Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is not guilty.” Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her
colleagues are being held in a guesthouse facility located within Insein prison compound. Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi passed on a message that she is fine, and prays that others are in good health. Trial will resume at
10 am tomorrow, Tuesday 19 May. AAPP

Burma’s highest court rejected an appeal yesterday by Aung San Suu Kyi’s lawyers to reinstate two key
witnesses in a trial that could send the pro-democracy leader to prison for five years. High Court judge Tin
Aung Aye rejected the appeal because it was “intended to disturb and delay the trial,” court officials said on
condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. The court’s ruling means
only two people will testify in Suu Kyi’s defense at her trial, which resumes Friday, and that a verdict could
be reached in a week or two. “This is very unfair. The court had allowed 14 prosecution witnesses but only
allowed two from the defense,” said Nyan Win, one of Suu Kyi’s lawyers. “We tried our best to have the
trial conducted according to the law but it has failed.” After the testimony by Khin Moe Moe - a lawyer and
member of Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy - on Friday at the District Court inside Insein prison,
the court will have one more session for the lawyers’ final arguments before rendering judgment, he
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explained. The trial has drawn outrage from world leaders and human rights groups who say Burma’s junta
is using the incident as an excuse to keep the country’s opposition leader behind bars through elections
scheduled for 2010. Suu Kyi has been in detention for more than 13 of the last 19 years. The court at first
had allowed only one of four defense witnesses to take the stand. On appeal, the Rangoon Divisional Court
ruled that Khin Moe Moe also could be heard. Suu Kyi’s lawyers pursued a second and final appeal to
reinstate barred witnesses Win Tin and Tin Oo, both senior members of her party. Prosecutors argued that
Win Tin, a prominent former journalist and ex-political prisoner, should not be allowed to testify because he
is critical of the government and often gave interviews to foreign media, said Nyan Win. The defense team
argued there was no law in the tightly ruled country that bars court testimony from government critics.
kuwaittimes.net, 30 June 2009

Junta leader Sr. Gen. Than Shwe intervened even before the court decision was announced, telling the
country’s home minister Maj-Gen Maung Oo to halve whatever sentence was handed down and then
suspend it, leaving Suu Kyi sentenced to 18 more months of house arrest. Kyodo, 14 August 2009

State Media
Burma’s tightly controlled state media has reported on the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi for the first time,
giving a rare mention of the imprisoned pro-democracy leader. State television and radio carried brief items
after the first day of proceedings, while the government mouthpiece New Light of Burma newspaper had a
report on Tuesday. It was the biggest story on the back page of the English-language paper, but failed to
knock a story about a state transport and agricultural scheme off the front page. The newspaper said that
Yettaw now faced a third charge, brought by the Rangoon City Council Sanitation Department, of
swimming in Inya Lake without permission. He is also charged with breaching security and immigration
laws. Neither paper mentioned the fact that the trial was being held behind closed doors in the notorious
Insein prison, where Aung San Suu Kyi is being held, only saying that it was taking place at Rangoon’s
northern district court. theage.com.au, 19 May 2009

Foreign Minister Nyan Win said last week Suu Kyi’s trial “will proceed fairly according to the law.” But
diplomats who were given a brief glimpse of the trial inside Rangoon’s Insein prison said it appeared
“scripted.” After 47 years of unbroken military rule, Burma’s courts have a long history of stretching laws
to suit the generals, activist lawyers say. “I’m sure they will jail Daw Suu,” said Aung Thein, a prominent
lawyer who was helping prepare her defense when his law license was revoked a week ago. Rights groups
said revoking Aung Thein’s right to practice law was the latest “blatant attempt” by the regime to intimidate
lawyers working on political cases. Some 11 lawyers are in jail for working on such cases, including
defending top monks and former student leaders arrested in the September 2007 protests crushed by the
military. Reuters, 24 May 2009

Despite of promised by authorities to provide round-the-clock electricity supply in Rangoon, an official


from Ministry of Electrical Power in Naypyidaw said, it is almost impossible until next month. Rangoon
Electricity Board Secretary, Lt. Col. Maung Maung Latt, in a recent briefing to journalists said, Rangoon
would get all round-the-clock electricity in July. However, the officer from the concerned Ministry said it
was unlikely. Mizzima, 12 June 2009

Burma dismissed European Union concerns about military operations against Karen rebels as political
meddling Sunday, even after thousands of ethnic minorities fled the country to escape the fierce fighting. A
counterinsurgency offensive in eastern Burma has forced more than 4,000 ethnic Karen to abandon their
villages and cross into Thailand this month, according to the Thailand Burma Border Consortium, the key
aid provider to border refugees. The EU last week expressed “serious concern” over the mounting offensive
in the military-ruled nation and the exodus of refugees, and called for an immediate truce. AP, 14 June 2009
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The Burmese junta’s censorship board has banned all internal media from publishing news about the Kang
Nam 1 - a North Korean ship scheduled to dock near Rangoon in the next few days. The Kang Nam 1 is
believed to be carrying arms and potentially nuclear technology for the Burmese military government, who
have a stated goal of becoming a nuclear power by 2025. scoop.co.nz, 25 June 2009

Reporters Without Borders and the Burma Media Association today condemned the military junta for
intimidating the press trying to cover recent national and international events, as a journalist was jailed for
two years after being arrested near the home of Aung San Suu Kyi. “Since the UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari
arrived in Burma one might expect greater tolerance on the part of the authorities, but on the contrary, the
trial of Suu Kyi is being held in a climate of repression and censorship,” the press freedom organisations
said.”We call on the UN envoy to show firmness in his talks with the authorities, including on the release of
all political prisoners and an end to prior censorship. Without this, there can be no approval of any
reconciliation process or elections,” they said. The two organisations strongly condemned the two-year
sentence imposed on freelance journalist Zaw Tun on 18 June. A former journalist with the magazine The
News Watch, he was arrested near the Suu Kyi’s home by a police officer who claimed he had shown
‘hostility’ towards him. He was found guilty at a court in Bahan, near Rangoon, of obstructing the work of
an official. A Rangoon journalist said that Zaw Tun was taken immediately to jail after the verdict. Military
intelligence agents on 23 June went to several media offices to demand lists of journalists who had taken
part in journalism training sessions at the US Embassy in Rangoon. The renowned journalist U Win Tin,
who was cited as a defence witness in the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi, has been under constant surveillance
by the special police. The prosecutor refused to accept the former political prisoner as a witness because he
criticises the government, particularly in foreign media. The junta has imposed strict censorship on both
national and international news items. The censorship bureau, the Press Scrutiny and Registration Division,
banned the publication of news on the arrival of a North Korean cargo ship, Kang Nam 1, in a port near
Rangoon, which is suspected of transporting weapons. A journalist in Rangoon told the magazine Irrawaddy
that “most newspapers have tried to report on the arrival of the cargo vessel but the government censor
rejected all the articles”. The censorship bureau also banned some articles on demonstrations that followed
the disputed elections in Iran. The press was refused the right at the start of June to publish information
about the investigation into the collapse of the Danoke pagoda in Dala, near Rangoon, in which several
people died. “We cannot publish articles or photos about this incident, because it was the wife of junta
leader General Than Shwe who installed the sunshade on the pagoda on 7 May 2009”, one journalists
explained. She is known to be very superstitious. The censorship bureau on 1st June threatened the privately
owned weekly True News for carrying an article in its 19 May issue by the famous journalist Ludu Sein
Win who said that “many governments cannot tolerate criticism from journalists”. The censors alleged that
the paper changed the front page after it had been passed by the censors. Reporters Without Borders
revealed at the end of 2008 that the censorship bureau sent all media offices a document detailing ten rules
imposed on editors, who would be punished if changes were made after the article had been checked. The
state-run media reported the charges against Suu Kyi, without giving anything the full statements by the
defence. The daily New Light of Burma reported the main developments in the trial insisting there was
complicity between the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and the American William Yetaw, who swam to her
lakeside home on 3 May. In its 27 May edition, the daily published the full questioning of Suu Kyi by the
judge, but the cross examination by defence lawyers were only briefly summarised in the official press. The
state press also relays the junta’s threats against the opposition, as happened on 5 June, when the New Light
of Burma carried threats by the authorities against the youth branch of the National League for Democracy
for putting out a statement. 24-7PressRelease.com, 30 June 2009

Burma’s state-run media reported on Wednesday that Sr-Gen Than Shwe, the head of the Burmese junta,
has congratulated the recently re-elected president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The Burmese military
regime has censored news of the Iranian demonstrations since protesters took to the streets to dispute the
election results during the past three weeks. Irrawaddy, 1 July 2009
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The demand to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and political prisoners is “nonsense and unreasonable,” said
Burma’s state-run newspaper the New Light of Burma in its issues published today and yesterday. The
regime’s stance published in the newspaper is in opposition to the views of the ‘National League for
Democracy’ (NLD), the UN Secretary General, the Association of South East Asia Nations (ASEAN) and
the US. The government has said many times that there are no political prisoners in Burma, the writer ‘Lu
Thit’ said in his article. Mizzima, 24 July 2009

On Wednesday the newspaper warned against predictions of a guilty verdict in the trial and said that
anticipating the ruling would amount to contempt of court. Military-ruled Burma’s state media on Thursday
warned citizens against inciting protests as democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi began stockpiling supplies
ahead of a possible five-year jail term. A prison court is expected to deliver a verdict on Friday in the Nobel
peace laureate’s trial for breaching the terms of her house arrest by allegedly sheltering an American
intruder who swam to her house. The New Light of Burma newspaper published a comment piece Thursday
cautioning against anti-government factions and saying that “we have to ward off subversive elements and
disruptions.” AFP, 30 July 2009

Burma’s junta-controlled state media on Sunday accused ‘power-craving’ opportunists of using Aung San
Suu Kyi’s trial to incite riots as it condemned the uprising 21 years ago that made her a heroine. The Nobel
Laureate is in a Rangoon prison awaiting the delayed verdict in her trial on charges that she breached her
house arrest when an American man swam uninvited to her lakeside home in May. ‘The people noticed that
today, some political opportunists and power-craving elements are trying to incite riots under the pretext of
Daw Suu Kyi’s case,’ a commentary in The New Light of Burma newspaper said. straitstimes.com, 9
August 2009

The house arrest rather than imprisonment of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is a “win-win” solution
and a “giant step toward change” in Burma, state-owned media said Friday. Suu Kyi’s sentence of three
years’ imprisonment with hard labor was reduced to 18 months of house arrest following an order by the
junta’s leader. AP, 14 August 2009

The European Union has added four state-run media outlets to its list of Burmese sanctions targets in
response to the court ruling against pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Four media enterprises – the
Myanmar News and Periodicals Enterprise, which publishes three state-run newspapers; the Tatmadaw
Telecasting Unit, which runs Myawaddy Television; Myanmar Radio and Television; and the Myanmar
Motion Picture Enterprise—were added to the revised sanctions list published on Friday. The EU stated that
it put the media organizations on the list because they have been involved in promoting the regime’s
policies and propaganda. Wai Moe, Irrawaddy, 14 August 2009

The junta has put the Burmese media on a leash and banned mention of the names of pro-democracy
activists, politicians and their movements. Nem Davies, Mizzima, 21 August 2009

Burma’s state media on Thursday defended the ruling junta’s decision to bar opposition icon Aung San Suu
Kyi from court during final arguments in her appeal against her detention. The Nobel laureate was convicted
on August 11 of breaching security laws after an American swam to her house. She was sentenced to three
years’ hard labour but junta chief Than Shwe cut the term to 18 months’ house arrest. Her lawyers say the
military regime has denied her permission to attend court on Friday to hear closing submissions in her
appeal, but government mouthpiece newspapers said the decision was in line with the law. The article did
not mention Suu Kyi’s name nor her party but it was published one day after Suu Kyi’s National League for
Democracy said the decision to bar her from the appeal court was “not justice”. AFP, 17 September 2009

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Open Letter to Senior General Than Shwe
Commander-in-Chief, Defence Services, Burma
By Bilal M. Raschid

July 13, 2009

Dear General Than Shwe,


After the resignation of General Ne Win as head of his government as well as of the Burma Socialist
Program Party (BSPP), and the take-over of the military dictatorship by the State Law and Order
Restoration Council (SLORC) in early 1989, not only has the country been ruled with a ruthlessness
unknown in Burmese history, but Burma has been made into a racist State.
Among the first demonstrations of this fact was the wholesale removal of my father, Mr. M. A.
Raschid’s photographs and name from all the history books and other publications that have been made
available to the Burmese people. As a close personal friend and colleague of General Aung San in the fight
for Burma’s independence, with an unblemished record of service and devotion to the country, he had even
earned the respect of General Ne Win.
Over the past several years this racism has been manifested by the excessive persecution of all the
religious minorities; and the destruction of mosques and churches, and the desecration of their religious
books and cemeteries.
You and your people have recently seen the wonderful display in the country of my adoption, of the
election of a person of mixed ethnic descent to the most honored position of President of the United States
of America. This is the clearest demonstration of the strength of a free society, which provides the climate
where historical prejudices and injustices can be overcome; and where respect for the rule of law, and
human freedoms are valued; and where equal rights and freedom of opportunity provides the environment in
which anyone can achieve his ultimate dream, provided he works hard and with integrity to achieve it. This,
sadly, is not the situation in Burma today, even though just over four decades back, Burma was such a place;
and it was a country from which no one wanted to emigrate even to the United States, or anywhere else!
Now another calumny is being perpetrated by your people by the patently absurd charges brought
against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the daughter of the father of the nation, because someone almost literally
broke into her home, while the security detail placed around her home by your government was asleep. But
instead of the guards around her home being punished for their incompetence, she is being charged and
tried, for reasons which are known to you, namely, to keep her locked up so that she does not pose a threat
to the sham elections you are planning for 2010. Please take note that the world knows what the truth is; and
eventually you will be accountable for any harm that may come to her.
The peoples’ uprising of 1988, led at great personal cost by thousands of students, and participated
in with great conviction by the masses of ordinary citizens, instead of demonstrating to the military
leadership the genuine desire of the Burmese people for the individual freedoms inherent in a democratic
society, was seen as a threat to their existence. The brutality with which the uprising was put down is known
to the world and to your junta. The word “democracy” has become a dirty word in your vocabulary; and it is
considered by you as being antithetical to the Burmese people, when in fact it is very much a part of the
Buddhist teachings; and imbued in its practices.
I have wondered for some time now, whether, even though you are the most powerful man in Burma
today, you are aware of what really goes on inside the country, as you have no contact with the people, and
the sycophants around you dare not tell you the truth. I have also wondered whether you realize that instead
of creating a Socialist paradise, you have really built a great big prison, from which all who can are
escaping. The greatest shame is that you have converted the loyal armed forces of Burma, created and given
pride of place by General Aung San, into a band of thugs, butchers and prison guards. An army that was
once loved and cherished is now despised and hated. Burma is perhaps the only country in the world where
there is not one iota of affection for the members of the armed forces!
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But the most important thing that you must think and ponder over is that, soon your life on this earth
will end. Like others before you, and each according to his own belief, you will pass on to another
existence. As a Buddhist, have you ever wondered whether you have accumulated enough merit not to
return as a dog? All the individuals, all the families, all the children and students, all the old people who
have been in so many, many ways harmed by your actions and policies, will be your moral responsibility.
Are you also confident that history will be kind to you? You know what happened to General Ne Win after
his death. He was buried in the dead of night, and with no military honors. Is that how you wish to go? Of
course you will certainly leave a name behind, but of what kind? Would you like to be remembered like
Hitler, or perhaps Idi Amin, or Stalin, or even Tojo? Would it not be nice if future generations of Burmese
could think of you as a Gandhi, or Nehru, or even a Moses who delivered his people from bondage? Would
it not be good to be remembered as a man who led his army to free his people, as in the 1940s, rather than to
enslave them, as in the 1960s?
And what of the sufferings of our ethnic brethren and other minorities? Is this also not their native
land? Should they not be permitted to live with honor and respect, cherishing their own culture and religious
heritage? People have come to the United States of America from all over the world. They come to live in
freedom, with absolute equality under the laws, and with respect for each other’s varied traditions and
beliefs. The United States has shown that the human individual can achieve his full potential only in a free
environment, which provides equal opportunity for all its citizens. The proof of this can be seen in the
success and achievement of the young Burmese immigrant community in the U.S. There is absolutely no
reason why Burma cannot be a similarly successful country, where its people can develop fully to their God
given potential, if given this opportunity. A fact already shown in the first two decades after independence.
The recent happenings in Burma, where even the honored and respected Buddhist monks were
brutalized by your armed forces, should make you think seriously of the present situation, and what lies
ahead if you do nothing. The people are unhappy and in deep distress. They are dissatisfied and frustrated
with the prevailing conditions, and lack of personal freedoms; and the state of constant fear in which they
live. This is a generation who were born after the military coup of 1962, who do not know what democratic
freedoms are, and what democracy really means. Yet there is a yearning in their hearts for a society free
from fear, with freedom to choose their own destinies; and to again bring back honor to their country. No
amount of suppression, no matter how ruthless, can stop this yearning. In the long run they will win!
So, there is still time, dear General. Please give this serious thought. Will you have the courage and
strength of character to change this despicable state? Or are you going to prove that in the end you were
really a coward and a bully, who was too weak to lead his nation to prosperity; and in the end, became the
Chief Jailor of a nation of beggars?

Sincerely,
Bilal M. Raschid
Son of U Raschid of Burma

Open Letter to Senior General Than Shwe


By Salai Tun Than

16 August 2009

Dear Brother Sr. Gen. Than Shwe,


I am Salai Tun Than. It has been a long time since I wrote to you last. I am writing to you this letter
to implore two petitions. The first one is about my wife Daw Khin Nwet and my daughter Sandar Tun Than.
They are harassed by some authorities almost constantly and denied of passport issuance for no reason. May
I implore you to inform your subordinates to stop harassment and kindly issue passports to them so that we
may have a family reunion. If you can show some leniency to Mr John Yettaw, I am sure you could also
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demostrate the same to your fellow citizens who do no harm to any body. I thank you very much whatever
the outcome.
My second request is to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners and let them
participate in 2010 election. Let that election be held through an interim government with the international
observers. I never have opportunity to meet either you or Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Manay people believe
that you are some kind of a villain. But my sincere belief is that you only perform the tasks required by God.
To me God loves Burma. Honestly we are not worthy of democracy. In order to make Burmese people learn
democracy en mass practically God has to let us become diaspora in democratic countries through your
undertaking. Now, about six percent of Burmese people are learning democracy practically every day in
those countries. Our next government most likely will be a truly democratic one.
Through your action we come to know what is leadership. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is the product of
our past political crises. We have now a true leader who is forgiving to all her opponents and dares to suffer
all sorts of hardship disregarding her self comfort. Please believe me that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is all
forgiving and she will harm nobody. Here, I like to give you a gentleman assurance that your life will not be
threatened unless my life is destroyed first. To summarize my requests:
(1) Please issue passports to my wife and daughter and give order for no further harassment.
(2) Please release all political prisoners including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and let them participate 2010
election to be held by an interim government with international observers.
Let us have a truly democratic government with complete justice, human and monority rights.
Let us show the world that we are capable of managing our own affairs with malaise to none but charity
to all.

Your brother,
Salai Tun Than
(Presently USA)

III. National League for Democracy (NLD)


The most recent election was held on the 27th May 1990. In this watershed election, the National League for
Democracy (NLD) won 392 of the 485 constituencies contested (seven were deemed too unstable), thus the
right to form government. The SLORC refused to cede power. The SLORC claimed retrospectively that the
elections were not multi-party general elections, which they were merely to elect a group to work out a
constitution. That the SLORC-supported party, the National Unity Party (NUP), won only 10 of the 485
constituencies shocked the Tatmadaw and this shock result remains the reason for them not ceding power.
In fact the result was a shock only to the Tatmadaw who were and still are so out of touch with popular
sentiment. The SLORC claimed retrospectively that the elections were not multi-party general elections,
that they were merely to elect a group to work out a constitution. The Tatmadaw have not accepted the will
of the people as so clearly and so decisively expressed in the 1990 election. They have chosen to violate the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) that they claim to scrupulously abide by. They have
continued to repeat that lie in various other forums wherever the opportunity arises. Burma Lawyers’
Council, Legal Issues On Burma Journal No. 7, December 2000

The trial has drawn outrage from the international community and Suu Kyi’s local supporters, who worry
that the military junta has found an excuse to keep her detained through next year’s elections. Her party won
the last elections in 1990 but was not allowed to take power by the military, which has run the country since
1962. AP, 28 May 2009

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Aung San Suu Kyi, Prime Minister-Elect, General Secretary of National League for Democracy, political
prisoner 1989-95, 2000-02, 2003 + one-year extension November 2004 + six-month extension November
2005 + one-year extension May 2006+ one-year extension May 2007 + one-year extension May 2008 + 3
months in Insein prison during the trial + 3-year imprisonment with hard labor and then conditionally
reduced to 18-month house arrest August 2009, survivor of Depayin Massacre 30 May 2003, Thorolf Rafto
Prize (1990), European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize (1990), Nobel Peace Prize (1991), US Congressional
Gold Medal (2008).

Aung San Suu Kyi (1996) Aung San Suu Kyi (2002) Aung San Suu Kyi (1989)
with khamauk (hat) NLD organizing tour followed and harassed by
soldiers (1989)
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Photo Gallery, http://www.pbase.com/dassk/dassk&page=all

Aung San Suu Kyi entering the court, MMK, 21 May 2009

We, as the National League for Democracy and as part of the forces for democracy, are always ready to
work together with the authorities to achieve national reconciliation and we would like to think that the
strength of our good will and the very strong desire of the people for democracy will bring positive results.
BBC, 14 August 1998

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The newspapers are generally full of abuse of the National League for Democracy. From reading the
newspapers you get the idea the generals look on the NLD as the most dangerous thing in the whole wide
world. I think this military regime is frightened of losing power. 5 October 1999

For obvious security reasons we do not publish the list of NLD members. But I can assure you that support
for us has not dropped since the years 1988-89 when the population voted massively for the NLD. 24 May
2000

“The NLD must stand up firmly to achieve the results of the elections of 1990,” she says. 27 May 2003

She put a signboard on which the word read “A way yah haw tu” in Pali meaning “All be saved from
danger”. September 2007

There are some other messages she has been sending out on the banner she made. This time her Armed
Forces Day’s message to the people of Burma read as “I have never deceived the public or the nation!” She
had put this message on portrait painting of her own father, a National Hero of Independence, General Aung
San and she herself painted the portrait. Khin Ohmar, BP Update, 30 March 2008

Neighbors of the democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi said a new message appeared last month on a large
outdoor signboard in her compound, saying, “All martyrs must finish their mission.” The message appeared
on July 19, Burma’s Martyr Day. The signboard, about 10 X 4-feet, is located on Suu Kyi’s property and
can be read from the street in front of her home, where she has been under house arrest for 13 of the past 19
years. Irrawaddy, 19 August 2008

“I have never deceived the public and the nation!” She had put this message on the top of another note “For
the country and the people, act firmly.” on a large outdoor signboard in her compound with the picture of
General Aung San. Moe Ma Ka, 26 March 2009

The political party of detained Burma pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi says her health has
improved after she suffered dehydration and low blood pressure last week. National League for Democracy
spokesman Nyan Win said Tuesday that one of the Nobel laureate’s medics, Dr. Pyone Moe Ei, was allowed
to visit Suu Kyi Monday afternoon at her lakeside home and reported that her condition has improved.
Burma Net News, 12 May 2009

Lawyer Aung Thein said Saturday that he was dismissed from the country’s Bar Council on Friday, a day
after he applied to represent Suu Kyi. He has defended political activists in the past and was earlier jailed for
four months for contempt of court. Suu Kyi has already spent 13 of the last 19 years in detention without
trial for her nonviolent promotion of democracy. She had been scheduled to be freed May 27 after six
consecutive years of house arrest but now faces up to five years in prison if convicted, according to one of
her lawyers, Hla Myo Myint. He and another lawyer represented her at the arraignment, but Suu Kyi had
asked for three other defense lawyers, including Aung Thein. AP, 16 May 2009

Ms Suu Kyi is being held in the grounds of the prison, which is notorious for its squalid conditions and the
abuse suffered by inmates. She was reported as saying her accommodation was “comfortable.” Mr Yettaw
and Ms Suu Kyi’s two housekeepers and companions, a mother and daughter who have lived with her since
2003, are being tried together with her. Nyan Win said the trial could last for three months. A diplomat
commented: “The regime hates the world’s attention on this so they will try to kick it into the long grass and
hope the interest fades.” The Independent, 18 May 2009

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi passed on a message that she is fine, and prays that others are in good health. Trial
will resume at 10 am tomorrow, Tuesday 19 May. AAPP
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Burma’s pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi today said she was “ready to face anything” as her lawyer
said the military junta appeared rushing her trial to keep her incarcerated on charges that she violated
conditions of her detention by sheltering a US citizen. Press Trust of India, 19 May 2009

“Thank you very much for coming and for your support,” Suu Kyi, dressed in a pink blouse and maroon-
colored tied skirt, known as a longhi, told the diplomats after the hearing. “I hope to meet you in better
days,” she said, smiling, before female police officers escorted her out of the court. Later at a meeting with
diplomats from Russia, Thailand and Singapore at her prison guesthouse, Suu Kyi said she and two female
assistants also on trial were being treated well. Singapore’s Foreign Ministry said she told the diplomats that
national reconciliation was still possible “if all parties so wished.” “She also expressed the view that it was
not too late for something good to come out of this unfortunate incident.” It was not clear if the trial would
be open on Thursday. Mark Canning, Britain’s ambassador to Burma, said he saw little evidence that Suu
Kyi was receiving a fair trial. “All the paraphernalia of the court room is there,” he told BBC television.
“The judges, the prosecution, the defense. That’s all there, but I think this is a story where the conclusion is
already scripted.” One Asian diplomat said: “They seem to want to improve the image of the trial by
allowing us to be there.” Reuters, 20 May 2009

Burma democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi proclaimed her innocence in front of a prison tribunal, her
lawyer said on Friday. “Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said ‘I have no guilt as I didn’t commit any crime,’” Nyan
Win said at the end of the fifth day of her trial on charges of breaching the conditions of her house arrest.
Nyan Win said Aung San Suu Kyi spoke to the court, held behind closed doors, as the prosecution wrapped
its case before the trial resumes on Monday with her legal defence. AFP, 22 May 2009

There was a telling moment as she entered when the police guards rose to their feet before lowering
themselves sheepishly down. She welcomed our presence. She hoped to meet us in better times and said
how good it was to see people from the outside world. It was deeply impressive and one was left wondering
how she managed to display no trace of indignation at this latest twist. Mark Canning, British ambassador in
Burma, guardian.co.uk, 26 May 2009

Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi told a court Tuesday that although she gave “temporary
shelter” to an uninvited American earlier this month, she had not violated her house arrest and was merely
trying to shield the man and her security guards from punishment. Testifying for the first time in the case,
Suu Kyi appeared frail and pale but managed an occasional smile. A judge questioned her for less than half
an hour about John W. Yettaw, who swam uninvited to her lakeside house. Reporters and diplomats,
including a reporter for The Associated Press, were allowed into the courtroom for Tuesday’s session, the
second time during the trial that such rare access has been granted. “Thank you for your concern and
support. It is always good to see people from the outside world,” she told reporters and diplomats before
being escorted out of the court by four policewomen. AP, 26 May 2009

Aung San Suu Kyi said last week that the charges against her were “one-sided.” The 63-year-old accused
Burmese authorities of failing to provide proper security despite the fact that she informed them of a
previous intrusion by Yettaw in November 2008. AFP, 31 May 2009

Lawyers for jailed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi filed an appeal Thursday to Burma’s High Court to
reinstate two key defense witnesses in a case that could put her in prison for five years. Suu Kyi gave her
legal team instructions to pursue a second appeal during a 90-minute meeting Wednesday at Insein Prison,
where she is being held while on trial on charges of violating the terms of her house arrest, lawyer Nyan
Win said. The charges stem from the surprise visit of an American man who swam across a lake to her
house. The District Court trying Suu Kyi allowed only one of four defense witnesses to take the stand. On
appeal, the Rangoon Divisional Court on Tuesday ruled that a second witness could be heard. Two senior
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members of Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party remain barred from giving testimony. Suu Kyi
“told us to see it through to the end as the ruling is legally wrong,” Nyan Win said. AP, 11 June 2009

Burmese pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi believes her trial by the ruling junta is “politically
motivated”, her lawyer said Thursday, as he lodged an appeal over a ban on two witnesses. The opposition
leader met with her legal team in prison on Wednesday to discuss her defence against charges that she broke
the rules of her house arrest when an American man swam to her lakeside property in May. “Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi said yesterday when we met that the trial is politically motivated,” Nyan Win, one of her three
lawyers and the spokesman for her National League for Democracy (NLD), told AFP. 11 June 2009

We’e just heard that from inside Burma’s notorious Insein prison Aung San Suu Kyi has asked her lawyer to
thank the tens of thousands of people that wished her happy birthday last Friday. Her lawyer Nyan Win just
released this message: “Shesaid she thanks those at home and abroad who wished her a happy birthday,
because she cannot reply to everyone.” Burma’s brutal regime wants the world to forget Aung San Suu Kyi.
Johnny Chatterton, Campaigns Officer, Burma Campaign UK, 23 June 2009

The trial of Burma’s detained pro-democracy leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi was
adjourned at the last minute until July 10, one of her lawyers has said Friday. The adjournment came even
as United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Burma’s former capital of Rangoon Friday
morning at the start his two-day official visit to the country. The trial of Suu Kyi, who is accused of
violating the terms of her house arrest by allowing a U.S. national to swim to her lakeside residence in
Rangoon, had been due to resume Friday morning. But as lawyers gathered at Rangoon’s Insein jail,
officials announced that the trial, already adjourned for more than a month, had been put off once again.
Speaking to reporters Nyan Win, a member of Suu Kyi’s legal team, said the Supreme Court did not send
the case files to the lower court, so the case has been adjourned until July 10. He said Suu Kyi had
“expressed her surprise that this happened.” RTT News, 3 July 2009

Detained Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi is in complete agreement with United Nations Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon’s three main points to resolve Burma’s political imbroglio during his two-day visit to
Burma on Friday. Speaking to Mizzima on Thursday, Nyan Win, lawyer of Aung San Suu Kyi said the
detained Burmese democracy leader supports Ban’s major agendas to address the political deadlock in
military ruled Burma. “She said the three issues are worthy of discussion,” Nyan Win said. Aung San Suu
Kyi’s comment came because the UN Secretary General, during his stay in Burma, plans to resolve the
issues of political prisoners, bring up the issue of resumption of dialogue between the government and the
opposition, persuade the junta to initiate national reconciliation, and set the stage for credible elections
slated for 2010. Mizzima, 3 July 2009

The trial in Burma of detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been postponed. Suu Kyi, 64, was
“abolutely dissatisfied” with the decision of an army-ruled court in Rangoon, Burma’s capital, to allow
prosecutors more time to prepare their final arguments in the case, said Nyan Win, one of her lawyers.
Lawyers for the Nobel peace laureate early on Friday gave their closing arguments in the trial that could
lead to Suu Kyi being jailed for five years if she is found guilty of violating the terms of her house arrest.
Win told the Reuters news agency that prosecutors had been told to deliver their final arguments on
Monday. aljazeera.net, 24 July 2009

The 64-year-old opposition icon has asked for English and French novels and Burmese-language books
including dictionaries and religious works to help her pass the time if she is jailed, her lawyer Nyan Win
said. “I think Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is preparing for the worst,” Nyan Win, who is also a spokesman for
her National League for Democracy (NLD), told AFP. Daw is a term of respect in Burmese. “She has said
that if she has to stay in prison for a long time, she has only one thing to do and that is reading.” AFP, 30
July 2009
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The Burma court scheduled to deliver a verdict in the high-profile trial of opposition leader Aung San Suu
Kyi said Friday it was not yet ready to make a decision and adjourned until Aug. 11, diplomats said. Suu
Kyi rose to her feet after the judge’s announcement, turned to foreign diplomats in the courtroom and said
jokingly, “I apologize for giving you more work,” a Western diplomat said on condition of anonymity,
citing protocol. AP, 31 July 2009

“She told me that when she met with Senator Jim Webb she reiterated the need for the Burmese regime to
first interact ‘inside the country’. She said only when that happens ‘will Burma benefit from relations with
the international community’,” Mr Nyan Win told The Irrawaddy. He said the Nobel Peace Prize laureate
who is regarded as a strong supporter of economic sanctions, also told Senator Webb: ‘She was not the one
who imposed sanctions against the Burmese regime. She is not in a position to lift those sanctions.” Kyaw
Zwa Moe, Irrawaddy, 21 August 2009

Three US Congress staffers met with representatives from the opposition National League for Democracy
(NLD) in Rangoon for talks about political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi, and the US policy
review on Burma, an NLD spokesman said. “We met with the Congress staffers at NLD headquarters at 4
p.m. on Friday. The main reason for their trip is to discuss humanitarian issues,” NLD spokesman Nyan
Win said. “We talked about Burmese politics—the first issue they raised concerned the political prisoners.”
The US Congress staffers also asked about Suu Kyi’s detention, he said. During the meeting, the staffers
told the NLD policymakers are still discussing a US policy shift in Washington. “But they said they did not
think a decision on the Burma policy review will come soon,” Nyan Win said. After US Senator Jim
Webb’s recent trip and article in the New York Times, Nyan Win said he told the Congress staffers that Suu
Kyi said she did not think his trip and his writing reflected the policy of the Obama administration. “I think
the staffers came to Burma to survey the facts for the policy review or for Congress,” he said. Irrawaddy, 28
August 2009

Always following the four principles of the NLD’s Shwegondaing Declaration in April 2009; before the
2010 election we demand the military regime to recognize the 1990 election results, release all political
prisoners, open dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi, and review the 2008 constitution. Win Tin, Moe Ma Ka,
January 2010

Aung San Oo, her elder brother living in San Diego, California, USA, filed a lawsuit against her for half
ownership of the house where she now lives in 2000-02. Again in 2009-2010 he stopped her sister repairing
her same residence damaged during Cyclone Nargis 2007. His wife, Lei Lei Nwe Thein, has political
ambitions for him through his connections with the military junta. Because, ethically and politically, he has
been doing wrong on his younger sister and the Cause of Burma; Buddhist monks, All Burma Monks
Alliance (ABMA), conduct a refusal to accept alms or to attend religious ceremonies held by his family
since February 2010.

Tin Oo, the vice-chairman of the National League for Democracy (NLD) and Burma’s former army chief,
told The Irrawaddy that the army should stay out of politics and that past military coups in Burma have only
harmed the country. 27 March 2010

Six Points in Aung San Suu Kyi’s Analysis in Rejecting Party Registration:
1. She doesn’t accept the 2008 Constitution and upholds the Shwegondaing Declaration.
2. She doesn’t accept the junta’s unjust and one-sided Political Party Registration Law, which is
undemocratic.
3. She said the NLD is neither her property nor anyone else.
4. She doesn’t favor or accept any attempt to create factions within the party.

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5. She would like to say to the people that she is committed to democracy and will continue her
struggle.
6. She won’t recognize that the NLD is abolished, even if it is dissolved by the military regime.
English Translation by The Irrawaddy, 30 March 2010

Burmese people have the right not to vote in the upcoming election, detained Burmese pro-democracy
leader Aung San Suu Kyi told her lawyer on Friday. “Daw Suu said that just as the people have the right to
vote, they also have the right not to vote,” Suu Kyi’s lawyer Nyan Win told The Irrawaddy shortly after
meeting with her on Friday afternoon. Irrawaddy, 12 June 2010

Win Htein, 68, told reporters that he would participate in social activities arranged by the National League
for Democracy party, especially to help political prisoners and their families. The party was recently forced
by law to dissolve after failing to register for an election supposed to be held this year. “I have no faith in
the elections, and I was happy that the NLD had decided not to re-register,” said Win Htein. Critics have
dismissed the election as a sham designed to cement nearly 50 years of military rule in Burma. Win Htein
said he wanted to help political prisoners and their families “materially, morally and spiritually.” He said he
had seen many deaths in prison due to lack of medical care and poor nutrition. However, he thanked the
prison doctor who was moved to Katha prison a few years ago, saying that since that doctor has arrived no
prisoners had died in Katha prison. Win Htein said he was in the same prison with other, younger political
prisoners who remain defiant and committed to democratic struggle. “Having a party signboard or not
doesn’t matter because a political party can stand as long as it enjoys public support. The NLD enjoys
public support immensely,” said Win Htein. Win Htein said he had invested 20 years of his life in prison for
his beliefs. “I will continue to work for democracy and for the country. Democracy will one day prosper in
the country. If I don’t see democracy in my lifetime, I will be happy if the next generation can enjoy
democracy,” he said. AP, 16 July 2010

Burma’s election body has confirmed the abolition of detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s party
along with nine others ahead of November elections, state media reported Tuesday. Suu Kyi’s National
League for Democracy is one of five parties forcibly dissolved after failing to apply to continue their
activities, state media announced, quoting the Union Election Commission. It was the first time state media
has announced the NLD’s dissolution, although it has been previously confirmed by officials after the party
decided to boycott the upcoming election, saying the rules were unfair. The other parties abolished for
failing to reregister are the Union Pa-O National Organization, the Shan Nationalities League for
Democracy Party, the Shan State Kokang Democratic Party, and the Wa National Development Party. State
media said five more political parties -- out of 42 which were initially allowed to register to run in the
November 7 poll -- were abolished because they failed to meet requirements on registering candidates. The
election has been widely condemned by activists and the West as a charade aimed at putting a civilian face
on military rule. AFP, 14 September 2010

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will not be able to cast her vote in the upcoming elections as her name does not
appear in the list of voters for residence of Bahan Township. However, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is in the list
of voters in the previous referendum held to approve the 2008 Constitution. NLD News Bulletin, 20
September 2010

The Burmese regime’s announcement that detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi will be permitted
to vote in the Nov. 7 election is merely a cynical ploy to confuse the Burmese public, according to one of
her closest political colleagues. “I don’t welcome this at all,” said Win Htein, an aide to Suu Kyi, in
response to reports on Friday that the National League for Democracy (NLD) leader and her two live-in
maids were officially registered on the voters list in Rangoon’s Bahan Township. “The regime is playing a
trick. Daw Suu has already said that she is boycotting the election. So this is deliberately meant to confuse
people,” he said. It is also raises questions about Suu Kyi’s status as a political prisoner. According to
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election laws enacted in May, detainees are barred from voting or belonging to political parties. The same
laws also forced her party to disband for refusing to register for this year’s election. According to media
reports, officials said that Suu Kyi will not be allowed to go out on polling day, but might be given
permission to vote in advance. Aye Thar Aung, the secretary of the Committee Representing the People’s
Parliament, an umbrella group of political and ethnic groups that won in Burma's last election in 1990, said
that the announcement was probably a political trap. “Daw Suu would decline to vote even if the regime
offered her a chance to do so,” he said. “Then the regime could accuse her of not fulfilling her duties as a
citizen. But no matter what they say, the public knows what they’re up to.” Political dissidents in Rangoon
said the news was an example of how arbitrarily the regime applies its own laws. “Breaking its own laws is
what the regime has been doing all along,” said one dissident. Irrawaddy, 25 September 2010

Only Senior General Than Shwe, Burma’s military strongman, will decide “if and when” Aung San Suu
Kyi is freed; only he “knows exactly when she will be granted freedom,” wrote The Irrawaddy, a dissident
Burmese newspaper, citing two Burmese government officials. A close aid of the Nobel Prize winner says
that Burma’s main opposition leader plans to tour the country once she is released to rally support for
democracy. Aung San Suu Kyi spent 15 of the past 21 years in prison or under house arrest. Her latest
sentence, due to an American man who broke into her home in August 2009, will end on 13 November, a
few days after the country’s general elections on 7 November. The incident was a pretext to exclude her
from taking part in the elections, and give the military regime a large majority in the new parliament. For
opponents, analysts and western governments, the election process is in fact just a farce. speroforum.com, 2
October 2010

Defense Lawyers of Aung San Suu Kyi


Burma’s pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, was charged Thursday with violating the terms of her
house arrest after an American man swam across a lake to sneak into her Rangoon home, her lawyer said.
Suu Kyi, whose latest detention period was set to end May 27, could face a prison term of up to five years if
convicted, said lawyer Hla Myo Myint. Her trial is scheduled to start Monday at a special court at
Rangoon’s notorious Insein Prison, where she was arraigned Thursday. AP, 14 May 2009

Lawyer Kyi Win has blamed Mr Yettaw for her detention, calling him a “fool”. BBC, 14 May 2009

“The charge is going to be violating the conditions of her house arrest and what her lawyer is going to argue
is that of course that’s ridiculous because, yes under the terms of her arrest she cannot invite people to visit
her but she of course did not invite this person to visit her,” Jared Genser told the BBC. “If somebody
shows up at her doorstep in violation of Burmese law she cannot be held responsible for it.” 14 May 2009

“Everyone is very angry with this wretched American,” Suu Kyi’s attorney, Kyi Win, told reporters. “He is
the cause of all these problems.” columbiamissourian.com, 16 May 2009

A prominent activist lawyer says Burma’s military government disbarred him after he applied to defend
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in her upcoming trial. Aung Thein said Saturday the order revoking
his license was issued Friday, a day after a prison court charged Aung San Suu Kyi with breaking the
conditions of her house arrest, which is due to expire on May 27. VOA, 16 May 2009

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) has learned that lawyer U Aung Thein has
had his licence to practise law revoked by the authorities, on grounds that he was not abiding by
professional ethics. U Aung Thein is one of the lawyers in Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for
Democracy legal advisory team. Together with her lawyers U Kyi Win and U Nyan Win, members of the
NLD legal advisory team are currently preparing the defence case for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her two
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live-in party members, Daw Khin Khin Win and her daughter Daw Win Ma Ma. The revoking of his licence
to practise law is a blatant attempt by the regime to damage the defence for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her
two live-in party members. U Aung Thein’s close associate U Khin Maung Shein - not directly involved in
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s case - has also had his lawyer’s licence revoked. This is yet another example of
the regime’s harassment of lawyers who choose to defend pro-democracy activists. There are currently 11
lawyers in prison. AAPP, 16 May 2009

Lawyer Aung Thein said Saturday that he was dismissed from the country’s Bar Council on Friday, a day
after he applied to represent Suu Kyi. He has defended political activists in the past and was earlier jailed for
four months for contempt of court. Suu Kyi has already spent 13 of the last 19 years in detention without
trial for her nonviolent promotion of democracy. She had been scheduled to be freed May 27 after six
consecutive years of house arrest but now faces up to five years in prison if convicted, according to one of
her lawyers, Hla Myo Myint. He and another lawyer represented her at the arraignment, but Suu Kyi had
asked for three other defense lawyers, including Aung Thein. AP, 16 May 2009

The first day of the trial against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, her colleagues Daw Khin Khin Win and Daw Win
Ma Ma and US citizen John William Yettaw began today at 10.30 am and finished this afternoon at around
2 pm local time. Four lawyers (U Kyi Win, U Hla Myo Myint, U Nyan Win and Daw Khin Htay Kywe)
represented Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Daw Khin Htay Kywe, U Hla Myo Myint and U Nyan Win also
represented National League for Democracy party members Daw Khin Khin Win and Daw Win Ma Ma.
Lawyer U Khin Maung Oo represented John William Yettaw. There are two judges in the case, U Thaung
Nyunt from Rangoon Northern District Court and U Nyi Nyi Soe from Rangoon Western District Court. Lt.
Colonel Police Special Branch Officer Zaw Min Aung read out the statement of prosecution against Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi, her colleagues and John William Yettaw. Her lawyers were able to raise counter-
questions to Zaw Min Aung. Security preparations have been underway since yesterday evening. Insein
Road is closed off to traffic, and barbed wire fencing has been erected. Riot police; members of the regime-
affiliated militia, Swan Arr Shin; the regime’s social organisation Union Solidarity and Development
Association; and the Fire Brigade were all present. This morning NLD Youth members distributed black
ribbons and possibly armbands. NLD Youth member Htwe Thein and others were arrested and taken away
by security officers. They have now been released and are back at their homes. NLD co-founder and Central
Executive Committee member U Win Tin and hundreds of NLD members and supporters tried to enter
Insein Prison compound to listen to the court hearing, but were prevented from doing so by security forces.
Some youth and monks were seen wearing headbands and holding placards which said, “Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi is not guilty.” Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her colleagues are being held in a guesthouse facility
located within Insein prison compound. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi passed on a message that she is fine, and
prays that others are in good health. Trial will resume at 10 am tomorrow, Tuesday 19 May. AAPP

The defense has argued that there is no legal basis for the charge that Suu Kyi had violated the terms of her
house arrest when an uninvited American swam secretly to her home. Suu Kyi’s defense team
acknowledges that 53-year-old John W. Yettaw swam to and entered her lakeside home, where he stayed for
two days. They argue, however, that it was the duty of government guards outside her closely watched
house to prevent any intruders. AP, 28 May 2009

Burma opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi called the verdict returning her to house arrest “totally unfair,”
but remains cheerful and alert, her lawyer said Wednesday. Four of her lawyers were allowed to visit the
Nobel Peace Prize laureate at her lakeside home for an hour to discuss an appeal of her conviction Tuesday
on charges of violating the terms of her previous house arrest. A burma court found Suu Kyi, 64, guilty of
sheltering an uninvited American visitor. Her sentence of three years in prison with hard labor was reduced
to 18 months of house arrest by order of the head of the country’s ruling military junta, Senior Gen. Than
Shwe. “Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said the conviction was totally unfair and the court’s assessment of the case
was not just,” lawyer Nyan Win said. Her defense had contended that it was the responsibility of the police
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guarding her house to keep out intruders. Suu Kyi’s defense team will appeal as soon as it receives a
certified copy of the judgment from the district court, Nyan Win said. AP, 12 August 2009

Lawyers for Aung San Suu Kyi are seeking U.N. action to win her release after a Burma court extended her
house arrest for 18 months. A petition filed Tuesday with the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for
Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland, argues she is being arbitrarily detained in violation of international
human rights law. AP, 12 August 2009

Lawyers representing Burma pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and US national John Yettaw have
said they both plan to lodge appeals against their convictions for breaking the country’s internal security
laws. Speaking to reporters lawyer Nyan Win said the appeals would be filed because they were “not
satisfied” with the judgement, which stemmed from an incident in which Yettaw swam uninvited to Aung
San Suu Kyi’s lakeside home in May. “We assume that the judgement is totally wrong according to the
law,” he told the AFP news agency, adding that he had received approval from Aung San Suu Kyi to go
ahead with the appeal. Win Tin, a former political prisoner and member of Aung San Suu Kyi’s National
League for Democracy (NLD), said the verdict was unacceptable and a “violation of justice”. Speaking to
Al Jazeera, he said the NLD officials were hopeful that they would secure a more favourable verdict in a
higher court. Nyan Win said the appeal process could begin immediately once they received a copy of the
judgement. Khin Maung Oo, the lawyer representing Yettaw, said they would also appeal “step-by-step” to
the Burmese court system. If necessary, he said, he would write to senior officials in Burma’s military
government to ask for Yettaw to be deported. He said his client was “very calm” and “hopes for the best”.
AFP, 12 August 2009

The international lawyer for Aung San Suu Kyi says Australia’s Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, could play a
key role in pushing for her release. The Australian Government has urged the United Nations to impose an
arms embargo on Burma in response. In an interview with the Australia Broadcasting Corporation, Ms Suu
Kyi’s lawyer Jared Genser says the Prime Minister should also pressure China to intervene. “Because
China is really key, sharing a border with Burma as it does, with substantial investments in the country
particularly in oil and gas, if China can be made to see the wisdom in doing more internationally, that along
with India, Thailand, Singapore and other countries in ASEAN that could be very very helpful to moving
towards a process of national reconciliation in Burma.” radioaustralianews.net.au, 15 August 2009

The conditions of Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s detention have gotten “worse” since her
conviction this month for violating terms of her previous house arrest, her lawyer said Tuesday. Burma’s
military government has not responded to Suu Kyi’s request for a visit by her personal physician, said Nyan
Win, her lawyer and spokesman for her National League for Democracy party. Nyan Win also said he and
his colleagues have not yet been given permission to meet the Nobel Peace Prize laureate since her Aug. 11
conviction to consult on filing an appeal. “The present regulations imposed on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi are
worse than the previous rules,” he said. AP, 25 August 2009

Burma’s highest court has agreed to hear a final appeal to release opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi from
house arrest, her lawyer said Thursday, pressing forward with the case despite her scheduled release in less
than a month. “We believe that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will be released on Nov. 13, but we are pursuing
this legal battle to prove her innocence,” lawyer Nyan Win told reporters. He said the High Court posted an
announcement Wednesday night that it would hear the special appeal on behalf of Suu Kyi, who has spent
most of the past 15 years under house arrest. Nyan Win said lawyers will have to present their argument
before the Special Appellate Bench, a multi-judge panel in the remote administrative capital of Naypyidaw,
on a date that has not yet been set. This will be Suu Kyi’s last legal option to appeal her 2009 conviction for
violating the terms of her house arrest for briefly sheltering an American who swam uninvited to her home.
Suu Kyi’s lawyers have argued that her house arrest was unlawful since it was based on provisions of the
1974 constitution which was abolished after a ruling military junta seized power in 1988, said Nyan Win.
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The Nobel Peace Prize laureate has already lost two appeals against the conviction and her 18-month house
arrest expires on Nov. 13, a week after the country’s first election in two decades. Irrawaddy, 21 October
2010

Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi looks set for release before nationwide elections to be held in a matter
of days, according to one of her lawyers outside Burma’s top court in Naypyidaw, where the special appeal
against her house arrest began today. “I believe that Aung San Suu Kyi will be free before the election,”
Nyan Win, one of three lawyers representing her, told Mizzima. Khin Htay Kywe and Kyi Win joined Nyan
Win as assistant counsel before the Special Appellate Bench of the Supreme Court in the junta’s capital,
which had accepted the special appeal after two lower courts rejected the basis of arguments made by Suu
Kyi’s legal team. Chief Justice Aung Toe led Deputy Chief Justice Tun Tun Oo and Justice Kyaw Win on
the three-member panel in the three-hour hearing amid calls yesterday and today by respectively US
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for release
of all political prisoners in Burma, Suu Kyi’s current sentence was due to expire on November 13, six days
after Burma’s first elections in 20 years. Party members and supporters were expecting her to be released
from detention at her home on Rangoon University Avenue road. Nevertheless, the court had failed to fix a
date for the next hearing, as was the junta courts usual practice, her lawyer said. “The appeal is to test the
state of Burma’s law and order. We seek not only the freedom of Aung San Suu Kyi but also to restore the
rule of law,” Nyan Win highlighted repeatedly. The leader of the National League for Democracy party has
spent most of her life in detention of various forms since her party won the last national elections in a
landslide in 1990. Party members Han Thar Myint, May Win Myint, Win Myint, Thein Oo, Aye Aye Mar,
Khin Saw Mu, Dr. Myo Aung, Lawyer Khin Maung Shein, Saw Nai Nai, and youth-wing members Myo
Nyunt, Myint Myint Aye, Thuza Lwin, and Min Maw Oo were permitted to attend the trial. Authorities
imposed no unusual security arrangements during the trial or near the court, a 1990 elected member of
parliament Saw Nai Nai told Mizzima. Suu Kyi’s earlier failed appeals were submitted at district and
division level courts. Mizzima, 29 October 2010

IV. International Communities


A Diplomat / Diplomats
A diplomat commented: “The regime hates the world’s attention on this so they will try to kick it into the
long grass and hope the interest fades.” The Independent, 18 May 2009

A western diplomat in Rangoon said that Burma was “surprised and rather embarrassed” by the scope of the
international reaction to the trial. The diplomat said it was likely that Burma’s giant neighbour and ally
China, which has been silent on the issue, privately urged the generals to find a way to calm the
international uproar. AFP, 19 May 2009

“Thank you very much for coming and for your support,” Suu Kyi, dressed in a pink blouse and maroon-
colored tied skirt, known as a longhi, told the diplomats after the hearing. “I hope to meet you in better
days,” she said, smiling, before female police officers escorted her out of the court. Later at a meeting with
diplomats from Russia, Thailand and Singapore at her prison guesthouse, Suu Kyi said she and two female
assistants also on trial were being treated well. Singapore’s Foreign Ministry said she told the diplomats that
national reconciliation was still possible “if all parties so wished.” “She also expressed the view that it was
not too late for something good to come out of this unfortunate incident.” It was not clear if the trial would
be open on Thursday. Mark Canning, Britain’s ambassador to Burma, said he saw little evidence that Suu
Kyi was receiving a fair trial. “All the paraphernalia of the court room is there,” he told BBC television.
“The judges, the prosecution, the defense. That’s all there, but I think this is a story where the conclusion is

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already scripted.” One Asian diplomat said: “They seem to want to improve the image of the trial by
allowing us to be there.” Reuters, 20 May 2009

The government insists Suu Kyi will get a fair trial, but analysts say the courts have a long history of
stretching laws to suit the generals. Diplomats who were given a brief glimpse of the trial last week said it
appeared “scripted.” Reuters, 26 May 2009

Another senior European diplomat, who declined to be named, said that Chinese Foreign Minister Yang
Jiechi did not mention Suu Kyi by name in closed-door remarks, “but he de-facto did.” “It was a new tone
from China on the question of Burma. That, I think, can be said. There’s no question about it,” he said.
Yang declined to comment specifically on Tuesday. Asked about the statements, Yang told Reuters: “It’s a
consensus.” Reuters, 26 May 2009

Burmese officials on Friday postponed an appeal hearing and adjourned the main trial of democracy leader
Aung San Suu Kyi, in what Western diplomats in Rangoon say a string of delayed court dates is a sign that
the ruling generals are seeking to stall the proceedings after being shocked by the vehement worldwide
criticism of the trial. AFP, 12 June 2009

The vast majority of Thailand’s energy supplies come from its neighbour. Many observers cite Burma’s vast
natural gas reserves, and the subsequent trade with China, India and Thailand amongst others, as the key
preventative of economic collapse in Burma in the face of sanctions. DVB, 16 June 2009

Military-ruled Burma is ready to host a visit by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon next month,
foreign diplomats said Wednesday. A Western diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity because of
protocol, said the junta has agreed to receive Ban in early July. An Asian diplomat, who also asked not to be
identified by name, confirmed that the government was ready to host Ban early in the month for a very brief
visit. The secretary-general’s special envoy to Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, is expected to visit ahead of his
boss, the Western diplomat said. AP, 18 June 2009

As Burma’s state-run media continues to call on Washington to lift sanctions following the highly
publicized visit of pro-engagement US Senator Jim Webb, a Western diplomat close to US officials says it
is now up to the Burmese regime to make the next move. “I don’t think the US will be the first to blink.
Junta leader Sr-Gen Than Shwe should be the one to blink now,” said the Bangkok-based diplomat,
speaking on condition of anonymity. “If they are serious about the new relationship with the US, they
should commute Suu Kyi’s sentence completely and free her immediately,” said the Western diplomat.
After Webb’s visit, dissidents both inside and outside of Burma began to speculate about whether the US
was going to shift its policy. However, given the ongoing political stalemate, Washington is not likely to
make any major changes in its Burma policy, the diplomat said. It seems unlikely, then, that Washington
will relax its sanctions on the Burmese junta as long as it continues to persecute its political opponents.
“How can the US lift its sanctions without action in Burma?” asked the Western diplomat, adding that Than
Shwe has “done nothing to loosen his grip.” Irrawaddy, 22 August 2009

Amnesty International
Amnesty International called on the UN Security Council and Burma’s Asian neighbours to urgently
intervene to secure Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s release from prison. “The government of Burma must free
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi at once, without condition, and not return her to house arrest,” said Benjamin
Zawacki, Amnesty International’s Burma expert. “In the absence of a unified international voice, the
Burmese government will continue to act in utter disregard for human rights. Now more than ever, the

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Security Council and ASEAN member states must send an unequivocal signal to the generals that they can
no longer act with impunity,” Zawacki concluded. AI, 14 May 2009

Amnesty International Malaysia campaign co-orinator K. Shan also feels for the people of Burma.
“Refugees from the country have been coming here for a long time. At last count, there are about 20,000 of
them. But there has been no improvement in conditions for them here. We hope the Malaysian government
will look at the problem and find a solution. In fact, Asean as a whole has failed to come forward to protect
the rights of these displaced people.” Still, Shan sees hope in their unwavering dedication of their cause.
“Many of them are young people who have escaped from a climate of oppression, and developed politically
here. They are very committed to liberating their country. They see Aung San Suu Kyi as the legitimate
leader of the people. In the contest between democracy and authoritarianism, she represents their will and
struggle.” thestar.com.my, 14 June 2009

U.N. envoys have long pushed the Burmese government to release all political prisoners and allow
democratic reforms. But in the past two years, the number of dissidents locked up has nearly doubled to
more than 2,000. Benjamin Zawacki, a Burma researcher for Amnesty International in Bangkok, says the
arrests are part of the military’s plan to stamp out opposition ahead of next year’s controversial elections.
“This is clearly what’s driving them to keep Daw Aung San Suu Kyi behind bars or at least out of the way,”
said Zawacki. “They’ve effectively locked up the opposition and thrown away the key. And, I say thrown
away the key because they’ve sentenced them to extraordinarily long prison terms and sent them to the
furthest borders of the country.” Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy won Burma’s last
elections in 1990 but the military never allowed them to take power. voanews.com, 2 July 2009

Irene Khan, Amnesty International’s secretary general, said Suu Kyi had faced a maximum sentence of
five years. “The Burmese authorities will hope that a sentence that is shorter than the maximum will be seen
by the international community as an act of leniency,” added Khan. “But it is not, and must not be seen as
such.” She said Suu Kyi should never have been arrested in the first place. AP, 11 August 2009

Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)


Burma’s Southeast Asian neighbors expressed “grave concern” on Tuesday over the trial of opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi but China said it would not interfere in the regime’s affairs. On the second day of
the closed trial, five prosecution witnesses testified against Suu Kyi, who is accused of violating her house
arrest after an American intruder swam to her lakeside home two weeks ago. The charges, denied by the
Nobel Peace laureate, have drawn international condemnation and calls for Asian governments to get tough
with Burma’s ruling generals. Setting aside its usual line of non-interference, the Association of South East
Asian Nations (ASEAN) said the “honor and credibility” of its troublesome member was at stake. It urged
“humane treatment” for Suu Kyi and reminded the regime that it had ignored the 10-member group’s
previous calls for her release from detention. Nevertheless, ASEAN chair Thailand said the group would not
change its policy of engagement with the regime. “Events over the last week have raised concern and we
expressed our concern very clearly, but our policy is to engage and continue to engage constructively,” Thai
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said in Bangkok. Reuters, 19 May 2009

A group of Southeast Asian politicians is urging the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to suspend
Burma’s membership if it refuses to release democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Aung San Suu Kyi
testified Tuesday against charges that could put her in prison for five years. Aung San Suu Kyi said she was
innocent when she was called Tuesday to testify in court. The trial has been widely condemned as an excuse
to keep the Nobel Peace Prize winner locked up and pressure is growing for her release. The ASEAN Inter-
Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus on Tuesday called for tougher actions against Burma, including suspending
its membership in the regional bloc. Charles Chong, a Singaporean lawmaker and member of the caucus,
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told journalists in Bangkok that dealing with Burma has bogged down ASEAN, making it harder for them to
accomplish anything. “More and more parliamentarians within ASEAN are beginning to lose their patience
with Burma. And, we are calling upon our governments to do more than just expressions of dismay, regret,
grave concern and so on, and seriously look at suspending Burma’s membership of ASEAN,” he said. VOA,
26 May 2009

Thailand, as the chairman of Asean on Wednesday, expressed its “disappointment” over Burma’s ruling on
its opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The ten-member grouping which Burma is a member of called for
immediate release of all political prisoners including 64-year-old Aung San Suu Kyi. The call came a day
after Burma’s court sentenced Aung San Suu Kyi another 18 months for breaching condition of her house
arrest after an American John Yettaw swam across the Inya Lake to stay two nights at her resident in
Rangoon in May. A statement from Thai foreign ministry said the Asean is reiterating the calls made by the
42nd Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the 16th Asean Regional Forum held in July 2009 in Phuket, for the
immediate release of all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, to enable them to participate in the
2010 General Elections. The Asean said only the release of political prisoners would contribute to national
reconciliation among the people of Burma, meaningful dialogue and facilitate the democratization of
Burma. “Only free, fair and inclusive general elections will then pave the way for Burma’s full integration
into the international community,” the statement said. Nation, 12 August 2009

Thailand, as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, sought a consensus Friday from the
other nine ASEAN members as to whether the group should seek a pardon for Burma’s democratic icon
Aung San Suu Kyi. Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya told reporters by telephone from Kuala Lumpur
that he had sent out a letter to all the other nine ASEAN members to seek the consensus. The Philippines
denounced the court ruling as “incomprehensible and deplorable” and renewed its call for Suu Kyi’s
“immediate and unconditional release.” Malaysia expressed “deep disappointment” and said it would
consult with other ASEAN members on the development. While Singapore also expressed disappointment
and hope that Suu Kyi will be allowed to participate in the political process as soon as possible, it
commended Burma’s generals for reducing her sentence and keeping her out of jail. Indonesia’s Foreign
Ministry said it is “strongly disappointed” with the court verdict. Vietnam did not comment directly on the
ruling but urged Rangoon to “adopt measures to promote national reconciliation and dialogue between
concerned parties in Burma.” Kyodo, 14 August 2009

Australia
Australia has called for the immediate release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi after Burmese
authorities sent her to prison over an unauthorised visit by an American. Foreign Minister Stephen Smith
expressed grave concern over the latest chapter in Ms Suu Kyi’s incarceration. “It is Australia’s
longstanding position - shared by governments of both political persuasions - that she should be released
immediately and unconditionally and I repeat that today,” he told parliament. Opposition foreign affairs
spokeswoman Julie Bishop told parliament the military junta had ignored the will of the majority of
Burmese people. Ms Bishop travelled to Burma in 1995 and met Ms Suu Kyi. Ms Suu Kyi said at the time
that she was “a prisoner in her own country”. The Sydney Morning Herald, 14 May 2009

The junta is usually impervious to international pressure, although U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
may believe he has some sway with the generals, having convinced them to allow aid agencies to operate in
Burma after the devastating Cyclone Nargis last year. Analysts say Ban may have been given some
indication by the generals, or by U.N. envoy Ibrahim Gambari after his trip last week, that his visit can bring
some kind of positive result. “There must be something worthwhile he can achieve but it won’t be enough to
satisfy the international community,” said Trevor Wilson, a former Australian ambassador to Burma. “He

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has to be seen to be tough and uncompromising when he meets the generals and they will appear attentive.
However, they’re a hardline bunch and I’m not optimistic they’ll change.” thestar.com, 3 July 2009

Australia plans to broadcast a Burmese language radio service into the south-east Asian nation to promote
democracy and human rights, it was revealed today. The military junta that rules Burma heavily censors the
nation’s media and limits the population’s communications with the outside world. Foreign radio remains
popular among locals, including US government-funded Radio Free Asia and Democratic Voice of Burma,
a Norwegian-supported operation. Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said today that the Burma
service would become the eighth language broadcast by state-owned Radio Australia, which focuses on
Asia and the Pacific. Mr Smith said the service would “open up a new channel of international contact for
the people of Burma”. It would also show Australian solidarity with pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu
Kyi, he said. “This is a further demonstration that Australia now and for a considerable period of time ... has
stood shoulder to shoulder with her and stood shoulder to shoulder for the restoration of democracy and
respect for human rights in Burma,” Mr Smith said. irishnews.com, 12 August 2009

The Government has called in the Burmese ambassador to protest the ongoing detention of pro-democracy
leader Aung San Suu Kyi following her conviction and sentence yesterday. Foreign Minister Stephen Smith
says Canberra will also support calls for a United Nations global arms embargo against Burma. Ms Suu Kyi
was sentenced to three years jail but the ruling junta signed an order commuting the term to 18 months
house arrest. She was charged following an incident in which an American man swam to her lakeside
residence in May. Mr Smith said Australia condemned the conviction and called for Ms Suu Kyi's release.
“On my instruction today the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade called in the Burmese ambassador,
at lunchtime, and relayed these strong messages on behalf of the Australian Government and the Australian
people,” he told Parliament. “Our ambassador in Burma is doing likewise.” theaustralian.news.com.au, 12
August 2009

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd declared himself to be “deeply dismayed” by Suu Kyi’s conviction
and sentencing under Burma’s “Law Protecting the State Against the Dangers of Subversive Elements.”
“The Austarlian Government is convinced that Aung San Suu Kyi was tried on spurious charges and not
granted a fair hearing,” Mr Rudd said. Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said yesterday he had instructed the
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to call in Burmese Ambassador Hla Myint to express Australia’s
“dismay” at Suu Kyi’s conviction and sentencing. Mr Smith said Suu Kyi’s sentence would remove any
protect of her participating in Burma’s elections, scheduled for next year. He said Australia’s Ambassador
to Burma, Michelle Chan, would also convey the Australian Government’s views directly to the Burmese
regime. Mr Smith said the Governmnet would update Australis’s financial sanctions against the Burmese
regime, while Mr Rudd announced that Radio Australia would resume transmissions to Burma. Coalition
foreigh affairs spokewoman Julie Bishop also condemned the sentencing. The Canberra Times, 12 August
2009 / U Kin Oung

Burma Lawyers’ Council (BLC)


1. Recently, the president of East Timor and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jose Ramos-Horta claimed that, if
the SPDC does not immediately release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, he will urge the Office of the Prosecutor of
the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate and prosecute Sen. Gen. Than Shwe and other
responsible leaders of the SPDC for the crimes they have committed over the years. The Burma Lawyers’
Council welcomes and fully supports Mr. Ramos-Horta’s statement.
2. The ICC may have jurisdiction to investigate and/or prosecute heinous crimes which have been
committed and are being committed if a given state’s judicial system is unable or unwilling to investigate
and take legal action to ensure justice. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is being detained under the State Protection
Law of 1975. The government is permitted to detain her for five years under that law. Contrary to law, they
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have already held her in detention for almost six years. Despite that she is being unlawfully detained
Burma’s judiciary did not provide any protection. According to Article 9 of that Law, restrictions may be
laid down by the Central Board only, not the judiciary. However, judiciary has admitted the complaint of the
government to extend her detention by accusing her of violating the conditions of her original detention
under the State Protection Law of 1975.
This is a blatant disregard of the Burma’s judiciary for the rule of law. It is evident that Burma’s judicial
system is unable or unwilling to ensure justice.
3. Illegal detention of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners causes commission of
international crime provided for in the Rome Statute of the ICC, article 7 Crimes Against Humanity, sub-
article 1(e) which states that a crime against humanity is imprisonment or other severe deprivation of
physical liberty in violation of fundamental rules of international law. According to Article 14, “a State
Party may refer to the Prosecutor a situation in which one or more crimes within the jurisdiction of the
Court appear to have been committed.” Under article 15(1), should a “situation” be referred by a State Party,
the Prosecutor may initiate investigations on the basis of information related to crimes within the
jurisdiction of the Court.
4. Some Generals in the Army may desire a genuine national reconciliation and hold the belief that the
military should not interfere in politics. However, Sen. Gen. Than Shwe and other military officials have
been committing heinous crimes repeatedly, to strengthen their political power, with impunity given that
judiciary did not take any action, denying the principles of the rule of law. If there is no rule of law, a
genuine national reconciliation will never become a reality in Burma. The Burma Lawyers’ Council
requests the international community to work together to restore the rule of law in Burma, by seeking the
power of the International Criminal Court. Burma Lawyers’ Council, 16 May 2009

Campaign for Burma


Meanwhile, Burma Campaign Australia spokeswoman Zetty Blake said the regime “never had any
intention of releasing Aung San Suu Kyi because they know that she will unite the country and lead the
people in their struggle for democracy.” The Canberra Times, 12 August 2009 / U Kin Oung

Burma Campaign for Malaysia leader Tun Tun agrees. “She is a brave woman. She could have lived a
safe life in England. But she sacrificed that to fight for our freedom. We all admire her very much. Even
when she got money from foreign governments, she didn’t use it for herself. She set up the Aung San
Foundation to support the education of the next generation. “Aung San Suu Kyi believes, and makes us
believe that one day, people power will win. Sad to say, there is no good news from our country. People are
suffering but the military dictatorship seems unaffected. The current Asean engagement policy is very good
for the government, but bad for the people.” Thestar.com.my, 14 June 2009

We should be impatient for change in this beautiful country. But we should not lose sight of what real
change means. I believe Aung San Suu Kyi has always been clear about that. She said in an interview that
her only fear is to let people down who depend on her, that she would rather go down herself than let that
happen. It says something about her if she ends up doing that, but it will also say something about the
international community. John Jackson, former director of the Burma Campaign UK, Irrawaddy, 6 June
2009

“Burma’s generals think they can act with impunity. We’ll have to wait until after the trial verdict to see if
this time will be any different,” said Mark Farmaner of Burma Campaign UK, one of the organizers. AP,
15 June 2009

We’e just heard that from inside Burma’s notorious Insein prison Aung San Suu Kyi has asked her lawyer to
thank the tens of thousands of people that wished her happy birthday last Friday. Her lawyer Nyan Win just
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released this message: “Shesaid she thanks those at home and abroad who wished her a happy birthday,
because she cannot reply to everyone.” Burma’s brutal regime wants the world to forget Aung San Suu Kyi.
Johnny Chatterton, Campaigns Officer, Burma Campaign UK, 23 June 2009

“This is the cunning plan of the regime – to put Aung San Suu Kyi in continuous detention beyond the six
years allowed by the law they used to justify the detention,” Aung Din, executive director of the
Washington-based US Campaign for Burma, said in a statement. AFP, 14 May 2009

Meanwhile the US Campaign for Burma announced that Ban’s Burma policy is “fundamentally flawed”
and demanded immediate action by the Security Council in a press release on Monday. “Ban not only failed
to obtain the release of the world’s only imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi, or even
a single political prisoner (out of the country’s 2,100) in Burma, but he also failed to even secure a meeting
with her,” the statement said. “For over a decade, the UN Secretary-General has sent envoys to Burma
seeking changes in the country, a policy used by China and Russia as an excuse to avoid action on Burma at
the UN Security Council. Finally, the world can see how this process is fundamentally flawed—without
strong action by the UN Security Council, even the UN Secretary-General himself has failed,” said Aung
Din, executive director of US Campaign for Burma. During his Burma trip last week, Ban met Senior
General Than Shwe. “The United Nations must not allow its credibility to be destroyed by a two-bit dictator
like Than Shwe,” Aung Din said. “It is time for Ban Ki-moon to ask the UN Security Council to pass a
global arms embargo against Burma’s military regime, while at the same time initiating an inquiry into
crimes against humanity and war crimes committed by Than Shwe’s regime,” he said. Irrawaddy, 7 July
2009

Some of the junta’s critics have expressed disappointment with the latest developments. “I don’t think Sen.
Webb can be proud for the release of Mr. John Yettaw, while our leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who is the
real victim of this conspiracy and injustices, and two women colleagues, are still under detention,” said
Aung Din of the U.S. Campaign for Burma, a Washington-based group. Daw is a term of respect used for
older women. “This will surely make a negative impression among the people of Burma. They will think
that Americans are easy to satisfy with the dictators when they get their citizens back,” he said.
examiner.com, 16 August 2009

Canada
Canada on Thursday called on Burma to release all political prisoners, specifically naming pro-democracy
activist and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. “Our government is alarmed by the charges laid against
Aung San Suu Kyi, and we call for her immediate release, along with all political prisoners in Burma,”
Canada’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Peter Kent said in the House of Commons. AFP, 14 May
2009

In Ottawa, Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a statement strongly condemning the sentencing. “This
decision is clearly not in accordance with the rule of law: the charges laid against her were baseless and her
trial did not come close to meeting international standards of due process,” Harper said. “Her continued
detention is unwarranted, unjustified, and vindictive.” AP, 11 August 2009

China
The EU also wants Asian governments to exert their influence on the regime and planned to raise the issue
at an Asia-Europe meeting in Hanoi next week. But Beijing said on Tuesday it would not interfere in the
affairs of its neighbor. “Events in Burma should be decided by the people of Burma,” China’s Foreign
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Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu told a regular news briefing. “As a neighbor of Burma, we hope all parties
can realize reconciliation, stability and development through dialogue.” India, which has not commented on
the trial, and China are competing for influence in Burma with an eye on the country’s timber, gas and
mineral wealth. Reuters, 19 May 2009

Another senior European diplomat, who declined to be named, said that Chinese Foreign Minister Yang
Jiechi did not mention Suu Kyi by name in closed-door remarks, “but he de-facto did.” “It was a new tone
from China on the question of Burma. That, I think, can be said. There’s no question about it,” he said.
Yang declined to comment specifically on Tuesday. Asked about the statements, Yang told Reuters: “It’s a
consensus.” Ian Holliday, a Burma expert at the University of Hong Kong, suggested China may have
acted tactically but it would be unlikely to change its Burmese policy unless it sensed a clear threat to
stability or its access to Burma’s resources. “Even though it possesses a veto over those forums in some
ways, it’s hard for China to maintain all of its other relationships intact if it’s really, really hard-nosed about
Burma,” Holliday said. Reuters, 26 May 2009

The Burmese junta’s number 2, Vice Sr-Gen Maung Aye, is to travel to China soon on a visit analysts say
will include talks focusing on the regime’s uneasy relationship with ethnic ceasefire groups based along
Sino-Burmese border. The visit was announced on Friday in the state-run newspaper The New Light of
Burma, which said Maung Aye and his wife would travel to China “soon.” Irrawaddy, 12 June 2009

Burma’s second top leader Vice Senior-General Maung Aye left Naypyidaw Monday for Beijing to begin a
six-day official visit to China at the invitation of Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping. Aimed at promoting
neighborly, friendly and cooperative ties with China, Maung Aye, who is Vice-Chairman of the Burma State
Peace and Development Council (SPDC), is paying his third visit to China in six years. Maung Aye, is also
Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Services and Commander-in-Chief of the Army, traveled to
China in August 2003 and in April 2006. There were also exchange of visits between other leaders of the
two countries over the last two years. In January 2007, Vice-Chairman of the Chinese National People’s
Congress Standing Committee Li Tieying visited Burma, while SPDC Member General Thura Shwe Mann
and Prime Minister General Thein Sein visited China in the same year. In 2008, Thein Sein attended the
Beijing Olympic Games, while Shwe Mann toured China again. In March this year, Li Changchun, member
of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee,
visited Burma, during which four documents were signed. In April the same year, Thein Sein attended the
“Boao Forum for Asia” in Boao, southern China’s Hainan province. On that occasion, Thein Sein also met
his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao and the two leaders discussed fruitful results of bilateral economic
cooperation, oil and gas, energy, electric power, rail transportation, agriculture and human resource sectors.
Over his five-day China trip, Thein Sein also met a number of Chinese industrialists and entrepreneurs
investing in Burma and had discussions with them on bilateral economic cooperation. According to Chinese
official statistics, China-Burma trade amounted to 2.626 billion U.S. dollars in 2008, up 26.4 percent. Of the
total, China’s export to Burma took 1.978 billion dollars. Up to the end of 2008, China’s contracted
investment in Burma reached 1.331 billion dollars, of which that in mining, electric power and oil and gas
respectively took 866 million dollars, 281 million dollars and 124 million dollars. China has risen from the
6th position to the 4th in Burma’s foreign investment line-up. chinaview.cn, 15 June 2009

Burma democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi awoke at her lakeside home Wednesday to begin serving the
first full day of her latest house arrest, following her globally condemned conviction that lawyers said they
would promptly appeal. Only China – Burma’s top trading partner and key ally - asked the world to respect
the decision. “The international community should fully respect Burma’s judicial sovereignty,” Foreign
Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said in a statement Wednesday. He said China hopes Burma can
“gradually realize stability, democracy and development.” AP, 12 August 2009

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Fresh fighting erupted Saturday in northeastern Burma after days of clashes between government troops and
ethnic rebels drove tens of thousands of people into China, and a bomb tossed across the border killed one
person and injured others. Up to 30,000 people have fled into China from Burma’s Kokang region,
according to reports received by the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. Most of the people injured in
the clashes and in the hospital are ethnic Chinese from Burma, said an official from Zhenkang County
People’s Hospital, who refused to give her name. At least 25 people have been admitted, she said. Chinese
soldiers are now guarding the border area, which has been sealed off, said a staffer at the Zhenkang County
Public Security Bureau, who only gave his surname, Hui. The camps where some refugees are being housed
are under strict control, he said. “Ordinary people cannot go near this area. Even police must be in uniform
and police vehicles to come close.” The fighting near the border has threatened communist China’s goal of
stability ahead of the sensitive Oct. 1 celebration of its 60th anniversary. It also could strain China’s close
relationship with Burma’s military junta. Already, China has told Burma to stop the fighting.
miamiherald.com / bignewsnetwork.com, 29 August 2009

Christian Science Monitor


In at least two of Asia’s battlegrounds for democracy, it is sometimes women who often have their ear to the
ground more than men; that have been pivotal political players. In the Philippines, the passing of Corazon
Aquino this month reminded the world of how much “people power” was key to ousting a dictator,
Ferdinand Marcos, in 1986. Her rallying of common folk in pacifist protests sent a ricocheting message to
the world that inspired uprisings from South Korea to the Soviet bloc. A second reminder of an Asian
woman rallying the masses came Tuesday with a harsh verdict against Burma’s democracy champion,
Aung San Suu Kyi. The Nobel Peace Prize winner now faces a further 18 months in detention for harboring
an uninvited American in her house. Her mere presence as a voice of the people for freedom keeps the
ruling generals on the defensive. Ever since her role in a popular uprising in 1988 – driven in part by the
model set by Aquino – she and her millions of followers have been thwarted in seeking democracy. The
verdict against Ms. Suu Kyi has set off a renewed debate in the West about how to influence Burma. The
court decision may speed up the Obama administration’s review of past US policy, which includes stiff
economic sanctions on the country. Such sanctions have allowed China a large opening to dominate Burma
and its economy, providing wealth to the regime in Rangoon even as common Burmese suffer. Some in
Congress want President Obama to now “engage” the generals as a way to counter China’s sway over its
Southeast Asian neighbor. Others prefer to harden the isolation of the country. Much of this debate ignores
the fact that it is the Burmese people who need to muster the will to overthrow their corrupt rulers – as the
Filipinos did in 1986. Other countries can assist that process up to a point. And it’s not clear when that
tipping point might come. If anything, the West must be patient while also supportive of “the people.” Suu
Kyi’s appeal lies in part from her backing by Buddhist monks. They are an everyday presence in Burmese
life. And in ancient days, it was often the leading Buddhist clergy, based on their close reading of the
people’s will, who decided whether a king should stay or fall. A ruler’s legitimacy rested on the views of
Buddhist believers, who revere monks for their compassion and pacifism, symbolized by their daily walks
door to door with begging bowls asking for alms – mainly from the women in a home. Just as China
suppresses the views of the Dalai Lama in Buddhist Tibet, the regime in Burma has suppressed the
monkhood, along with Suu Kyi. Yet it is the spiritual desires of the Burmese that can empower monks to act
and to demand that Suu Kyi be released and that democracy be allowed. If the West wants to save Burma, it
must look for ways to “engage” the monks. Out of the monks’ humility and compassion – feminine
qualities, even in the political arena – the people will rally someday to help free their real leader from the
shackles of a long-overdue detention. CSM, 11 August 2009

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Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)
Mervyn Thomas, CSW’s Chief Executive, said: “The treatment of Aung San Suu Kyi by the Burmese
military dictatorship is inhumane. The charges made today are outrageous. She cannot be held responsible
for the actions of the uninvited American intruder, especially as reports indicate that although she pleaded
with him to leave, he insisted on staying. It is essential that the UN and ASEAN, and key members of the
international community such as China and India, act immediately to secure her release and safety, and the
release of all her associates. She has committed no crime whatsoever, her detention violates international
law, and the regime must not be given any excuse to continue to hold her captive.” CSW, 14 May 2009

It is time to treat Than Shwe as the war criminal that he is, and hold a commission of inquiry into crimes
against humanity, writes Benedict Rogers.Within the past month, two new shocking chapters of misery
have opened up in Burma’s decades-long tragedy. The first is the trial, on ludicrously fabricated charges, of
democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who marks her 64th birthday this coming Friday. Now in the
notorious Insein Prison, after over 13 years of house arrest, her trial is a blatant attempt by the regime to
keep her locked up. Her continued detention is illegal under both international and Burmese law, according
to the UN – which is why the regime has gone to such absurd lengths to find fresh charges. The second is
the attacks within the past week on Ler Per Hur , a camp for internally displaced people (IDPs) in Karen
State, Burma. Situated on the banks of the Moie river, opposite Thailand, Ler Per Hur has been home to
more than 1,200 Karen IDPs who had fled the Burma Army’s attacks on their villages deeper inside Burma.
Although it has twice been attacked before, it has for the past seven years provided a place of sanctuary and
relative peace for those escaping the junta’s policies of forced labour, rape, torture, destruction of villages,
crops and livestock, extrajudicial killings and conscription of villagers as human minesweepers.
telegraph.co.uk, 17 June 2009

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is marking the 64th birthday of Burma’s democracy leader Aung
San Suu Kyi today by calling on the United Nations Security Council to take immediate action to secure her
freedom, the release of all political prisoners and an end to the Burma Army’s offensive against civilians in
eastern Burma. CSW’s East Asia Team Leader, Benedict Rogers, who has made almost 30 visits to Burma
and its borders, said: “On Aung San Suu Kyi’s birthday, it is time for the international community to turn its
tributes into action. Her unjust detention violates international law, and the continued imprisonment of over
2,100 activists is a scandal. The gross violations of human rights in Burma, particularly against the Karen
people at this time, including the use of rape, forced displacement, destruction of villages, torture, forced
labour and extra-judicial killing must be addressed. It is time for the UN Security Council to impose an arms
embargo on the regime, establish a commission of inquiry to investigate crimes against humanity, and
mandate the Secretary-General to make the release of all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi,
his personal priority”. CSW, 19 June 2009

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is marking the 65th birthday of Burma’s democracy leader Aung
San Suu Kyi by renewing its call for the establishment of a United Nations Commission of Inquiry, to
investigate crimes against humanity and war crimes in Burma. CSW is also calling for a universal arms
embargo on the regime. CSW, 17 June 2010

European Union
China, India and other Asian countries should press Burma’s military leaders to drop charges against pro–
democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and release her from house arrest, European Union foreign ministers
said Monday. British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said there was an agreement at a meeting of the
ministers here that the EU pursue fresh contacts with Burma’s Asian neighbours at talks in Vietnam next
week. “It is right the EU put on the table all the potential ways of exercising influence including
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engagement and including sanctions, both of which will be undertaken with real vigor,” Miliband told
reporters. The ministers discussed increasing sanctions against Burma’s junta, to help restore democracy in
the Southeast Asian country, but failed to agree on new measures. Instead they will focus on putting
pressure on countries like China, India and Thailand who could exert influence over Burma to change its
ways. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner in Paris called the trial a “scandalous provocation.”
Miliband and other ministers said the EU was concerned about the trial and efforts by the military junta to
shove through “sham” constitutional reforms. “The house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi is bad enough, but for
her to be put on a show trial just adds to her pain,’ he said in Brussels. EU foreign policy chief Javier
Solana led the call for more sanctions, though others questioned whether existing EU punitive measures
were working, including a travel ban on Burma’s political officials, an arms embargo and a freeze of assets
in Europe. Sweden’s Carl Bildt said EU nations would pressure their counterparts from the 10–country
Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which includes Burma, when they meet next week in Hanoi,
Vietnam. Past efforts to cajole the Asian group to denounce Burma have failed. caycompass.com, 18 May
2009

The EU also wants Asian governments to exert their influence on the regime and planned to raise the issue
at an Asia-Europe meeting in Hanoi next week. But Beijing said on Tuesday it would not interfere in the
affairs of its neighbor. “Events in Burma should be decided by the people of Burma,” China’s Foreign
Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu told a regular news briefing. “As a neighbor of Burma, we hope all parties
can realize reconciliation, stability and development through dialogue.” India, which has not commented on
the trial, and China are competing for influence in Burma with an eye on the country’s timber, gas and
mineral wealth. Reuters, 19 May 2009

The European Union has repeated calls for Burma’s military government to free Aung San Suu Kyi, the
country’s opposition leader who is standing trial on charges of violating the terms of her house arrest. The
call came on Monday at the start of two days of talks in Vietnam between foreign ministers from Asia and
Europe. The Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) in Hanoi had been called to discuss ways of tackling the global
economic slowdown and boosting economic cooperation. But it is expected to be overshadowed both by the
Aung San Suu Kyi trial and Monday’s surprise nuclear weapon test by North Korea. Representatives from
45 nations are taking part in the two-day meeting with brings together representatives of the European
Union (EU), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), as well as China, Japan, South Korea,
India and Pakistan. Aljazeera, 25 May 2009

European Union nations are divided over whether to increase sanctions against the Burma regime and will
await the outcome of the current trial of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, sources said Friday. “As far
as I am aware E.U. member states are very divided on that issue,” an E.U. official said. The E.U. sanctions -
in place since 1996 - include a travel ban and the freezing of assets of Burma’s leaders and their relatives, as
well as a ban on arms exports to the country. The sanctions also limit diplomatic relations between the
Southeast Asian nation and the European bloc. Last month, E.U. foreign ministers asked experts to consider
possible ways to beef up the current raft of sanctions. According to another E.U. diplomat, the Czech E.U.
presidency has prepared a list of possible options, ranging from boosting sanctions to increasing “ political
pressure.” “Britain and most member states are in favor of increasing sanctions, but others like Germany
and Austria doubt their effectiveness,” the source said. “We have to find the most effective method of
persuading the regime to free all opposition figures and become more democratic” and that could be through
“fine-tuning the sanctions we already have in force,’ a European source said. If the E.U. ministers are going
to wait for the result of the Aung San Suu Kyi trial then that wait just got longer. Friday, Burmese officials
postponed an appeal hearing and adjourned the main trial in what diplomats said were attempts by the junta
to stall the legal process. AFP, 12 June 2009

European governments condemned Tuesday’s sentencing of Burma’s most prominent pro-democracy leader
to another 18 months of house arrest and prepared for new economic and other sanctions against the
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country’s military regime. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown spoke of a “sham trial.” Sweden, the
current European Union presidency holder, promised tighter sanctions against Burma’s leaders. Amnesty
International’s secretary general called the verdict “shameful.” Brown said the verdict showed Burma’s
military leaders are “determined to act with total disregard” for international law and said the verdict was
designed to prevent Suu Kyi from participating in elections planned for next year. The EU said the verdict
continued 20 years of violations of international law by Burma’s leaders. It promised “additional targeted
measures against those responsible for the verdict” and to “further reinforce its restrictive measures” against
Burma’s economy. Sanctions now bans arms sales and travel to EU countries by hundreds of Burmese
government officials and their families and a freeze of assets held by Burmese leaders and companies
abroad. Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said the EU was working on additional sanctions that
“include measures such as trade restrictions against certain state-owned companies and prohibition of entry
into the EU for the four key individuals responsible for the decision.” Current sanctions affect some 120
companies - a number that will grow if the EU intensifies steps against Burma’s banking, tourism and
precious stones sectors - and a dozen top justice officials, including four supreme court judges. Italian
Foreign Minister Franco Frattini called the verdict “unfair” and urged a “common, firm and unequivocal”
answer from the EU. AP, 11 August 2009

The European Union on Thursday extended its sanctions against the Burmese regime following the trial of
Aung San Suu Kyi, slapping a visa ban and asset freeze on members of the judiciary. The 27 EU nations
also widened their existing assets freeze to cover all businesses owned and controlled by members of the
regime and their associates. The moves were taken “in reaction to the verdict against Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi and given the gravity of the violation of her fundamental rights,” the European Council said in a written
statement approved by all 27 EU capitals. Under the new restrictive measures “members of the judiciary
responsible for the verdict are added to the existing list of persons and entities subject to a travel ban and to
an assets freeze,” the statement said. The move comes after Tuesday’s conviction of opposition leader and
Nobel Peace Laureate Suu Kyi and an American man who swam to the lakeside home where she was
already under house arrest. indiatimes.com, 13 August 2009

Finland
Some diplomats sensed that China had adopted a fresh tone on Burma and had been constructive on North
Korea. “We can certainly say that they have not been pushing on the brake. I’m not saying that they’re
pushing on the accelerator either, but they are not holding things up,” Finland’s Foreign Minister Alexander
Stubb said. Reuters, 26 May 2009

MEPs discussed Burma and its long-suffering people in Parliament on 11 February. With the first elections
in 20 years due this year and the country wracked by internal conflict, many MEPs want more pressure on
the ruling military to release opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Held under house arrest almost
continuously since 1989, the Nobel Peace Prize winner has become the iconic symbol of Burma’s struggle
against military rule. Speaking in Thursday’s debate, Finnish MEP Eija-Riitta Korhola of the centre right
European People’s Party said: “Burma is one of the most fragile countries in the world as far as human
rights are concerned. The situation doesn’t seem to get any better.” European Parliament, 17 February 2010

France
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner denounced the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi on Monday, as
activists rallied in Paris in support of Burma’s pro-democracy leader. “All of this is exasperating,” said
Kouchner, calling the trial a “scandalous provocation” and a “pretext” by the ruling military junta to
neutralize a major political opponent before upcoming elections. AP, 18 May 2009
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French first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy meanwhile appealed for Aung San Suu Kyi’s release in an open
letter to Burma. indiatimes.com, 19 May 2009

The mayor of Paris has called for the release in Burma of Nobel Laureate and pro-democracy leader Aung
San Suu Kyi who is on trial on charges she violated the terms of her house arrest. Mayor Bertrand Delanoe
joined other municipal officials at the Place de la Republique in eastern Paris on Tuesday where a large
portrait of Suu Kyi was hung. Suu Kyi is an honorary citizen of Paris. eTaiwan News, 19 May 2009

The leaders of France and Germany expressed grave concern Thursday for Aung San Suu Kyi, who has
been put on trial by Burma’s junta, and appealed to China and India to intervene on her behalf. During a
joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, President Nicolas Sarkozy said he had
sought to speak by phone to the pro-democracy leader but the military government denied his request. “We
are asking our Chinese and Indian friends for help and to take into account the concern that we have for the
Nobel Peace Prize winner ahead of a conviction that appears, unfortunately, unavoidable,” said Sarkozy.
AFP, 11 June 2009

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Suu Kyi’s trial served one purpose: to prevent her “from leading her
fight in favour of a free and democratic Burma.” And French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner called
for a “robust mechanism for tracing rubies and wood” sold from Burma. AP, 11 August 2009

Germany
Germany called Thursday on Burma to halt the prosecution of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The
Foreign Ministry in Berlin said it was ‘very deeply concerned about her situation and health.’ A spokesman,
Jens Ploetner, said the Burmese government should drop the charges and end her state of house arrest.
monstersandcritics.com, 14 May 2009

The leaders of France and Germany expressed grave concern Thursday for Aung San Suu Kyi, who has
been put on trial by Burma’s junta, and appealed to China and India to intervene on her behalf. During a
joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, President Nicolas Sarkozy said he had
sought to speak by phone to the pro-democracy leader but the military government denied his request. “We
are asking our Chinese and Indian friends for help and to take into account the concern that we have for the
Nobel Peace Prize winner ahead of a conviction that appears, unfortunately, unavoidable,” said Sarkozy.
AFP, 11 June 2009

On 17 June, officials from the Embassy of Germany, which is the current rotational Chair of European
Union embassies in Burma, along with representatives from Great Britain, France, Italy, Denmark, Finland,
the Netherlands, Czech Republic and Austria, met with leaders of NLD at the Embassy of Germany in
Rangoon, and inquired about the current political and future activities of NLD, and in return, U Win Tin,
member of the Central Committee of NLD, detailed the future activities of NLD in order for the EU to be
able to continue its support to NLD. VOA, 17 June 2010

Heritage Foundation
Walter Lohman, director of the Asian Studies Centre, The Heritage Foundation, said: “I think that the
Burmese government saw an opportunity to make an impression both on their neighbours and on their
populace with Senator Webb’s visit and, in exchange, they gave him somebody they probably would have
released in the not-too-distant future anyway.” Channel News Asia, 21 August 2009
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Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch called on China and India, Burma’s closest allies, to pressure the ruling generals to
free Suu Kyi. The New York-based group said the charges against her are part of an intensified campaign
against pro-democracy activists that has brought increased arrests as the regime seeks to crush the
opposition before elections. The junta plans a ballot in 2010 after passing a constitution last year that it said
was backed by 92 percent of voters. The NLD and other groups have denounced the charter, which bars Suu
Kyi from holding office. “China, India, Singapore, Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries should be
calling for a genuine and participatory political process in Burma, which means serious public pressure for
the release of political opponents,” said Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch.
Bloomberg.com, 15 May 2009

UN Secretary general Ban Ki-moon faced a barrage of criticism last night for apparently praising the
Burmese junta without winning any concessions over human rights or a move towards democracy. Mr Ban
was under pressure to produce results from his two-day mission to Burma, which was criticised as providing
an endorsement of the Burmese leadership just as it is staging a trial of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The high-stakes visit to Burma comes at a critical time for Mr Ban, whose low-key approach to his job has
been criticised as ineffectual. He came under further fire on arrival in Naypyidaw, the regime’s
headquarters, when he told junta leader Gen Than Shwe: “I appreciate your commitment to moving your
country forward.” “That is absolute nonsense,” said Brad Adams, a Burma specialist at Human Rights
Watch. “It’s just what we implored him not to say, to make these diplomatic gaffes. Than Shwe has steadily
moved his country backwards.” British officials were also furious at the remarks. They had urged Mr Ban
not to visit Burma, and risk handing the junta a propaganda prize, without ensuring he would gain
concessions in the form of the release of political prisoners and steps towards genuine democracy. Gen Than
Shwe said little at his meeting with Mr Ban and did not grant his request to meet Suu Kyi in prison. Mr Ban
expressed hope that a meeting could still be permitted. “I am leaving tomorrow, so logically speaking I am
waiting for a reply before my departure,” he said. The secretary general added that he had called for the
release of all political prisoners before the elections, but got no response. However, Mr Adams said: “A
meeting with Than Shwe is not a success. Even a meeting with Suu Kyi shouldn’t be counted as a success, if
all it means is she goes from being in jail back to being under house arrest. irishtimes.com, 4 July 2009

“If Ban is saying it’s disappointing it must be really bad – it basically means he’s got absolutely nowhere.
He should have realized it was going to be a disappointing trip,” David Mathieson from Human Rights
Watch told AFP. “He didn’t even get one of the empty gestures the State Peace and Development Council,
the name for the ruling junta, probably should have given him so he could cast it as a minor victory.” “Now
he has to go back to New York and brief the Security Council and basically say ‘We have got nowhere. We
have to seriously rethink our engagement strategy,’” HRW’s Mathieson said. “This really shows that he’s
got to put more pressure on China and Russia in the Security Council, I think that’s one thing to come out of
it.” chinapost.com.tw, 6 July 2009

Ahead of a planning meeting before the June summit of the G8 group of industrialised countries New York
based Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged ministers to include Burma on the agenda. The G8 is a
grouping of 8 of the leading economies, formed by France in 1975. It also includes the US, Japan, Italy,
Canada, the UK, Germany and Russia. This year’s gathering will take place in the Canadian city of Toronto
in June. “One of the reasons that we sent this letter to the G8 is to say; for an international policy towards
Burma to have more effect it’s actually got to have more unanimity.” “That’s why we talked about the
commission of enquiry and targeted financial sanctions and the elections,” said David Mathieson, HRW’s
Burma analyst. The letter points to four main issues. The commission of inquiry refers to Tomas Ojea
Quintana, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Burma, who recommended on 8 March, after his
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last visit to Burma, that the UN should initiate a commission of inquiry into the junta’s alleged crimes
against humanity. HRW petition the G8 to support such an inquiry, HRW believe that the grouping; “can
play a crucial role in helping to bring an end to these abuses by supporting an impartial inquiry into
violations of international human rights and humanitarian law ” said the letter. Targeted sanctions were an
area that HRW felt was an “important way to bring about improvements in human rights” but Mathieson
was concerned that; “I am sure the Russians will try to block it because the Russians are pretty interested in
diverting attention from all the murky things that they are doing in Burma”. The letter urged however that;
“those punitive measures to be truly effective and effect change, they must be strengthened, fully
implemented, and better coordinated among influential international actors”. With Mathieson further
labelling US inability to curtail US oil companies operational in Burma as “hypocrisy”. The elections
naturally were included in the letter and it labelled them likely only to “establish a parliamentary facade for
continued military rule” but added that “It may be premature to judge the elections themselves, but it is
essential that the electoral process conducted in such conditions of repression not be endorsed in any way by
the international community.” The final point was humanitarian assistance with the letter calling for
“increased international assistance” concluding that “strengthening Burmese communities through
humanitarian aid while imposing targeted sanctions on the country’s senior leadership is the best approach
to support positive change in this long-suffering country”. Mathieson meanwhile asserted that Burma’s dire
humanitarian situation could become a “regional security issue”. Joseph Allchin, DVB, 26 March 2010

India
An Indian human rights advocacy group on Wednesday condemned Burma’s military rulers for conducting
a trial against Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Lenin Raghuvanshi, director of the
People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights, a grassroots human rights advocacy group based in
India’s Uttar Pradesh, said the charge against Aung San Suu Kyi over the visit of an uninvited guest is
discriminating and inhumane. He also condemned India, Burma’s giant neighbor, for remaining silent over
the Insein Prison trial against the recipient of India’s prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International
Understanding. Raghuvanshi said that instead of seeking to build a good relationship with the military junta
at all costs, the Indian government should pressure the regime to release Aung San Suu Kyi. “India should
support Aung San Suu Kyi,” said Raghuvanshi, a human rights champion who himself received the 2007
Gwangju Prize for Human Rights from South Korea. Mizzima, 25 May 2009

An Indian Member of Parliament and activists on Tuesday echoed the international outcry for the release of
Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, facing a trial in Rangoon’s Insein prison. Sharad Yadav of
the Janata Dal (United) party and a Member of Parliament of India from Bihar State in the Rajya Sabha
(Upper House), said he supports the international community’s demand for the release of Aung San Suu
Kyi. “We are here to mobilise world opinion. The whole world is asking the junta to release Aung San Suu
Kyi and to pave the way for democracy,” Yadav said in a seminar organized by South Asian Forum for
Peoples’ Initiative at the Gandhi Peace Foundation in New Delhi on Tuesday. Mizzima, 26 May 2009

Contending that India had compromised on the issue of supporting a democratic movement in neighbouring
Burma, former Defence Minister and veteran socialist leader George Fernandes today called for a rethink
on the country’s foreign policy. In a letter written to Minister for External Affairs S M Krishna, Mr
Fernandes said Ms Aung San Suu Kyi, who was waging a battle for restoration of democracy in her country,
had great hopes from India as a country that valued democractic rights. Her perception of India was evident
from her acceptance speech given at the time she was honoured with the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for
International Understanding 14 years ago, Mr Fernandes said, adding he was enclosing a copy of her speech
to remind the policy makers of what she had said. “Our compromises have been too many and silence too
long on the issue of supporting a democratic movement in our immediate neighbourhood,” he said. The
New Kerala, 10 June 2009
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A group of 118 MPs on Wednesday appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to ask the Burmese
government to release pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and impress upon the military regime to
respect democratic principles. Cutting across party lines, the MPs in a memorandum to Singh said India
should intervene in the current situation to urge upon the Burmese generals through all “possible diplomatic
and other demarches to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.” The MPs, including CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat,
SP’s Amar Singh, BJP’s Prakash Javadekar, JD(U)’s Sharad Yadav, NCP’s Supriya Sule, Congress’ B S
Gnanadesikan and RSP’s Abani Roy have signed the appeal. Indian Parliamentarians’ Forum for
Democracy in Burma (IIPFDB) co-convenor Sharad Joshi said India should change its policy towards
Burma and try to establish contacts with the people and not with the military regime. Abani Roy said as a
largest democracy and good neighbour, India has the moral obligation to rescue Suu Kyi and Burma from
“devastation.” The MPs also said Burmese believe that there will be no inclusive political process and free
and fair polls in 2010 if Suu Kyi and more than 2100 political prisoners are not released. Dr Tint Swe,
Burmese MP, said India should work with the UN to revive democracy in Burma. The Hindu, 10 June 2009

Contrary to New Delhi’s policy on Burma the civil society and advocacy groups of Northeast India
continue supporting the pro-democratic movement in the military ruled country. If the Central government
is willing to engage the Burmese junta for various strategic and trade relationship, the student-youth-
journalist and also political party workers of the region maintain their demands to snap all ties with the
brand of dictators of Naypyidaw. They are also in unanimous in various public meetings taking places in the
region that the pro-democracy Burmese icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi must be released and allowed her to
continue the political activities. The latest interaction between a group of Burmese exiles and local citizens
of Guwahati revolved around those issues. The meeting at Guwahati Press Club on July 4, where an exile
Burmese Parliamentarian participated, concluded with a number of resolutions in support for the democratic
movement in the Southeast Asian country. Organised jointly by Burma Centre Delhi and Journalists’
Forum Assam, meeting on ‘India’s Policy on Burma: A Northeastern Perspective’ also witnessed the
discussion on the probable ways, by which the people from Northeast can extend support for the movement
led by Suu Kyi. americanchronicle.com, 19 July 2009

Following the conviction of Burma’s pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the Indian
Government on Tuesday said that it has emphasized to the Burmese Government to expedite their political
reform. This was said by an official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs in response to a
question on sentencing of Suu Kyi. “We have seen reports of the sentencing of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in
Burma for a period of 18 months. India has emphasised to the Government of Burma the need to expedite
their political reform and national reconciliation process and have noted the various steps taken so far by the
Government of Burma in this direction,” the spokesperson said. “We have maintained that this process
should be broad based, including the various ethnic groups. In this context, the issue of release of political
prisoners will no doubt receive due attention,” he added. Earlier, a forum of Indian lawmakers had urged
Burma’s military junta to release Suu Kyi, saying that her release was essential for the restoration of
democracy in Burma. India has always maintained that it wants Burma to expedite national reconciliation.
ANI, 11 August 2009

India has questioned the value of holding a UN Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into war crimes in Burma, an
Indian diplomat recently told a General Assembly committee. The probe, now supported by more than a
dozen nations, may be “counter productive” and “end up adversely affecting the very people it is supposed
to help,” Acquino Vimal said, according to the Press Trust of India. Vimal pointed out that UN chief Ban
Ki-Moon’s recent report on Burma made no mention of the CoI, which was first proposed in March by UN
special rapporteur on human rights in Burma, Tomás Ojea Quintana. “We believe that the focus of efforts of
the international community should be on ensuring constructive engagement with Burma,” Vimal said. In
comments which bore a striking resemblance to Chinese policy on Burma, Vimal also stressed the
importance of “peace and stability” on India’s borders. Burma’s controversial 7 November elections would
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be a “step forward” in the country’s “national reconciliation process and democratic transition,” he added.
The diplomat’s comments come days after Nobel-prize winning Indian economist Amartya Sen made a
statement bemoaning his country’s policies towards the Burmese regime. In July, Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh welcomed junta leader Senior General Than Shwe on a state visit to India. “It breaks my
heart to see the prime minister of my democratic country – and one of the most humane and sympathetic
political leaders in the world – engage in welcoming the butchers from Burma and to be photographed in a
state of cordial proximity,” AFP quoted Sen as saying. India had forgotten its ideals and was emulating
China because of fears over its communist rival’s growing influence in the region, he said. While India used
to offer unqualified support to Burma’s democracy movement, over the past two decades it has changed
tack. The country is now investing heavily in Burma, particularly in the energy and extraction industries,
and maintains a strategic partnership with the country in a bid to counter growing Chinese influence in the
region. DVB, 28 October 2010

Indonesia
A number of Indonesian legislators grouped in the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC)
have urged President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to take proactive steps to help Burma democracy icon
Aung San Suu Kyi in Rangoon, Indonesia’s Antara news agency reported Friday. Two members of the
group, Sidarto Danusubroto and Marzuki Darusman, said here Friday the AIPMC had written to the
President asking him to obtain complete information on Suu Kyi’s recent detention in Burma. Bernama, 15
May 2009

Indonesia has asked India and China to push for reform in the military-ruled Burma, whose trial of
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has sparked international outrage. Foreign Ministry spokesman Teuku
Faizasyah said Friday the request was raised in a recent UN forum, which convened envoys from India,
China, Burma and Japan, as well as representatives of the multilateral body. “Those countries play a key
role to a settlement in Burma’s issue... and we would very much like to see them urge Burma to embrace the
value of human rights,” he said. Both China and India have maintained their backing of Burma’s notorious
junta due to their close economic ties in a time when western countries and international organizations
consider imposition of more economic sanctions on Rangoon. Lilian Budianto, The Jakarta Post, 12 June
2009

Asean member states, especially Indonesia, must assume a leadership role in putting pressure on the Burma
regime with strict and targeted sanctions. Asean members are in a prime position to cut the junta’s financial
lifeline. Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam are among the junta’s top trading partners.
Thailand alone purchases more than 44% of Burma’s exports each year. Sanctions by Asean member states
would deprive Burma’s generals of a large portion of the more than $11 billion they earn from foreign trade
annually. Eva Kusuma Sundari, member of the Indonesian parliament, Wall Street Journal Asia, 17 June
2009

A meeting of exiled Burmese opposition groups in Indonesia has been curtailed due to complaints from the
junta in Rangoon, organisers said on Wednesday. Bo Hla Tint, foreign affairs minister for the exiled
National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma, told AFP in an email that the Burmese embassy had
lodged a complaint about the meeting with the Indonesian foreign ministry. ‘Regional politics or Asean
internal politics are as usual taking place... We are very disappointed,’ he said. The activists had hoped to
make a ‘historic’ announcement about their joint proposal for democracy in Burma, but their press
conference had been cancelled, they said. Indonesia is a founding member of the 10-state Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), which is criticised for failing to speak out stongly enough against human
rights abuses in member-state Burma. Critics have accused the military junta in Burma of convicting Suu
Kyi in order to keep her off the scene for elections next year. The Indonesian government was ‘very
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disappointed’ over the conviction, according to a foreign ministry spokesman Tuesday. AFP, 12 August
2009

International Labour Organisation (ILO)


International labour experts on Saturday called on the Burmese government to amend a provision in the
country’s new constitution that could be interpreted as justifying forced labour. A special session at the
International Labour Organisation on the forced labour situation in Burma concluded that the steps taken
by the ruling junta towards eradicating forced labour were “totally inadequate.” In a report presented at the
meeting, the experts pointed to a provision in the new constitution referring to “duties assigned thereupon
by the State in accord with the law in the interests of the people.” The experts expressed deep concern about
a provision in the text of the Constitution that “may be interpreted in such a way as to allow a generalised
exaction of forced labour from the population.” They called on the government to amend the new
constitution, which is meant to take effect in 2010, to bring it into conformity with labour rules. Burma’s
representative however said the government “cannot accept criticism on our constitution process,” which he
said had been adopted by over 90 percent of voters. ILO experts said that exploitation remained rampant in
the Asian country, adding “there is no genuine and sustained political will to end forced labour.” They also
raised “serious concern on the continued human rights violations in Burma and the detention of Aung San
Suu Kyi” and other political prisoners. AFP, 6 June 2009

A report by the ILO’s liaison officer in Burma, Steve Marshall, said only 152 complaints of forced labor
had been received under the mechanism agreed in 2007. “The government continues to play the diplomatic
game of doing just enough to create an appearance of cooperation. No one in this room is fooled by that,”
said Edward Potter, who speaks for the employers’ group on the committee. Several workers’
representatives called for disinvestment from Burma, which is rich in oil, gas, timber and gems, and was
once a major rice producer. Reuters, 6 June 2009

Internationa Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)


The Internationa Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) categorically denounces this Tuesday’s verdict
against Aung San Suu Kyi and demands her immediate and unconditional release. After what the ITUC
regards as a mock trial, the leader of the Burmese opposition was initially sentenced to three years in prison
with forced labour for breaching the terms of her house arrest, though the sentence was subsequently
commuted by the head of the junta Than Shwe to 18 months’ house arrest. For the ITUC it is quite clear that
this mock trial was mainly aimed at ensuring that the key figure in the Burmese opposition could play no
part in the forthcoming national “elections”, due to be held in 2010. Unless some form of pardon is
announced between now and 2010, today’s sentence is indeed likely to prevent Aung San Suu Kyi from
standing in those elections. ituc-csi.org, 11 August 2009

Ireland
Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin claims Burma’s ruling military junta had defied the international
community by again jailing pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The 64-year-old Nobel Peace Prize
laureate was sentenced to 18-months after a court martial found her guilty of violating her house arrest by
allowing an uninvited American into her home. Mr Martin said: “I will continue to speak out within the EU
and the UN and in my contacts with the countries of the region for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and for
the goals of justice, democracy, reconciliation and prosperity for the people of Burma.” UKPA, 13 August
2009
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Italy
Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini called the verdict “unfair” and urged a “common, firm and
unequivocal” answer from the EU. AP, 11 August 2009

Japan
Japan voiced “serious concern” Friday about Burma moving Aung San Suu Kyi, the country’s pro-
democracy leader, to prison from house arrest Thursday. “We are closely watching the development with
serious concern,” Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone said at a news conference. “We have conveyed this
message to the Burmese government.” Nakasone said the Foreign Ministry told Burmese Ambassador to
Japan Hla Myint earlier Friday that Japan wants the junta to advance democracy with the participation of
“all related people,” including Suu Kyi, the 63-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Nakasone said Japan
expects Burma to hold a general election in 2010 as a way acceptable to the international community. Suu
Kyi has been charged in connection with an incident last week in which a U.S. citizen is accused of
swimming across a lake and sneaking into her house to visit her. Japan Today, 15 May 2009

Japan Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone has expressed concern over the indictment of detained
prodemocracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and called for Burma’s military junta to give her humanitarian
treatment. Nakasone conveyed his concern to Burma’s foreign minister, Nyan Win, during telephone talks
Monday, officials said. The Japan Times, 18 May 2009

“If Suu Kyi is found guilty and jailed, there will be much popular anger, but it won’t make a real difference
because the government is well-equipped and experienced in dealing with the people’s protests,” said
Donald Seekins, a Burma expert at Japan’s Meio University. Seekins said the regime has already posted
soldiers throughout Rangoon, the largest city, “and can suppress demonstrations with little difficulty.” AP, 1
June 2009

About 100 Burmese activists rallied in Japan on Wednesday, calling on visiting UN chief Ban Ki-moon to
press the junta to free political prisoners including democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Protesters said
Ban, who is slated to visit Burma on Friday and Saturday, must press the military regime for a concrete
outcome when he meets the generals ruling the isolated country formerly known as Burma. “Ban Ki-moon
used to say he would not visit until the military regime makes visible progress” toward democracy, said
Myat Thu, 44, a Japan-based activist. “I want him to achieve the release of political prisoners, like Aung
San Suu Kyi,” he said, referring to the Nobel Peace laureate who has been under house arrest for 13 of the
past 19 years. The protesters rallying outside the foreign ministry held pictures of the democracy leader and
chanted for democracy in Burma. Japan has historically maintained relatively friendly ties with Burma and
was previously its leading donor. Tokyo drastically reduced development aid to Burma over human rights
concerns, particularly after the junta cracked down on pro-democracy demonstrations led by Buddhist
monks in 2007. However, the Japanese government refused to join its Western allies in imposing sanctions.
AFP, 1 July 2009

Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone, in talks Tuesday with a minister from Burma, urged the
country’s ruling junta to release pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi as soon as possible. Tokyo
“strongly expects the swift release of Aung San Suu Kyi... and that she will be able to participate in Burma’s
democratic process,” Nakasone told Agriculture Minister Htay Oo, according to a statement. Htay
responded that the military regime “will consider her early release if she leads a sincere life,” according to
Japan’s foreign ministry statement. Asia One News, 25 August 2009
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Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada met Wednesday with his Burmese counterpart Nyan Win to ask
the ruling junta to ensure the participation of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi in a general election
slated for later this year. Kyodo, 21 July 2010

Korea
As North Korea’s recent nuclear test raises tensions in Asia, rogue state Burma’s nuclear program is
ringing alarm bells in the Western world, say Greenpeace and a local expert. Burma’s notorious junta,
which has been subject to Western economic sanctions because of its poor human rights record, has
attracted criticism over its plan to develop nuclear reactors. In 2002 it was reported that the Russian
government had agreed to help the military junta build a nuclear research facility that would be used to
develop reactors for medical and electricity resources. The US has shunned Burma’s nuclear plans, saying
Rangoon has neither the legal framework nor the provisions that would safeguard its nuclear program from
posing a security threat. “Nuclear power and nuclear arms are different sides of the same coin. Every
nuclear-power-wielding state can turn into a nuclear-armed nation,” said Tessa de Ryck, an anti- nuclear
campaigner from Greenpeace Southeast Asia. The Jakarta Post, 2 June 2009

Bertil Lintner reveals how North Korea has been secretly helping Burma to build an extensive tunnel
network as emergency shelter and for other unknown purposes. Lintner has obtained the first-ever images of
this secret tunnel building effort along with photos of foreign advisers, almost certainly from North Korea.
Payments are made in gold or barter, any store of value North Korea can use. The photos, taken between
2003 and 2006, show that while the rest of the world is speculating about the outcome of long-awaited
elections in Burma, the ruling military junta has been busy digging in for the long haul - literally. North
Korean technicians have helped them construct underground facilities where they can survive any threats
from their own people as well as the outside world. It is not known if the tunnels are linked to Burma’s
reported efforts to develop nuclear technology - in which the North Koreans allegedly are active as well.
The photographs show that an extensive network of underground installations was built near Burma’s new,
fortified capital Naypyidaw. In November 2005, the military moved its administration from the old capital
Rangoon to an entirely new site that was carved out of the wilderness 460 kms north of Rangoon. Meaning
the “Abode of Kings,” Naypyidaw is meant to symbolize the power of the military and its desire to build a
new state based on the tradition of Burma’s pre-colonial warrior kings. But underground facilities were
apparently deemed necessary to secure the military’s grip on power. Additional tunnels and underground
meeting halls have been built near Taunggyi, the capital of Burma’s northeastern Shan State and the home
of several of the country’s decades-long insurgencies. Some of the pictures, taken in June 2006, show a
group of technicians in civilian dress walking out of a government guesthouse in the Naypyidaw area. Asian
diplomats have identified those technicians, with features distinct from the Burmese workers around them,
as North Koreans. This is quite a turnaround as Burma severed relations with Pyongyang in 1983 after
North Korean agents planted a bomb at Rangoon’s Martyrs Mausoleum killing 18 visiting South Korean
officials, including the then-deputy prime minister and three other government ministers. Secret talks
between Burmese and North Korean diplomats began in Bangkok in the early 1990s.The two sides had
discovered that despite the hostile act in the previous decade they had a lot in common. Both had come
under unprecedented international condemnation, especially by the US, because of their blatant disregard
for the most basic human rights and Pyongyang for its nuclear weapons program. Burma also needed more
military hardware to suppress an increasingly rebellious urban population as well as ethnic rebels in the
frontier areas. North Korea needed food, rubber and other essentials - and was willing to accept barter deals,
which suited the cash-strapped Burmese generals. “They have both drawn their wagons in a circle ready to
defend themselves,” a Bangkok-based Western diplomat said. “Burma’s generals admire the North Koreans
for standing up to the United States and wish they could do the same.” After an exchange of secret visits,
North Korean armaments began to arrive in Burma. The curious relationship between Burma and North
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Korea was first disclosed in the Hong Kong-based weekly Far Eastern Economic Review on July 10, 2003.
A group of 15 to-20 North Korean technicians were then seen at a government guesthouse near the old
capital Rangoon. The report was met with skepticism, especially because of the 1983 Rangoon bombings.
But, when North Korean-made field artillery pieces were seen in Burma in the early 2000s, it became clear
that North Korea had found a new ally ― several years before diplomatic relations between the two
countries were restored in April 2007. “While based on a 1950s Russian design, these weapons [the field
guns] were battle-tested and reliable,” Australian Burma scholar Andrew Selth stated in a 2004 working
paper for the Australian National University. “They significantly increased Burma’s long-range artillery
capabilities, which were then very weak.” Since then, Burma has also taken delivery of North Korean truck-
mounted, multiple rocket launchers and possibly also surface-to-air missiles for its Chinese-supplied naval
vessels. Then came the tunneling experts. Most of Pyongyang’s own defense industries, including its
chemical and biological-weapons programs, and many other military as well as government installations are
underground. This includes known factories at Ganggye and Sakchu, where thousands of technicians and
workers labor in a maze of tunnels dug under mountains. The export of such know-how to Burma was first
documented in June 2006, when intelligence agencies intercepted a message from Naypyidaw confirming
the arrival of a group of North Korean tunneling experts at the site. Today, three years later, the dates on the
photos published today confirm the accuracy of this report. By now, the tunnels and underground
installations should be completed, as would those near Taunggyi. This well-hidden complex ensures there is
no danger of irate civilians storming government buildings, as they did during the massive pro-democracy
uprising in August-September 1988. Sources say that the internationally isolated military junta may also
consider these deep bunkers as their last repair in case of air strikes of the kind that the Taliban in
Afghanistan or Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq endured. Bertil Lintner, Asia Sentinel, 14 May 2009

A North Korean ship that the United States is shadowing is likely headed for Burma, South Korean
television reported on Sunday. YTN channel quoted a South Korean intelligence source as saying the final
destination of the Kang Nam looks to be Burma, after leaving a North Korean port on Wednesday. North
Korea has raised tensions in the region in the past months by test-firing missiles, restarting a plant to
produce arms-grade plutonium and holding a May 25 nuclear test, which put it closer to having a working
nuclear bomb. Fox News quoted a senior U.S. military source as saying the ship appeared to be heading
toward Singapore and that the navy destroyer USS John McCain was positioning itself in case it gets orders
to intercept, according to a story on its website. Singapore, a U.S. ally, said it would act “appropriately” if
the vessel heads to its port with a cargo of weapons. Singapore has the world’s busiest shipping port and is
also the world’s top ship refueling hub. The Kang Nam is the first North Korean ship to be monitored under
the new sanctions, adopted this month in response to Pyongyang’s May nuclear test. The resolution
authorized U.N. member states to inspect North Korean sea, air and land cargo. Japan’s Mainichi
newspaper, citing unidentified sources close to North Korean leadership, said on Saturday the Swiss-
educated Kim Jong-un has been working as acting chairman of North Korea’s National Defense
Commission, supporting his father, who is commission chairman. “If something happens to Kim Jong-il,
Jong-un looks set to move up to the post as chairman,” the paper quoted one of the sources as saying.
Reuters, 21 June 2009

The increasingly close ties between Burma and North Korea since the two sides quietly resumed
diplomatic relations in 2007 could also cast a shadow over Mr Ban’s trip. A 37-page document in Burmese
obtained by Radio Free Asia detailed a visit by 17 Burmese officials, including General Thura Shwe Mann,
the chief of staff of the army and Burma’s third-ranked leader, to Beijing and Pyongyang last November.
The stated aim of the visit was “to modernize the Burmese military and increase its capabilities through
visiting and studying the militaries” of China and North Korea, and a memorandum of understanding was
signed with North Korea counterparts on November 27. The report also says the Burmese delegation was
shown North Korean surface-to-air missiles and rockets, along with naval and air defense systems and
tunnel construction, including how Pyongyang stores aircraft and ships underground to protect them from
aerial attack. The delegation also visited a Scud missile factory. Pyongyang has been a major supplier of
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Scud missiles to Iran, Egypt, and Syria since the 1980s. Photographs in the report show a Burmese
delegation in civilian clothing in North Korea, suggesting a bid to maintain a low profile. Experts suggested
that the leaking of the document was timed to coincide with Mr Ban’s visit by figures inside the junta who
are unhappy with the cooperation with North Korea. Reports in South Korea suggest that North Korea may
already be illegally exporting weapons to Burma via overland routes in China in order to avoid naval
interception. Last week, the Kang Nam 1, a North Korea ship that has been used for weapons trading in the
past, turned back before reaching Burma while being tracked by a US Navy destroyer. The Chosun Ilbo
newspaper said Pyongyang has exported weapons to Iran, Syria, Laos and Burma worth USD800 million
since 2008. telegraph.co.uk, 3 July 2009

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak urged Burma to take steps to promote democracy during a
meeting with its prime minister Tuesday, Lee’s office said. Lee held talks with Gen. Thein Sein on the
sidelines of a two-day summit between South Korea and leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations. “President Lee expressed the hope that the Burmese government would address the concerns of the
international community by making sure that national unity and democracy take root in a substantial manner
through dialogue and compromise,” Lee’s office said in a press release. AP, 3 June 2009

Malta
Foreign Minister Tonio Borg expressed “sadness and deep dismay” at the sentence meted out to Burmese
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. “Her sentencing is a political act of intolerance intended to prevent her
from her legitimate political activities in view of the regime’s elections planned for next year. The regime in
Burma cannot project itself as an international outlaw and must free its political opponents and stop political
persecutions,” Dr Borg said. After the new sentence, Ms Suu Kyi will now serve a further one and a half
years under house arrest. She has already spent 13 of the past 19 years under house arrest.
Independent.com.mt, 13 August 2009

New Zealand
New Zealand on Friday joined the international condemnation of the imprisonment of Nobel Peace Prize
laureate Aung San Suu Kyi as Foreign Minister Murray McCully said the only thing the Burma opposition
leader was guilty of was standing up for the rights of her country’s people in the face of appalling
repression. “This action is yet another setback for Burma and throws more doubt over the credibility of the
planned 2010 elections,” McCully said, referring to voting planned by the ruling military junta in the
country once known as Burma. “The Burmese government must release Aung San Suu Kyi immediately,
and take meaningful steps towards the restoration of democracy.” monstersandcritics.com, 15 May 2009

New Zealand will raise its concerns about the fairness of Burma’s first election in two decades when Prime
Minister John Key attends the East Asian Summit in Vietnam tomorrow. Burma is set to hold its first
elections in 20 years next week, but Mr Key said elections where the main opposition leader -- Aung San
Suu Kyi -- was under house arrest failed the test for democracy. While the holding of elections was a tiny
step in the right direction it was not enough to satisfy New Zealand, he said. “New Zealand’s spelt out its
position quite clearly and we’ll continue to reiterate that over the next day or so.” He said he would raise the
issue with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and possibly with Burma’s Prime Minister Thein
Sein. “We’re more than likely to be sitting next to him.... for alphabetical reasons we may have a bit of time
to chat with them about it.” The human rights record of host country Vietnam could also come up. “New
Zealand doesn’t support Vietnam’s human rights record, nor do we sanction and condone everything that we
see that takes place in China,” Mr Key said. “What we do is use diplomatic ties to raise those issues and

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seek progress and change.” The only other option was to take an isolated approach which would not achieve
anything, he said. Voxy News, 29 October 2010

Norway
Norway on Thursday expressed “concern” over the treatment of Burma opposition leader Aung San Suu
Kyi who was charged with allowing an unauthorized US national to visit her Rangoon home. “The
Norwegian government is concerned over the reports that Aung San Suu Kyi has been imprisoned and
demands her immediate release,” Foreign Minister Jonas gahr Store said in a statement. “The
imprisonment of Aung San Suu Kyi is a step in the wrong direction,” Store said, adding that Norwegian
diplomats had been instructed to raise the matter with countries in the region including China and India. The
Norwegian foreign minsiter also urged that Suu Kyi be given adequate medical treatment, citing reports
over her poor health. Former Norweigan Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik who heads the Oslo Centre
for Peace and Human Rights said he was not surprised over Suu Kyi’s arrest, noting that her current
sentence was soon due to expire. “The Burmese junta will try to use this incident as an excuse to detain her
in the years to come. The international community must stand together and demand her immediate release,”
Bondevik said. Earth Times, 14 May 2009

Erik Solhiem, Norway’s minister for environment and international development, visited Burma last month
where he met with government officials, civil society groups and National League for Democracy (NLD)
members. He tells DVB that engagement with the ruling junta must be stepped up, as well as increasing
dialogue with all political actors in the country. The main objective was to observe the effect of the
assistance Norway has given to people after cyclone Nargis in May 2008: whether money was properly
distributed to people and if shelter was constructed and schools rehabilitated. Then of course we wanted
dialogue with all parts of Burmese society – the government, civil society, as well as opposition
representatives, such as the National League for Democracy (NLD). There was this, but also we wanted to
forward our ideas about the future of Burma. We met with three different ministers – agriculture, foreign
affairs and social affairs – and some deputy ministers. But not Than Shwe. We had a good dialogue –
clearly we differ on substantial issues. I asked them to release Aung San Suu Kyi and political prisoners,
and on such issues we do not agree. We did agree on important issues, on climate change – they are very
much concerned with climate change, and the drought in the dry zone of Burma – and Norway and Burma
can cooperate globally in the fight against climate change. I could only visit a few places: what we saw on
the one hand was that a lot of good work has been done in the recovery, but also you saw widespread
poverty – that is obviously one of the challenges for Burma; that the country is much poorer than neighbours
like Thailand and China. When you visit the countryside in these two countries you see widespread
affluence coming up, while still in Burma there are very poor people who can’t send children to school
because they can’t afford to pay for the uniform or schoolbooks. And they needed the income from the
children. I can’t give the exact figure, but we have been one of the biggest foreign donors to Burma after the
cyclone – I think 10 percent has been provided by Norway. We are satisfied with the results in the sense that
progress has been made. But the international amount for Nargis is still very small compared with the
amount Haiti received after the earthquake. We are ready to invite Burmese students to Norway. However
there is of course a language problem which makes it easier for them to go to the US than to Norway.
Learning the Norwegian language takes a lot of time. I’m generally satisfied but of course clearly Burma
has huge challenges ahead from my perspective: the two main challenges is to move towards democracy –
they need to build democratic institutions, to have free and fair elections that are open to all inhabitants, and
that political prisoners are released. The big challenge is to move towards rapid development – so many
people are suffering and their lives should be uplifted. What the government has achieved is that there is
peace largely in all parts of the country and ceasefire agreements have been reached with most of the
insurgent groups and on the basis of peace, Burma should now move towards democracy and towards
affluence. Our view is that we want to work in accordance with the wishes of the EU and US and other
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Western powers to find the right way to influence developments in Burma in a positive way. We believe in
political dialogue; we have dialogue with a lot of governments that we disagree politically with. We should
have dialogue also with Burma. That dialogue has to include both the government, civil society, but as well
Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD – it cannot be one-sided dialogue, it should include all major political
actors in the land. There is absolutely no doubt that the NLD was the true winner of the 1990 elections and
should have been able to form a government after those elections. It is now 20 years post, so it is up to the
NLD to decide the future of the movement but we will continue to have dialogue with the NLD leaders,
whether they form an NGO or just as individuals – what path they want to take is their business and we will
continue to meet with them when we visit Burma, and to meet with the government. I had a long two-hour
discussion with U Tin Oo and U Win Tin and other leaders, and we asked to be granted access to Aung San
Suu Kyi. I definitely think that political dialogue and engagement is the better way; engagement can also be
combined with sanctions, not just either/or. Norway is part of sanctions which are applied by the EU, but at
the same time we are engaging with all actors – the government, civil society, those actors taking part in
elections – but clearly Aung San Suu Kyi is a great a symbol of democracy in Burma, as is the NLD.
That’s very clearly right – when you meet some government officials they are very sceptical toward Norway
because DVB is broadcast from here. You also of course find people who are opposed to the Peace prize to
Aung San Suu Kyi, but these are all part of Norwegian political tradition – we support press freedom, so
that’s why we accept DVB. That’s not to say we agree to everything broadcast on that channel – we do not
agree with things broadcast from many channels in Norway. So that is part of our historical tradition to
accept that. The Norwegian Nobel committee is completely independent – it’s their decision to award the
peace prize to Aung San Suu Kyi and I think that was also accepted by the world at that time. DVB, 5 July
2010

Pakistan
Pakistan on Tuesday lamented the trial of Burma pro-democracy leader and Nobel peace laureate Aung San
Suu Kyi and called for her swift release, AFP reports. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi described
the trial as ‘unfortunate’and urged the Burmese government to consider reviewing its decision. ‘Her early
release would serve the fundamental interests of Burma with which Pakistan enjoyed close cooperative
relations,’ said Qureshi. 19 May 2009

Philippines
Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo urged the government of Burma yesterday to “immediately and
unconditionally” release pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi as he expressed the Philippine
government’s “outrage” over the filing of new charges against her just days before the expiration of her six-
year detention. “The Philippine government is deeply troubled and outraged over the filing of trumped-up
charges against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her transfer to Insein prison, particularly when concerns have
been raised regarding her health,” Secretary Romulo said. “We urge the government of Burma to resolve the
matter speedily, and to release Aung San Suu Kyi immediately and unconditionally.” The secretary said the
Burmese government should not be sidetracked by the filing of the trumped-up charges. “As we had
conveyed earlier, it is high time for the Burmese government to carry out its own ‘Roadmap for
Democracy,’ its avowed program of releasing political detainees, including unfettering the National League
for Democracy, and allowing its unconditional participation in free elections,” Romulo said. “Fulfilling
these commitments is long overdue.” Manila Bulletin, 18 May 2009

U.S. President Barack Obama and Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo agreed Thursday to join
forces in tackling the issues surrounding Burma and North Korea. Arroyo became the first leader of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations to meet Obama. “We stand behind the United States on the position
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that it has taken with regard to Burma and with regard to North Korea’s nuclear adventurism,” Arroyo told
reporters with Obama at the White House. Obama thanked Arroyo for her support on U.S. policies in Asia.
“We are very grateful for the strong voice that the Philippines has provided in dealing with issues in Asia,
ranging from the human rights violations that have for too long existed in Burma to the problems that we’re
seeing with respect to nuclear proliferation in North Korea,” he said. AP, 30 July 2009

The Philippines’ foreign secretary shrugged off Burma’s rejection of international monitors for the junta-led
country’s first elections in 20 years, saying Thursday the polls were a farce anyway. The polls, to be held
sometime this year, have been sharply criticized as a means for the military to maintain its grip on power
under a civilian guise. The criticism from Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo was unusually blunt, coming
from a fellow member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a grouping which typically avoids
commenting on the internal affairs of its counterparts. Sending observers may “legitimize a farce” since
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy party will not be involved in
the election, Romulo told reporters. “In the first place that election is fraudulent and a farce so why bother
(sending monitors)?” said Romulo, adding it was his personal opinion. “It’s a game, like children playing
games.” The NLD won the last election in 1990 but was never allowed to take power by the military.
Irrawaddy, 14 May 2010

Philippine President Benigno Aquino III is set to describe Burma’s controversial 7 November elections as a
“farce” at the annual summit of Southeast Asian leaders in Hanoi this week. Aquino’s statement, seen by the
Manila Standard Today, would be the strongest yet from any of Burma’s neighbours on polls widely
decried by critics as a charade. The president will cite the exclusion of Aung San Suu Kyi as a sign that the
elections lack credibility, the Standard claims. Under Burma’s 2008 constitution, one quarter of
parliamentary seats are reserved for the military, and any serving or former political prisoners, including
Suu Kyi, are barred from seeking office, leading many in the democracy movement to urge an election
boycott. Two junta-backed parties, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and the National
Unity Party (NUP), are expected to be the only parties fielding candidates for the vast majority of seats.
Opposition candidates have complained of harassment, and foreign election watchdogs and journalists have
been barred from observing the polls. The elections are not officially scheduled for discussion at the three-
day Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, which starts on Thursday. However,
Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa has said there may be a session to discuss recent progress in
the region at which the topic may arise. DVB, 27 October 2010

Reporters Without Borders


Reporters Without Borders reiterates its call for the release of Zarganar, a dissident blogger and comedian
who was jailed a year ago today on a charge of disturbing public order. He was given a 45-year jail sentence
by special court inside Insein prison last November and then received an additional 14-year sentence a few
days later. The combined jail terms were reduced to 35 years on 16 February. “The sentence alone shows
that Zarganar has been subjected to a travesty of justice,” Reporters Without Borders said. “Do you give
such a long jail term just for ‘disturbing public order’? The military government had him arrested and then
denied him due process because he had become a reliable source of information in a country throttled by
censorship and repression.” The press freedom organisation added: “The conditions in which Zarganar is
being held are very bad and his health is deteriorating steadily. These are additional reasons why he must be
released.” Suffering from jaundice and hypertension, Zarganar is not getting access to adequate medical care
in Myitkyina prison, to which he was transferred in December. CNW Telbec, 5 June 2009

Burma has barred foreign observers and journalists from the country’s controversial elections. The
restriction is the latest in a series of moves that critics say guarantees Burma’s first elections in 20 years will
favor the military government. At a briefing in Burma’s remote capital, Naypyidaw, the Election
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Commission told journalists and diplomats already in the country their presence would be adequate for the
elections. Burma’s neighbors in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations offered to observe the elections,
but the government turned them down. There are about 25 foreign news organizations registered in Burma,
most are staffed by Burmese citizens. The commission says diplomats and foreign organizations in Burma
will be taken on a tour during the elections. Therefore, he said, no invitations will be given to election
observers or foreign media. Vincent Brossel is with the media freedom organization Reporters Without
Borders in Paris. He says this latest restriction shows the government has no intention of holding free and
fair elections. “One of the conditions for a democratic election is again refused by the government,” said
Brossel. “They have all control on the Burmese media and now that the foreign journalists are denied to
access to Burma during the elections that gives no chances to get transparency and accountability.” VOA,
18 October 2010

Russia
The Russian Foreign Ministry objects to political and economic pressure on Burma and hopes for an
unbiased trial of opposition leader Suu Kyi, the ministry’s information and press department said on
Sunday. Russia is watching “the efforts of the Burmese government to achieve peace and national concord,”
the department said. “We believe that Burma will ensure the fulfillment of the reform program, primarily
the holding of parliamentary elections in due time in 2010.” Moscow “opposes attempts to internationalize
the internal situation in Burma, because it does not endanger peace and security in the region and the world
at large. In our opinion, the political and economic pressure on that country is counterproductive, as it
enhances isolationist feelings of the Burmese military and exacerbates the socioeconomic position of
citizens,” the department said. “We see no reasons why the UN Security Council should discuss Burma. At
the same time, we call on Burma for greater openness and cooperation with the international community, as
well as for closer relations with the mission of Special Representative of the UN Secretary General Ibrahim
Gambari. We are confident that this negotiating mechanism is useful in building up mutual understanding
and confidence between Burma and the world,” the department said. Russia hopes that the trial of “Burma
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi will be unbiased, strictly comply with national laws and humanitarian
standards, and take into account the international opinion,” the department said. Itar-Tass, 21 June 2009

Russia’s state-controlled Novosti news agency has declared that Moscow’s cooperation with Burma on
commercial nuclear development does not contravene international treaties on preventing the spread of
nuclear weapons. The agency this week quoted a Russian foreign ministry spokesman, Andrei Nesterenko,
on the issue at the same time the US expressed concerns about a possible liaison between the Burmese and
North Korean regimes. Rosatom, Russia’s state-owned nuclear energy corporation, signed an agreement in
2007 to help construct a nuclear research center in Burma, and Moscow will stand by this agreement,
Nesterenko said. The deal, which is supposed to cost tens of millions of dollars, envisages developing a
reactor with an energy capacity of 10 megawatts. Weekly Business Roundup, 24 July 2009

Singapore
Singapore’s ambassador to Burma, Robert Chua was among three ambassadors invited to meet Aung San
Suu Kyi on Wednesday in Rangoon after the adjournment of her trial. A spokesman for the Singapore
Foreign Ministry said Ambassador Robert Chua had reported that the meeting took place at a guest house
within Insein Prison. Aung San Suu Kyi informed the representatives that she and her two housekeepers are
well and being well treated by the Burmese authorities. And she believes there could be many opportunities
for national reconciliation if all parties so wished. She added that she did not wish to use the intrusion into
her home as a way to get at the Burmese authorities. Aung San Suu Kyi also expressed the view that it was
not too late for something good to come out of the unfortunate incident. The spokesman said Ambassador
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Chua expressed the hope that there would be peaceful national reconciliation and that representatives of the
diplomatic corps would be able to meet both Aung San Suu Kyi and Burmese leaders regularly. Channel
News Asia, 20 May 2009

A group of Southeast Asian politicians is urging the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to suspend
Burma’s membership if it refuses to release democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Aung San Suu Kyi
testified Tuesday against charges that could put her in prison for five years. Aung San Suu Kyi said she was
innocent when she was called Tuesday to testify in court. The trial has been widely condemned as an excuse
to keep the Nobel Peace Prize winner locked up and pressure is growing for her release. The ASEAN Inter-
Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus on Tuesday called for tougher actions against Burma, including suspending
its membership in the regional bloc. Charles Chong, a Singaporean lawmaker and member of the caucus,
told journalists in Bangkok that dealing with Burma has bogged down ASEAN, making it harder for them to
accomplish anything. “More and more parliamentarians within ASEAN are beginning to lose their patience
with Burma. And, we are calling upon our governments to do more than just expressions of dismay, regret,
grave concern and so on, and seriously look at suspending Burma’s membership of ASEAN,” he said. VOA,
26 May 2009

Former Singapore prime minister Goh Chok Tong has urged Burma’s ruling generals during a visit to the
country to ensure that elections due next year are free and fair, a report said Wednesday. Goh, still a senior
minister in Singapore, told junta leader Senior Gen. Than Shwe and Prime Minister Thein Sein not to ignore
the global interest in the trial of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the Strait Times reported. But he also
said the case against the Nobel peace laureate - who faces up to five years in prison for violating the terms
of her house arrest after a U.S. man swam to her lakeside home - was a domestic matter, the report said. The
city-state’s former prime minister met the two senior generals Tuesday, with each meeting lasting more than
an hour, the newspaper said. AFP, 10 June 2009

Singapore investors will likely wait until after Burma’s elections next year before pouring any more money
into the country, former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong said Friday, according to television station
Channel News Asia. Goh made the comments at the end of a four-day trip to meet with Burma’s military
leaders, the television station said on its Web site. The military has run the country since 1962, and the
current ruling junta has scheduled elections for next year. “I don’t believe any Singapore investors would
come in a big way before the picture is clear, before this move to democracy is seen to produce results,” said
Goh, who is a senior adviser to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, according to the station. Singapore is one
of the biggest foreign investors in Burma, with annual bilateral trade of more than $1 billion. AP, 12 June
2009

Singapore’s Senior Minister, Goh Chok Tong, has urged Burma to continue with its process of national
reconciliation and democracy. Wrapping up his four-day visit to the country, Mr Goh noted that without
political reform, Burma will not be able to achieve fast economic growth like other ASEAN economies.
And in its efforts towards national reconciliation, Mr Goh said Burma cannot ignore the international
interest surrounding pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s trial. Ms Suu Kyi is currently on trial for
breaching the rules governing her house arrest. Mr Goh said he had constructive discussions with Burma’s
top leaders, including Senior General Than Shwe. And it provided him with insights into just how complex
Burma’s political situation is. He said: “I could see that Senior General Than Shwe is in a very difficult
position. He has inherited this military regime – Burma has been under military government since 1962, so
it’s not his creation. Burma has come to a cul de sac, how does it make a u-turn? I think that’s not easy.” Mr
Goh added that Burma’s stability is dependent on bringing together the three parties – the military
government, the ethnic groups and the opposition. Channel News Asia, 13 June 2009

Singapore views Burma’s military junta and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi as equal parts of both that
country’s problems and the solution leading to its democratisation, its leaders said at the weekend. They also
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pointed out that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), of which Burma is a member, has no
ability to play a crucial role in making changes in the military-ruled country. Burma’s political situation has
been in stalemate for nearly two decades, since the junta refused to hand over power to Aung San Suu Kyi
when her National League for Democracy won a 1990 election. Instead, they put her in jail. She is now on
trial again after being visited by an American, John Yettaw, who swam across Inya Lake in May to reach
her home, where she is still confined. “In the view of the West, Aung San Suu Kyi is seen as the solution.
But in my view, she is only a part of the solution, she cannot be the whole solution. At the same time, she is
also part of the problem,” said Singapore's former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong. He said Suu Kyi should
not think that her National League for Democracy party remained the “legitimate government” that was
“thrown aside” by the armed forces 19 years ago. “In Third-World countries, once there is a coup, you are
out. You can’t be going back. If she wants to come back to take charge of a government, then she must find
a way to win the next elections, which should be held next year,” Goh told visiting journalists from Asean
countries and the Middle East. Goh said a national reconciliation plan that would bring Burma on to a
democratic path could not leave out the military. It has been given a quarter of the seats in parliament,
control of key ministries and the right to suspend the Constitution at will. “You can’t just take away the
army and let the people run the country,” he said. “They have to worry about their own lives, the lives of
their families, their own careers. Therefore they have to be a part of the solution, even though they are now
a part of the problem.” Nation, 10 August 2010

Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa left for burma on a two day official visit this morning. The
President will hold bilateral discussions with the Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council,
Senior General Than Swe and other high ranking officials of the Burmese government including Prime
Minister Gen.Thein Sein. Burma and Sri Lanka last week celebrated 60 years of diplomatic relations and
Burma as a gesture made a token financial grant towards the welfare of displaced persons in the North.
asiantribune.com, 14 June 2009

Catholic priests, nuns and Buddhist monks have joined a rally against the deterioration of democracy in
Burma and have urged the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners. “Free Aung San
Suu Kyi!” “Freedom for Burmese People!” “Let parliamentary rule be established in Burma!” the 30 or so
demonstrators shouted in front of the Burmese embassy in Colombo on May 26, ucanews.com reports. The
protest takes place every year to mark the general election victory of the National League for Democracy
(NLD), led by Suu Kyi, in May 27, 1990. However, the military junta refused to recognize the results, and
continued to place Suu Kyi under house arrest. “Our traditional relations with the Burmese in terms of
culture and religion since time immemorial make us concerned about their sufferings and their long struggle
for democracy,” said S. Gunaratne, an activist. “The suppressions in Burma are not justifiable,” Gunaratne
said. “Suu Kyi has been in prison for more than 20 years,” said Father Terrence Fernando of Colombo
archdiocese, another protester. “She should be freed very soon. The Burmese military government should
release her and take steps to uphold democratic rights in Burma.” Holy Family Sister Sunitha Fernando,
said, “I join with other activists to urge the Burmese government to uphold democratic rights and release all
political prisoners and detainees.” The NLD is boycotting polls slated for later this year. The party has
denounced new election laws as undemocratic and declined to register as required, which meant it is
automatically dissolved. CathNews Asia, 28 May 2010

South Africa
International Relations and Co-operation Minister Maite Nkoana- Mashabane’s department wants to send a
delegation to Burma. The South African government plans to send a delegation to Burma to facilitate
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negotiations among political parties after opposition leaders were arrested by the military junta. The move is
seen as an attempt by SA to restore its diplomatic credibility after being condemned internationally in 2007
for blocking a United Nations (UN) Security Council resolution calling for sanctions against Burma for
human rights abuses. SA was president of the security council at the time. International Relations and Co-
operation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane’s deputy, Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim, said yesterday the
government would like to see Burma return to civilian rule, with a multiparty and functioning democracy.
“SA stands ready to assist in its transition,” he said. SA voted against the proposed Security Council
resolution, saying it was “not a vote against the people of Burma or a vote in favour of the military rulers of
Burma”. SA said at the time that the proposed resolution would have undermined efforts by the UN
secretary-general to find a solution to Burma’s problems, arguing further that the issue could have been
better handled by UN bodies such as the Human Rights Council. This provoked international outrage from
human rights groups, with the UK and the US accusing SA of forgetting the international support and
sympathy it received during the struggle against apartheid. Business Day, 26 May 2009

Archbishop Desmond Tutu condemned the decision on Tuesday to return democracy icon Aung San Suu
Kyi to house arrest in Burma, saying her trial was illegal and must not be accepted. In a statement issued in
London, the Nobel laureate said the decision by the ruling military junta to commute Aung San Suu Kyi’s
sentence of hard labour to 18 months under house arrest was “a manipulation of an illegal process”. “This
decision is wrong. We must not allow the government of Burma to convince the world that they are making
concessions in relation to Aung San Suu Kyi by returning her to house arrest instead of prison,” Tutu said.
“This is not a concession — it is a manipulation of an illegal process. It must not be accepted by any
government, Asean, the EU or the UN.” iafrica.com, 12 August 2009

Sweden
Carl Bildt, Foreign Minister of Sweden, called it a major step forward and said it went beyond anything
previously endorsed by China or Vietnam. “It’s a substantial increase on the political pressure on the regime
in Burma,” he said. Reuters, 26 May 2009

Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said the EU was working on additional sanctions that “include
measures such as trade restrictions against certain state-owned companies and prohibition of entry into the
EU for the four key individuals responsible for the decision.” Current sanctions affect some 120 companies
- a number that will grow if the EU intensifies steps against Burma’s banking, tourism and precious stones
sectors - and a dozen top justice officials, including four supreme court judges. AP, 11 August 2009

Taiwan
Taiwan has recently acted to strengthen its economic and trade cooperation with Burma as part of its efforts
to seek closer ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), an expanding regional
economic bloc. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) on mutual cooperation between the quasi-official
Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) and the Union of Myanmar Federation of
Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) was signed in Rangoon last week, according to a TAITRA
statement. e Taiwan News, 14 June 2009

Thailand
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Tuesday that his government wants to see neighbouring
Burma follow a national reconciliation plan and Thailand does not want to intervene in the internal affairs of
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that country. Mr. Abhisit told journalists that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) which
he chairs has issued a statement calling for the immediate release of Burma’s pro-democracy leader Aung
San Suu Kyi who appeared at her trial in Insein prison in Rangoon on Monday. Thai News Agency, 19 May
2009

Thailand has denied interfering in Burma’s affairs with its demand as the chair of Asean for the junta to
release opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Mrs Suu Kyi has entered a plea of not guilty to charges of
violating her house arrest rules. Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said the statement issued by Thailand on
May 18 reflected the concern of Asean members on the situation in Burma. He said the statement was
approved by top foreign ministry officials of the grouping. “It did not interfere in Burma’s internal affairs,”
Mr Kasit said in Hanoi, where he was attending the Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem). “Like the situation in
Thailand, many countries expressed concern over the street protests as well as the conflict in the South
because it affected stability in the region and progress in Asean. Thailand did not want to see any obstacles
on the move towards the reconciliation process in Burma.” He said the release of Mrs Suu Kyi and all
political prisoners in Burma was an important step for reconciliation and general elections next year.
Bangkok Post, 26 May 2009

Thailand’s foreign minister urged the creation of an “open society” in neighbouring Burma, saying that an
end to repressive government in the military-run nation would help “stabilize” the south-east Asian region.
Kasit Priyoma said during an official visit to Bangladesh that “change in Burma is very much needed. It is
not only a necessity for the security of Burma, but also for all the neighbouring countries.” The minister is
on a two-day official visit to Dhaka, where he met Monday with his Bangladeshi counterpart Dipu Moni.
The Thai diplomat said that many southeast and south Asian nations had had military dictatorships, and had
now emerged into democratic rule. Burma is widely seen as an international pariah for its harsh government,
as well as its treatment of human-rights activists such as Aung San Suu Kyi. Earth Times, 1 June 2009

Twenty-two female members of Thai parliament on Wednesday petitioned Burma’s junta to drop current
charges against democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi and free her immediately. “As a recipient of the Nobel
Peace Prize, and as a longstanding democracy advocate, Mrs Aung San suu Kyi has been an inspiration not
only for women MPs in Thailand but also for all adherents and participants of democratic ideals
worldwide,” the 22 Thai women said in a statement. Altogether there are 62 women MPs out of 474 total
seats in Thailand’s Lower House. It was the first such statement by a group of women MPs in Thai
parliament on a diplomatic matter. Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, in his position as current chair of
the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), last month issued a statement expressing “deep
concern” about Suu Kyi’s latest trial and possible imprisonment. The statement was rejected by Burma’s
junta as interference in the country’s internal affairs. Burma joined ASEAN in 1997. Earth Times, 3 June
2009

The Thai Army yesterday sent more heavy weapons, including mortars, into border areas near the fighting,
on the orders of Third Region Army commander Lt-General Thanongsak Apirakyothin. The mortars were
installed in Tak’s Tha Song Yang district to fire warning shots against any stray shells from the Burmese
side of the border. The commander said Thailand would take progressive measures in reaction to any
violation of sovereignty. Thanongsak yesterday visited a military unit in Tha Song Yang district and saw
458 war refugees there. He was briefed by local officials that 1,714 refugees had arrived and more were
expected. The general instructed officers to work with administrative officials to take good care of the
refugees, most of whom are children and elderly people, though it is expected that if the battle becomes
intense young adults will follow. The Nation, 7 June 2009

Thailand’s condemnation of the Suu Kyi trial and the arrival of thousands of Burmese refugees has put
relations between the two countries under “unprecedented strain”, according to a Burmese state-run
newspaper. Burma has come under mounting international criticism over the trial of opposition leader Aung
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San Suu Kyi, whose next hearing has been adjourned until 26 June. Thailand, who holds the chair of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc, has recently expressed “grave concern” both at the
lack of democratic progress in the country and the potential for the trial to tarnish the bloc’s image. DVB,
12 June 2009

If the junta fails to release pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the Association of Southeast Asian
Nation’s (Asean) credibility will be “affected inevitably,” Thai Prime Minster Abhisit Vejajjiva told The
Far Eastern Economic Review recently. During the Far Eastern Economic View’s interview published on
Tuesday, 16 June, Abhisit, who is now chairman of Asean, said Burma’s political process will have to be
inclusive to gain the acceptability and respectability of the international community. However, the Thai PM
said the Burma issue is the responsibility of the international community and not just Asean. Irrawaddy, 16
June 2009

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva indicated that ASEAN was not willing to discharge Burma from the
group and would not be able to force its government to release the opposition leader, Ms Aung San Suu Kyi.
After US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged the ASEAN members to pressure the Burmese
government for a release of Ms Suu Kyi, Prime Minister Abhisit insisted that Ms Clinton was only
expressing the US’s standpoint on democracy. Thai Press Reports, 24 July 2009

Thailand’s prime minister says Burma has rejected any help to carry out its upcoming election. Prime
Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Tuesday he offered Thailand’s assistance Monday during an official visit to
Burma. He met his counterpart Prime Minister Thein Sein and reclusive junta chief Senior Gen. Than Shwe.
Burma’s election on Nov. 7 will be its first in 20 years, after the junta refused to recognize the results of the
1990 vote. Critics say the new vote is being held under unfair and undemocratic conditions to cement the
junta’s power. Abhisit told reporters in Bangkok he conveyed the international community’s concerns.
Burma’s leaders replied they were “aware of the concerns, but did not want any outside help.” AP, 12
October 2010

Tibet
His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tibetan Spiritual Leader
I extent my support and solidarity with the recent peaceful movement for democracy in Burma. I fully
support their call for freedom and democracy and take this opportunity to appeal to freedom-loving people
all over the world to support such non-violent movements. Moreover, I wish to convey my sincere
appreciation and admiration to the large number of fellow Buddhists monks for advocating democracy and
freedom in Burma. I pray for the success of this peaceful movement and the early release of fellow Nobel
Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. Burma Net, 23 September 2007

The European Union began preparing new sanctions against the country’s military regime, and a group of
14 Nobel laureates, including the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, called on the U.N. Security
Council to take strong action against the country. AP, 12 August 2009

Timor
East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta on Friday urged Australia to learn from the past and push harder
for reform in military-ruled Burma. The Nobel Peace laureate said Australia had turned a “blind eye to
blatant human rights abuses” during Indonesia’s 24-year occupation of East Timor and should not repeat the
mistake. “Australia can, working together with Indonesia for instance… help bring an end to that ugly
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situation in Burma,” he told reporters. Australia has imposed financial sanctions and visa restrictions on
members of the regime in Burma, and banned all defence exports to the country. It also called last month for
the release of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, the democracy icon who has spent most of the past 19
years in detention. But Ramos-Horta said “occasional statements” were not enough and urged Australia to
apply consistent pressure for reform in the country. “It’s been going on for over two decades with the
imprisonment of Aung San Suu Kyi and there is no light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. “Here is where
Australia can be more proactive and not only be happy with occasional statements.” Aung San Suu Kyi’s
National League of Democracy won a landslide election victory in 1990 that the junta, in power since 1962,
refused to recognise. AFP, 24 July 2009

President Ramos-Horta started with the development of East Timor in his time period in contrast to the
development in Burma. He said that his country has about 12% in economic growth and at least 9% in
poverty reduction, whereas Burmese people are confronting with political crisis and social poverty. So, he
does not support the economic sanctions on Burma since it hurts the poor people, although he can
understand some targeted sanctions. He would rather prefer to a meaningful dialogue towards peace and
democracy in Burma. The conflict between the Burmese military and democratic movement including Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi resulted in the loss of valuable time to develop the country, like South Africa when
Nelson Mandela was in prison for 27 years. In conclusion he expressed sympathy for Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi and the people of Burma. When asked about his position on UN commission of inquiry on Burma, he
did not clearly express his opinion. European Parliament in Brussels, 5 October 2010

United Kingdom
A delegation of senior foreign diplomats, including Britain’s ambassador to Burma, was barred from the
notorious Insein Prison this morning after attempting to observe the trial of the country’s democracy leader,
Aung San Suu Kyi. Britain’s Mark Canning, along with the ambassadors of France, Germany and Italy, and
an Australian diplomat, were turned away without explanation at the military cordon which has been thrown
around the prison. The charges against Ms Suu Kyi, relating to a secret visit by an American man who
emerged uninvited from the lake next to her home, have been denounced as a travesty by western
governments and international human rights organisations. The Times, 18 May 2009

Burma risks global isolation because its continued oppression of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi,
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband warned today. He slammed the “show trial” which started today
and urged the authorities to begin a “constitutional process” to include Ms Suu Kyi’s party and other
minority groups. Only three weeks ago Mr Miliband and his EU counterparts extended two-year-old
sanctions against Burma for another year and demanded the opposition leader’s release. Today the same
ministers opted to wait and see the result of her new trial for allegedly breaching the terms of her house
arrest. “We are very concerned by the situation in Burma,” said Mr Miliband. “The house arrest of Aung
San Suu Kyi is bad enough but for her to be put on show trial just adds to the pain. Our position is that
everything should be done to ensure that the Burmese government understands fully the need to create an
inclusive constitutional process rather than a sham process, which needs to includes all of the minorities as
well as the opposition.” He said it was vital that the Burmese regime understood the risks it was taking:
“The EU has shown itself ready to help the people of Burma, but certainly the regime should be under no
illusion about the isolation it brings upon itself through its actions.” Irish Examiner, 18 May 2009

British prime Minister Gordon Brown has sent a message of personal support and solidarity to the arrested
Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, saying that she is “not alone” in her fight to bring back
democracy in Burma. “We should not rest until you are able to play your rightful role in a free and secure
Burma. I want you to know: you are not alone,” The Independent quoted Brown’s letter, as stating. ANI, 19
May 2009
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Britain challenged Sunday Burma’s military rulers to release imprisoned opposition leader Aung San Suu
Kyi and implement democratic reforms in the isolated state. “Now is the time for transition to democracy
starting with the release of Aung San Suu Kyi,” Britain’s Minister for International Defence and Security
Ann Taylor told a summit on Asian security in Singapore. Suu Kyi, a Nobel peace laureate, has spent 14 of
the past 20 years under house arrest. The democracy advocate is currently standing trial on charges of
breaking the terms of her house arrest. “Aung San Suu Kyi is not alone,” Taylor said. Burma’s military
junta has been continually criticized for human right abuses. DPA, 31 May 2009

“The continued imprisonment of Aung San Suu Kyi by the Burmese regime is a reminder that we cannot
take for granted the institution of democracy,” Ann Taylor, Britain’s Minister for International Defense and
Security, told a security forum in Singapore Sunday. AFP, 1 June 2009

The military government has accused officials of the US and British embassies in Rangoon of allegedly
dropping into the office of the Opposition party – the National League for Democracy – 25 times in May
alone. The junta’s mouthpiece, the New Light of Burma, on Friday reported that officials of the US and
British embassies in Rangoon had visited the NLD office 25 times and passed on instructions and unknown
materials to NLD members. “During their visit, they met Central Executive Committee (CEC) members of
the party NLD and gave them large and small envelopes and parcels,” the newspaper said. But Win Tin, a
former political prisoner and a CEC member of the NLD made light of the accusation saying the visits by
US and British embassy officials were in keeping with ‘normal relations’ that diplomats maintain across the
world. Mizzima, 5 June 2009

First, we need to support the countries of the region as they step up efforts to secure democracy and
reconciliation. I have been struck by how Burma’s neighbours have led the world in calling for Ms Suu
Kyi’s release. We need to translate this outrage into political pressure for change. Second, we need the UN
Security Council to reinforce its calls for Ms Suu Kyi’s release and to support the Secretary-General’s
efforts to bring about political progress through an early visit to Burma. Third, we should impose a new set
of tough sanctions that target the regime’s economic interests. We will be pushing for stronger EU action in
this regard. Such a step would hit the business interests of the generals and their cronies. I also believe we
should identify and target those judges complicit in the recent political show trials. The growing sense of
outrage and the unity of the international community behind this message should mark a turning point. The
regime is at a crossroads. Long-promised elections in 2010 will remain a charade while political prisoners
are being tortured, ethnic minorities are persecuted, the media muzzled, freedom of speech and assembly are
non-existent and Ms Suu Kyi is silenced. The regime can choose to ignore the clamour for change. But this
will only condemn the country to deeper isolation, poverty, conflict and despair. Or it can choose the path of
reform, as the region has urged. Burma is rich in natural and human resources, at the heart of a dynamic
continent. Democratic reform would unleash the country’s enormous potential. Britain and the international
community would be ready to extend the hand of friendship. If the Burmese generals rethink their ways, we
will be ready to recognise and embrace any genuine reforms they make. Some may question why Burma
warrants so much attention. There are other countries where human rights are ignored or people live in
poverty. But the Burmese junta stands virtually alone in the scale of its misrule and the sheer indifference to
the suffering of its 50 million people. How we respond to this injustice will send a message about our
resolution to tackle similar injustices across the globe. To those that stand for human rights, freedom and
democracy, our message remains clear - you are not alone. Gordon Brown, British Prime Minister,
Sydney Morning Herald, 19 June 2009

UN Secretary general Ban Ki-moon faced a barrage of criticism last night for apparently praising the
Burmese junta without winning any concessions over human rights or a move towards democracy. Mr Ban
was under pressure to produce results from his two-day mission to Burma, which was criticised as providing
an endorsement of the Burmese leadership just as it is staging a trial of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
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The high-stakes visit to Burma comes at a critical time for Mr Ban, whose low-key approach to his job has
been criticised as ineffectual. He came under further fire on arrival in Naypyidaw, the regime’s
headquarters, when he told junta leader Gen Than Shwe: “I appreciate your commitment to moving your
country forward.” “That is absolute nonsense,” said Brad Adams, a Burma specialist at Human Rights
Watch. “It’s just what we implored him not to say, to make these diplomatic gaffes. Than Shwe has steadily
moved his country backwards.” British officials were also furious at the remarks. They had urged Mr Ban
not to visit Burma, and risk handing the junta a propaganda prize, without ensuring he would gain
concessions in the form of the release of political prisoners and steps towards genuine democracy. Gen Than
Shwe said little at his meeting with Mr Ban and did not grant his request to meet Suu Kyi in prison. Mr Ban
expressed hope that a meeting could still be permitted. “I am leaving tomorrow, so logically speaking I am
waiting for a reply before my departure,” he said. The secretary general added that he had called for the
release of all political prisoners before the elections, but got no response. irishtimes.com, 4 July 2009

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown spoke of a “sham trial.” Brown said the verdict showed Burma’s
military leaders are “determined to act with total disregard” for international law and said the verdict was
designed to prevent Suu Kyi from participating in elections planned for next year. AP, 11 August 2009

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has dismissed the sentencing of Burma’s opposition figurehead
Aung San Suu Kyi as “purely political”. The prime minister said he was saddened and angry by the “sham
trial” which Daw Suu Kyi had been forced to undergo. She was being tried for letting an American man,
who had swam across to her home unexpectedly, into her house. “This is a purely political sentence
designed to prevent her from taking part in the regime’s planned elections next year,” Mr Brown said.
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague agreed, describing the Burmese junta’s move as being “entirely
politically motivated”. Mr Brown was in full flow as he ruled out legitimacy for next year’s planned
elections without Daw Suu Kyi’s participation. She convincingly won the last open elections held in Burma
in 1990. “The façade of her prosecution is made more monstrous because its real objective is to sever her
bond with the people for whom she is a beacon of hope and resistance,” he said. “I have always made clear
that the United Kingdom would respond positively to any signs of progress on democratic reform in Burma.
But with the generals explicitly rejecting that course today, the international community must take action.”
politics.co.uk, 12 August 2009

Tourism Concern has welcomed the closure of a legal loophole targeted at operators offering tours of
Burma. Director Tricia Barnett said the Burma (Financial Restrictions) Regulations 2009 makes it an
offence for UK firms, including tour operators, to provide financial benefits for prominent members of the
country’s military regime and their associates. It is one of a series of measures deployed by the European
community in a bid to force Burma's military junta to introduce democratic reform in the country. Travel
Weekly, 21 August 2009

Britain’s new prime minister, David Cameron, has said that he will do more than the previous Labour
government to help Burma’s beleaguered opposition. The message was passed on to the National League for
Democracy (NLD) party yesterday by British ambassador Andrew Heyn, on the same day that 1,600 letters
were delivered to Downing Street by campaigners calling on Cameron “to take the lead in pushing for
strong and effective international action on Burma”. DVB, 5 August 2010

London stands in solidarity with democracy advocates in Burma and calls for the release of all political
prisoners, the British foreign secretary said. British Foreign Secretary William Hague said he was standing
in solidarity with the estimated 2,100 political prisoners held by the military junta in Burma. Hague said he
was highlighting 44-year-old Ko Mya Aye, who was sentenced to 65 years in prison in 2004. The foreign
secretary added that reports say the activist was tortured while in custody and suffers from poor health. “The
continued detention of Ko Mya Aye and of more than 2,100 other political prisoners in Burma is
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deplorable,” said Hague in a statement. “I urge the military regime to release all political prisoners
immediately and unconditionally and respect the human rights of Burma’s people.” UPI, 21 October 2010

United Nations
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he was “gravely concerned” while the UN special envoy on
human rights in Burma, Tomas Ojea Quintana, called for Aung San Suu Kyi to be freed, and said her
detention broke the country’s laws. sbs.com.au, 15 May 2009

“The only body that the junta really fears is the Security Council,” said the former UN Rapporteur for
Human Rights in Burma, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro. “I have personal evidence of this. So the Security Council
must address this immediately as a matter of absolute urgency.” Irrawaddy, 4 June 2009

The United Nations refugee agency today said that it is looking into the situation of a group of several
thousand Karen people who recently fled across the Moei River from Burma to Thailand. Estimates of the
number of people who escaped to northern Thailand since last Wednesday range from 2,000 to 6,400, and
“one of the first things we would like to do is ascertain the number of people who are in the five sites near
Mae Sot,” William Spindler, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), told
reporters in Geneva. Mr. Spindler said that according to preliminary talks with some new arrivals, “it seems
some were fleeing actual fighting between the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, which is allied with
Government forces, and the rebel Karen National Union (KNU). Others say they were fleeing forced
recruitment or forced labour by Government forces.” A number of the recently-arrived refugees were
already uprooted in Burma and living in the Ler Per Her camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) run by
the KNU in Karen-held territory, he noted. Many of the refugees brought supplies with them, and aid
agencies are also providing them with necessities, such as food, mosquito nets, pots, pans and blankets,
while UNHCR has distributed plastic sheeting. In February, the agency said that there were some 111,000
registered refugees living in nine camps along the Thai-Burma border, who are restricted from leaving the
camps and as a result unable to earn a living or receive higher education. UN News Centre, 9 June 2009

The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki Moon, will visit Burma on Friday in a diplomatically risky effort to win
concessions from the country’s military dictatorship. Mr Ban hopes to persuade the Burmese junta to release
political prisoners, including the country’s democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, in advance of an election
next year, denounced by opposition groups as fraudulent and meaningless. “The Secretary-General
considers that three of the most important issues for the future of Burma cannot be left unaddressed at this
juncture of the country’s political process,” Mr Ban’s spokesperson, Michele Montas, said yesterday in New
York. “These are the release of all political prisoners, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi; the resumption of
dialogue between the Government and Opposition and the need to create conditions conducive to credible
elections. timesonline.co.uk, 30 June 2009

“It is clear the process remains deeply flawed,” Mr. Ojea Quintana, an Argentine lawyer, said at a news
conference here, noting that freedom of expression and assembly had been further restricted and that more
than 2,100 “prisoners of conscience” still languished in prison. Torture is systematic and 144 such prisoners
have died in custody since 1988, he said. “The conditions do not show that these elections will be inclusive,
free and fair,” Mr. Ojea Quintana added. “The potential for these elections to bring meaningful change and
improvement to the human rights situation in Burma remains doubtful.” Those opposition parties that have
agreed to participate complain of harassment and intimidation, Mr. Quintana noted, while some representing
ethnic groups have not been approved. Candidates must pay a $500 election fee, a prohibitive sum in a
country where the average annual income is $459, he said. nytimes.com, 21 October 2010

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United Nations human rights chief Navi Pillay said on Friday that Burma had failed so far to meet
international standards for “genuine elections”, 10 days ahead of the poll. “On 7 November the electoral
process will culminate in voting and counting at polling stations around most of the country,” the High
Commissioner for Human Rights said in a statement. “However, conditions for genuine elections that
meet international standards have so far not been reached,” she added. Pillay reiterated calls by the UN for
the release more than 2 000 political prisoners, and for the military junta to respected freedom of assembly
and expression. AFP, 29 October 2010

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, on a visit to China, has held talks with foreign minister Yang Jiechi
on the situation in Burma ahead of the country’s much-criticised election next week. Ban met Yang in
Shanghai on Saturday on his first day in China before attending the closing of the World Expo Sunday. “In
addition to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, they discussed the situation in the Korean Peninsula,
Burma and Sudan,” a UN spokesperson said in a statement emailed to AFP, without giving further details.
The UN leader has already called for more pressure to be put on Burma to free opposition leader Aung San
Suu Kyi and others ahead of the nation’s first election in two decades on November 7. Western nations and
activists have criticised the vote as undemocratic, with Suu Kyi locked up, and pro-democracy parties allege
that restrictions imposed by the iron-fisted military regime will virtually ensure it wins the poll. China is one
of Burma’s closest allies, and has long helped it to keep afloat through trade ties, arms sales, and by
shielding it from UN sanctions over rights abuses as a veto-wielding member of the Security Council. AFP,
31 October 2010

United States of America


Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is urging Burma to immediately release pro-democracy leader
Aung San Suu Kyi. Clinton told reporters at the State Department on Thursday that she was deeply troubled
by Burma’s “baseless charge” against the Nobel Peace laureate. She says the government is looking for a
“pretext” to place further unjust restrictions on Suu Kyi. AP, 14 May 2009

Two top US senators urged Burma to free pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi and urged “reform-
minded” members of its ruling junta to step forward to help forge new ties with the United States. “Now is
the time for reform-minded leaders within the military junta to step forward and be heard,” said Democratic
Senator John Kerry and Republican Senator Richard Lugar, the top Senate Foreign Relations Committee
members. AFP, 15 May 2009

President Barack Obama has formally extended US sanctions against Burma amid latest tensions over
detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi who was put on trial on charges of allowing a US national to
visit her home without permission from the authorities. “I have determined that it is necessary to continue
the national emergency with respect to Burma, and maintain the sanctions against Rangoon to respond to
this threat,” Obama told the Congress. The Friday’s move comes despite an official review of the US policy
on Burma currently underway, Geo TV reported Saturday. Aung San Suu Kyi was put on trial Thursday for
allowing a US national to visit her home, where she has been under detention for the past six years. After an
initial hearing, the trial was scheduled to be continued May 18. The Nobel laureate was taken from her
family compound Thursday and kept at Insein Prison after the hearing. IANS, 16 May 2009

U.S. State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said the charges against Suu Kyi were “unjustified” and
called for her unconditional release and that of more than 2,100 other political prisoners. AP, 19 May 2009

“ASEAN was bogged down by Burma last week in its meeting with Europe,” said Bridget Welsh, a
Southeast Asia specialist at Johns Hopkins University in the U.S. She was referring to last week’s
gathering in Hanoi of Asian and European foreign ministers. “The failure of ASEAN to take a strong stand
Page 56 of 226
on Burma has seriously undermined the credibility of the organization. ASEAN as an organization cannot
evolve without Burma taking steps to show it genuinely respects the norms of the international community,”
she said. “ASEAN members are fed up with Burma, and although they are not saying so publicly, many
would like Burma to leave,” said Welsh. AFP, 1 June 2009

Police in Burma detained two women and four children after they held a protest asking the US embassy to
help obtain the release of a prisoner, an official said. The group unfurled a banner asking for assistance as
the husband of one of the women had earlier been arrested by authorities in the military-ruled nation, the
official said on condition of anonymity. “Two women and four children have been detained for questioning
as they staged a small protest in front of the American Embassy,” the official said. The banner said “Please
help as my husband was arrested unjustly,’ according to the official. news.com.au, 4 June 2009

The military government has accused officials of the US and British embassies in Rangoon of allegedly
dropping into the office of the Opposition party – the National League for Democracy – 25 times in May
alone. The junta’s mouthpiece, the New Light of Burma, on Friday reported that officials of the US and
British embassies in Rangoon had visited the NLD office 25 times and passed on instructions and unknown
materials to NLD members. “During their visit, they met Central Executive Committee (CEC) members of
the party NLD and gave them large and small envelopes and parcels,” the newspaper said. But Win Tin, a
former political prisoner and a CEC member of the NLD made light of the accusation saying the visits by
US and British embassy officials were in keeping with ‘normal relations’ that diplomats maintain across the
world. Mizzima, 5 June 2009

President Barack Obama’s choice as top U.S. diplomat for East Asia said Wednesday the United States is
interested in easing its long-standing policy of isolation against military-run Burma. Kurt Campbell,
however, told U.S. lawmakers at his Senate confirmation hearing that Burma’s heavy-handed treatment of
detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi hinders any U.S. effort to change course and engage the
ruling junta in Burma. “As a general practice, we’re prepared to reach out, not just in Burma but in other
situations as well,” Campbell said. But, he said, the junta’s trial this week of Suu Kyi on charges that could
put her in prison for five years is “deeply, deeply concerning, and it makes it very difficult to move
forward.” AP, 10 May 2009

Former US first lady Laura Bush called for new international pressure on Burma in order to force its
military leaders to stop human rights abuses. “With UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon planning to visit
Burma this summer, it is crucial that he press the regime to take immediate steps to end human rights
abuses, particularly in ethnic minority areas,” the spouse of former president George W. Bush wrote in an
op-ed piece in The Washington Post. “There have been 38 UN resolutions condemning these abuses, yet the
horrors continue unabated,” she pointed out. “Under the junta’s brutal rule, too many lives have been
wasted, lives whose talents could have helped all of Burma prosper.” Bush hails Aung San Suu Kyi’s
“continued example of civil courage,” saying that it reminded Americans of the desire of people around the
world to live in freedom. “We should all share her hope and add our voices to those who risk so much to
protest tyranny and injustice in Burma and beyond,” Bush said. AFP, 28 June 2009

The US Senate has approved a one-year renewal of sanctions banning the import of Burmese goods to the
US, and will now look to Congress for an extension to the boycott. The decision belonged to the Senate
Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over United States’ international trade. The current resolution on
Burma, contained in the 2003 Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act, authorizes Congress to renew the
import ban each year through to 2012. DVB, 24 July 2009

A ban on imports from Burma has been renewed for one year by the US House of Representatives. The
ban affects a range of products but especially Burmese gemstones via third countries, said the Voice of
America radio station. The house action seeks to renew the import bans contained in the Burmese Freedom
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and Democracy Act, which was due to expire on July 26. The sponsor of the renewed import ban, New
York Democrat Joseph Crowley, said it was justified because the “junta has also rejected recent diplomatic
outreach” on the Suu Kyi issue. Weekly Business Roundup, 24 July 2009

U.S. President Barack Obama and Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo agreed Thursday to join
forces in tackling the issues surrounding Burma and North Korea. Arroyo became the first leader of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations to meet Obama. “We stand behind the United States on the position
that it has taken with regard to Burma and with regard to North Korea’s nuclear adventurism,” Arroyo told
reporters with Obama at the White House. Obama thanked Arroyo for her support on U.S. policies in Asia.
“We are very grateful for the strong voice that the Philippines has provided in dealing with issues in Asia,
ranging from the human rights violations that have for too long existed in Burma to the problems that we’re
seeing with respect to nuclear proliferation in North Korea,” he said. AP, 30 July 2009

Democratic US Senator Jim Webb will travel to Burma over the next two weeks, becoming the first US
lawmaker to visit the country in more than 10 years, his office announced on Thursday. Webb – a Vietnam
war veteran who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on East Asia and Pacific affairs – leaves
Sunday and will also visit Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia over a two-week span. The Virginia
lawmaker, whose precise itinerary was not disclosed, aims “to explore opportunities to advance US interests
in Burma and the region,” his office said in a statement. AFP, 6 August 2009

The United States called on Friday for the unconditional release of Burma democracy leader Aung San Suu
Kyi and urged the country’s military rulers to begin a process of national reconciliation. “As the world
honours the long struggle of the Burmese people for a better future, we renew our call on the Burmese
authorities to begin a process of national reconciliation and a genuine transition to democracy,” State
Department deputy spokesman Rebert Wood said in a written statement made public on Friday. Henry Soe
Win, D4B, 9 August 2009

Speaking in Goma, Congo, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Suu Kyi “should not have
been tried. She should not have been convicted. We continue to call for her release.” AP, 11 August 2009

US President Barack Obama, and his secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, on Tuesday called for the
immediate and unconditional release of Aung San Suu Kyi, the popular leader of Burma, who has been
sentenced to an additional 18 months of house arrest. Both Obama, who is currently battling on the domestic
front on the issue of health care, and Clinton, who was in Congo, were quick to issue statements following
the verdict from Rangoon. Calling it an unjust decision, Obama said: “The conviction and sentencing of
Aung San Suu Kyi today on charges related to an uninvited intrusion into her home violate universal
principles of human rights, run counter to Burma’s commitments under the Asean charter, and demonstrate
continued disregard for UN Security Council statements.” The US president called on the Burmese regime
to heed the views of its own people and the international community and to work toward genuine national
reconciliation. Terming it as a politically motivated verdict, the House of Representatives speaker, Nancy
Pelosi, said this is a “step backward” for the future of Burma. “The international community must send a
clear message that elections in Burma, planned for 2010, will not be open or credible without the
participation of imprisoned and detained pro-democracy leaders,” she said. Irrawaddy, 12 August 2009

Philip Crowley, US State Department spokesman, said: “We remain very concerned about the continued
detainment of Aung Sun Suu Kyi and more than 2,100 prisoners that are in detention. We continue to look
for signs that the Burmese government is prepared to embark on a meaningful dialogue with Aung Sun Suu
Kyi, along with the rest of the democratic opposition. “And obviously, Burma needs to have a dialogue with
a full range of ethnic minority leaders in Burma, and move towards a peaceful transition to genuine
democracy and national reconciliation.” As for a more comprehensive indication of US policy going

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forward, it remains a waiting game. A US State Department official said the review continues and gave no
date for when the results might be announced. Channel News Asia, 21 August 2009

A US official met Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi today after expressing concerns about the legitimacy of the
military-run country’s forthcoming elections. Kurt Campbell, assistant secretary of state for East Asia, held
nearly two hours of talks with Aung San Suu Kyi at a government guesthouse. Details of their conversation
are not yet known. Campbell arrived yesterday and met senior junta officials in the remote administrative
capital of Naypyidaw before flying to Rangoon, the biggest city. Among the officials he met were foreign
minister Nyan Win, information minister Kyaw Hsan and science and technology minister U Thaung –
Burma’s former envoy in Washington – who is the point person for the US-Burma engagement. “We are
troubled by much of what we have seen. We have very real concerns about the election and the environment
that has been created,” Campbell told a news conference yesterday during a stopover in the Thai capital,
Bangkok. Campbell, however, said he would continue a dialogue with all sides in Burma as part of a new
Washington policy of engagement rather than isolation of the ruling generals. Last year President Barack
Obama reversed the Bush administration’s isolation of Burma in favour of dialogue with the junta.
Campbell cited the recently issued election laws, lack of talks between the military and pro-democracy
advocates, political prisoners, status of ethnic minorities and nonproliferation as issues he would bring up
during discussions. The US has also raised concerns that Burma may be trying to acquire nuclear
technology, possibly with the help of North Korea. Washington has said it will maintain political and
economic sanctions on the junta until talks with the generals result in genuine political progress.
guardian.co.uk, 10 May 2010

Commemorating the 20th anniversary of the 1990 election in Burma in which the National League for
Democracy (NLD) won an overwhelming number of seats but the military regime refused to transfer power,
six US senators condemned the regime for its past and present oppression. Senators Mitch McConnell, Joe
Lieberman, Dianne Feinstein, Judd Gregg, John McCain and Sam Brownback condemned the military
regime both for its refusal to transfer power to the NLD in 1990 and its plan to hold a new election this year
without the participation of the NLD and other pro-democracy forces. “On the twentieth anniversary of this
election, we reaffirm our conviction that the people of Burma deserve the freedom to choose their future for
themselves,” the senators said in a joint statement. “We condemn the continuing dictatorship imposed by the
junta and call on its ruling generals to release all prisoners of conscience immediately and unconditionally,
and to begin a genuine political dialogue with opposition and ethnic groups and leaders, including with Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi,” they said. The senators also condemned the junta’s election laws, which required the
NLD to expel its imprisoned members in order to register for the new election, saying that the election laws
confirm that the vote the junta has promised later this year represents yet another mockery of the democratic
process in Burma. “Rather than accept the junta’s outrageous election laws, the NLD is now forced into
dissolution. While we recognize that this was a painful decision for the NLD’s leaders, we applaud and
honor their courage in upholding the principles that have guided their efforts since the party’s founding,” the
senators said. Irrawaddy, 28 May 2010

US senator Jim Webb has postponed his visit to Burma, scheduled for today, because of reports that Burma
is developing a nuclear programme in conjunction with North Korea. Webb had been due to fly to
Naypyidaw this evening to meet with the Burmese prime minister, before heading to Rangoon to meet with
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. A statement penned by Webb and released by his office today cites
news reports that Burma is in the process of building nuclear weaponry. “From the initial accounts, a
defecting officer from the Burmese military claims direct knowledge of such plans, and reportedly has
furnished documents to corroborate his claims,” said the statement. DVB, 3 June 2010

US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, said on Thursday that the Obama administration will continue to
push for the establishment of an international commission of inquiry into alleged crimes against humanity in
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Burma. “I would like to underscore the American commitment to seek accountability for the human rights
violations that have occurred in Burma by working to establish an international Commission of Inquiry
through close consultations with our friends, allies, and other partners at the United Nations,” Clinton said
in a speech in Honolulu, Hawai, at the start of a tour of the Asia-Pacific region. “Burma will soon hold a
deeply flawed election, and one thing we have learned over the last few years is that democracy is more than
elections,” Clinton said. “We will make clear to Burma’s new leaders, old and new alike, that they must
break from the policies of the past.” Irrawaddy, 29 October 2010

V. Chronicle
Burma’s junta has rejected a legal appeal for the release of detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi,
whose latest house arrest is due to expire on May 27, her party said on Tuesday. Lawyers for Suu Kyi, the
Nobel Peace laureate who has spent more than 13 of the past 19 years under some form of detention, were
told of the regime’s decision last week, Nyan Win of the National League for Democracy (NLD) said. Suu
Kyi’s latest detention began on May 30, 2003 under Section 10 (B) of the Law Safeguarding the State from
the Dangers of Subversive Elements. The law allows for a detention of five consecutive years before the
accused must be freed or put on trial. When the regime extended Suu Kyi’s house arrest last year in an
apparent violation of the law, her lawyers filed an appeal. “Since the appeal was the last resort allowed
under that law, we will have to explore other avenues to work for her release,” Nyan Win said. A
commentary in a state-owned newspaper several months ago said the law allowed for detentions of up to six
years. The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has ruled that the 63-year-old Suu Kyi’s
confinement in her Rangoon home is illegal under Burmese law. But analysts say it is unlikely the military,
which has ruled the former Burma for more than four decades and refused to recognize the NLD’s 1990
landslide election victory, will release her anytime soon. antara.co.id, 6 May 2009

Neighbors of Burma’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi say about 20 police officers have entered her
compound, following reports that an American man was detained after entering her home. The Myanma
Ahlin newspaper reported Thursday that an American man was arrested the previous day for allegedly
swimming across a lake and entering Suu Kyi’s lakeside home. The newspaper gave no details of the man’s
identity or motives. AP, 6 May 2009

Police tightened security around Burma’s detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Thursday after
an American man was arrested for allegedly swimming across a lake and sneaking into her lakeside home.
The Myanma Ahlin newspaper reported that authorities fished the man out of Rangoon’s Inya Lake early
Wednesday while he was returning from the visit to Suu Kyi’s home. The report identified the man as John
William Yettaw but gave no details of his motives. It would be the first time anyone has sneaked into Suu
Kyi’s compound or swam across the lake in an attempt to get there. Despite police checkpoints and barbed-
wire barricades outside the home, police rarely enter Suu Kyi’s compound where she has been kept under
house arrest for more than 13 of the past 19 years. The newspaper report said the American man had
confessed to swimming across the lake Sunday evening, sneaking into Suu Kyi’s residence and then
swimming back late Tuesday before being spotted by police and arrested early Wednesday. “He secretly
entered the house and stayed there,” the newspaper reported, saying that he swam with an empty 5-liter
plastic water jug, presumably to use as a float. “Further investigation is under way to find out his motive for
secretly entering the restricted area.” Police confiscated the man’s belongings which included an American
passport, a black backpack, a pair of pliers, a camera and two U.S. 100 dollar bills, the newspaper reported.
A spokesman from the U.S. Embassy in Rangoon said consular officers were “seeking access” to the man as
is routine in any case of an American citizen arrested overseas. “Right now we don’t know anything more
than what is generally known, that this man was arrested for swimming across the lake and wound up being
at Aung San Suu Kyi’s house,” said spokesman Richard Mei, who said he could not immediately confirm

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the man’s identity or spelling of his name. Suu Kyi’s home is tightly guarded and she is not allowed visitors,
aside from her doctor. Swimming in Inya Lake in the vicinity of Suu Kyi’s compound is not allowed.
wjla.com, 7 May 2009

John William Yettaw, BBC, 21 May 2009

The Burmese military government is not allowing doctors to check out detained opposition leader, Aung
San Suu Kyi, who reportedly is suffering from an eating disorder and is surviving on intravenous fluid
injections. On Thursday, security personnel arrested Suu Kyi’s primary physician after an American
sneaked into her closely guarded home and stayed there for over two days. Another doctor was permitted on
Friday to see the 63-year-old Nobel Laureat, but a request for a follow-up visit on Saturday was rejected.
newkerala.com, 9 May 2009

The party of detained Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has urged the military regime to allow
her to receive medical attention, saying it was concerned about her health. Party spokesman Nyan Win says
the 63-year-old Nobel Laureate was placed on an intravenous drip by her doctor’s assistant on Friday
because she cannot eat, has low blood pressure. Nyan Win says Burmese authorities have refused to grant
the assistant permission to visit her again at her home while her physician is being detained by police on
unspecified charges. australianetworknews.com, 10 May 2009

The US government demanded Monday that Burma’s military junta grant “immediate” access for
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to see her detained doctor, expressing fears for her condition. “The
United States government is concerned about reports that Aung San Suu Kyi needs medical care and that
Burmese authorities have detained her primary personal physician, Dr Tin Myo Win,” State Department
spokesman Ian Kelly said. “We urge the Burmese regime to allow Aung San Suu Kyi to receive immediate
medical care from Dr Tin Myo Win,” he said in a statement. “We further call on the regime to permit Aung
San Suu Kyi to meet with her personal attorney immediately,” Kelly added, while also restating US
demands for the regime to free Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest. Tin Myo Win has been detained since
last week on unspecified charges and the physician’s assistant, Dr Pyone Moe Ei, was refused access over
the weekend. But on Monday the assistant entered Aung San Suu Kyi’s house at around lunchtime and was
still there about three hours later, witnesses said. AFP, 11 May 2009

Last week’s incident — initially thought to be the first case of someone creeping unnoticed into Suu Kyi’s
closely guarded compound — has raised fears that the Nobel Peace laureate might have been ensnared in
activities that could put her in further legal trouble. Authorities on Tuesday tightened security in the back of
Suu Kyi’s lakeside home. Workers rolled barbed wire along the water’s edge, where a newly erected fence
of tall wooden poles was built, according to witnesses who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of
reprisals. A news report in a Burmese-language Web site published two photos said to have been found in
the digital camera of the visitor, identified by the U.S. Embassy as John William Yettaw. One photo shows a
heavyset, middle-aged man posing for a self-portrait in front of a mirror. The report says Yettaw is from
Falcon, Missouri, USA. The Web site’s report also said on arrival last week at Suu Kyi’s house, Yettaw first
met her two female assistants — a mother and daughter who are her sole allowed companions — and told

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them he was tired and hungry after the swim and has diabetes. The two women, supporters of Suu Kyi’s
party, were said to have given him food. One of many strict rules the junta imposes on citizens is that they
must notify local officials about any overnight visitor who is not a family member. The law also states that
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. “I’m not really
concerned she could be penalized for this break-in because she didn’t invite him in,” said Nyan Win, adding
that it was worrisome how easily the man accessed her home. “My main concern is her security.” AP, 12
May 2009

The political party of detained Burma pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi says her health has
improved after she suffered dehydration and low blood pressure last week. National League for Democracy
spokesman Nyan Win said Tuesday that one of the Nobel laureate’s medics, Dr. Pyone Moe Ei, was
allowed to visit Suu Kyi Monday afternoon at her lakeside home and reported that her condition has
improved. Burma Net News, 12 May 2009

If you look at these and earlier incidents in light of basic humanity, law and human rights you can see a
pattern of willful negligence by the regime. Of course, in Burma the local population is used to neglect. The
fact is that Suu Kyi has been detained illegally for 13 years, with no just cause and only the minimum of
proper medical treatment, which could lead to an early death or a premature loss of physical strength. The
junta’s rubber-band law could find a way to keep her under house arrest. Or perhaps Suu Kyi does develop a
serious illness, effectively limiting her leadership ability. Or, if the regime does release her—somehow
seeing a political gain in that act—it could always fabricate a new reason for her arrest, as it did in 2003.
Kyaw Zwa Moe, Irrawaddy, 12 May 2009

The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) is gravely concerned about the lack of
proper medical monitoring, attention and care given to the health condition of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi by
the country’s military regime. The organisation repeats its call for constant and adequate medical attention
to be given to her especially following recent reports indicating that she had suffered from low blood
pressure and dehydration and has had difficulty eating. Parliamentarians from the ASEAN region strongly
call on ASEAN Heads of State and its foreign missions to immediately intervene and make necessary efforts
in ensuring the regime complies with basic human rights principles, as subscribed to in the ASEAN Charter,
and adequately tend to Daw Aung Suu Kyi’s situation. Burma Net News, 12 May 2009

Burma’s military government has expelled two American journalists who were teaching feature writing and
photography to students in the country’s second largest city of Mandalay. Jerry Redfern and Karen Coates
on Monday said they were arrested on the evening of May 6 at their hotel room in Mandalay and were taken
to Rangoon on a train and deported to Bangkok the following day. In a statement, the two journalists
admitted teaching Burmese students non-fiction feature writing and photography, under an arrangement
facilitated by the American Center in Rangoon and approved by the Burma’s Press Scrutiny Board.
Mizzima, 12 May 2009

The 2009 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Committee has therefore chosen Min Ko Naing to be this
year’s prizewinner. Min Ko Naing and his colleagues have devoted themselves to Burma’s democratization,
and it is their devotion that we hope to remember and share as we commemorate the May 18 Gwangju
Uprising. The committee sincerely desires that Min Ko Naing and other political prisoners be released as
soon as possible, and hopes that democracy will truly take root in this country. AHRC, 12 May 2009

In a bid to give a leg up to bilateral ties between military-ruled Burma and North Korea, a sports and
physical health delegation from North Korea is currently visiting Burma. Burma’s state-owned newspaper,
the New Light of Burma, on Wednesday carried a front page story of the Burmese Prime Minister General
Thein Sein meeting the North Korean delegation led by Mr. Pak Hak Son, chairman of the physical
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education and sports commission, at the Government Office in Naypyidaw. In October 2007, Burma’s
Prime Minister Nyan Win paid the first visit to Pyong Yang. The visit was followed by exchanges including
the visit of Burma’s Sports Minister, Brig. Gen. Thura Aye Myint along with senior military officers, in
early 2008. Both Burma and North Korea have attracted international criticism, with the former US
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice terming them as “Outposts of tyranny”. Mizzima, 13 May 2009

The state-run newspapers The New Light of Burma and The Mirror have published no new information
since the news of the man’s arrest last week. However, state-friendly Web sites are spewing out damaging
allegations that could hurt the pro-democracy leader’s image among her non-supporters, and—most
dangerous of all—provide an unsubstantiated foundation to deny her release from house arrest, which is set
to expire this month. The People Media Voice, an online journal, quoting a pro-junta Web site, reported that
the detained democracy leader could be sentenced to three-years in prison under Article 22 if she is
convicted of failing to inform authorities that the US man entered her home and spent the night. Irrawaddy,
13 May 2009

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) can today confirm that Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi, her two live-in party members Daw Khin Khin Win and her daughter Win Ma Ma and an American
man, John William Yettaw were all charged under section 22 of the State Protection Act. The charges relate
to violating the rules and regulations surrounding her house arrest. All four appeared at a special court in
Insein Prison compound to hear the charges against them. Today, the judge read out the charges to them in
court. The judge did not ask any questions. The judge ordered the defendants to return to court again on
May 18, 2009. The court is located in Insein prison compound. The court was presided over by the Rangoon
Western District Justice Thaung Nyunt, and Nyi Nyi Soe, in the presence of district legal advisor Myint
Kyaing. The defendants are allowed to have lawyers. They are U Kyi Win and U Hla Myo Myint. The
American John William Yettaw also faces an additional charge under immigration law, although the details
are not yet known. He appeared at a separate court hearing on this charge. According to the latest
information, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Daw Khin Khin Win and Daw Win Pa Pa were not sent back to Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi’s home. All of them are being held in Insein prison now. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Daw
Khin Khin Win and her daughter Win Ma Ma were taken to Insein prison from Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s
home early this morning by armed escort. John William Yettaw was taken from Aung Tha Pyay police
interrogation center to Insein prison to appear at the court hearing this morning. AAPP, 14 May 2009

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Official Trial Record dated 14 May 2009 on Aung San Suu Kyi at Insein Prison, MMK, 22 May 2009

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NLD Statement dated 14 May 2009

Burmese authorities allowed a U.S. diplomat to visit an American arrested last week for swimming across a
lake to sneak into the home of detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, according to a state television
report Wednesday. Burmese state television showed a still photo of John William Yettaw meeting with
consular chief Colin Furst. A U.S. diplomat confirmed the meeting, saying it lasted 30 minutes and that
Yettaw appeared to be in good spirits and said he had been treated well. The diplomat, who insisted on
anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the press, said that Yettaw had not yet been formally
charged with any crime. Burma’s state-run newspapers reported last week that Yettaw, 53, of Falcon,
Missouri, swam about 1 1/4 miles (2 kilometers) on the night of May 3 to the lakeside home of the 63-year-
old Suu Kyi and left the same way on the night of May 5, before being arrested the next morning. The report
said his motive was under investigation. AP, 14 May 2009

The EU on Wednesday voiced concern over the health of Burma opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi,
urging the junta to allow “immediate and proper health care” for the ailing pro-democracy figure. “The
European Union expresses its strong concern following reports on the health of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi,”
the Czech EU presidency said in a statement on behalf of the 27 EU member states, also renewing the call
for her unconditional release from house arrest. “The EU calls on the authorities of Burma to guarantee for
Ms Suu Kyi immediate and proper medical care, as well as access for her personal attorney,” the statement
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added. The European Union also voiced concern over the recent arrest of her personal physician Tin Myo
Win. “On the sad occasion of the anniversary of Ms Suu Kyi’s detention, the EU urges the authorities to halt
systematic torture and denial of health care to prisoners and to release all political prisoners,” the statement
said. AFP, 14 May 2009

Burma’s military junta has charged democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi with breaching the terms of her
house arrest over an incident in which a US man swam across a lake and entered her home. The 63-year-old
opposition leader faces trial on May 18 in what critics said was an excuse for the country’s generals to
extend the latest period of her detention, which was due to expire in less than two week. The Nobel Peace
Prize laureate and her two maids appeared in court at the notorious Insein Prison near Rangoon, hours after
police whisked her away from the residence where she has been detained most of the past two decades.
“The authorities have charged Aung San Suu Kyi and her two maids” under the Law Safeguarding the State
from the Dangers of Subversive Elements, lawyer Hla Myo Myint said. Suu Kyi and the others face a prison
term of between three and five years, the lawyer said, which would leave her behind bars next year when the
junta has said it will make good on a long-standing vow to hold fresh elections. “This is the cunning plan of
the regime – to put Aung San Suu Kyi in continuous detention beyond the six years allowed by the law they
used to justify the detention,” Aung Din, executive director of the Washington-based US Campaign for
Burma, said in a statement. AFP, 14 May 2009

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed “grave concern” on Thursday over reports that Burma
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was charged with violating her house arrest and could face new jail
time. “The Secretary-General is gravely concerned about the news that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been
moved to the Insein Prison to face criminal charges,” U.N. spokeswoman Marie Okabe told reporters. She
said Ban believes Suu Kyi “is an essential partner for dialogue in Burma’s national reconciliation and calls
on the government not to take any further action that could undermine this important process.” Ban is
convinced that Suu Kyi and all others in the country formerly known as Burma “who have a contribution to
make to the future of their country” should be free to do so, Okabe said. Reuters, 14 May 2009

The United Nations special expert for human rights in Burma called Thursday for the “unconditional
release’ of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Tomas Ojea Quintana, the special rapporteur, said the
detention of Suu Kyi was unlawful, both according to international law and Burma’s own domestic
legislation. The UN expert said the opposition leader could not be blamed for the intrusion into her home.
“Since her house is well guarded by security forces, the responsibility for preventing such intrusions, and
alerting the authorities, lies with the security forces and not with Aung San Suu Kyi and her aides,” Ojea
Quintana said. He also said that “all 2,156 prisoners of conscience currently detained by the authorities
should be released before the 2010 elections.” Earth Times, 14 May 2009

Norway on Thursday expressed “concern” over the treatment of Burma opposition leader Aung San Suu
Kyi who was charged with allowing an unauthorized US national to visit her Rangoon home. “The
Norwegian government is concerned over the reports that Aung San Suu Kyi has been imprisoned and
demands her immediate release,” Foreign Minister Jonas gahr Store said in a statement. “The
imprisonment of Aung San Suu Kyi is a step in the wrong direction,” Store said, adding that Norwegian
diplomats had been instructed to raise the matter with countries in the region including China and India. The
Norwegian foreign minsiter also urged that Suu Kyi be given adequate medical treatment, citing reports
over her poor health. Former Norweigan Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik who heads the Oslo Centre
for Peace and Human Rights said he was not surprised over Suu Kyi’s arrest, noting that her current
sentence was soon due to expire. “The Burmese junta will try to use this incident as an excuse to detain her
in the years to come. The international community must stand together and demand her immediate release,”
Bondevik said. Earth Times, 14 May 2009

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There is “no justification” for the new charges brought against Burma’s pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu
Kyi by the country’s junta on Thursday, the European Union’s special envoy Piero Fassino said. “There is
no justification” for the decision to charge her with breaching the terms of her house arrest and put her on
trial next Monday, he told Italy’s Channel 5 television. Fassino said the international community should use
“every possible means to press for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi as well as the 2,000 other political
prisoners who are held in Burmese jails.” The Italian envoy said that Europe should work with the United
States and Asian countries to “make the Burmese junta understand that its oppressive and dictatorial policy
is unacceptable for the international community.” Eubusiness.com, 14 May 2009

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the Burmese military government was clearly looking for any
pretext to extend Ms Suu Kyi’s detention. “I am deeply disturbed that Aung San Suu Kyi may be charged
with breaching the terms of her detention,” Mr Brown said in a statement. Lawyer Kyi Win has blamed Mr
Yettaw for her detention, calling him a “fool”. BBC, 14 May 2009

Canada on Thursday called on Burma to release all political prisoners, specifically naming pro-democracy
activist and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. “Our government is alarmed by the charges laid against
Aung San Suu Kyi, and we call for her immediate release, along with all political prisoners in Burma,”
Canada’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Peter Kent said in the House of Commons. AFP, 14 May
2009

Australia has called for the immediate release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi after Burmese
authorities sent her to prison over an unauthorised visit by an American. Foreign Minister Stephen Smith
expressed grave concern over the latest chapter in Ms Suu Kyi’s incarceration. “It is Australia’s
longstanding position - shared by governments of both political persuasions - that she should be released
immediately and unconditionally and I repeat that today,” he told parliament. Opposition foreign affairs
spokeswoman Julie Bishop told parliament the military junta had ignored the will of the majority of
Burmese people. Ms Bishop travelled to Burma in 1995 and met Ms Suu Kyi. Ms Suu Kyi said at the time
that she was “a prisoner in her own country”. The Sydney Morning Herald, 14 May 2009

Germany called Thursday on Burma to halt the prosecution of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The
Foreign Ministry in Berlin said it was ‘very deeply concerned about her situation and health.’ A spokesman,
Jens Ploetner, said the Burmese government should drop the charges and end her state of house arrest.
monstersandcritics.com, 14 May 2009

The US State Department expressed concern Thursday after Burma’s military junta detained and charged
pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi with breaching the terms of her house arrest. “We have seen this
report, which is certainly troubling if true,” State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said about Suu Kyi’s
expected trial on Monday to face the charges, which carry a maximum jail term of five years. US Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton “has seen it as well, and has asked the Department to work to get more
information,” added Kelly. AFP, 14 May 2009

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is urging Burma to immediately release pro-democracy leader
Aung San Suu Kyi. Clinton told reporters at the State Department on Thursday that she was deeply troubled
by Burma’s “baseless charge” against the Nobel Peace laureate. She says the government is looking for a
“pretext” to place further unjust restrictions on Suu Kyi. AP, 14 May 2009

National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma, which describes itself as the country’s
government-in-exile, said the junta was using the incident to extend Suu Kyi’s detention. “It is nothing more
than a political ploy to hoodwink the international community so that it can keep Suu Kyi under lock and
key while the military maneuvers its way to election victory on 2010,” the group’s Prime Minister Sein Win
was quoted as saying in a statement. AP, 14 May 2009
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The 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), one of the few groups that allows
Burma as a member, was “concerned” by the latest events there, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told
Reuters. “We would like to see positive steps being taken according to the roadmap. It’s very important the
political process is inclusive,” he said. 14 May 2009

Western governments are condemning the new charges brought against Burma’s pro-democracy leader
Aung San Suu Kyi. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown says the military, which has kept her under
house arrest for years wanted any excuse to extend her detention. The European Union and the United
States have also expressed concern. However, there has been no immediate response from ASEAN, the
regional bloc which includes Burma. Amnesty International is urging the United Nations, China, Japan and
ASEAN nations to push for the “immediate release” of Burma’s pro-democracy leader. The rights group
says the UN Security Council must intervene after Aung San Suu Kyi was moved to prison and charged.
Radioaustralianews.net.au, 15 May 2009

Amnesty International called on the UN Security Council and Burma’s Asian neighbours to urgently
intervene to secure Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s release from prison. “The government of Burma must free
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi at once, without condition, and not return her to house arrest,” said Benjamin
Zawacki, Amnesty International’s Burma expert. “In the absence of a unified international voice, the
Burmese government will continue to act in utter disregard for human rights. Now more than ever, the
Security Council and ASEAN member states must send an unequivocal signal to the generals that they can
no longer act with impunity,” Zawacki concluded. AI, 14 May 2009

Mervyn Thomas, CSW’s Chief Executive, said: “The treatment of Aung San Suu Kyi by the Burmese
military dictatorship is inhumane. The charges made today are outrageous. She cannot be held responsible
for the actions of the uninvited American intruder, especially as reports indicate that although she pleaded
with him to leave, he insisted on staying. It is essential that the UN and ASEAN, and key members of the
international community such as China and India, act immediately to secure her release and safety, and the
release of all her associates. She has committed no crime whatsoever, her detention violates international
law, and the regime must not be given any excuse to continue to hold her captive.” CSW, 14 May 2009

The members of the Sakharov Network protest against the imprisonment of fellow Sakharov Prize winner
Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of Burma’s pro-democracy opposition, who has been under house arrest since
May 2003 and who was jailed today. She and the two women who live with her were taken to Insein prison
in a north Rangoon suburb today because, according to military officials, they violated the terms of her
house arrest by allowing an American citizen to gain access to her home. Her trial is to begin on Monday.
Reporters Without Borders, 14 May 2009

The Nobel Peace Prize awards committee issued a rare public statement Friday to condemn the
imprisonment of 1991 peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and to demand her immediate release. The
secretive Nobel committee traditionally does not comment on past laureates. However, its non-voting
secretary Geir Lundestad said they are deeply concerned about Suu Kyi and had made earlier appeals on
her behalf. “We sent this because it is a matter of the life and health of a laureate,” Lundestad told The
Associated Press. The five-member committee said in the statement that it “protests strongly against the way
in which the government of Burma has treated Aung San Suu Kyi. Her recent detention in prison is totally
unacceptable. She has done nothing wrong.” AP, 15 May 2009

Human Rights Watch called on China and India, Burma’s closest allies, to pressure the ruling generals to
free Suu Kyi. The New York-based group said the charges against her are part of an intensified campaign
against pro-democracy activists that has brought increased arrests as the regime seeks to crush the
opposition before elections. The junta plans a ballot in 2010 after passing a constitution last year that it said
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was backed by 92 percent of voters. The NLD and other groups have denounced the charter, which bars Suu
Kyi from holding office. “China, India, Singapore, Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries should be
calling for a genuine and participatory political process in Burma, which means serious public pressure for
the release of political opponents,” said Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch.
Bloomberg.com, 15 May 2009

New Zealand on Friday joined the international condemnation of the imprisonment of Nobel Peace Prize
laureate Aung San Suu Kyi as Foreign Minister Murray McCully said the only thing the Burma opposition
leader was guilty of was standing up for the rights of her country’s people in the face of appalling
repression. “This action is yet another setback for Burma and throws more doubt over the credibility of the
planned 2010 elections,” McCully said, referring to voting planned by the ruling military junta in the
country once known as Burma. “The Burmese government must release Aung San Suu Kyi immediately,
and take meaningful steps towards the restoration of democracy.” monstersandcritics.com, 15 May 2009

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he was “gravely concerned” while the UN special envoy on
human rights in Burma, Tomas Ojea Quintana, called for Aung San Suu Kyi to be freed, and said her
detention broke the country’s laws. sbs.com.au, 15 May 2009

The European Union joined international criticism of Burma’s military rulers on Friday for pressing new
charges against detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. “I deeply regret that Nobel Peace Prize
winner Mrs Aung San Suu Kyi has been arrested by the authorities of Burma and charged with violating the
terms of her detention,” European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said in a statement. “In fact,
instead of being arrested she should have been released from house arrest, which was a clear violation of
international law as determined by the United Nations.” Reuters, 15 May 2009

Former Czech President Vaclav Havel is calling on U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to intervene to
ensure the release of Burma’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Havel says he is shocked and
“gravely concerned” about Suu Kyi because of her poor health and the harsh conditions she endures in
prison. AP, 15 May 2009

Two top US senators urged Burma to free pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi and urged “reform-
minded” members of its ruling junta to step forward to help forge new ties with the United States. “Now is
the time for reform-minded leaders within the military junta to step forward and be heard,” said Democratic
Senator John Kerry and Republican Senator Richard Lugar, the top Senate Foreign Relations Committee
members. AFP, 15 May 2009

Japan voiced “serious concern” Friday about Burma moving Aung San Suu Kyi, the country’s pro-
democracy leader, to prison from house arrest Thursday. “We are closely watching the development with
serious concern,” Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone said at a news conference. “We have conveyed this
message to the Burmese government.” Nakasone said the Foreign Ministry told Burmese Ambassador to
Japan Hla Myint earlier Friday that Japan wants the junta to advance democracy with the participation of
“all related people,” including Suu Kyi, the 63-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Nakasone said Japan
expects Burma to hold a general election in 2010 as a way acceptable to the international community. Suu
Kyi has been charged in connection with an incident last week in which a U.S. citizen is accused of
swimming across a lake and sneaking into her house to visit her. Japan Today, 15 May 2009

Thin Thin Aung, Presidium Board Member of Women’s League of Burma, said: “We clearly make this call
that the international community should not be silent and also act very urgently and firmly, and send the
strong signal to the regime that they can no longer act with impunity, such kind of violations of basic human
rights and democratic rights for her and all other political prisoners.” Burma’s political opposition in exile
said the arrest was timed to undermine their attempts at answering the current government’s call for reform.
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Nyo Ohn Myint, National Coalition of the Union of Burma, said: “This is unfairly and politically motivated
and a setup for her not to participate in the political process now and in the future. We think this arrest is a
response by the regime to the NLD offer just a few weeks ago. NLD offered that we would like to negotiate
the 7 Step Road. We try to comprise.” Channel News Asia, 15 May 2009

Reporters Without Borders condemns a new wave of obstacles that Burma’s military government has
imposed on Internet usage as well as its expulsion of two American journalism teachers on 6 May. It is
getting steadily harder for Burmese to send emails or access websites while all means of communication
were cut yesterday around opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s home. “The increased restrictions on
Internet usage following Aung San Suu Kyi’s reimprisonment suggest that the military government is once
again trying to isolate Burma, as it does whenever there is political tension,” Reporters Without Borders
said. “We firmly condemn this behavior and appeal to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to put
more pressure on the government to allow the free flow of information.” It is now extremely difficult to
access websites. A Rangoon-based journalist told Reporters Without Borders: “For the past five days, it has
been taking hours to open foreign websites, especially email sites, but no one knows why.” It took an
average of one hour to send a single email message, he said. “This is almost certainly a deliberate policy, so
that no reports or photos can easily be sent out of the country.” In practice, emailing is now very restricted.
When an Internet user tries to connect to Gmail, the most popular email service in Burma, the browser often
disconnects, treating Gmail as an “illegal” website. 15 May 2009

A number of Indonesian legislators grouped in the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC)
have urged President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to take proactive steps to help Burma democracy icon
Aung San Suu Kyi in Rangoon, Indonesia’s Antara news agency reported Friday. Two members of the
group, Sidarto Danusubroto and Marzuki Darusman, said here Friday the AIPMC had written to the
President asking him to obtain complete information on Suu Kyi’s recent detention in Burma. Bernama, 15
May 2009

Famed movie actors George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Matt Damon and others from the Not On Our Watch
advocacy group on Friday called for the immediate release from prison of Burma’s opposition leader Aung
San Suu Kyi. Also joining the effort were rockstar Bono, singer Madonna, director Steven Spielberg, Nobel
Laureates professor Elie Wiesel and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former US secretary of state Madeleine
Albright and US Senator John McCain. The New York-based group said the imprisonment of Suu Kyi this
week in Rangoon by the military junta is unlawful. The group joined the growing chorus of government
leaders and human rights groups that have demanded her release. monstersandcritics.com, 15 May 2009

1. Recently, the president of East Timor and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jose Ramos-Horta claimed that, if
the SPDC does not immediately release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, he will urge the Office of the Prosecutor of
the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate and prosecute Sen. Gen. Than Shwe and other
responsible leaders of the SPDC for the crimes they have committed over the years. The Burma Lawyers’
Council welcomes and fully supports Mr. Ramos-Horta’s statement.
2. The ICC may have jurisdiction to investigate and/or prosecute heinous crimes which have been
committed and are being committed if a given state’s judicial system is unable or unwilling to investigate
and take legal action to ensure justice. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is being detained under the State Protection
Law of 1975. The government is permitted to detain her for five years under that law. Contrary to law, they
have already held her in detention for almost six years. Despite that she is being unlawfully detained
Burma’s judiciary did not provide any protection. According to Article 9 of that Law, restrictions may be
laid down by the Central Board only, not the judiciary. However, judiciary has admitted the complaint of the
government to extend her detention by accusing her of violating the conditions of her original detention
under the State Protection Law of 1975.
This is a blatant disregard of the Burma’s judiciary for the rule of law. It is evident that Burma’s judicial
system is unable or unwilling to ensure justice.
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3. Illegal detention of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners causes commission of
international crime provided for in the Rome Statute of the ICC, article 7 Crimes Against Humanity, sub-
article 1(e) which states that a crime against humanity is imprisonment or other severe deprivation of
physical liberty in violation of fundamental rules of international law. According to Article 14, “a State
Party may refer to the Prosecutor a situation in which one or more crimes within the jurisdiction of the
Court appear to have been committed.” Under article 15(1), should a “situation” be referred by a State Party,
the Prosecutor may initiate investigations on the basis of information related to crimes within the
jurisdiction of the Court.
4. Some Generals in the Army may desire a genuine national reconciliation and hold the belief that the
military should not interfere in politics. However, Sen. Gen. Than Shwe and other military officials have
been committing heinous crimes repeatedly, to strengthen their political power, with impunity given that
judiciary did not take any action, denying the principles of the rule of law. If there is no rule of law, a
genuine national reconciliation will never become a reality in Burma. The Burma Lawyers’ Council
requests the international community to work together to restore the rule of law in Burma, by seeking the
power of the International Criminal Court. Burma Lawyers’ Council, 16 May 2009

President Barack Obama has formally extended US sanctions against Burma amid latest tensions over
detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi who was put on trial on charges of allowing a US national to
visit her home without permission from the authorities. “I have determined that it is necessary to continue
the national emergency with respect to Burma, and maintain the sanctions against Rangoon to respond to
this threat,” Obama told the Congress. The Friday’s move comes despite an official review of the US policy
on Burma currently underway, Geo TV reported Saturday. Aung San Suu Kyi was put on trial Thursday for
allowing a US national to visit her home, where she has been under detention for the past six years. After an
initial hearing, the trial was scheduled to be continued May 18. The Nobel laureate was taken from her
family compound Thursday and kept at Insein Prison after the hearing. IANS, 16 May 2009

US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said she was deeply troubled by Burma’s decision to charge
Suu Kyi for a “baseless crime,” and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was “deeply disturbed”
by the development, echoing calls by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for her immediate release.
arabtimesonline.com, 16 May 2009

“Everyone is very angry with this wretched American,” Suu Kyi’s attorney, Kyi Win, told reporters. “He is
the cause of all these problems.” columbiamissourian.com, 16 May 2009

Burma’s military rulers disbarred a prominent lawyer who applied to defend pro-democracy leader Aung
San Suu Kyi in her upcoming trial, the attorney said on Saturday. Lawyer Aung Thein said Saturday that he
was dismissed from the country’s Bar Council on Friday, a day after he applied to represent Suu Kyi. He
has defended political activists in the past and was earlier jailed for four months for contempt of court. AP,
16 May 2009

Burma’s junta has released the doctor of Aung San Suu Kyi, his family said, almost two weeks after he was
detained in relation to an incident in which a US man swam to the democracy icon’s house. Tin Myo Win
was arrested on May 7 as he tried to give medical care to Aung San Suu Kyi following the bizarre visit by
the American, which has since led to the Opposition leader being charged with breaching her house arrest.
“He was released from detention last night, Saturday, at about 7.00 pm. According to him his health
situation is good,” one of Tin Myo Win’s family members told AFP, asking not to be identified. His release
comes days after the US government demanded that Burma’s military rulers should grant Tin Myo Win
“immediate” access to see the 63-year-old Aung San Suu Kyi, amid fears for her health. AFP, 17 May 2009

In unusually sharp criticism from a Southeast Asian nation, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto
Romulo said Sunday that his government was “deeply troubled and outraged” over the “trumped-up
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charges”against Suu Kyi. “We urge the government of Burma to resolve the matter speedily and to release
Aung San Suu Kyi immediately and unconditionally,” he said. indopia.in, 18 May 2009

18 May 2008, Monday, First Day Court Trial


Riot police behind barbed wire barricades ringed a notorious prison where pro-democracy leader Aung San
Suu Kyi went on trial Monday for allegedly harboring an American man who swam to her lakeside home.
Security forces blocked all roads leading to the prison as several hundred riot police, many armed with guns,
batons and shields, guarded the perimeter of Insein, where the regime has for years incarcerated political
prisoners. The tight security came as activist groups, which spearheaded an uprising against Burma’s
military rulers in 2007, called for peaceful protest rallies in front of Rangoon’s Insein prison until Suu Kyi is
freed. More than 100 members of Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy were able to pass through the
first ring of barricades around the prison but not the inner one. One young protester was seen being taken
away by police. The group was led by Win Tin, a leading member of the league who was freed last
September after 19 years of imprisonment for exposing human rights violations in Burma’s prisons.
Authorities said the trial began about 10:30 a.m. (0300 GMT) but no other information was immediately
available. In Monday’s court session, Kyi Win said Suu Kyi’s defense team will ask for an open trial and
may also request bail. The prosecution is expected to call 22 witnesses during the trial. Kyi Win said Suu
Kyi was ready to tell her side of the story. “She has always been ready to tell the truth,” he said. The
ambassadors of Great Britain, France, Germany and Italy as well as an Australian diplomat were barred
from entering the prison, but the U.S. consul was allowed into the prison compound since a U.S. citizen,
John William Yettaw, also was on trial. U.S. Embassy spokesman Drake Wiesert said it was unclear if the
consul would be allowed to attend the court proceedings, or whether Yettaw was represented by a lawyer.
On the eve of Suu Kyi’s trial, her defense lawyer said she was innocent of the charges, which could put her
into prison for up to five years. indopia.in, 18 May 2009

The first day of the trial against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, her colleagues Daw Khin Khin Win and Daw Win
Ma Ma and US citizen John William Yettaw began today at 10.30 am and finished this afternoon at around
2 pm local time. Four lawyers (U Kyi Win, U Hla Myo Myint, U Nyan Win and Daw Khin Htay Kywe)
represented Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Daw Khin Htay Kywe, U Hla Myo Myint and U Nyan Win also
represented National League for Democracy party members Daw Khin Khin Win and Daw Win Ma Ma.
Lawyer U Khin Maung Oo represented John William Yettaw. There are two judges in the case, U Thaung
Nyunt from Rangoon Northern District Court and U Nyi Nyi Soe from Rangoon Western District Court. Lt.
Colonel Police Special Branch Officer Zaw Min Aung read out the statement of prosecution against Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi, her colleagues and John William Yettaw. Her lawyers were able to raise counter-
questions to Zaw Min Aung. Security preparations have been underway since yesterday evening. Insein
Road is closed off to traffic, and barbed wire fencing has been erected. Riot police; members of the regime-
affiliated militia, Swan Arr Shin; the regime’s social organisation Union Solidarity and Development
Association; and the Fire Brigade were all present. This morning NLD Youth members distributed black
ribbons and possibly armbands. NLD Youth member Htwe Thein and others were arrested and taken away
by security officers. They have now been released and are back at their homes. NLD co-founder and Central
Executive Committee member U Win Tin and hundreds of NLD members and supporters tried to enter
Insein Prison compound to listen to the court hearing, but were prevented from doing so by security forces.
Some youth and monks were seen wearing headbands and holding placards which said, “Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi is not guilty.” Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her colleagues are being held in a guesthouse facility
located within Insein prison compound. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi passed on a message that she is fine, and
prays that others are in good health. Trial will resume at 10 am tomorrow, Tuesday 19 May. AAPP

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The first day of the trial heard testimony from police Lt. Col. Zaw Min Aung, the first of 22 scheduled
prosecution witnesses, said Nyan Win. The officer, who signed the official criminal complaint on the case,
laid out the prosecution’s basic case. The Daily Mail, 18 May 2009

The court on Monday heard two witnesses, one in Aung San Suu Kyi’s case and one in Yettaw’s, it said.
theage.com.au, 18 May 2009

On May 18 Aung San Suu Kyi was put on trial, charged with breaching the terms of her house arrest after
an American man, John Yettaw, swam to her house and refused to leave. The dictatorship is using the visit
as an opportunity to extend her detention, which was expected to expire this month. Her trial is ongoing and
she could face a further five years in detention. www.64forsuu.org

Win Tin, a member of her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), who spent 19 years in
isolation in the jail as a political prisoner, was one of the protesters. In a telephone interview with The
Independent he said the trial was simply a ploy to extend her detention, which is about to expire. “They are
using this to extend her house arrest and to avoid her being present during the elections,” said the 79-year-
old former journalist. “That way, she cannot meet the people, she cannot say anything against the election.
She will be absent.” Elections under a new, widely criticised constitution are scheduled for next year. 18
May 2009

‘We call all political forces for Free Aung San Suu Kyi to mobilise all over Burma, by holding praying
sessions in homes, places of worship ... and holding silent, peaceful rallies in front of Insein prison,’ said a
statement from three activist groups. The groups included an organisation of Buddhist monks, who were at
the forefront of the 2007 protests, which were brutally crushed by the regime. The Daily Mail, 18 May 2009

Prime Minister Dr Sein Win said, “It is nothing more than a political ploy to hoodwink the international
community so that they can keep Daw Aung San Suu Kyi under lock and key while the military maneuvers
its way to election victory in 2010. This should not be allowed to happen.” It is time to stop the generals.
The international community should closely monitor the situation and take effective action if the generals
decide to continue persecuting Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Lest we forget, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is Burma’s
democracy icon and only hope for long-lasting peace in the country. NCGUB, 18 May 2009

The US citizen, John W. Yettaw, who swam across Inya Lake and entered Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s (Daw
Suu) residence, is clearly a mentally unbalanced person. He should have been sent to a mental hospital for
treatment and the security for Daw Suu should have been enhanced. Instead, the SPDC military dictatorship
is accusing Daw Suu of protecting a criminal and preparing to subject her to a criminal trial, in the notorious
Insein Jail. Obviously, the SPDC is using the incident as an opportunity to cause even more harm to Daw
Suu, similar to the attack on her and her entourage, at Depayin. It is clear that under influence of the
perverted ideology of total control, the SPDC dictators have no sense yet for national reconciliation, peace
and justice. We, the KNU, strongly condemn this vengeful and confrontational act by the SPDC dictatorship
against the people’s leader, Daw Suu, and call upon it to release her and all the political prisoners
immediately. It is our perception that the dictatorship has been emboldened to the extent of committing
crimes tantamount to crimes against humanity, time and again, by the policy of appeasement and pseudo-
national reconciliation process promoted by some wooly-headed Burma experts, INGOs and opportunist
groups. In conclusion, we call upon justice and peace loving leaders of the world to concertedly push the
SPDC military dictatorship onto the right tract of meaningful dialogue, with leaders of democratic and
ethnic forces, for genuine national reconciliation, lasting peace and progress. Karen National Union

Burma risks global isolation because its continued oppression of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi,
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband warned today. He slammed the “show trial” which started today
and urged the authorities to begin a “constitutional process” to include Ms Suu Kyi’s party and other
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minority groups. Only three weeks ago Mr Miliband and his EU counterparts extended two-year-old
sanctions against Burma for another year and demanded the opposition leader’s release. Today the same
ministers opted to wait and see the result of her new trial for allegedly breaching the terms of her house
arrest. “We are very concerned by the situation in Burma,” said Mr Miliband. “The house arrest of Aung
San Suu Kyi is bad enough but for her to be put on show trial just adds to the pain. Our position is that
everything should be done to ensure that the Burmese government understands fully the need to create an
inclusive constitutional process rather than a sham process, which needs to includes all of the minorities as
well as the opposition.” He said it was vital that the Burmese regime understood the risks it was taking:
“The EU has shown itself ready to help the people of Burma, but certainly the regime should be under no
illusion about the isolation it brings upon itself through its actions.” Irish Examiner, 18 May 2009

China, India and other Asian countries should press Burma’s military leaders to drop charges against pro–
democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and release her from house arrest, European Union foreign ministers
said Monday. British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said there was an agreement at a meeting of the
ministers here that the EU pursue fresh contacts with Burma’s Asian neighbours at talks in Vietnam next
week. “It is right the EU put on the table all the potential ways of exercising influence including
engagement and including sanctions, both of which will be undertaken with real vigor,” Miliband told
reporters. The ministers discussed increasing sanctions against Burma’s junta, to help restore democracy in
the Southeast Asian country, but failed to agree on new measures. Instead they will focus on putting
pressure on countries like China, India and Thailand who could exert influence over Burma to change its
ways. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner in Paris called the trial a “scandalous provocation.”
Miliband and other ministers said the EU was concerned about the trial and efforts by the military junta to
shove through “sham” constitutional reforms. “The house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi is bad enough, but for
her to be put on a show trial just adds to her pain,’ he said in Brussels. EU foreign policy chief Javier
Solana led the call for more sanctions, though others questioned whether existing EU punitive measures
were working, including a travel ban on Burma’s political officials, an arms embargo and a freeze of assets
in Europe. Sweden’s Carl Bildt said EU nations would pressure their counterparts from the 10–country
Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which includes Burma, when they meet next week in Hanoi,
Vietnam. Past efforts to cajole the Asian group to denounce Burma have failed. caycompass.com, 18 May
2009

Japan Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone has expressed concern over the indictment of detained
prodemocracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and called for Burma’s military junta to give her humanitarian
treatment. Nakasone conveyed his concern to Burma’s foreign minister, Nyan Win, during telephone talks
Monday, officials said. The Japan Times, 18 May 2009

Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo urged the government of Burma yesterday to “immediately and
unconditionally” release pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi as he expressed the Philippine
government’s “outrage” over the filing of new charges against her just days before the expiration of her six-
year detention. “The Philippine government is deeply troubled and outraged over the filing of trumped-up
charges against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her transfer to Insein prison, particularly when concerns have
been raised regarding her health,” Secretary Romulo said. “We urge the government of Burma to resolve the
matter speedily, and to release Aung San Suu Kyi immediately and unconditionally.” The secretary said the
Burmese government should not be sidetracked by the filing of the trumped-up charges. “As we had
conveyed earlier, it is high time for the Burmese government to carry out its own ‘Roadmap for
Democracy,’ its avowed program of releasing political detainees, including unfettering the National League
for Democracy, and allowing its unconditional participation in free elections,” Romulo said. “Fulfilling
these commitments is long overdue.” Manila Bulletin, 18 May 2009

A statement issued late Monday by Thailand, which holds the rotating chairmanship of the regional bloc,
expressed “grave concern about recent developments relating to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, given her fragile
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health.” But Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva ruled out imposing sanctions as most western countries
have done, saying he hoped Burma “will consider Asean as friends.” Manilatimes.net, 20 May 2009

19 May 2008, Tuesday


Burmese police were expected to give evidence on Tuesday against pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu
Kyi on the second day of a trial that has sparked international outrage. “The trial will continue with the
official complaints by the police. We don’t know if Suu Kyi will speak today. All four will be in court,” a
Burmese official told AFP on condition of anonymity. The first witness, a police colonel who filed the
original complaint against her, gave evidence on Monday. A total of 22 witnesses are expected to testify --
21 of them police officers. AFP, 19 May 2009

Burma’s tightly controlled state media has reported on the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi for the first time,
giving a rare mention of the imprisoned pro-democracy leader. State television and radio carried brief items
after the first day of proceedings, while the government mouthpiece New Light of Burma newspaper had a
report on Tuesday. It was the biggest story on the back page of the English-language paper, but failed to
knock a story about a state transport and agricultural scheme off the front page. The newspaper said that
Yettaw now faced a third charge, brought by the Rangoon City Council Sanitation Department, of
swimming in Inya Lake without permission. He is also charged with breaching security and immigration
laws. Neither paper mentioned the fact that the trial was being held behind closed doors in the notorious
Insein prison, where Aung San Suu Kyi is being held, only saying that it was taking place at Rangoon’s
northern district court. theage.com.au, 19 May 2009

Win Tin, a leader of the National League for Democracy, spoke to The Irrawaddy regarding the trial of
Aung San Suu Kyi. The matter of her security is totally in their hands. If the authorities don’t open up the
compound, no person can enter it. At this time, the authorities have rejected her appeal and even charged her
with another case. I believe that it is a conspiracy. I believe they did it because they don’t want to release
her. They want to ban her from being involved in politics in the future. Ideally, they want to put her into
prison. But politically, they can’t do that. The international community is voicing its concern and even
demanding she be released. We also don’t accept the charges and demand she be released. Daw Suu is
mentally strong and firm in her stand. Regarding the case of John W. Yettaw, she clearly told her lawyer
that she didn’t breach any laws. Based on these facts, Daw Suu’s position is strong and firm. Although I
haven’t seen her for years, based on our past experiences and her political stance and sacrifice during these
20 years, I can say that she will never feel depressed and give up or change her political stance. The truth is
that it’s because of Daw Suu’s personal fame and the world’s recognition of her position. She has become
the main enemy of the military regime. But putting aside personal fame and looking at things from the point
of view of current politics, the situation has largely changed. In the past, we asked for a parliament to draw
up a constitution in accordance with the 1990 election results, which we have consistently supported. Now,
we recently called for parliament to review the constitution and for a dialogue with the military. We
changed our position to be flexible in order to bring about a dialogue. Daw Suu is a key player if we are to
solve the current political situation through a dialogue. Therefore, the present charges against Daw Suu
mean that the generals are trying to eliminate her from the stage. I feel that they are trying to destroy the
possibility of political dialogue and national reconciliation by political means.At first, we heard that Dr Tin
Myo Win had also been brought to court and that there would be five persons in this case. But he was not on
the list. Perhaps, he was under interrogation. Irrawaddy, 19 May 2009

Prosecutors in Burma picked up the pace of calling witnesses to the stand Tuesday, offering hope to Aung
San Suu Kyi’s supporters that the opposition leader’s trial -- which nine Nobel laureates have called “a
mockery” -- may end soon. Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party and diplomatic sources had
worried the government might drag out the legal proceedings for several months, until the media lost
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interest. The military junta would then quietly extend Suu Kyi’s detention well beyond next year’s planned
elections, they feared. But at the end of proceedings Tuesday, party spokesman Nyan Win said the court had
questioned five witnesses. A day earlier, the court had heard from only two of the 22 witnesses it has called.
Nyan Win thinks the court might be speeding up the hearings so it can issue a verdict within seven days --
before Suu Kyi’s latest round of home detention expires. “The trial is a mockery,” the nine Nobel Peace
prize winners said in a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday, urging him to intervene.
“There is no judicial system in Burma,” the letter said. “It is clear that this is an excuse by the military junta
to add trumped-up charges at a time when Daw Aung San Suu Kyis unlawful detention was scheduled to
end May 27, 2009.” Signatories to the letter included Costa Rican President Oscar Arias and Archbishop
Desmond Tutu. The case is being tried behind closed doors inside a prison compound near Rangoon. Police
put up roadblocks outside, and turned away a group of Western diplomats who wanted to attend Monday.
On Tuesday, however, a U.S. Embassy official was allowed to watch the proceedings. The government-
controlled media also made its first mention of the trial -- after carrying no reports about it before it began,
or on its first day. Suu Kyi, 63, and two of her maids have been detained under Section 22 of the country’s
legal code -- a law against subversion. If convicted, Suu Kyi could face three to five years in prison. The
charges stem from May 3, when an American, John William Yettaw, allegedly swam almost two miles
across the lake behind Suu Kyi’s crumbling, colonial-era home and stayed for two days. “Frankly, she does
not believe she did any offense,” said Jared Genser, a Washington, D.C.-based lawyer who is one of the
attorneys defending her. CNN, 19 May 2009

Burma’s pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi today said she was “ready to face anything” as her lawyer
said the military junta appeared rushing her trial to keep her incarcerated on charges that she violated
conditions of her detention by sheltering a US citizen. Press Trust of India, 19 May 2009

British footballing legend David Beckham has added his name to a list of celebrities calling for the release
of Aung San Suu Kyi, as international pressure mounts on the Burmese junta on the second day of her trial.
American-based charity foundation, Not On Our Watch, issued a statement supported by over 40 celebrities
last week demanding the release of Suu Kyi. The charity was set up by a group of celebrities, including
George Clooney and Brad Pitt. DVB, 19 May 2009

The UN Security Council is currently negotiating a possible statement reacting to the ongoing trial of Aung
San Suu Kyi. If there is agreement on language and the type of statement (i.e. press or presidential) the
Council may meet 20 May. Most members are in agreement with having a statement, although China has
expressed reservations about interfering in what it considers Burma’s internal affairs. Japan and Russia also
appear to be taking cautious positions. securitycouncilreport.org, 19 May 2009

French first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy meanwhile appealed for Aung San Suu Kyi’s release in an open
letter to Burma. indiatimes.com, 19 May 2009

The mayor of Paris has called for the release in Burma of Nobel Laureate and pro-democracy leader Aung
San Suu Kyi who is on trial on charges she violated the terms of her house arrest. Mayor Bertrand Delanoe
joined other municipal officials at the Place de la Republique in eastern Paris on Tuesday where a large
portrait of Suu Kyi was hung. Suu Kyi is an honorary citizen of Paris. eTaiwan News, 19 May 2009

British prime Minister Gordon Brown has sent a message of personal support and solidarity to the arrested
Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, saying that she is “not alone” in her fight to bring back
democracy in Burma. “We should not rest until you are able to play your rightful role in a free and secure
Burma. I want you to know: you are not alone,” The Independent quoted Brown’s letter, as stating. ANI, 19
May 2009

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China hopes Burma can realize reconciliation, stability and development through dialogues of all parties,
Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said here Tuesday. Ma made the remarks when answering a
question concerning Burma opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi at a regular press briefing. Xinhua, 19 May
2009

Pakistan on Tuesday lamented the trial of Burma pro-democracy leader and Nobel peace laureate Aung San
Suu Kyi and called for her swift release, AFP reports. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi described
the trial as ‘unfortunate’and urged the Burmese government to consider reviewing its decision. ‘Her early
release would serve the fundamental interests of Burma with which Pakistan enjoyed close cooperative
relations,’ said Qureshi. 19 May 2009

Even as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations pressed for the release of detained Burmese
prodemocracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi whose ill health is worrying the bloc, the military junta came under
fire at the Philippine Senate on Tuesday for its continuing “harassment” of Suu Kyi, who was transferred
from house arrest to prison while facing trial this week for new charges. Sen. Miriam Santiago, who chairs
the Senate foreign relations committee, filed on Tuesday a resolution condemning the military regime’s
actions, citing violations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights. Business Mirror, 19 May 2009

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Tuesday that his government wants to see neighbouring
Burma follow a national reconciliation plan and Thailand does not want to intervene in the internal affairs of
that country. Mr. Abhisit told journalists that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) which
he chairs has issued a statement calling for the immediate release of Burma’s pro-democracy leader Aung
San Suu Kyi who appeared at her trial in Insein prison in Rangoon on Monday. Thai News Agency, 19 May
2009

20 May 2008, Wednesday


Burma’s military regime will allow a few reporters from foreign and local news organizations to cover the
trial of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, an official said Wednesday. The announcement came after the
first two days of hearings at Insein Prison near Rangoon were held behind closed doors, and it is the first
time the junta has allowed media into the trial of a leading activist. “Ten journalists will go this afternoon to
get the news from the trial,” a Burmese official said on the morning of the third day, without explaining the
apparent change of policy. Five will be from foreign news outlets and five from local journals and
magazines, the official said, without specifying which organizations would be allowed to report on the trial.
The trial has so far heard from five police witnesses, with the only reports so far emerging through Aung
San Suu Kyi’s legal team and Burma’s tightly controlled state media. The Wall Street Journal, 20 May 2009

The closed-door trial at the notorious Insein prison heard evidence from five witnesses, including four
police who detained the American as he swam back across the lake after spending two nights at her house, a
party spokesman said. “The witnesses described the situation when they arrested him. They said they
watched him as he swam and at first they thought he was a thief,” Nyan Win, the spokesman for her
National League for Democracy, told reporters. “But they said that they knew as soon as he came to the
bank of the lake that he was a foreigner. Then they took him to special branch,” said Nyan Win, who was
allowed to be in the court as part of Aung San Suu Kyi’s legal team. He said that the trial could finish by
next week if the court continues to hear the case at the current rate. Around 100 party members gathered
outside the prison also on Tuesday, including Win Tin, formerly Burma’s longest-serving political prisoner,
while riot police manned a tight security cordon, witnesses said. manilatimes.net, 20 May 2009

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Around 20 ceiling fans stirred the humid air inside the concrete courtroom, part of a complex where many
of Burma’s more than 2,000 political prisoners are held. In front of them sat two judges, while a
stenographer clattered away in the corner. The trial heard from only one witness during the afternoon
session of the trial - deputy police Major Tin Zaw Htun, who described the situation when he went to Aung
San Suu Kyi’s house on May 7, the day after Yettaw’s arrest. Police had found Yettaw swimming back
across Inya lake from the crumbling mansion, using a pair of homemade flippers and a large plastic bottle
for buoyancy. Major Tin Zaw Htun exhibited some of the items that Yettaw allegedly left at the scene,
demonstrating for the judges how a head-mounted torch worked and showing the judges some Muslim
women’s clothing the American had apparently brought for Aung San Suu Kyi. Yettaw frequently consulted
with his lawyer during the trial on Wednesday and at one point the former US military veteran bizarrely
made a request to wear a pair of sunglasses in court. The motive for his nighttime swim remains unclear, but
Aung San Suu Kyi’s party spokesman said that he may have had a very specific mission in mind - to protect
her life after having a premonition she would be killed. ‘According to the police report, John Yettaw said
that in my vision Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will be assassinated,’ said Mr Nyan Win, spokesman for the
National League for Democracy. AFP, 20 May 2009

Yettaw on Wednesday also offered the first public clue to the motive for his actions, suggesting in a
courtroom exchange that he had a premonition someone would try to kill the pro-democracy leader,
according to Nyan Win, who attended the proceedings. His wife, Betty Yettaw, has said her husband wanted
to talk to Suu Kyi as part of his research on forgiveness and resilience. AP, 22 May 2009

Defense counsels of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi said the trial on Wednesday was a ‘half-
open’ court but welcomed the authority’s permission to allow foreign diplomats and a few journalists to
witness the trial. Kyi Win, Aung San Suu Kyi’s lawyer, said all together 30 embassy officials and 10
journalists were present in the court session on Wednesday, where two witnesses were cross examined.
Mizzima, 20 May 2009

Two photographers working for Japanese media were detained Wednesday by authorities for 20 minutes
after they took shots of diplomats’ cars entering the prison, witnesses said. They were released after
showing proof they were foreign correspondents. The trial adjourned Wednesday after two more police
officers testified for the prosecution, including one who interviewed Suu Kyi after her arrest. He said Suu
Kyi told him that she provided Yettaw with rehydration salts and several meals. The family of 53-year-old
Yettaw, of Falcon, Missouri, describes him as a well-intentioned admirer of Suu Kyi who merely wanted to
interview her, unaware of the possible consequences. Suu Kyi’s supporters have expressed anger at him for
getting her into trouble. AP, 20 May 2009

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NLD Statement dated 21 May 2009

Nine Nobel Peace Prize winners are calling for fellow laureate and Burma pro-democracy leader Aung San
Suu Kyi to be freed, calling her trial for violating her house arrest a ‘mockery,’ Costa Rica’s government
said on Tuesday. “The trial of Aung San Suu Kyi is a mockery. There’s no legal system in Burma,’ the
peace prize winners wrote in letters to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Surin Pitsuwan, the
Secretary General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), according to a government
statement. Costa Rican President Oscar Arias joined Desmond Tutu, Jody Williams, Rigoberta Menchu,
Page 79 of 226
Adolfo Perez Esquivel, Wangari Mathaai, Shirin Ebadi, Betty Williams, and Mairead Corrigan Maguire
in the demand. The pro-democracy leader’s protection was necessary for prosperity and stability in Burma
and the whole of Southeast Asia, they said. The Straits Times, 20 May 2009

“Thank you very much for coming and for your support,” Suu Kyi, dressed in a pink blouse and maroon-
colored tied skirt, known as a longhi, told the diplomats after the hearing. “I hope to meet you in better
days,” she said, smiling, before female police officers escorted her out of the court. Later at a meeting with
diplomats from Russia, Thailand and Singapore at her prison guesthouse, Suu Kyi said she and two female
assistants also on trial were being treated well. Singapore’s Foreign Ministry said she told the diplomats that
national reconciliation was still possible “if all parties so wished.” “She also expressed the view that it was
not too late for something good to come out of this unfortunate incident.” It was not clear if the trial would
be open on Thursday. Mark Canning, Britain’s ambassador to Burma, said he saw little evidence that Suu
Kyi was receiving a fair trial. “All the paraphernalia of the court room is there,” he told BBC television.
“The judges, the prosecution, the defense. That’s all there, but I think this is a story where the conclusion is
already scripted.” One Asian diplomat said: “They seem to want to improve the image of the trial by
allowing us to be there.” Reuters, 20 May 2009

Generally speaking, the more depraved a military dictator is, the stupider his actions. This rough rule of
thumb certainly seems to hold true for Than Shwe whose decision to place Burma’s much-persecuted pro-
democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, on trial on trumped-up charges has backfired spectacularly. If
Burma’s senior general hoped to sideline Suu Kyi ahead of next year’s state-managed elections, the trial
now under way in Insein prison is having the opposite effect. After a period in which her leadership of the
National League for Democracy was increasingly questioned, Than Shwe has managed in the space of a
week to re-unite the opposition and galvanise the international community in furious support of her. What
British foreign secretary David Miliband calls the “show trial” in Rangoon has also drawn the spotlight
back to the egregious human rights violations perpetrated by the regime in the wake of the failed 2007
uprising, known as the saffron revolution. Of grave concern is the plight of Burma’s more than 2,000
political prisoners who are held in a gulag of about 100 jails and labour camps spread across the country. A
report entitled Burma’s Silent Killing Fields, published last week by the Thailand-based Assistance
Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a group comprising exiled activists and former prisoners,
paints a horrific, case-by-case picture of systematic abuse including torture, deaths in custody, denial of
medical assistance and a deliberate policy of transferring prisoners to remote regions to prevent family
access and support. The Guardian, 20 May 2009

The European Union is asking China and other Asian nations to press Burma to drop charges against pro-
democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and free her from house arrest. EU officials said the issue will be
raised Wednesday at the trade, economic and political talks in Prague with Chinese Prime Minister Wen
Jiabao, and in Hanoi next week with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which
includes Burma. Both events were scheduled before Suu Kyi went on trial Monday for allegedly harboring
an American man who swam to her lakeside home where she has been under house arrest. China has close
diplomatic and economic ties with Burma’s junta, but has always refused to criticize it. chinapost.com.tw,
20 May 2009

Israel is deeply concerned about the new charges raised against Aung San Suu Kyi and her transfer to
Insein prison especially when concerns have been raised regarding her poor health. Israel calls on the
government of Buema to release Aung San Suu Kyi immediately and hopes for the restoration of the
democratic and national reconciliation process in Burma. Ashin Mettacara, Communicated by the Foreign
Ministry Spokesman’s Office, MFA, 20 May 2009

The Council of Churches of Malaysia joins churches around the world in strongly condemning the arrest
and trumped-up trial of the Nobel Prize Laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi by the military government of Burma.
Page 80 of 226
Freedom has been denied her and the people of Burma as she has become the victim of political repression.
The trial in court is meant to meet out a judgement that will extend her house arrest for many more years
and bar her from meaningful participation in the forth coming elections. Aung San Suu Kyi is a symbol of
courage and hope for the people of Burma and for the rest of the world. She is an ambassador of passive
resistance for democratic change. Therefore, we urge Asean countries, and most especially our government
and the rest of the international community to exert pressure on the military government to release Aung
San Suu Kyi unconditionally and to restore democracy in the country. We stand in solidarity and prayer
with the people of Burma who are striving with great faith and hope to be able to live as a democratic and
peaceful nation. Sin Chew Jit Poh, 20 May 2009

Diplomats at the hearing said Suu Kyi, dressed in a pink jacket and maroon sarong, appeared alert and in
good spirits. She told her lawyer Nyan Win to request permission to talk to them and jokingly said she
might be charged under a security law if she addressed them without the court’s consent. She spoke with the
diplomats briefly, telling them she hoped to “meet you all in better days.” “Yes, we saw Aung San Suu Kyi,
and she appeared very strong,” Joselito Chad Jacinto, the charge d’affaires of the Philippine Embassy in
Burma, said after the court hearing. Suu Kyi has reportedly been ill recently. “She sat listening intently and
alertly to what was going on,” he said. “She exuded a type of aura which can be described as moving, quite
awe-inspiring.” But diplomats and her supporters said the limited access didn’t change their opinion of the
trial, which many say is staged. AP, 20 May 2009

Singapore’s ambassador to Burma, Robert Chua was among three ambassadors invited to meet Aung San
Suu Kyi on Wednesday in Rangoon after the adjournment of her trial. A spokesman for the Singapore
Foreign Ministry said Ambassador Robert Chua had reported that the meeting took place at a guest house
within Insein Prison. Aung San Suu Kyi informed the representatives that she and her two housekeepers are
well and being well treated by the Burmese authorities. And she believes there could be many opportunities
for national reconciliation if all parties so wished. She added that she did not wish to use the intrusion into
her home as a way to get at the Burmese authorities. Aung San Suu Kyi also expressed the view that it was
not too late for something good to come out of the unfortunate incident. The spokesman said Ambassador
Chua expressed the hope that there would be peaceful national reconciliation and that representatives of the
diplomatic corps would be able to meet both Aung San Suu Kyi and Burmese leaders regularly. Channel
News Asia, 20 May 2009

In response to media queries that the Singapore Ambassador to Burma Mr Robert Chua was among three
Ambassadors invited to meet Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on May 20, 2009 in Rangoon, an MFA Spokesman
said: The Myanmar Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mofa) had today invited members of the diplomatic
community to observe the ongoing trial of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi at Insein Prison in Rangoon. The
Burmese Mofa also invited the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, currently the Singapore Ambassador, as well
as a representative of Thailand as the Asean Chair and a representative from Russia, as the current
President of the United Nations Security Council, to meet Daw Aung San Suu Kyi after the adjournment of
her trial this afternoon. Our Ambassador in Rangoon, Mr Robert Chua, has reported that the meeting took
place at a guest house within Insein Prison. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi informed the diplomatic representatives
that she and her two housekeepers are well and being well treated by the Burmese authorities. Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi also informed the three diplomatic representatives that there could be many opportunities for
national reconciliation if all parties so wished, and that she did not wish to use the intrusion into her home as
a way to get at the Burmese authorities. She also expressed the view that it was not too late for something
good to come out of this unfortunate incident. As Dean and on behalf of the diplomatic corps, Ambassador
Chua expressed the hope that there would be peaceful national reconciliation and that representatives of the
diplomatic corps would be able to meet both Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Burmese leaders regularly. Today
Online, 21 May 2009

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U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Wednesday criticized Burma’s military-led government
for continuing to detain Suu Kyi, calling it “outrageous.” Suu Kyi, who is being held at Insein Prison along
with scores of other political prisoners, had been scheduled to be freed May 27 after six consecutive years
under house arrest. The charges against her are widely seen as a pretext to keep her in detention during polls
scheduled for next year. AP, 22 May 2009

21 May 2008, Thursday


The middle-aged American man whose nighttime swim to visit democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi may
cost her a chance at freedom came into fuzzy focus Thursday, as a court in Burma showed a home movie he
allegedly shot at her lakeside residence. However, few outsiders were able to view the unique video because
the court again closed the proceedings, barring reporters and diplomats after allowing them to attend a
single session on Wednesday. On Thursday, the prosecution spent almost two hours showing a video said to
have been shot by Yettaw at Suu Kyi’s house during his latest visit, according to one of her lawyers, Nyan
Win. The video had a voice-over, apparently by Yettaw, which was translated into the Burmese language in
the courtroom. “The video taken by Mr. Yettaw showed the portrait of Gen. Aung San (Burma’s
independence hero and Suu Kyi’s father), a bookshelf and Mr. Yettaw himself standing in front of the
portrait of Gen. Aung San. “He was saying he is now in Rangoon, at Aung San Suu Kyi’s house and that he
asked permission to film Aung San Suu Kyi but she refused. “She looked nervous and I am sorry for that, he
was saying that, in his video,” Nyan Win told reporters. AP, 21 May 2009

Burma’s military junta closed the trial of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi to reporters and
diplomats again Thursday, sparking complaints that the regime was trying to hide the widely criticized
proceedings from the world. It was unclear whether the junta would again reopen the hearings as it did
Wednesday, when diplomats said the Nobel peace laureate appeared spirited and healthy. AP, 22 May 2009

The special court in Insein prison has fixed the next hearing of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s case on May 22,
the fifth continuous day since the trial began on Monday. Nyan Win, one of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s
defense lawyer, said, Thursday’s court hearing was longer than usual as the court showed the video clip
produced by the witness, which was found in the possession of John William Yettaw. In the video, Yettaw
was heard explaining that he had arrived in Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s house, but she had refused to allow
him to take her picture and that he wants to go back to Thailand, Nyan Win told Mizzima. All together, four
witnesses were produced on Thursday. Mizzima, 21 May 2009

Fears are being expressed within Burma’s opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) over the
safety of its veteran executive committee member Win Tin. According to Rangoon sources, threats have
been made against Win Tin by members of the pro-regime Union Solidarity and Development Association
(USDA) and the paramilitary group Swan Arr Shin. Aung Thein, a prominent Rangoon lawyer, told The
Irrawaddy on Thursday: “I am concerned about the security of Win Tin and all pro-democracy activists.
Win Tin is a very important person for the NLD.” Aung Thein said he thought that despite the threats, Win
Tin would reject any idea of employing bodyguards. The 80-year-old former editor was released earlier this
year after serving 19 years in Rangoon’s notorious Insein Prison. This week he joined youth members of the
NLD who gathered outside the jail during the opening days of Aung San Suu Kyi’s trial. The USDA, a
mass-based governmental organization, and Swan Arr Shin have been involved in several past attacks on
democracy activists, particularly during the demonstrations of August and September 2007. The Burmese
Lawyers Council said in a statement in March that the USDA’s affiliations with members of the military
government and its own comments on transforming into a political party violated the Unlawful Associations
Act as set out by the government. Furthermore, the USDA’s documented role in abuses against Burmese
citizens, including the 2003 Depayin massacre in which hundreds of opposition party supporters were killed,
also contravened Burmese law. Irrawaddy, 21 May 2009
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Expressing concern for democracy icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, currently facing trial in Rangoon’s Insein
prison, Burma’s ethnic nationalities have said that they look at her as a turning point for national
reconciliation in the country. Duwa Mahkaw Hkunsa, General Secretary of the Ethnic Nationalities
Council-Union of Burma (ENC), in exile said, the Nobel Peace Laureate had won their hearts and trust
and hoped that she could unite the various ethnics of Burma into a federal union. “We believe, she can lead
the process of national reconciliation and also build a federal union, which we, the ethnics have been
demanding,” said Hkunsa. Earlier, ethnic leaders have had opportunities to discuss with Aung San Suu Kyi,
during her short periods of freedom from house arrests, and have spoken of issues, including the building of
a federal union, he said. “She has also promised the ethnic leaders of wanting to build such an union,”
Hkunsa added. The ENC was first established in 2001, as Ethnic Nationalities Solidarity and Cooperation
Committee (ENSCC), with an objective of bringing together different ethnics and also to advocate for a
tripartite dialogue, as the solution for Burma’s political crisis. Later, it was transformed into the Council in
2004 and was renamed as the Ethnic Nationalities Council. The ENC was later re-structured and was made
into a state-based organization, representing the existing states of Burma – Arakan, Chin, Karen, Karenni
(Kayah), Mon and Shan. Hkunsa said, the ENC is concerned over the current trial that Aung San Suu Kyi is
facing and has called the charges against her, mere pretexts to continue detaining her. “We already know
that the junta will do something to her before her detention period ends, because they do not want to see her
out before the 2010 elections,” Hkunsa said, adding that Aung San Suu Kyi continues to pose a threat to the
junta, as she is well loved and is popular among the people. “People love her, including soldiers and back
her, so the authority are afraid and simply wants to continue detaining her,” he said. Meanwhile, the Karen
National Union (KNU), one of the longest running armed resistance groups in Burma, also expressed their
concern over the trial against Aung San Suu Kyi. Naw Zipporah Sein, General Secretary of the KNU, told
Mizzima, she is concerned about Aung San Suu Kyi and believes that she is the only person, who can lead a
tripartite dialogue, in the process of national reconciliation. “She means a lot of hope for all of us and as a
leader, she has proved her ability to work with all ethnics,” Naw Zipporah Sein said. Meanwhile, without
Aung San Suu Kyi, it is almost hopeless to talk about a tripartite dialogue, which is being demanded by all
ethnic groups, the KNU leader said. Condemning the current trial of Aung San Suu Kyi, Naw Zipporah
Sein, called on the United Nations Security Council to intervene and stop the junta from detaining her
further. “We oppose this trial. It is simply unjust, the international community must pressurize the junta to
release her,” Naw Zipporah Sein said. Mizzima, 21 May 2009

Five of the world’s leading international jurists have commissioned a report from the International Human
Rights Clinic at the Harvard Law School, calling for the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to act
on what they describe as more than 15 years of condemnation from other UN bodies on human rights abuses
in Burma. The Harvard report, “Crimes in Burma”, comes in the wake of renewed international attention on
the country, with the continued persecution of Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi who is now
on trial on charges of harbouring a United States man who swam to her home. On that charge, she faces up
to five years in detention. The report, released today, concludes with a call for the UNSC to establish a
Commission of Inquiry into alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes in Burma. The Harvard report
is based on an analysis of scores of UN documents, including UN General Assembly and Commission on
Human Rights resolutions as well as reports from special rapporteurs. The report said that the documents
indicate that human rights abuses in Burma are “widespread, systematic and part of state policy” -- the legal
terms that justify further investigation and strongly suggest that the military regime may be committing
crimes against humanity and war crimes prosecutable under international law. Major abuses cited by the UN
include forced displacement of over 3,000 villages in eastern Burma, mass exodus of at least 250,000
Rohingyas in 1992, and widespread and systematic sexual violence, torture and summary execution of
innocent civilians. “The UNSC, however, has not moved the process forward as it should and has in similar
situations such as those in the former Yugoslavia and Darfur,” the jurists write in the report’s preface. “In
the cases of Yugoslavia and Darfur, once aware of the severity of the problem, the UNSC established a
Commission of Inquiry to investigate the gravity of the violations further. “With Burma, there has been no
Page 83 of 226
such action from the UNSC despite being similarly aware of the widespread and systematic nature of the
violations.” The five jurists are Judge Richard Goldstone (South Africa), Judge Patricia Wald (United
States), Judge Pedro Nikken (Venezuela), Judge Ganzorig Gombosuren (Mongolia) and Sir Geoffrey Nice
(United Kingdom). Tyler Giannini, the Clinical Director of the Human Rights Program at the Harvard Law
School and one of the report’s authors, said its findings clearly demonstrate that a Commission of Inquiry on
Burma should proceed. “The UNSC has taken action regarding Yugoslavia, Rwanda and Sudan when it
identified information strongly suggesting the existence of crimes against humanity and war crimes,” said
Giannini. He said that UN documents “clearly and authoritatively” suggest that the human rights abuses
occurring in Burma are not isolated incidents. He warned that failure by the UNSC to take action and
investigate these crimes could mean that violations of international criminal law would go unchecked.
Bernama, 21 May 2009

Appearing in a court in prison in Rangoon this week Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma’s opposition leader,
appeared “composed, upright and crackling with energy”, according to Mark Canning, Britain’s
ambassador. He was one of a handful of diplomats and journalists afforded a glimpse of proceedings. After
spending most of the past two decades in more or less restrictive forms of detention, and recently in poor
health, her composure is remarkable; all the more so given the almost laughable nature of the charges
against her. She is accused of having broken the terms of her house arrest by offering hospitality to John
Yettaw, an American who swam uninvited to her house across the adjacent lake, helped by plastic
containers as floats and homemade wooden flippers. The backdrop to this farce is an election expected early
next year. It always seemed impossible that the junta would free Miss Suu Kyi before then. Mr Yettaw’s
hapless intrusion simply provides them with the flimsiest of pretexts not to. She still retains the popularity
which gave her a sweeping victory in the country’s election in 1990, a result the generals ignored. In
preparation for the new poll, dissent has been quashed even more ruthlessly than usual. The number of
political prisoners has doubled since 2007 to around 2,100. The Economist, 21 May 2009

U.K. Foreign Secretary David Miliband called on Burma to stop the “charade” of democracy icon Aung
San Suu Kyi’s trial, as the junta again barred media and diplomats from the court. “Yesterday we saw Aung
San Suu Kyi’s strength and dignity in the face of a deplorable trial,” he said, commenting on her appearance
in court Wednesday, when access was allowed. “Today’s move to secrecy is a step back. This charade must
be brought to an end. She and the 2,000 other political prisoners around the country should be released,” he
said. Burmese authorities had unexpectedly allowed diplomats and journalists to attend the trial for the first
time Wednesday, but abruptly announced Thursday the hearings would be back behind closed doors again.
AP, 21 May 2009

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon plans to visit Burma as soon as possible and will urge the release of
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners. Ban said Suu Kyi was in good health and
that U.N. officials in the country were closely monitoring her condition at the notorious Insein prison in
Rangoon. “This is an unacceptable situation,” he told CNN television in an interview aired on Thursday.
Ban said he was discussing the timing of his visit with the country’s authorities. “I’m going to visit Burma
as soon as possible,” he said. “I’m deeply concerned about what has been happening in Burma in terms of
democratization and I’m going to urge again the release of political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi,”
he said. U.N. diplomats say they expect Ban probably will not go to Burma before July. The military junta
that has ruled the Asian country since 1962 has put Suu Kyi on trial again, accusing her of breaking the
terms of her house arrest because an American man swam to the lakeside home of the Nobel Peace laureate.
If found guilty, she could be jailed for up to five years. Critics say the trial is scripted and aimed at silencing
the charismatic leader of the National League for Democracy until after a multi-party election in the country
formerly known as Burma in 2010. Suu Kyi has been detained for more than 13 of the past 19 years, most of
them at her home in Rangoon, guarded by police, her mail intercepted and visitors restricted. Ban visited
Burma in May 2008 after the country was devastated by a cyclone, winning agreement from senior general
Than Shwe to admit foreign aid workers. He has promised to return to discuss political issues but aides said
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he was reluctant to visit without assurance of a concrete result. Separately, Western diplomats in New York
said on condition of anonymity that the U.N. Security Council, which has so far been silent on the issue of
Suu Kyi’s latest trial, is negotiating a statement condemning her incarceration. They said the U.S.-drafted
statement would have the council deploring her new trial and demanding her release. But China, the nearest
Burma has to a major ally, has objected to the wording and would like to soften it, the diplomats said.
Reuters, 21 May 2009

22 May 2008, Friday


Burma democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi proclaimed her innocence in front of a prison tribunal, her
lawyer said on Friday. “Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said ‘I have no guilt as I didn’t commit any crime,’” Nyan
Win said at the end of the fifth day of her trial on charges of breaching the conditions of her house arrest.
Nyan Win said Aung San Suu Kyi spoke to the court, held behind closed doors, as the prosecution wrapped
its case before the trial resumes on Monday with her legal defence. AFP, 22 May 2009

Suu Kyi’s lawyer said presiding judge Thaung Nyunt declared the court accepted the charge after testimony
had finished for the day, and asked Suu Kyi if she was guilty. “I am not guilty. I said I am not guilty because
I have not broken any law,” she replied, according to her lawyer Nyan Win, who spoke to reporters
afterward. The same charge was also accepted against two women companions who stay with Suu Kyi, and
the American, John W. Yettaw. All pleaded not guilty. AP, 22 May 2009

The trial this week has mostly focused on the motives and methods of Yettaw, a part-time contractor from
Falcon, Missouri. The trial was briefly opened to reporters and diplomats Wednesday but otherwise has
been closed. AP, 22 May 2009

The generals who run Burma don’t encourage their subordinates to pay attention to the political affairs of
the country. So when soldiers start huddling around radios listening to news of the trial of Aung San Suu
Kyi, the generals start to panic. According to military sources who spoke to The Irrawaddy recently,
commanders around the country have been alerted this week by Naypyidaw to keep a close watch on armed
personnel and their families. The military head office reportedly issued a communiqué to all battalion
commanders earlier this week ordering them to “strictly control” the activities of all personnel and their
family members and warn them not to take part in any anti-government demonstrations that might occur in
the near future. Family members are currently not allowed to go outside the military compounds where they
live, said the sources. Only armed soldiers on duty are allowed outside the barracks. “It seems that Than
Shwe is worried that his troops and their families may be Daw Suu sympathizers,” said a military source in
Rangoon. Normally, Burmese senior generals do not allow army, navy and air force personnel to listen to or
watch broadcasts involving the NLD leader, but now the barracks are buzzing with rumors and updates from
the Insein courtroom, said the source. “We are interested to see if the government will sentence Daw Suu,”
said a family member from Naypyidaw military regional command. “We certainly don’t think Daw Suu
could be guilty of this crime.” Meanwhile, Maj Aung Linn Htut, a former intelligence officer who currently
lives in the United States, said in an open letter that many Burmese army staff want the world to know that
there is a profound difference between the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) and the
Tatmadaw, the regular soldiers of the Burmese army. Aung Linn Htut said that the SPDC was run by senior
military generals who controlled the country’s government and economy. Their families were granted all the
business concessions, he said. On the other hand, low-ranked officers, soldiers and general staff members
did not receive benefits and faced the same economic hardships as the general public. In his open letter,
Aung Linn Htut said that there were angry mutterings among the army regulars around the country because
they were excluded from their superiors’ access to foreign currency and earnings from natural gas revenues.
According to the former intelligence officer, the Burmese military government earned several million of
dollars selling natural gas to Thailand and had financed its new executive capital in Naypyidaw from the
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proceeds. He accused the SPDC of rifling the nation’s wealth and said payments for natural gas were not
transferred to the Ministry of Revenue, but were deposited in a bank account in an unknown foreign country
run by the Union of Myanmar Economic Holding Limited (UMEHL). UMEHL, also known in Burmese as
U Pai, was founded in 1990 and deals with the investments and savings of military personnel, military units,
retired military personnel, army veteran organizations and the Ministry of Defense. According to the
International Institute for Strategic Studies, the junta’s military expenditures account for more than 40
percent of the national budget while Burma’s health and education spending is 0.4 percent and 0.5 percent
respectively, as reported in the UK-based Burma Digest online publication. The Burmese military
government buys most of its weapons from Russia, Ukraine, North Korea, China and India, according to
researchers. Irrawaddy, 22 May 2009

In what her supporters are taking as an ominous sign, authorities have now removed the last of the barriers
that were used to maintain roadblocks on either end on the street where her house is located, suggesting she
may not be returning home any time soon. The day she was taken away to prison, the barbed wire barricades
on University Avenue were pulled aside, and then hauled away the next day, and the poles that were used to
block the road were taken away after dark on Thursday. Responding to anger abroad over the trial, Burma’s
Foreign Minister U Nyan Win was quoted Friday in the New Light of Burma as telling his Japanese
counterpart that the incident was manufactured by internal and external anti-government forces — a term
that usually refers to pro-democracy groups. At a time when the United States, Japan and the European
Union were reviewing their policies toward Burma, Nyan Win said “it was likely that this incident was
trumped up to intensify international pressure on Burma by internal and external anti-government elements
who do not wish to see the positive changes in those countries’ policies toward Burma,” the paper said. The
paper reported that Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone called on May 18 to express his
concern about Suu Kyi’s trial. Critics have accused the junta of using Yettaw’s visit as a pretext to keeping
Suu Kyi in detention through polls scheduled for next year — the culmination of the junta’s “roadmap to
democracy,” which has been criticized as a fig leaf for continued military rule. Suu Kyi, who is being held
and tried at Rangoon’s Insein Prison, had been scheduled to be freed May 27 after six consecutive years
under house arrest. AP, 22 May 2009

Following the trial against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the UNSC issued a statement on May 22 expressing its
concern over developments in Burma. The UNSC, in its press statement, called on the junta to create
necessary conditions for a genuine dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all concerned parties and
ethnic groups in order to achieve an inclusive national reconciliation with the support of the United Nations.
Mizzima, 22 May 2009

British Ambassador Mark Canning regarded the closing of court access with some resignation. Under the
junta, Burma is a closed society and routinely places restrictions on the movement of foreigners. “The
arrangement yesterday was always pitched as for one day only, although it was suggested that if things went
OK there might be further opportunities,” he said. “So there was no particular expectation that we would be
allowed access today.” Debbie Stothard, coordinator of the regional rights network Alternative ASEAN
Network on Burma, said Wednesday’s move “was definitely a stunt by the regime to stave off pressure so
they can proceed with their kangaroo court to jail Suu Kyi.” “They wanted to say they are not ill-treating
her, so go away. You don’t need to see the rest,” she said. “It also means the regime doesn’t have a strong
case against Suu Kyi and has no grounds to proceed.” But diplomats said they had not changed their opinion
of the trial simply because they had been allowed to attend. Most assume the special court in Rangoon’s
Insein Prison will find Suu Kyi guilty. AP, 22 May 2009

European foreign ministers will press Burma at an Asia-Europe meeting next week to end the trial of
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, but analysts expect only lukewarm backing from their Asian
counterparts. The Suu Kyi trial, which entered its fifth day on Friday, has sparked outrage in the West, and
the European Union is considering tougher sanctions against the military government. In Asia, no
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government has gone beyond chastising the regime for putting the Nobel Peace laureate on trial for breaking
the terms of her house arrest after an American man swam uninvited to her lakeside home. Swedish Foreign
Minister Carl Bildt said on Monday Burma would be discussed at the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM)
Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Hanoi on Monday and Tuesday. British Foreign Secretary David Miliband
said Suu Kyi faced a “show trial,” adding: “We need to make sure that the Burmese regime understands
fully the risks that it’s taking.” The EU ministers said it was incumbent upon Burma’s neighbors to try to
sway the regime through political pressure. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which
includes Burma, has said trial threatened the regime’s “honor and credibility” and repeated a call for her
release. ASEAN, however, has historically opted for non-interference over confrontation and does not
follow its words with actions in cases like this. Burma’s main backer, China, has already said Burma should
be left alone to handle its internal affairs. Sean Turnell, an expert on Burma’s economy at Australia’s
Macquarie University, said China was the “big elephant in the room” and hinted that Beijing may ultimately
be arm-twisted into playing a constructive role. “It protects the regime in so many ways,” he said. “There
are aspects of the Burmese regime that are quite impervious to pressure, but a group that may not be
impervious to pressure is China.” Reuters, 22 May 2009

The European Union (EU) and China summit held in Prague on Wednesday failed to agree on any of the
key points dividing them, including the issue of military-ruled Burma and the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi.
According to a joint press statement of the 11th China-EU Summit, Burma was among the many issues
ranging from the world financial crisis, climate change and international affairs that EU officials and
Chinese representatives discussed for nearly two hours. The German news agency DPA reported that the
two sides failed to bridge their differences on many issues including Burma, North Korea, Taiwan, climate
change and trade liberalization. China’s Prime Minister Wen Jiabao called on the EU to expand “practical
cooperation.” “The most important thing is to stick to the principles of mutual respect and not interfere in
each others internal affairs,” the Chinese premier told a news conference after the summit. He also urged the
27-member bloc “to ensure that our bilateral relationship will not be adversely affected by individual
incidents.” EU ministers have been unanimous in their condemnation of the trial of Burma’s pro-democracy
leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, who was accused of violating the terms of her house arrest just two weeks before
she was to be released. Several EU ministers have suggested appealing to regional powers, such as China
and India, for help. China has close diplomatic and economic ties with Burma’s junta, but has always
refused to criticize it. Irrawaddy, 22 May 2009

Former President Kim Dae-jung met with a group of exiled Burmese parliamentary leaders and officials of
the Korean chapter of the National League for Democracy (NLD), headed by pro-democracy activist Aung
San Suu Kyi, at his home in Seoul Friday. Kim made a contribution of $10,000 to the Burmese activists,
asking them to use it to support Suu Kyi’s political cause. The fund was raised during a 2007 Seoul event
held under the theme “Free Burma, Free Suu Kyi,” aimed at raising domestic awareness of the democracy
movement in Burma and urging the release of the Burmese opposition leader. According to a spokesperson,
Kim expressed concerns regarding recent reports of Suu Kyi’s alleged violation of a house arrest imposed
by the Burmese military regime ahead of her release slated for May 27. The Korean Times, 22 May 2009

Ambassador of the Union of Burma was called to the Foreign Office on Friday and a demarche made with
him regarding the arrest and trial of Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi. It was conveyed to the Ambassador that
Pakistan was deeply concerned about this unfortunate development and would urge the government of
Burma to consider reviewing their decision and releasing Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi immediately. According to
the Foreign Office Spokesman, it was underlined that her early release would serve the fundamental interest
of Burma with which Pakistan enjoyed close cooperative relations. AFP, 22 May 2009

South Africa’s foreign minister expressed grave concern Friday over the trial of Burmese Nobel peace
laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, calling for her immediate release. “It is with regret that the South African
government learnt of the new charges against Aung San Suu Kyi less than two weeks before her house
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arrest was due to end,” read a statement from the foreign ministry. “The South African government also
took note of the recent reports on Ms Suu Kyi’s poor health and fears that the arrest may worsen her
condition.” AFP, 22 May 2009

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva expressed his concern over the fate of Burma’s opposition leader
Aung San Suu Kyi, who went on trial in Burma on Wednesday, during an interview with The Yomiuri
Shimbun at Government House in Bangkok the same day. Abhisit also spoke about the political situation in
Thailand, which currently chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Asked about the indictment of
Suu Kyi in Burma, an ASEAN member state, Abhisit said: “We’ve been assured by the Burmese
government during the ASEAN meetings in recent months in Hua Hin and Pattaya in Thailand that they
were continuing to implement the road map toward democracy and transition on what has happened. Clearly
we’re concerned about the credibility of that.” He said ASEAN “asked for humanitarian treatment, and that
there would be justice, which is an essential component of a good political process.” On Tuesday, Thailand
issued a statement as the ASEAN chair, asking for the immediate release of Suu Kyi among other requests.
During the interview, Abhisit stressed that ASEAN has examined progress in Burma’s democratic process
during past summit meetings and on other occasions. “We want to see this is solved as quickly as possible
and reiterate our stance that the democratic process needs to be inclusive. And we hope to see the progress,”
Abhisit said, suggesting he believed that democracy supporters, including Suu Kyi, should be able to take
part in Burma’s next general election scheduled in 2010. The Yomiuri Shimbun, 22 May 2009

The Security Council today expressed its concern over the political impact in Burma of the detention of
opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. In a press statement, the 15-member
body reiterated “the importance of the release of all political prisoners,” repeating the need for Burma’s
Government to “create the necessary conditions for a genuine dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all
concerned parties and ethnic groups in order to achieve an inclusive national reconciliation with the support
of the United Nations.” Security forces arrested Aung San Suu Kyi, who leads the National League for
Democracy (NLD), and two aides on 14 May and took them to Insein Prison, where they were charged by a
special court. They are said to have been charged with violating the terms of her house arrest, after an
uninvited United States citizen gained access to their home, and her trial is currently under way. Last week,
High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said that “her continued detention, and now this latest
trial, breach international standards of due process and fair trial.” It had been hoped that she would be
released when her current detention order, which has already continued for one year longer than the
maximum of five years permitted under Burma’s laws, expires at the end of this month. “The Burmese
authorities might claim Aung San Suu Kyi has breached the conditions of her detention, but they have
broken both their own laws and their international human rights obligations,” Ms. Pillay said. “She should
not be detained in the first place.” UN News Centre, 22 May 2009

The following Security Council press statement on Burma was read out today by Council President Vitaly
Churkin ( Russian Federation):
The members of the Security Council express their concern about the political impact of recent
developments relating to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The members of the Security Council reaffirm, in this
context, their statements of 11 October 2007 and 2 May 2008 and, in this regard, reiterate the importance of
the release of all political prisoners. The members of the Security Council reiterate the need for the
Government of Burma to create the necessary conditions for a genuine dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi and all concerned parties and ethnic groups in order to achieve an inclusive national reconciliation with
the support of the United Nations. The members of the Security Council affirm their commitment to the
sovereignty and territorial integrity of Burma and, in that context, reiterate that the future of Burma lies in
the hands of all of its people. Security Council, 22 May 2009

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23 May 2008, Saturday
Burma’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has pleaded not guilty to violating the terms of her house
arrest, blaming the military junta’s lax security for allowing an American intruder to swim uninvited to her
lakeside home. Lawyers for the Nobel peace laureate said yesterday that prosecutors in the closed court,
held in Rangoon’s notorious Insein Central Prison, had formally charged her and two female housemates –
as well as the intruder – after five days of hearings that have sparked international outrage. The Scotsman,
23 May 2009

Several items left by an uninvited American visitor, including a book on the Mormon faith and a letter,
could be used to convict and imprison Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi on charges of
violating her house arrest, a state-run newspaper said Saturday. Meanwhile, the U.N. Security Council
called for the release of all political prisoners in military-ruled Burma including Suu Kyi and expressed
concern over the political impact her trial, which started Monday. Prosecutors accused Suu Kyi on Friday of
accepting the items left by John W. Yettaw, the Myanmar Ahlin newspaper said. Yettaw swam across a lake
to her Rangoon home under the cover of darkness earlier this month and entered her compound uninvited.
Yettaw left at least six books including the “Book of Mormon,” the newspaper said. He also left a letter
written by his daughter which Suu Kyi later ripped up, it said. They were among 23 items that Suu Kyi
handed over to police including two black robes, a flashlight and three sets of goggles. Police Col. Win
Naing Tun told the court that Suu Kyi breached the conditions of her house arrest by receiving books and
documents from the outside, the newspaper said. The order also bars her from communicating with the
outside world by phone or mail and from meeting diplomats and politicians. Suu Kyi, who has been in
detention without trial for more than 13 of the past 19 years, pleaded not guilty Friday after the special court
trying her agreed to accept the charges and proceed with her trial. Nyan Win, one of Suu Kyi’s lawyers,
insisted Saturday the restriction order only bars her from sending out books and letters, not receiving them.
Yettaw and the two female companions who stay with Suu Kyi also pleaded not guilty to the same charge.
Burma’s courts operate under the influence of the ruling military and almost always deal harshly with
political dissidents. The trial, which is to resume after the weekend, has sparked new international criticism
of the military junta and calls for Suu Kyi’s immediate release. Critics have accused the junta of using
Yettaw’s visit as a pretext for keeping Suu Kyi in detention through elections scheduled next year, the
culmination of the junta’s “roadmap to democracy” which has been criticized as a fig leaf for continued
military rule. Suu Kyi is being held at notorious Insein Prison along with other political prisoners. She had
been scheduled to be freed May 27 after six consecutive years under house arrest, although it was expected
that the government would try to find a reason to hold her, as has happened in the past. “We will certainly
win the case if it is conducted according to law,” Nyan Win said Friday. “But we cannot say if there are
other things to be considered. They have not been able to prove that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is guilty of
breaking the law.” “Daw” is a term of respect used for older women. He said a verdict could be reached in
10 to 14 days. AP, 23 May 2009

The intention of Depayin massacre was to assassinate Daw Aung San Kyi, but she fortunately released with
the help of people and pro-democracy members. Now the military government and General Than Shwe are
trumping up new charges to silence her again. Last year, the Nargis cyclone hit many parts of Burma, with
more than 138,000 people killed and more than 2 million people helpless, homeless and hopeless. Nargis
killed less, but Burmese military government killed more with the failures to rescue, food supplies and
medical supplies. All the cruelties of life in Burma are masterminded by Senior General Than Shwe. Ashin
Mettacara Blog, 23 May 2009

Generally speaking, the more depraved a military dictator is, the stupider his actions. This rule of thumb
seems to hold true for Than Shwe, whose decision to try Burma’s much-persecuted pro-democracy leader,
Aung San Suu Kyi, on trumped-up charges has backfired spectacularly. If Burma’s Senior General had
hoped to sideline Suu Kyi before next year’s state-managed elections, the trial in Insein prison is having the
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opposite effect. After a time in which her leadership of the National League for Democracy was
increasingly questioned, Than Shwe has in one week reunited the opposition and galvanised international
support for Suu Kyi. The trial in Rangoon has also drawn the spotlight back to human rights violations
perpetrated by the regime after the failed 2007 uprising, known as the Saffron Revolution. The Sydney
Morning Herald, 23 May 2009

Actress and singer Jane Birkin pledged on Saturday her support for Burmese opposition leader Aung San
Suu Kyi, facing trial for allowing an uninvited guest into her home. Birkin , who met Suu Kyi in Burma in
1999, said she had written a song about the Nobel laureate, who faces up to five years in jail if found guilty
of breaking the terms of her house arrest. “I haven’t stopped singing it and won’t until things change in
Burma,” she told an audience at the Hay Festival. Suu Kyi on Friday pleaded not guilty after a prison court
formally charged her. Birkin, has supported a campaign of disinvestment in Burma and has taken her plea to
French President Nicolas Sarkozy. The 62-year old actress, who achieved fame in 1969 for her duet “Je
t’aime, moi non plus” with her late partner Serge Gainsbourg, performed songs from a new album as part of
the Hay Festival programme. Reuters, 23 May 2009

A Christian council has condemned the closed-door trial of Nobel Prize-winning peace activist Aung San
Suu Kyi who was accused of breaching the terms of her house arrest by permitting a foreigner stay
overnight without “state approval”. The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) said it condemned
the arrest and demands the immediate release of the peace activist. The council also appealed to the Indian
government to step in efforts to free Suu Kyi. “As the world’s largest democratic country, India should
stand in support of democracy in Burma. Additionally India is in a position to use its economic leverage and
geographical location to push hard for the freedom of Ms Suu Kyi,” it noted. GCIC hopes the pro-
democracy leader can at least celebrate her birthday on 19 June. “The onus is on the international
community and Indian government to help her to celebrate her next birth day as a free citizen of Burma.”
The Christian Post, 23 May 2009

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has expressed hope that the planned visit to Burma by UN Secretary-
General Ban Ki-moon will ease the political tensions there. The UN has tried to stick to its original plan to
intervene to resolve the political conflict between the Burmese military junta and opposition leader Aung
San Suu Kyi and her supporters. It is not clear when Mr Ban’s visit will take place. The UN and Rangoon
have recently worked together towards bringing about national reconciliation and Asean had recognised and
accepted that approach, Mr Abhisit said. He said the Thai envoy to Burma Bansarn Bunnag had met Mrs
Suu Kyi. Mrs Suu Kyi told the ambassador that she did not want anything special except to explain herself
and to get a fair trial, Mr Abhisit said. Suu Kyi tells the court: “I have no guilt as I didn’t commit any
crime.” Bangkok Post, 23 May 2009

Cardiff North MP Julie Morgan has called on residents to launch a letter- writing campaign to free
Burmese democracy campaigner and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi. Suu Kyi, who has spent
13 of the past 19 years under arrest, is facing charges after an American swam across a lake to her home
when she was under house arrest. Mrs Morgan said: “I ask everybody who cares about democracy to do
what they can. “Write to your MP, write to government ministers, support Amnesty’s International’s
campaign, support the Burma Campaign – do everything you can to show that people care deeply.” The
Wales Online, 23 May 2009

24 May 2008, Sunday


The Assistance Association of Political Prisoners (AAPP) and Forum for Democracy in Burma (FDB)
have launched the Free Burma’s Political Prisoners Now! Campaign, in support of the ongoing advocacy
work. There are over 2,100 political prisoners languishing in prisons all over Burma. Free Burma’s Political
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Prisoners Now aims to collect 888,888 signatures before 24 May 2009, the legal date that Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi should be released from house arrest. This is a united global campaign working with over a
hundred groups from around the globe. The petition calls on UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to make it
his personal priority to secure the release of all political prisoners in Burma, as the essential first step
towards democracy in the country. Daw Aung Suu Kyi says, “We are all prisoners in our own country.”
Political prisoners are not criminals. They have courageously spoken out on behalf of those who have been
silenced. The release of all political prisoners is the essential first step towards freedom and democracy in
Burma. There can be no democratic transition without them. They must be allowed to freely participate in
any future democratic political process. Sign the petition on http://www.fbppn.net/, Tin Kyi, Burma Related
News

Lawyers for Burma pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi said on Sunday they were preparing to open the
defence case at her trial this week, as the junta looked set to face further pressure from the West. The
tribunal’s second week promises to be crucial, with European nations likely to push Asian countries for help
at a meeting in Vietnam and Aung San Suu Kyi’s official period of house arrest due to expire. “We expect
to begin our defence case this coming week,” Nyan Win, a spokesman for her National League for
Democracy (NLD) party and also a member of her legal team, told AFP. “Now we are preparing a witness
list and are preparing what we need for tomorrow (Monday),” he said, adding that the prosecution was
expected to call final witnesses early next week. Nyan Win estimated it would take another two weeks for a
verdict at the trial, which has provoked a storm of international outrage over the military regime’s treatment
of Aung San Suu Kyi. AFP, 24 May 2009

Foreign Minister Nyan Win said last week Suu Kyi’s trial “will proceed fairly according to the law.” But
diplomats who were given a brief glimpse of the trial inside Rangoon’s Insein prison said it appeared
“scripted.” After 47 years of unbroken military rule, Burma’s courts have a long history of stretching laws
to suit the generals, activist lawyers say. “I’m sure they will jail Daw Suu,” said Aung Thein, a prominent
lawyer who was helping prepare her defense when his law license was revoked a week ago. Rights groups
said revoking Aung Thein’s right to practice law was the latest “blatant attempt” by the regime to intimidate
lawyers working on political cases. Some 11 lawyers are in jail for working on such cases, including
defending top monks and former student leaders arrested in the September 2007 protests crushed by the
military. Reuters, 24 May 2009

The Burmese government Sunday lodged a strong protest over a statement of the alternate chairman of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) over a lawsuit against detained political party leader
Aung San Suu Kyi, saying that the statement is an interference in the country’s internal affairs. The ASEAN
alternate chairman is now represented by Thailand. chinaview.cn, 24 May 2009

Asian powers hold the key to persuading Burma’s ruling junta to release opposition leader Aung San Suu
Kyi, France’s human rights minister said Sunday ahead of key meetings in Asia this week. France and
Europe have done everything that they can and it is now up to Asian governments to turn up the pressure on
Yangon, said Rama Yade who is to meet with ministers from Burma’s neighbours in Vietnam and
Cambodia. “It is obvious that the key is in Asia,” Yade told TV5 Monde in an interview. “I fundamentally
believe that our Asian partners can incite the junta to evolve.” Yade will represent France at the ASEM
(Asia-Europe) ministerial meeting on Thursday in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi and the European Union
meeting with the Association of South East Asian Nations Saturday in the Cambodian capital Phnom Pen.
The junior minister said she has asked to meet with Burma’s foreign minister to discuss the plight of Aung
San Suu Kyi, who went on trial this month for violating the terms of her house arrest. “I will meet various
Asian authorities who are the only ones capable of influencing the junta because we have done everything
we can,” said Yade. EU nations have condemned the 63-year-old opposition leader’s arrest and are
considering tighter sanctions against the regime, but Burma’s partners in ASEAN have not gone beyond
expressing concern over the situation. AFP, 24 May 2009
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A widely expected guilty verdict in the trial of Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is likely
to halt tentative Western moves to improve relations with the country’s junta and make it harder to raise
funds for humanitarian relief efforts, analysts said Sunday. The trial comes weeks after the European Union
announced it was stepping up humanitarian aid to the impoverished country, also known as Burma, and the
United States said it was reviewing its policy — including speculation that it might soften sanctions the
regime says have crippled its economy. But now the European Union is talking of introducing tougher
sanctions in response to the trial and the administration of President Barack Obama has announced it will
continue its economic penalties. Obama extended a state of emergency against the country after Suu Kyi’s
arrest. Sanctions would have expired had the emergency order not been extended. Sean Turnell, a Burma
expert at Australia’s Macquarie University, said the timing of the trial shows the junta “never misses an
opportunity to miss an opportunity.” “I think there was, prior to these latest events, a strong likelihood that
the U.S. and Europe positions on Burma may have softened, and that some sanctions may even have been
on the table” for review, Turnell said in an e-mail interview. “The regime have now shot themselves in the
foot so to speak — and anything like this would seem to be decidedly off the table now.” AP, 24 May 2009

25 May 2008, Monday


The trial of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi resumed Monday as Burma lashed out against Thailand ,
one of its few supporters in an international community likely to halt recent moves to improve relations with
the country’s military rulers. Suu Kyi, due to testify this week, is widely expected to be found guilty for
allegedly harboring an American who swam across a lake to her residence. She faces up to five years in
prison. A list of four or five defense witnesses will be submitted to the court and statements from remaining
prosecution witnesses are to be heard at Monday’s session inside Rangoon’s security-ringed Insein prison,
said Nyan Win, a spokesman for Suu Kyi’s political party. Already bombarded by criticism from Western
nations, the junta turned on neighboring Thailand, a partner in the 10-nation Association of Southeast
Nation, or ASEAN, accusing its neighbor of violating the bloc’s principle by interfering in Burma’s internal
affairs. Thailand, the grouping’s current chairman, last week expressed “grave concern” over the trial,
saying “the honor and the credibility of the Burmese government are at stake.” AP, 25 May 2009

However, Win Tin said, the trial against Aung San Suu Kyi has ingited public anger and it would not be
wise for the government to underestimate the level of peoples’ anger. While he said he cannot definitely tell
what might happen, but if the junta sentenced Aung San Suu Kyi, it would really bring out the anger in the
people. “This time, I am sure, it will not be just another story of the junta’s injustice, because the level of
anger among the people is high. And the junta cannot expect the people to simply disperse, after they
sentence Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. It will not be as simple as just drawing the curtain,” he added. Mizzima,
25 May 2009

The European Union has repeated calls for Burma’s military government to free Aung San Suu Kyi, the
country’s opposition leader who is standing trial on charges of violating the terms of her house arrest. The
call came on Monday at the start of two days of talks in Vietnam between foreign ministers from Asia and
Europe. The Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) in Hanoi had been called to discuss ways of tackling the global
economic slowdown and boosting economic cooperation. But it is expected to be overshadowed both by the
Aung San Suu Kyi trial and Monday’s surprise nuclear weapon test by North Korea. Representatives from
45 nations are taking part in the two-day meeting with brings together representatives of the European
Union (EU), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), as well as China, Japan, South Korea,
India and Pakistan. Aljazeera, 25 May 2009

But now the European Union is talking of introducing tougher sanctions in response to the trial and the
administration of President Barack Obama has announced it will continue its economic penalties. Obama
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extended a state of emergency against the country after Suu Kyi’s arrest. Sanctions would have expired had
the emergency order not been extended. EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, in
Bangkok on her way to the ASEAN-EU foreign ministers meeting in Hanoi, Monday called on China and
India to push for democratic change in Burma and welcomed ASEAN’s unprecedented criticism of Burma.
“This was a remarkable statement. At the moment when we all hoped to see Aung San Suu Kyi released she
is imprisoned again. That was of course a big negative surprise to the international community,” she told
reporters. AP, 25 May 2009

The South African government has called on the Burmese military regime to release opposition leader
Aung San Suu Kyi, saying it wants to see Burma adopt civilian rule under a democratic multiparty system.
The South African stand was delivered by Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
Ebrahim Ebrahim at a meeting on Monday with Burma’s ambassador designate to Pretoria, Tin Oo Lwin.
Ebrahim said South Africa was ready to assist Burma in a transition to democracy, and he proposed the
dispatch to Burma of a delegation tasked with facilitating “a negotiation process among the various political
parties.” Irrawaddy, 26 May 2009

U.K. junior foreign minister Bill Rammell Monday urged Asian and European officials meeting here to
issue a “very strong statement” condemning the trial of Burma democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi. The
two-day ASEM (Asia-Europe) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was expected to focus on the global financial
crisis, but diplomats had said the trial of the Nobel Peace Prize winner could spark informal discussions
about Burma. “In the face of Aung San Suu Kyi’s arrest and trial, I think we need the strongest possible
international response,” Rammell told reporters on the sidelines of the meeting in Vietnam. “And we need
nothing less from the ASEM conference in the next couple of days.” AFP, 25 May 2009

26 May 2008, Tuesday


Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi told a court Tuesday that although she gave “temporary
shelter” to an uninvited American earlier this month, she had not violated her house arrest and was merely
trying to shield the man and her security guards from punishment. Testifying for the first time in the case,
Suu Kyi appeared frail and pale but managed an occasional smile. A judge questioned her for less than half
an hour about John W. Yettaw, who swam uninvited to her lakeside house. Reporters and diplomats,
including a reporter for The Associated Press, were allowed into the courtroom for Tuesday’s session, the
second time during the trial that such rare access has been granted. “Thank you for your concern and
support. It is always good to see people from the outside world,” she told reporters and diplomats before
being escorted out of the court by four policewomen. AP, 26 May 2009

Burma’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has told a secret trial she did not violate her house arrest
after a US man swam to her home. “I didn’t,” the Nobel Peace Prize winner replied when asked in
Rangoon’s notorious Insein jail whether she had breached a restriction order. She faces up to five years in
jail, if convicted of the charges lodged by Burma’s military junta - she is widely expected to be found guilty.
It is claimed Mrs Suu Kyi harboured the army veteran for two days. “I didn’t know about it (Yettaw’s visit)
immediately. I was informed about it at 5 am. My assistant told me that a man had arrived,” the 63-year-old
said in court. Mrs Suu Kyi has told her lawyers she asked Yettaw to leave immediately, but he said he was
too exhausted, so she let him stay on humanitarian grounds. She has spent 13 of the past 19 years in
detention, most of them at her crumbling house on Rangoon’s Inya Lake. The leader of the National League
for Democracy (NLD) blamed lax security for Yettaw being able to swim across the lake. Legal
representative Nyan Win said Mrs Suu Kyi’s defence team is unhappy it has not been given sufficient time
to consult with their client about her planned testimony. The charges against Mrs Suu Kyi are widely seen
as a pretext to keep her detained during elections planned for next year. If she is found guilty the verdict is
likely to further sour relationships between the West and the military regime. Sky.com, 26 May 2009
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There was a telling moment as she entered when the police guards rose to their feet before lowering
themselves sheepishly down. She welcomed our presence. She hoped to meet us in better times and said
how good it was to see people from the outside world. It was deeply impressive and one was left wondering
how she managed to display no trace of indignation at this latest twist. Mark Canning, British ambassador
in Burma, guardian.co.uk, 26 May 2009

A petition with 600,000 signatures in support of the release of all political prisoners in Burma has been sent
to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, accordingly to the Campaign Committee of the Free Burma’s
Political Prisoners (CCFBPP). The signatures were gathered from more than 150 countries and by more than
200 groups in support of Burma over a 10-week period. The CCFBPP held a press conference in Bangkok
on Tuesday to announce the petition, on this the seventh day of the trial of pro-democracy leader Aung San
Suu Kyi by the Burmese military government. International condemnation of the trial has been widespread,
including unprecedented criticism from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). The petition
campaign has been led by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) (AAPP) and the Forum
for Democracy in Burma, representing former political prisoners and pro-democracy activists. Since
October 2008, more than 350 Burmese political activists have been sentenced to harsh sentences of up to
104 years. Burma now has 2,100 political prisoners, according to the AAPP. Bo Kyi, a co-founder and joint-
secretary of the AAPP, said, “We intend to urge the secretary-general to take more measures in the Security
Council. It’s time for the international community and for the Burmese people to demand more from the
UN.” A broad-based consortium of Burmese exiles and solidarity groups around the world worked to secure
the petition signatures, including Avaaz, an online community of activists. Avaaz executive director Ricken
Patel said, “Aung San Suu Kyi is Burma’s Nelson Mandela. The UN secretary-general must insist that her
release be the condition for any further international engagement with the Burmese junta.” Since the
campaign launched on March 13, commemorating Burma’s Human Rights Day, one person has signed the
petition every 10 seconds. Irrawaddy, 26 May 2009

A global campaign for the release of Burma’s political prisoners has secured over 650,000 petition
signatures in just ten weeks, according to campaign organisers. Signatures have come from 220 countries
and territories. “This is the largest global coordinated action for Burma the world has ever witnessed,” said
Dr Naing Aung, Secretary-General of the Forum for Democracy in Burma. Burma Net, 26 May 2009

A group of Southeast Asian politicians is urging the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to suspend
Burma’s membership if it refuses to release democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Aung San Suu Kyi
testified Tuesday against charges that could put her in prison for five years. Aung San Suu Kyi said she was
innocent when she was called Tuesday to testify in court. The trial has been widely condemned as an excuse
to keep the Nobel Peace Prize winner locked up and pressure is growing for her release. The ASEAN Inter-
Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus on Tuesday called for tougher actions against Burma, including suspending
its membership in the regional bloc. Charles Chong, a Singaporean lawmaker and member of the caucus,
told journalists in Bangkok that dealing with Burma has bogged down ASEAN, making it harder for them to
accomplish anything. “More and more parliamentarians within ASEAN are beginning to lose their patience
with Burma. And, we are calling upon our governments to do more than just expressions of dismay, regret,
grave concern and so on, and seriously look at suspending Burma’s membership of ASEAN,” he said. VOA,
26 May 2009

Foreign ministers from Asia and Europe have condemned North Korea’s test of a nuclear weapon, besides
expressing concern over the continuing detention of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. A
statement adopted Tuesday by the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Hanoi termed Monday’s nuclear test “a
clear violation of U.N. resolutions.” The ministers from more than 40 countries called on Pyongyang to
“immediately return” to the Six-Party Talks, aimed at ending its nuclear program. They issued a strong
warning to the reclusive Communist nation against conducting further nuclear tests and to comply with U.N.
Page 94 of 226
resolutions. In another statement issued, the ministers called on the Burmese military regime to release
people it imprisoned, citing “recent developments” in the case of Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kohout, whose country holds the rotating European Union presidency,
congratulated the ministers for moving ‘swiftly and resolutely’ to deal with the North Korean and Burmese
situations at the concluding session of the two-day trans-continental conference. RTT News, 26 May 2009

China said the trial is an internal affair. “It involves the internal judicial procedures of Burma, whose
judicial sovereignty and independence should be respected,” Ma Zhaoxu, a Foreign Ministry spokesman,
told reporters on May 26. bloomberg.com, 5 June 2009

An Indian Member of Parliament and activists on Tuesday echoed the international outcry for the release of
Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, facing a trial in Rangoon’s Insein prison. Sharad Yadav of
the Janata Dal (United) party and a Member of Parliament of India from Bihar State in the Rajya
Sabha(Upper House), said he supports the international community’s demand for the release of Aung San
Suu Kyi. “We are here to mobilise world opinion. The whole world is asking the junta to release Aung San
Suu Kyi and to pave the way for democracy,” Yadav said in a seminar organized by South Asian Forum for
Peoples’ Initiative at the Gandhi Peace Foundation in New Delhi on Tuesday. Mizzima, 26 May 2009

Carl Bildt, Foreign Minister of Sweden, called it a major step forward and said it went beyond anything
previously endorsed by China or Vietnam. “It’s a substantial increase on the political pressure on the regime
in Burma,” he said. Reuters, 26 May 2009

Thailand has denied interfering in Burma’s affairs with its demand as the chair of Asean for the junta to
release opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Mrs Suu Kyi has entered a plea of not guilty to charges of
violating her house arrest rules. Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said the statement issued by Thailand on
May 18 reflected the concern of Asean members on the situation in Burma. He said the statement was
approved by top foreign ministry officials of the grouping. “It did not interfere in Burma’s internal affairs,”
Mr Kasit said in Hanoi, where he was attending the Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem). “Like the situation in
Thailand, many countries expressed concern over the street protests as well as the conflict in the South
because it affected stability in the region and progress in Asean.” Bangkok Post, 26 May 2009

The decision by Burma’s government to put Aung San Suu Kyi, the opposition leader and Nobel Peace
laureate, on trial has chilled relations with some of the ruling military junta’s traditional allies and made it
less like likely that international sanctions against the nation will be eased, according to U.S., European
and Asian officials. The issue has dominated the two-day Asia-Europe Meeting, which is being held in
Hanoi this week. Benita-Maria Ferrero-Waldner, the European Union’s External Affairs Commissioner,
said she would press for the release of Suu Kyi and the 2,100 other political prisoners held in the country
when she meets with Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win. Washington Post, 26 May 2009

The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said Suu Kyi should have been freed in May 2008 and
called for her immediate release in a legal opinion last year. Her lawyers have said her detention violates
both Burmese and international law. The charges against Suu Kyi prompted the U.S., the European Union
and Burma’s neighbors in Southeast Asia to call for her immediate release. Foreign ministers from Asia and
Europe, who met for a two- day summit in Hanoi, issued a statement today about Burma, calling for “the
early release of those under detention, and the lifting of restrictions placed on political parties.”
bloomberg.com, 26 May 2009

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27 May 2009, Wednesday
Yettaw, of Falcon, Missouri, told the court Wednesday he had been sent by God to warn Suu Kyi of his
premonition that she would be assassinated by terrorists, Nyan Win said. Suu Kyi acknowledges that she
allowed him to stay for two days because he said he was too tired and ill to leave immediately. Yettaw also
secretly went to her house late last year but did not meet Suu Kyi. He testified that security personnel
observed him during both of his visits but did not try to stop him, Nyan Win said. AP, 27 May 2009

At Wednesday’s hearing, Yettaw testified that he met with armed security personnel upon leaving her house
after his first visit, in November of last year, with the security detachment aiming their guns at him and
asking, “What are you doing here?” Apart from that, he reportedly faced no trouble and harassment by
security deployed at Suu Kyi’s compound and managed to leave the area, according to his testimony. Then,
in his second visit, he again testified he encountered five security personnel while trying to sneak into her
house by swimming across Inya Lake. On this occasion security personnel threw some stones at him but did
not do anything to block his entry. Mizzima, 27 May 2009

The party of Burmese democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi released doves and balloons at a ceremony on
Wednesday marking the 19th anniversary of an election victory that was voided by the ruling junta. Around
300 people gathered at the headquarters of the National League for Democracy (NLD) in Rangoon, as the
trial of their leader on charges of breaching her house arrest continued at a notorious prison in the city.
Dozens of plainclothes security officials videotaped and photographed people entering the event, including
some western diplomats, while security was boosted across the city, witnesses said. The NLD won Burma’s
last democratic elections on May 27, 1990 by a landslide, but the military regime never allowed Nobel
laureate Aung San Suu Kyi to form a government. Wearing “Free Aung San Suu Kyi” T-shirts, senior party
members released a total of 64 doves and balloons into the air -- symbolising her upcoming 64th birthday on
June 19. “We are releasing them to call for the release of Aung San Suu kyi and Tin Oo,” an announcer said
over a megaphone. Tin Oo is the detained deputy leader of the party. Aung San Suu Kyi and Tin Oo have
both been detained since May 30, 2003 following a deadly attack on her convoy during a party visit to
northern Burma by an allegedly government-backed mob. Authorities unexpectedly announced that Aung
San Suu Kyi’s house arrest had been lifted on Tuesday, a day before it was due to expire, but she remains in
detention at Insein prison awaiting trial. The 63-year-old faces up to five more years in jail on charges
stemming from an incident in which an American man, John Yettaw, swam to her house earlier this month.
Diplomats from the United States, Britain, France, Italy and other western countries attended the ceremony.
hindustantimes.com, 27 May 2009

The ministerial meeting began on Wednesday evening, with 110 ASEAN delegates and 161 European
delegates in attendance. Most arrived directly from the Asian-EU summit in Hanoi, where North Korea’s
nuclear tests and Burma’s human rights abuses had dominated talks. At the end of the meeting, diplomats
released a joint statement calling for the release of Suu Kyi and other political prisoners. Asia Times Online,
27 May 2009

“I call on the Burmese government to release National League for Democracy Secretary General and Nobel
Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi from detention immediately and unconditionally. I strongly condemn
her house arrest and detention, which have also been condemned around the world. The United Nations
Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has issued opinions affirming that the detention of Aung San Suu
Kyi dating back to 2003 is arbitrary, unjustified, and in contravention of Burma’s own law, and the United
Nations Security Council reaffirmed on May 22 their concern about the situation and called for the release
of all political prisoners,” U.S. President Obama said. He went on to emphasise on the statement released to
the site that “Aung San Suu Kyi’s continued detention, isolation, and show trial based on spurious charges
cast serious doubt on the Burmese regime’s willingness to be a responsible member of the international
community. This is an important opportunity for the government in Burma to demonstrate that it respects its
Page 96 of 226
own laws and its own people, is ready to work with the National League for Democracy and other ethnic
and opposition groups, and is prepared to move toward reconciliation. “By her actions, Aung San Suu Kyi
has represented profound patriotism, sacrifice, and the vision of a democratic and prosperous Burma. It is
time for the Burmese government to drop all charges against Aung San Suu Kyi and unconditionally release
her and her fellow political prisoners. Such an action would be an affirmative and significant step on
Burma’s part to begin to restore its standing in the eyes of the United States and the world community and
to move toward a better future for its people,” Obama said. www.64forsuu.org

British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown’s “64”: “I add my voice to the growing chorus of those demanding
your release. For too long the world has failed to act in the face of this intolerable injustice. That is now
changing. The clamour for your release is growing across Europe, Asia, and the entire world. We must do
all we can to make this Birthday the last you spend without your freedom.” www.64forsuu.org

28 May 2009, Thursday


Yettaw was taken to Suu Kyi’s residence Thursday, accompanied by dozens of police, to re-enact before
court officials how he entered and left her compound, said state-run newspapers Friday, which also
published photos of the re-enactment. AP, 28 May 2009

Kyi Win, the defense witness who is a legal expert and a member of Suu Kyi’s National League for
Democracy party, highlighted what appears to be the defense’s main argument, that the charge against Suu
Kyi is unlawful. The charge against Suu Kyi cites a 1975 state security law, not the more narrowly defined
confinement order for her house arrest. The 1975 law sets out broader penalties and refers to the 1974
constitution, which was annulled when the military took power in 1988. The country adopted a new charter
last year. Prosecutors seemed very unhappy at his testimony, Kyi Win told reporters outside the courtroom
after the trial’s ninth day. Accounts of testimony have generally come only from the state press and defense
lawyer Nyan Win, because reporters have been barred from all but two of the sessions. AP, 28 May 2009

Speaking to The Irrawaddy on Thursday, defense lawyer Nyan Win said that Burmese pro-democracy icon
Aung San Suu Kyi privately told him that the charges against her are invalid as she was charged under the
1975 State Security law, which was annulled by the 2008 constitution. “We are facing a crisis of
constitution, not a constitutional crisis,” she reportedly told him on Thursday. The lawyer said that Suu Kyi
was referring to a 1975 law enacted under the 1974 constitution, which became invalidated when the
military seized power in 1988. In addition, under the junta’s “seven-step road map,” the country approved a
new constitution in May 2008 by national referendum, which would also invalidate the 1975 act. 28 May
2009

Lawyers for Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi expressed optimism about her case after the only
witness allowed to testify for the defense addressed the court in her trial on charges of violating house
arrest. Closing arguments in a case that could send the Nobel Peace laureate to prison for five years are set
to be heard Monday. The defense has argued that there is no legal basis for the charge that Suu Kyi had
violated the terms of her house arrest when an uninvited American swam secretly to her home. Suu Kyi’s
supporters fear that she may be found guilty because the courts are under the influence of the ruling junta
and usually mete out harsh punishment for political dissidents. But one of Suu Kyi’s lawyers, Nyan Win,
said Thursday night he was “very confident of victory if the trial is carried out according to law.” The court
was in recess Friday. AP, 28 May 2009

Suu Kyi’s case and North Korea’s recent nuclear test were major topics at a meeting of foreign ministers
from the European Union and the 10-nation Association of Southeast Nations in the Cambodian capital,
Phnom Penh. But Jan Kohout, deputy prime minister of the Czech Republic and the meeting’s co-chairman,
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said that “we are still deeply concerned over Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi’s detention and urge that she should be
released immediately.” Burmese Deputy Foreign Minister Maung Myint said it was inappropriate for the
meeting to take up Suu Kyi’s cases, because it breached the region’s traditional policy of noninterference in
each other’s affairs. AP, 28 May 2009

The trial of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, which entered its ninth day on Thursday, is purely a legal
matter and of no concern to the outside world, Deputy Foreign Minister Maung Myint said on Thursday. “It
is not political, it is not a human-rights issue. So we don’t accept pressure and interference from abroad.”
European delegates summarily rejected Maung Myint’s statement, sparking a back-and-forth discussion that
lasted hours and sidelined hopes for substantial progress in other areas. Myint declined to elaborate on his
comments when approached by Asia Times Online, saying, “I already expressed myself at the meeting this
morning.” Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kohout told delegates that Burma had taken “a big step backwards”
and Suu Kyi’s trial could not be treated as merely an internal issue. Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander
Stubb added that “it is an old-fashioned way of thinking” to talk about “not meddling in internal affairs.”
The EU was created to do exactly that within Europe, Stubb said, and ASEAN should consider doing
likewise. Later, during their lunch of shrimp cocktail, grilled lamb and caramel flan, a French diplomat
reportedly delivered a 15-minute lecture on human rights directed at Burma. Asia Times Online, 28 May
2009

29 May 2009, Friday


Final arguments in the case had been expected on Monday, but the prison court informed Suu Kyi’s lawyers
on Friday that the trial would resume on June 5. It gave no reason for the change. Reuters, 29 May 2009

A spokesman for the National League for Democracy, Nyan Win, told VOA Burmese Service Friday that
Aung San Suu Kyi is suffering from severe leg cramps, which keep her awake at night. 29 May 2009

Speaking to The Irrawaddy on Friday, Nyan Win said Suu Kyi’s defense team had not been informed that
court authorities intended to take the American intruder to the lakeside compound. “The government has
just done whatever they wanted,” he said. “In fact, if they want to do something regarding the trial, they
must inform us.” 29 May 2009

Burmese justice, or more precisely the lack of it, is on full display in Rangoon with the trial of democracy
activist Aung San Suu Kyi on spurious charges of violating the terms of her house arrest. Secretary General
of Burma’s National League for Democracy, or NLD, and a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, she faces up
to 5 more years in detention if convicted of allowing an uninvited intruder to spend the night in her home
when he became too weak and ill to leave when so ordered. The U.S. is not alone in its concern for the
imprisoned Nobel laureate. Asian and European Union leaders meeting in Vietnam jointly called for her
release and that of all other Burmese political prisoners. Some of Burma’s neighbors have called for the
Rangoon government to be suspended from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations if she continues to
be detained. Burma’s leaders have an important opportunity to show their commitment to genuine rule of
law. They should release Aung San Suu Kyi immediately. Editorial, VOA, 29 May 2009

Despite a note of guarded optimism struck by one of Aung San Suu Kyi’s lawyers and notwithstanding
mounting international pressure, there is no real indication that her trial in Rangoon will end in her acquittal
and release. “We don’t accept pressure and interference from abroad,” said Burma’s Deputy Foreign
Minister Maung Myint. “The case against Aung San Suu Kyi is an internal legal issue,” he told a meeting of
the European Union and Southeast Asian ministers in Cambodia. Since the pro-democracy leader was first
arraigned on a charge of violating the terms of her house arrest, international pressure has been increasing to
unexpected levels, even from the organization where the regime traditionally finds protection, the
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Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). Strong statements came from world leaders such as US
President Barack Obama, who said, “It is time for the Burmese government to drop all charges against
Aung San Suu Kyi and unconditionally release her and her fellow political prisoners. Obama’s
administration—which had been reviewing its hard-line policy towards Burma—also extended its economic
sanctions against the junta right after her arrest on May 14. Britain’s Prime Minister Gordon Brown
delivered a particularly strong and impassioned statement, talking of action to ensure the release of Suu Kyi.
World leaders like Obama and Brown can work with the international bodies, the UN, EU and Asean, and
even with Burma’s closest allies, China, India and Russia, which are quietly guarding their business
interests with the junta by turning a blind eye to the trial and other injustices. All need only one thing—
political will. Editorial, Irrawaddy, 29 May 2009

What foreign secretary David Miliband calls the “show trial” in Rangoon has also drawn the spotlight back
to the egregious human rights violations perpetrated by the regime in the wake of the failed 2007 uprising,
known as the saffron revolution. Of grave concern is the plight of Burma’s more than 2,000 political
prisoners who are held in a gulag of about 100 jails and labour camps spread across the country. A report
entitled ‘Burma’s Silent Killing Fields’, published last week by the Thailand-based Assistance Association
for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a group comprising exiled activists and former prisoners, paints a horrific,
case-by-case picture of systematic abuse including torture, deaths in custody, denial of medical assistance
and a deliberate policy of transferring prisoners to remote regions to prevent family access and support. The
Guardian, 29 May 2009

30 May 2009, Saturday


Burma’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi marked the sixth anniversary of her latest period of
detention on Saturday, as she awaits her trial verdict amid renewed fears for her health. Members of the
Nobel peace laureate’s political party donated food to monks in early morning ceremonies as they recalled
her arrest in 2003 following a pro-junta mob attack on her motorcade that left about 70 people dead. She has
been held under house arrest since the incident near Depayin in northern Burma, but was moved to
Rangoon’s Insein Prison two weeks ago following fresh charges against her. AFP, 30 May 2009

Burma’s detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi harbors no ill feelings toward an American
whose uninvited intrusion into her house may put her behind bars for five years, her lawyer said Saturday.
The country’s military regime has accused her of violating the terms of her house arrest for sheltering
American John W. Yettaw after he swam to her lakeside residence in early May. “Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
said she bore no grudge against Mr. Yettaw or his family,” her defense lawyer Nyan Win told reporters after
meeting her for 2 1/2 hours to prepare for the defense’s final arguments. AP, 30 May 2009

The EU has threatened to tighten sanctions against Burma if the pro-democracy icon is convicted. Czech
Foreign Minister Jan Kohout, who co-chaired the meeting as the Czech Republic now holds the rotating EU
presidency, also refrained from identifying any repercussions. “We have to wait,” he said. Asia Times
Online, 30 May 2009

On Saturday US Defence Secretary Robert Gates told a high-level security forum in Singapore that Burma’s
rulers must release her and begin dialogue with the opposition. “We need to see real change in Burma -- the
release of political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, and the institution of meaningful dialogue
between the junta and the opposition,” Gates said. AFP, 30 May 2009

Around 250 people held a rally outside Burma’s embassy in central Tokyo on Saturday, the sixth
anniversary of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s latest period of detention, to call for her release.
The demonstrators, including Burmese citizens and Japanese supporters, gathered at the embassy’s gates,
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where they recalled her arrest in 2003 after a pro-junta mob attack on her motorcade that left about 70
people dead. The demonstrators then placed flowers at the gates and held a one-minute silent prayer for the
Nobel Peace Prize winner’s immediate release. They also carried her portraits and banners, which were
read: “Free Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners now. The Japanese government must pressure
the military regime immediately.” Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone has told Burma his
country has “profound concerns” about Aung San Suu Kyi’s trial at Rangoon’s Insein Prison, where she is
currently detained. dose.ca, 30 May 2009

It is not very often that Asean countries, together, take a strong stand against one of their own members. At
the special meeting in Phnom Penh early this week every member apart from Burma expressed solidarity
with the Thai chairman’s statement. The chair had issued a statement expressing grave concern about the
deteriorating health of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the problems she is facing. Asean
foreign ministers know deep within their hearts that Burma cannot get away scot-free this time by citing the
principle of non-interference. Burma has been using this mantra since it joined Asean 12 years ago. The
ongoing trial of Suu Kyi is making the country and its junta leaders a laughing stock. It is also adversely
affecting Asean’s reputation. If Asean remains firm and unified, other countries, especially China and India,
will proffer their support in the near future. These two Asian giants can get away with their own approach at
the moment because Asean does not have a common position. However, with the current solidarity, China
and India would be expected to show moral courage. Failure to do so would only jeopardise their ties with
the grouping in the future. China, which joined the UN Security Council in expressing concern over
Burma’s action last week, should do more. Unfortunately, India is still an oddball as far as Burma is
concerned. New Delhi remains tight-lipped on Rangoon’s action against Suu Kyi, which is a shameful thing
for the world’s largest democracy to do. The Nation, 30 May 2009

Burmese authorities have banned the general public from entering the area of the collapsed Danok pagoda,
local residents report. People of Danok model village in Rangoon’s Dalla Township, where the pagoda is
located, have also been warned not to talk about the accident. Local residents have been threatened with
imprisonment if found talking to independent journalists. The 2,300 year-old pagoda, located in Danok
model village in Rangoon’s Dalla township, collapsed last Saturday, killing at least 20 people and injuring
about 150. The wife of junta leader Than Shwe, members of their family and relatives of senior military
officials had attended a ceremony at the pagoda on May 7, at which a sacred golden umbrella was hoisted to
the top of the structure. The association of Than Shwe’s wife, Kyaing Kyaing, and members of their family
with the pagoda gave rise to a flood of speculation about the mystical significance of the accident. The
pagoda was being repaired at the time, however. The work was being carried out by the Shwe Than Lwin
Company, owned by Burmese tycoon Kyaw Win. No news about the collapsed pagoda has appeared in the
official media, and one Rangoon journalist said a report written for her journal had been suppressed by the
censorship board. Fortune tellers were quick to find significance in the collapse of the pagoda, and elderly
residents talked about the mystic powers the ancient structure was said to possess. Some said the pagoda
shook when it disapproved of any visiting pilgrim. One local monk said the accident was a bad omen.
Irrawaddy, 3 June 2009

31 May 2009, Sunday


The pro-democracy icon’s legal team said they hoped to meet with her this week at the jail where she is
being held, before the prosecution and defence present closing arguments to the court on Friday. “We will
prepare this week for the final arguments in the case. We are still working on whether we will meet Daw
Suu again,” Nyan Win, one of her lawyers and also the spokesman for her opposition party, told AFP. No
hearings are expected in her trial at the notorious Insein Prison until Friday, but Yettaw is due back in court
on Monday on separate charges including immigration violations, a Burmese official said. On Sunday
Burma’s deputy defence minister, Major General Aye Myint, rejected foreign criticism of the trial and said
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Aung San Suu Kyi was facing normal legal procedures. “It is no doubt that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has
committed a cover-up of the truth by her failure to report an illegal immigrant to the authorities concerned,”
he told a security forum in Singapore. Opposition party spokesman Nyan Win said he could not comment on
the general’s remarks as the trial was ongoing, adding: “He (Aye Myint) is talking about court matters. The
court has not given any decision yet.” A guilty verdict is widely expected as Burma’s courts have a track
record of handing down tough sentences to dissidents, often in secret hearings. Aung San Suu Kyi said last
week that the charges against her were “one-sided.” The 63-year-old accused Burmese authorities of failing
to provide proper security despite the fact that she informed them of a previous intrusion by Yettaw in
November 2008. AFP, 31 May 2009

Britain challenged Sunday Burma’s military rulers to release imprisoned opposition leader Aung San Suu
Kyi and implement democratic reforms in the isolated state. “Now is the time for transition to democracy
starting with the release of Aung San Suu Kyi,” Britain’s Minister for International Defence and Security
Ann Taylor told a summit on Asian security in Singapore. Suu Kyi, a Nobel peace laureate, has spent 14 of
the past 20 years under house arrest. The democracy advocate is currently standing trial on charges of
breaking the terms of her house arrest. “Aung San Suu Kyi is not alone,” Taylor said. Burma’s military
junta has been continually criticized for human right abuses. DPA, 31 May 2009

1 June 2009, Monday


Burma’s detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi believes she is innocent and will continue to defend
herself against the charge she faces in the Insein Prison court, according to her lawyers. One of her lawyers,
Kyi Win, told The Irrawaddy that, according to the evidence, “we have a very good case because she has not
breached any conditions and restrictions imposed upon her.” At home she at least had a radio and is
believed to have kept herself well up to date with news on Burma and the rest of the world. Visiting UN
officials were often surprised to learn how well informed she was. In Insein Prison, however, she has no
access to a radio and very limited access to news from outside. She did meet some diplomats who were
allowed to attend two sessions of her trial last week, but journalists who were also present were not allowed
to talk to her. Through her lawyers, though, Suu Kyi has learned about the international outcry against her
trial and the overwhelming support she commands. Kyi Win said, “I conveyed sentiment and support from
world leaders including British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, US President Obama and many other
leaders. She expressed her sincere thanks to them.” Another of her lawyers, Nyan Win, who is also
spokesman of her National League for Democracy, questioned the country’s judicial system and its
independence. It is believed that the details of the court proceedings have been submitted to the top leaders
in Naypyidaw. Diplomats have said they believe that the verdict has already been written, ready to be read
out on the final day of the trial. There is no doubt that junta leader Sr-Gen Than Shwe holds the key to the
final decision. Political observers in Rangoon believe that the decision to postpone the trial until Friday also
came from Than Shwe. The judges exercise no power in the Insein Prison court. Although they know the
verdict has already been decided, Suu Kyi’s lawyers say they cannot afford to lose hope. “We will always
have hope,” Kyi Win said. Aung Zaw, Irrawaddy, 1 June 2009

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, the current ASEAN chair, was trying to convene a meeting of its
leaders later Monday on the sidelines of the ASEAN- Korea Summit, diplomatic sources said. Abhisit said
in Bangkok Sunday that Suu Kyi’s trial, which has drawn strong international condemnation, would be
discussed. AFP, 1 June 2009

“ASEAN was bogged down by Burma last week in its meeting with Europe,” said Bridget Welsh, a
Southeast Asia specialist at Johns Hopkins University in the U.S. She was referring to last week’s
gathering in Hanoi of Asian and European foreign ministers. “The failure of ASEAN to take a strong stand
on Burma has seriously undermined the credibility of the organization. ASEAN as an organization cannot
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evolve without Burma taking steps to show it genuinely respects the norms of the international community,”
she said. “ASEAN members are fed up with Burma, and although they are not saying so publicly, many
would like Burma to leave,” said Welsh. AFP, 1 June 2009

Analysts and diplomats said the problem has become especially acute since ASEAN members including
Burma signed a charter, or mini-constitution, which came into force last year. Under the charter, they
commit themselves “to strengthen democracy, enhance good governance and the rule of law, and to promote
and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms.” Burma, however, is “behaving as if it has not signed
the charter at all,” said a Southeast Asian diplomat. AFP, 1 June 2009

“The continued imprisonment of Aung San Suu Kyi by the Burmese regime is a reminder that we cannot
take for granted the institution of democracy,” Ann Taylor, Britain’s Minister for International Defense and
Security, told a security forum in Singapore Sunday. AFP, 1 June 2009

The spray-painted demands appear overnight: “Free Aung San Suu Kyi” read the scrawls on walls across
this city - only to be whitewashed by security forces as soon as they are discovered. “I’m so upset about
what has happened in my country,” said Zin, a 28-year-old housewife who, like most Burmese, won’t give
her full name for fear of retaliation. “People are angry and people are sad, but we can’t do anything for her.
We have no power.” AP, 1 June 2009

“If Suu Kyi is found guilty and jailed, there will be much popular anger, but it won’t make a real difference
because the government is well-equipped and experienced in dealing with the people’s protests,” said
Donald Seekins, a Burma expert at Japan’s Meio University. Seekins said the regime has already posted
soldiers throughout Rangoon, the largest city, “and can suppress demonstrations with little difficulty.” AP, 1
June 2009

Thailand’s foreign minister urged the creation of an “open society” in neighbouring Burma, saying that an
end to repressive government in the military-run nation would help “stabilize” the south-east Asian region.
Kasit Priyoma said during an official visit to Bangladesh that “change in Burma is very much needed. It is
not only a necessity for the security of Burma, but also for all the neighbouring countries.” The minister is
on a two-day official visit to Dhaka, where he met Monday with his Bangladeshi counterpart Dipu Moni.
The Thai diplomat said that many southeast and south Asian nations had had military dictatorships, and had
now emerged into democratic rule. Burma is widely seen as an international pariah for its harsh government,
as well as its treatment of human-rights activists such as Aung San Suu Kyi. Earth Times, 1 June 2009

2 June 2009, Tuesday


Lawyers for Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi said Tuesday they had asked a court to
overturn an earlier ban that prevented three defense witnesses from testifying at her trial. Judges at the
closed court in Rangoon’s Insein prison last month refused to allow three people including two members of
her party to testify at the trial, in which final arguments are due Friday. “We have filed a revision order to
the court today. We want to call the other three witnesses,” Kyi Win, her main laywer, told AFP. “The
prosecution had 14 witnesses and we had only one so far. If you look at the numbers it is one-sided, and that
is why we have made this application,” he said. Nyan Win, the spokesman for Aung San Suu Kyi’s National
League for Democracy, said after going to court to file the application that it would be heard on Wednesday.
The three barred witnesses were Win Tin, a journalist who was Burma’s longest serving prisoner until his
release in September; Tin Oo, the detained deputy chief of her party, and lawyer Khin Moe Moe. The only
person to testify last week for the defense was a legal expert. AFP, 2 June 2009

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But Yettaw’s lawyer Khin Maung Oo said earlier Tuesday that the former U.S. military veteran, who also
faces up to five years in jail, didn’t take orders or money from outside organisations to carry out his bizarre
intrusion into Aung San Suu Kyi’s residence. He said that Yettaw, a devout Mormon, was a “sincere and
pious” person who believed God had told him to warn her and the government after he had a vision that she
would be assassinated. AFP, 2 June 2009

Burmese democracy leader and Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi stood trial last month on new, false
charges --despite having spent 13 of the past 19 years under house arrest. She has committed no crime:
Indeed, it is the regime that is criminal. Benedict Rogers, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, asahi.com, 2
June 2009

As North Korea’s recent nuclear test raises tensions in Asia, rogue state Burma’s nuclear program is ringing
alarm bells in the Western world, say Greenpeace and a local expert. Burma’s notorious junta, which has
been subject to Western economic sanctions because of its poor human rights record, has attracted criticism
over its plan to develop nuclear reactors. In 2002 it was reported that the Russian government had agreed to
help the military junta build a nuclear research facility that would be used to develop reactors for medical
and electricity resources. The US has shunned Burma’s nuclear plans, saying Rangoon has neither the legal
framework nor the provisions that would safeguard its nuclear program from posing a security threat.
“Nuclear power and nuclear arms are different sides of the same coin. Every nuclear-power-wielding state
can turn into a nuclear-armed nation,” said Tessa de Ryck, an anti- nuclear campaigner from Greenpeace
Southeast Asia. The Jakarta Post, 2 June 2009

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak urged Burma to take steps to promote democracy during a
meeting with its prime minister Tuesday, Lee’s office said. Lee held talks with Gen. Thein Sein on the
sidelines of a two-day summit between South Korea and leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations. “President Lee expressed the hope that the Burmese government would address the concerns of the
international community by making sure that national unity and democracy take root in a substantial manner
through dialogue and compromise,” Lee’s office said in a press release. AP, 3 June 2009

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NLD Youths Statement dated 2 June 2009
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3 June 2009, Wednesday
Burma’s judiciary accepted an appeal from Aung San Suu Kyi’s lawyers Wednesday over the number of
witnesses she could call, delaying closing arguments at her internationally condemned trial. Nyan Win, a
spokesman for her party, said a higher court would now hear from the government and the defence on the
matter on Friday, when closing arguments at the prison trial were originally due to be heard. “I think it is a
positive sign, if we look at the law,” Nyan Win, who is also a member of Aung San Suu Kyi’s legal team,
told AFP. “The Rangoon divisional court accepted our appeal so both sides have to give statements to the
court on Friday at 3:00 pm. That means the final arguments in the trial are postponed,” he added. AFP, 3
June 2009

Twenty-two female members of Thai parliament on Wednesday petitioned Burma’s junta to drop current
charges against democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi and free her immediately. “As a recipient of the Nobel
Peace Prize, and as a longstanding democracy advocate, Mrs Aung San suu Kyi has been an inspiration not
only for women MPs in Thailand but also for all adherents and participants of democratic ideals
worldwide,” the 22 Thai women said in a statement. Altogether there are 62 women MPs out of 474 total
seats in Thailand’s Lower House. It was the first such statement by a group of women MPs in Thai
parliament on a diplomatic matter. Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, in his position as current chair of
the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), last month issued a statement expressing “deep
concern” about Suu Kyi’s latest trial and possible imprisonment. The statement was rejected by Burma’s
junta as interference in the country’s internal affairs. Burma joined ASEAN in 1997. Earth Times, 3 June
2009

4 June 2009, Thursday


“If the military government unfairly finds Daw Aung San Suu Kyi guilty, all means and possibilities for
people and political parties to participate in the 2010 election will be undermined,” Win Tin, a veteran
journalist and prominent opposition leader of the NLD, told The Irrawaddy. Burmese politicians and
activists are continuing the campaign to urge the International community and world leaders to maintain
pressure on the military regime. Win Tin, a prominent politician and executive member of National League
for Democracy (NLD) told The Irrawaddy on Thursday international pressure has given the democracy
movement “a bit of breathing space.” 4 June 2009

Han Thar Myint, a spokesperson for the NLD, told The Irrawaddy on Thursday, “The international
criticism is very important for Burmese pro-democracy activists and the Burmese people, because it makes
them feel good. Now, Asean has also criticized the Burmese military government. I think it is important
because Burma is a member of Asean.” He said the image of the Burmese military junta has been tarnished,
and, “I think they are trying to release international pressure, so they postponed Aung San Suu Kyi’s
verdict.” Activists have called for the international community and world leaders to take more effective
actions against the junta. Win Tin said, “UN chief Ban Ki-moon should go to Burma as soon as possible.
But, if he leaves Burma empty-handed, it will be a set back. We must keep up the pressure.” Many activists
said the military regime’s real fear is the UN Security Council. “The only body that the junta really fears is
the Security Council,” said the former UN Rapporteur for Human Rights in Burma, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro.
“I have personal evidence of this. So the Security Council must address this immediately as a matter of
absolute urgency.” Some observers have called for the International Criminal Court to become involved.
The monk-activist, Ashin Issariya, said, “Now, International organizations and governments need to take
effective measures against the military junta. We should build a case for human-rights abuses by military
junta and call for the Security Council to take action to bring it before the International Criminal Court.”
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Ashin Issariya said the UN is aware of the scale and severity of rights abuses in Burma, and it is incumbent
on the Security Council to authorize a commission of inquiry into crimes against humanity and war crimes
in the country. Pro-democracy leader Suu Kyi’s trial has drawn worldwide condemnation and is seen as an
effort of the junta to detain the political leader through elections scheduled for 2010. Irrawaddy, 4 June 2009

Two prominent Buddhist monks were injured in an elevator crash while inspecting the country’s tallest
Buddha statue in the second temple-related accident within a week, monastery officials said Friday.
“Sayadaw Ashin Sanda Dika and Sayadaw Yawainwe Innma were injured on Thursday at about 6 pm
when the temple lift suddenly dropped,” an official from the Bawditataung monastery said. The
Bawditataung monastery in Monywa, 136 kilometres north-west of Mandalay, is famous for its 130 metre-
high Buddha statue that was completed in 2007. The monks were inspecting the statue in a maintenance lift,
witnesses said. The cause of the failure of lift was still unknown and was under investigation, sources said.
“The two abbots are now in a hospital in Mandalay with leg injuries,” said a monastery source, who asked
to remain anonymous. Ashin Sanda Dika and Yawainwe Innma are well-known monks in Burma who have
published many books on society and religion. The accident was the second temple-related mishap within a
week. monstersandcritics.com, 5 June 2009

At least 30 supporters of Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi held a noisy demonstration outside
the country’s mission here Thursday to demand her release. During the brief protest, the Burmese nationals
shouted slogans such as “We want democracy,” and “Free Aung San Suu Kyi” and carried placards with the
words: “We oppose the 2010 elections.” “The protest is to press the military junta to free Aung San Suu Kyi
and other leaders,’ Thein Aung, 38, told AFP. Kuala Lumpur, 5 June 2009

Police in Burma detained two women and four children after they held a protest asking the US embassy to
help obtain the release of a prisoner, an official said. The group unfurled a banner asking for assistance as
the husband of one of the women had earlier been arrested by authorities in the military-ruled nation, the
official said on condition of anonymity. “Two women and four children have been detained for questioning
as they staged a small protest in front of the American Embassy,” the official said. The banner said “Please
help as my husband was arrested unjustly,’ according to the official. news.com.au, 4 June 2009

5 June 2009, Friday


On Friday Aung San Suu Kyi’s lawyers presented appeal documents to a Rangoon divisional court, asking
the court to overturn a ban on three of four witnesses whom she called to give evidence at her trial. A judge
said a decision on the appeal would be given on Tuesday, June 9, three days before her prison trial
reconvenes after a week-long adjournment. AFP, 6 June 2009

The trial of Burma’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi for allegedly violating conditions of her house
arrest was delayed for a week over efforts to reinstate three defense witnesses, one of her lawyers said on
Friday. Suu Kyi’s trial was adjourned until June 12 while a higher court hears a request by her attorneys to
reinstate the defense witnesses who were earlier barred from testifying at her trial, lawyer Nyan Win said.
The decision on those witnesses was expected later today. The lower District Court earlier disqualified all
but one defense witness -- legal expert Kyi Win. Those rejected were all members of Suu Kyi’s National
League for Democracy party. They include prominent journalist and former political prisoner Win Tin, the
party’s vice chairman Tin Oo, currently under house arrest, and lawyer Khin Moe Moe. indiatimes.com, 5
June 2009

Security around Rangoon was especially tight Friday, witnesses said, with truckloads of riot police and
groups of pro-junta supporters stationed outside the Divisional Court, the headquarters of Suu Kyi’s
National League for Democracy, and City Hall in downtown Rangoon. Riot police also patrolled the city. If
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the Divisional Court rejects the witnesses next week, Suu Kyi’s lead attorney, Kyi Win, said the defense
team would appeal the ruling to the High Court, which could further delay the trial. The High Court is
Burma’s top court. AP, 5 June 2009

Every time we become distracted, the generals in Burma manage to jolt us back to attention. The world’s
most despotic regime is alive and well, inflicting suffering on its people after five decades in power, while
the world does little more than issue an occasional statement of outrage. We’ve grown awkwardly
accustomed to that. Now, security forces in the former capital Rangoon have sprung into action. The junta’s
most recent move comes perfectly timed to ensure continuing hopelessness. The latest outrage in Burma, the
country renamed Myanmar by its ruling generals, came May 14, when startled witnesses saw a security
convoy speeding from the home of pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi, headed for the horrific Insein
prison. After years of house detention, the ailing Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, was moved to prison
to face a show trial. The generals had found a convenient excuse to extend her detention. Frida Ghitis,
ajc.com, 5 June 2009

Reporters Without Borders reiterates its call for the release of Zarganar, a dissident blogger and comedian
who was jailed a year ago today on a charge of disturbing public order. He was given a 45-year jail sentence
by special court inside Insein prison last November and then received an additional 14-year sentence a few
days later. The combined jail terms were reduced to 35 years on 16 February. “The sentence alone shows
that Zarganar has been subjected to a travesty of justice,” Reporters Without Borders said. “Do you give
such a long jail term just for ‘disturbing public order’? The military government had him arrested and then
denied him due process because he had become a reliable source of information in a country throttled by
censorship and repression.” The press freedom organisation added: “The conditions in which Zarganar is
being held are very bad and his health is deteriorating steadily. These are additional reasons why he must be
released.” Suffering from jaundice and hypertension, Zarganar is not getting access to adequate medical care
in Myitkyina prison, to which he was transferred in December. CNW Telbec, 5 June 2009

The military government has accused officials of the US and British embassies in Rangoon of allegedly
dropping into the office of the Opposition party – the National League for Democracy – 25 times in May
alone. The junta’s mouthpiece, the New Light of Burma, on Friday reported that officials of the US and
British embassies in Rangoon had visited the NLD office 25 times and passed on instructions and unknown
materials to NLD members. “During their visit, they met Central Executive Committee (CEC) members of
the party NLD and gave them large and small envelopes and parcels,” the newspaper said. But Win Tin, a
former political prisoner and a CEC member of the NLD made light of the accusation saying the visits by
US and British embassy officials were in keeping with ‘normal relations’ that diplomats maintain across the
world. Mizzima, 5 June 2009

Burma will not be under a military dictatorship forever. It is important that a democratic nation like India
does not compromise its cardinal democratic values just to dance in the tune of the Burmese military
generals. The new Congress-led coalition government, under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi and Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh, needs to look beyond the Northeast militancy problem and its relations with
Communist China. While the United States is reviewing its policy toward Burma, India should offer every
possible support to formulate a coordinated international strategy. A democratic Burma would better serve
the interests of a diverse and democratic India. Nehginpao Kipgen, kukiforum.com, 5 June 2009

One of the most obvious truths in international politics is that Burma’s military regime has absolutely no
interest in caring for the millions of people that reside within its borders. Next year, the crowning
achievement of the junta’s chokehold on Burma will be complete. The proposed elections set for 2010
amount to a circus act. General Than Shwe acts as the ringmaster. There are 50 million civilians on a
tightrope and the military regime sways both ends of a rapidly fraying rope. The concerned international
community are forced to watch from the stands, helpless to watch any impending disaster unfold. The safety
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net that may well prevent yet another massacre, in the form of intervention from China and India in publicly
condemning the junta’s actions has not been cast. At any moment, a sudden gust of madness could result in
catastrophic circumstances and once again, just like in 1988 and 2007, we could be faced with the stench of
innocent blood and lifeless bodies. General Than Shwe and his regime enjoy toying with the emotions of
more than 50 million civilians of Burma. The junta has arrogantly tossed a bone to the international
community by “unexpectedly” cancelling Daw Suu Kyi’s house arrest. However, she is still on trial in
Insein Prison facing a lengthy jail sentence, and we need to be prepared for the possibility of a guilty
verdict, and let our feelings be known about the disgusting manner in which Daw Suu Kyi has been treated
over the years. The regime’s stupidity, paranoia and irrationality know no boundaries. With Daw Suu Kyi
out of the picture, the junta have removed their greatest obstacle and most vocal critic. Opposition groups in
Burma and governments world wide have clearly stated that no election will be considered worth
participating in unless two conditions are met. Firstly, the immediate and unconditional release of more than
2,100 political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, and secondly, a review the constitution by all
political stakeholders is undertaken. David Calleja, theepochtimes.com, 5 June 2009

6 June 2009, Saturday


Unelected and unwanted by their own people, the ruling generals of Burma are now becoming more and
more irrational and paranoid. Instead of forging a sincere dialogue with the National League for Democracy
(NLD), they have chosen to marginalize the opposition and its leader, Suu Kyi, by fabricating charges
against her. Burma is suffering and Suu Kyi is just one of the many living symbols of the noble cause to free
Burma once and for all. If somebody must be prosecuted, it is the junta generals! Egoy N. Bans,
spokesperson, Free Burma Coalition-Philippines (FBC-Phils), Letters to the Editor, Philippine Daily
Inquirer, 6 June 2009

Thousands of political dissidents remain in detention in Burma. The Assistance Association for Political
Prisoners (Burma) estimates about 10,000 former political prisoners still live inside the country and
continue to face the threat of imprisonment. Asia Times Online, 6 June 2009

Burmese authorities have summoned members of Aung San Suu Kyi’s pro-democracy party to rebuke them
for provoking “unrest” over a statement critical of her trial, state media reported Saturday. Four senior
members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) met officials for 30 minutes late Friday after
comments by the party’s youth wing were leaked to the website of a prominent blogger, the New Light of
Burma said. The four NLD members ordered to meet with officials Friday were Than Tun, Nyunt Wai, Hla
Pe and Soe Myint. They signed a document to acknowledge a formal warning by the authorities. The NLD’s
youth members had circulated an internal document criticising the trial for being largely held behind closed
doors and highlighted international condemnation of the proceedings. But the comments ended up on the
“Niknayman” website, which is blocked in Burma as it is run by a well-known activist, and the New Light
said this constituted a breach of the country’s publishing laws. The paper said the statement had falsely
accused authorities of not allowing public reporting of the trial. Local journalists and two Chinese reporters
have been allowed in court along with diplomats to cover two of the ten days of hearings so far. AFP, 6 June
2009

According to a report in The New Light of Burma, youth members of the National League for Democracy
(NLD) were told that posting a party statement about Suu Kyi’s trial on the Internet constituted a violation
of Electronic Act 33 (A). The law, which forbids unauthorized use of electronic media, was used against
many pro-democracy dissidents in trials held at Insein Prison late last year, resulting in lengthy prison
sentences for critics of the ruling regime’s crackdown on monks in 2007 and its response to Cyclone Nargis
last May. The report also suggested that the youth members may have broken other draconian censorship
laws by posting the statement on the blog http://www.niknayman-niknayman.co.cc/ on June 3. “Without
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seeking permission for publication, the announcement has reached the public. Therefore the announcement
is against the printing and publishing registration law,” the newspaper reported. However, the NLD youth
members denied that they intended to post the statement on the blog, which is run by a Burmese exile. They
said that it was merely being circulated among members of the party. In the statement, the NLD youth
members said they were saddened by the junta’s failure to respond to international calls for the
unconditional release of Suu Kyi, and expressed doubts about the legality of her trial. They pointed out that
the trial is being carried out under provisions of the 1974 constitution, which was abolished when the
current regime seized power in 1988. “The act of saying that the 1974 constitution has been dissolved
without showing any firm proof is a lawless act,” the report in The New Light of Burma claimed. The report
also said that NLD central executive committee members would be held responsible for the actions of the
party’s youth members because they had authorized the online publication of the statement. The authorities
warned the CEC members yesterday that the statement “harmed peace and stability and prevalence of law
and order in the country and disturbed the trial proceedings of a court.” According to The New Light of
Burma, the NLD leaders were instructed to sign a statement showing that they had been warned about the
situation. However, NLD spokesperson Han Thar Myint said that the NLD leaders refused to sign anything.
Irrawaddy, 6 June 2009

State media in Burma says authorities have released two women and four children detained after protesting
outside the U.S. Embassy. The group was arrested Thursday as they protested the detention of a man who is
the boss of one woman and the husband of the other. He was reportedly detained for taking photographs of a
shop. Such an action is liable to raise police suspicions in the military state. The Padauk Mye radio station
reported Saturday that the women and children aged between 5 and 17 years have been freed. eTaiwan
News, 6 June 2009

US President Barack Obama has described the court proceedings as a “show trial” while Burma’s usually
reticent Asian neighbours have expressed strong concerns. Japan’s deputy minister for foreign affairs,
Kenichiro Sasae, urged Burma’s junta to listen to the concerns during his trip on Thursday and Friday to the
capital Naypyidaw, the Japanese ministry said. AFP, 6 June 2009

International labour experts on Saturday called on the Burmese government to amend a provision in the
country’s new constitution that could be interpreted as justifying forced labour. A special session at the
International Labour Organisation on the forced labour situation in Burma concluded that the steps taken
by the ruling junta towards eradicating forced labour were “totally inadequate.” In a report presented at the
meeting, the experts pointed to a provision in the new constitution referring to “duties assigned thereupon
by the State in accord with the law in the interests of the people.” The experts expressed deep concern about
a provision in the text of the Constitution that “may be interpreted in such a way as to allow a generalised
exaction of forced labour from the population.” They called on the government to amend the new
constitution, which is meant to take effect in 2010, to bring it into conformity with labour rules. Burma’s
representative however said the government “cannot accept criticism on our constitution process,” which he
said had been adopted by over 90 percent of voters. ILO experts said that exploitation remained rampant in
the Asian country, adding “there is no genuine and sustained political will to end forced labour.” They also
raised “serious concern on the continued human rights violations in Burma and the detention of Aung San
Suu Kyi” and other political prisoners. AFP, 6 June 2009

A report by the ILO’s liaison officer in Burma, Steve Marshall, said only 152 complaints of forced labor
had been received under the mechanism agreed in 2007. “The government continues to play the diplomatic
game of doing just enough to create an appearance of cooperation. No one in this room is fooled by that,”
said Edward Potter, who speaks for the employers’ group on the committee. Several workers’
representatives called for disinvestment from Burma, which is rich in oil, gas, timber and gems, and was
once a major rice producer. Reuters, 6 June 2009

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The last time I met Aung San Suu Kyi was in 2003, shortly before the regime ordered an attack on her
motorcade that led to the massacre of a number of her supporters and to her detention. She had warned that
the viciousness of government intimidation was increasing against tens of thousands who would gather at
rallies around the country to hear her speak. Years of isolation had failed to diminish her allure for the
Burmese people. Despite the increasing danger, her fortitude and focus was inspirational. I know she will
draw on the rare qualities she possesses to deal with the verdict of the show trial she faces now. If anything,
she will be energized and invigorated by it. The events of the last few weeks have once again thrown the
spotlight on her statesmanlike perseverance against the juvenile banality of Burma’s dictator Than Shwe.
The regime has set flowing the myriad streams that coalesce to make her so powerful despite her captivity.
Aung San Suu Kyi’s power flows from many different sources. It comes from all those who invest hope in
her inside Burma and beyond: from dirt-poor farmers in the plains to cyclone survivors in the delta; from
refugees outside her borders to those displaced within them; from the businesses that are choked by the
regime to the public servants prevented form serving their people. It comes from those inspired by her
selflessness and integrity in a world where cynicism dominates our view of leadership. It comes from the
narrative of a monolithic military machine pitted against a solitary, courageous woman. Than Shwe cannot
stop the flow of these streams—his actions only help them to flow stronger and faster. This is why he fears
her. Those who believe political struggles have failed if they do not deliver results quickly, comprehensively
and categorically need to return to their history books. The African National Congress was formed in 1912
and achieved its goal of a democratic South Africa eight decades later. The victory of democrats in Eastern
Europe took half a century. I don’t want Burma to wait that long. We should be impatient for change in this
beautiful country. But we should not lose sight of what real change means. I believe Aung San Suu Kyi has
always been clear about that. She said in an interview that her only fear is to let people down who depend on
her, that she would rather go down herself than let that happen. It says something about her if she ends up
doing that, but it will also say something about the international community. John Jackson, former director
of the Burma Campaign UK, Irrawaddy, 6 June 2009

7 June 2009, Sunday


Four officials of the Buthidaung prison in Arakan state in western Burma have been removed from their
posts following the arrest of a man possessing a documentary film on the conditions inside the prison.
Sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs told Mizzima that Buthidaung prison in-charge Tin Tun, prison
doctor Htay Win, jailer Win Maung and anther prison officer Thein Kyaw were dismissed on June 7 by the
authorities. “The video tape shows, the living condition in the prison and how prisoners are being forced to
work. The tape was seized from a man who was travelling from Budithaung to Maungdaw town,” a source
in the Military Affairs Security (MAS) told Mizzima. The arrested man was identified as Thein Oo and is a
resident of Buthidaung town, sources said. 16 June 2009

The Thai Army yesterday sent more heavy weapons, including mortars, into border areas near the fighting,
on the orders of Third Region Army commander Lt-General Thanongsak Apirakyothin. The mortars were
installed in Tak’s Tha Song Yang district to fire warning shots against any stray shells from the Burmese
side of the border. The commander said Thailand would take progressive measures in reaction to any
violation of sovereignty. Thanongsak yesterday visited a military unit in Tha Song Yang district and saw
458 war refugees there. He was briefed by local officials that 1,714 refugees had arrived and more were
expected. The general instructed officers to work with administrative officials to take good care of the
refugees, most of whom are children and elderly people, though it is expected that if the battle becomes
intense young adults will follow. The Nation, 7 June 2009

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8 June 2009, Monday
A court in Burma is set to rule Tuesday on whether to allow the testimony of three witnesses who were
earlier not allowed at the trial of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. According to Nyan Win, one of
Suu Kyi’s lawyers, the court approved 23 prosecution witnesses, of whom 14 testified. He has described the
rejection of three defense witnesses as “unfair and unjust.” AP, 8 June 2009

The National League for Democracy (NLD) is faced with a new threat with the ruling junta having warned
and restricted it from issuing statements, an executive member of the party said on Monday. Win Tin, a
veteran journalist and Central Executive Committee (CEC) member of the NLD, said the junta’s warning to
party leaders and youths came in the wake of a statement issued last week by the Youth Working Group. It
is a new threat to the party and also signals an increasing crackdown on party activities. The NLD Youth
Working Group on June 2 issued a statement condemning the ongoing trial of party leader Aung San Suu
Kyi saying that the junta is applying an ineffective law of the 1974 constitution to sue her and to continue to
detain her. The youth group also said that the trial was not free and fair as the defendant was only allowed
one witness while the prosecution presented 14. In a vindictive response to the statement, the junta
authorities on Friday summoned the NLD CEC members along with leaders of the Youth Working Group
and warned them. They made them sign a pledge not to repeat such accusations. “It is a threat to us as our
members, including youths, have been warned about issuing statements, which we as a legal political party
used to issue and have the right to,” Win Tin said. “It is also a restriction of freedom of expression,” Win
Tin added. On June 4, the authorities called members of the NLD youth wing Hla Thein, Myo Nyunt, Hla
Oo and Aye Tun and on June 5 called CEC members Than Htun, Nyunt Wai, Hla Pe and Soe Myint and
warned them against issuing statements. “When we were summoned, they read out a paper the content of
which was similar to the context in the newspaper. They said, we had broken the law,” a youth member told
Mizzima. “After they finished reading, they told us to sign the paper as a confession that we had committed
a crime,” he added. Mizzima, 8 June 2009

The Burmese junta has clamped down on the rising numbers of unlicensed radio owners in a move that
media experts see as restriction on the freedom of media and access to pro-democracy broadcasts. The
ruling junta yesterday issued a warning in the New Light of Burma newspaper that those listening to radio
without holding a license could be prosecuted under the Wireless Act. The warning carried no information
on why people would be prosecuted nor why numbers of listeners are increasing, but a Burmese journalist
on the China-Burma border said the increase was linked to the political crisis. The chairman of the exiled
Burma Media Association (BMA) said the move is an attempt to restrict the freedom of media and a
means to arrest listeners of exiled media. “The military governments…legal actions on radio listeners who
do not pay license fees… is an effort to hamper the people of Burma who have been depending more and
more on foreign radios lately,” said Maung Maung Myint. “Let’s say, if they want to take action on
listeners of foreign radios, they want to create a scenario in which they could arrest them not for listening to
the radio but for not licensing their radios.” DVB, 8 June 2009

Former Singapore prime minister Goh Chok Tong visited Burma, officials said, amid international pressure
on the military regime to halt its trial of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi. Goh was set to meet Burma’s
junta chief Senior General Than Shwe, Prime Minister Thein Sein and other senior officials on the
“goodwill” trip, a Burmese official and a Singaporean statement said. The visit comes just days after the
Singaporean government said that expelling Burma from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) was not the way to bring about reform in the army-ruled country. AFP, 8 June 2009

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9 June 2009, Tuesday
A court in army-ruled Burma has upheld a ban on two defense witnesses in the widely condemned trial of
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, one of her lawyers said on Tuesday. Although the court overturned a
ban on one witness, Khin Moe Moe, the Nobel laureate’s lawyer Nyan Win said he was disappointed by the
ruling and would appeal the decision. “We didn’t get the result we expected and we will go to a higher court
to appeal,” Nyan Win told reporters. But Nyan Win said final arguments in the trial, which had been
delayed several times, would likely be put back again. “The final verdict on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is now
expected after two weeks,” he said. Security was tight during Tuesday’s hearing, with at least 20 trucks
carrying riot police assembled in front of the City Hall, the site of previous anti-junta protests in the former
capital. Reuters, 9 June 2009

To date, only one witness has testified in Suu Kyi’s defense. Her lawyers had requested that the Rangoon
Divisional Court reinstate three witnesses who were disqualified from testifying by judges in the lower
district court presiding over her trial. Burma’s courts are widely viewed as subordinate to the ruling military
and expectations are high that Suu Kyi will be found guilty. The mostly closed-door trial, which started May
18, is taking place inside Insein Prison, home to many of the junta's political prisoners. AP, 9 June 2009

India is an immediate neighbour of Burma, a country which has been plagued by political crisis for over
four decades. Not only the two countries have shared border, but India and Burma are homes to millions of
people from the same ethnic community, separated during the creation of India and Burma in 1947 and
1948. Examples are the Kukis, the Nagas and the Shans, who live side by side along the Indo-Burma region.
In the late eighties and the early part of nineties, the Indian government was noticeably sympathetic and
supportive to the Burma’s democracy movement; the Burmese activists were openly welcomed and
sheltered in the Indian soil. India was more vocal on human rights and democracy. The policy shift began
during the Congress government of prime minister P V Narasimha Rao in 1991, and augmented by the
Bharatiya Janata Party under prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1998-2004). The salient factor for India's
policy shift was its national interest and security. Opening doors to Southeast Asia was a gateway to
expanding its much needed international market. To tackle the rising insurgency problems in its Northeast
part of the country and countering China’s influence in the region were the primary security concerns.
As long as its rival China is economically and strategically engaged in Burma, India is likely to stick with
the defunct non-aligned movement doctrine of non-interference in the internal affairs of others, which
serves its national interest. There is no foreseeable sign, at least in the near future, that New Delhi will
retreat from a sweetheart relationship with Naypyidaw. While the international community, from West to
East, is outraged at the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi over charges of violating her house arrest for allowing
William John Yettaw, an American visitor, to stay in her lakeside home in Yangoon, India has not lived up
to the expectation of the international community. Its economic interest and fear of antagonising the
Burmese military has prevented India from advocating human rights and democracy. Nehginpao Kipgen,
kanglaonline.com, 9 June 9, 2009

Burma’s ethnic Karen rebels urged the international community Tuesday to pressure the ruling junta into
talks, after around 3,000 villagers fled to Thailand to escape a military offensive. Government soldiers have
been battling Karen National Union, or KNU, guerillas in eastern regions of Burma for decades, but the
latest exodus into neighboring Thailand is one of the biggest for years. Free Burma Rangers, an aid group
operating inside Burma, said more than 3, 500 people had crossed the border into Thailand to escape the
violence. Most had fled from Ler Per Her camp, where Karen rebel forces are based, it said. The
Washington-based U.S. Campaign for Burma said the situation was “very tense” and put the number of
Karen people arriving at the border at nearly 4,000 - most of them women and children. The group accused
the government of diverting attention from the trial of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi in Rangoon,
saying it was “not usual” for such an attack during monsoon season, when it is harder for troops to operate.

Page 112 of 226


“We believe that current military offensives are intended to distract the public attention from Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi’s trial and subsequent sentencing,” said Aung Din, executive director of the Washington-based
group. AFP, 9 June 2009

Singapore’s Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong has said the trial of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi
should not be allowed to affect Burma’s national reconciliation process or disrupt its elections due in 2010.
Mr Goh made the comments in meetings with Burma’s top leadership. He was in Naypyidaw on Tuesday,
where he was given a rare tour of the administrative capital. Senior Minister Goh was given a full brief on
Burma’s new administrative capital, located some 320 kilometres north of Rangoon. In meetings with
Senior General Than Shwe and Burma’s Prime Minister Thien Sein, the leaders exchanged frank views on
developments in Burma. On Ms Suu Kyi who is currently on trial for breaching the terms of her house
arrest, Mr Goh noted that the trial is a domestic affair. But he also stressed that there is an international
dimension to the matter, which Burma should not ignore. Channel News Asia, 9 June 2009

The United Nations refugee agency today said that it is looking into the situation of a group of several
thousand Karen people who recently fled across the Moei River from Burma to Thailand. Estimates of the
number of people who escaped to northern Thailand since last Wednesday range from 2,000 to 6,400, and
“one of the first things we would like to do is ascertain the number of people who are in the five sites near
Mae Sot,” William Spindler, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), told
reporters in Geneva. Mr. Spindler said that according to preliminary talks with some new arrivals, “it seems
some were fleeing actual fighting between the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, which is allied with
Government forces, and the rebel Karen National Union (KNU). Others say they were fleeing forced
recruitment or forced labour by Government forces.” A number of the recently-arrived refugees were
already uprooted in Burma and living in the Ler Per Her camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) run by
the KNU in Karen-held territory, he noted. Many of the refugees brought supplies with them, and aid
agencies are also providing them with necessities, such as food, mosquito nets, pots, pans and blankets,
while UNHCR has distributed plastic sheeting. In February, the agency said that there were some 111,000
registered refugees living in nine camps along the Thai-Burma border, who are restricted from leaving the
camps and as a result unable to earn a living or receive higher education. UN News Centre, 9 June 2009

10 June 2009, Wednesday


Burmese pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi has met with her defence lawyers in jail, an official said,
as her legal team vowed to push ahead with an appeal to allow more witnesses at her trial. An appeal court
in the military-ruled nation on Tuesday allowed her to call a second witness at her closed prison trial -- a
legal expert has already given evidence -- but upheld a ban on testimony by two key members of her party.
Her lawyers went to visit her at the Insein Prison in Rangoon on Wednesday, a Burmese official said on
condition of anonymity, without giving further details about the meeting. Aung San Suu Kyi’s lawyers had
initially accused the ruling junta of trying to push through to a widely expected guilty verdict, but diplomats
said the regime now wanted to buy time to defuse the storm of protest over the trial. AFP, 10 June 2009

Imprisoned Burmese pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi instructed her legal team Wednesday to push
ahead with a high court appeal to allow two more defence witnesses at her trial, her lawyer said. The Nobel
laureate decided to press on with the appeal after a lower Rangoon court a day earlier overturned a ban on
one witness but refused to allow the others to testify at the trial, being held at the notorious Insein prison.
Aung San Suu Kyi was allowed to meet her lawyers for one-and-a-half hours at the jail on the outskirts of
Rangoon on Wednesday afternoon, said Nyan Win, one of her three lawyers and the spokesman for her
National League for Democracy. The two barred defence witnesses are Win Tin, a dissident journalist who
was Burma’s longest serving prisoner until his release in September, and Tin Oo, the detained deputy leader
of the NLD. AFP, 10 June 2009
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A coalition of Burmese ethnic groups Wednesday called on the United Nations Security Council to
investigate attacks on ethnic Karen villages in eastern Burma that have forced more than 3,000 refugees into
Thailand. Since June 6, some 3,295 Karen refugees have fled from Ler Per Her camp in eastern Burma to
Thailand, escaping attacks on the camp by the Burmese military and their allies the Democratic Karen
Buddhist Army (DKBA), according to border sources. “The Security Council must urgently establish a
commission of inquiry to investigate and report on crimes against humanity and war crimes in Burma in
addition to imposing a global arms embargo against Burma’s violent military regime,” said Naing Aung,
secretary-general of the Forum for Democracy in Burma (FDB). The forum, based on the Thai-Burma
border, comprises representatives from six ethnic minority groups, including the Karen, whose traditional
homeland was the Karen State, who are opposed to Burma’s military regime. “We demand that these
barbaric actions stop immediately,” Naing Aung said. Earth Times, 10 June 2009

Win Tin said he hopes Goh noted the wrongdoings of the junta in Burma and suggested ways to alleviate
the suffering in the country. Commenting on the potential for an all-inclusive process in Burmese politics,
Win Tin said he believes that the term “all-inclusive” should mean not only in respect of elections, but also
an all-inclusive process in all political issues in Burma. He also said that elections are important in the
democratization process, but that the regime must review the constitution alongside opposition parties.
Larry Jagan, a British journalist in Bangkok who specializes in Burmese issues, told The Irrawaddy on
Wednesday that although Goh visited Burma as the Singaporean Senior Minister, he could informally act as
an envoy on behalf of Asean to tell Than Shwe face-to-face what Asean members think about the criminal
trial of Suu Kyi and the Burmese political situation. “Goh Chok Tong is a senior politician within Asean. He
is someone that Than Shwe has high regard for. So, he has the kind of stature that is needed as someone
who can go to talk with Than Shwe frankly,” Jagan said. “What he told Than Shwe is more his personal
view than Asean’s view,” he added. “But his concerns about the trial and the political crisis in Burma are
shared by most Asean leaders.” Analysts have said Goh’s trip is quite significant as a diplomatic approach,
because he was able to meet with Than Shwe who earlier this year rebuffed Ibrahim Gambari, the UN
special envoy to Burma. Debbie Stothard of Alternative Asean Network on Burma said Asean leaders are
now showing their concerns over the ongoing political process in the country. “But just one trip is nothing
as far as diplomatic efforts for change in Burma are concerned,” she said, adding, “Asean should push
continuously. Burma issues are now a problem for Asean.” Irrawaddy, 10 June 2009

Contending that India had compromised on the issue of supporting a democratic movement in neighbouring
Burma, former Defence Minister and veteran socialist leader George Fernandes today called for a rethink
on the country’s foreign policy. In a letter written to Minister for External Affairs S M Krishna, Mr
Fernandes said Ms Aung San Suu Kyi, who was waging a battle for restoration of democracy in her country,
had great hopes from India as a country that valued democractic rights. Her perception of India was evident
from her acceptance speech given at the time she was honoured with the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for
International Understanding 14 years ago, Mr Fernandes said, adding he was enclosing a copy of her speech
to remind the policy makers of what she had said. “Our compromises have been too many and silence too
long on the issue of supporting a democratic movement in our immediate neighbourhood,” he said. The
New Kerala, 10 June 2009

A group of 118 MPs on Wednesday appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to ask the Burmese
government to release pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and impress upon the military regime to
respect democratic principles. Cutting across party lines, the MPs in a memorandum to Singh said India
should intervene in the current situation to urge upon the Burmese generals through all “possible diplomatic
and other demarches to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.” The MPs, including CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat,
SP’s Amar Singh, BJP’s Prakash Javadekar, JD(U)’s Sharad Yadav, NCP’s Supriya Sule, Congress’ B S
Gnanadesikan and RSP’s Abani Roy have signed the appeal. Indian Parliamentarians’ Forum for
Democracy in Burma (IIPFDB) co-convenor Sharad Joshi said India should change its policy towards
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Burma and try to establish contacts with the people and not with the military regime. Abani Roy said as a
largest democracy and good neighbour, India has the moral obligation to rescue Suu Kyi and Burma from
“devastation.” The MPs also said Burmese believe that there will be no inclusive political process and free
and fair polls in 2010 if Suu Kyi and more than 2100 political prisoners are not released. Dr Tint Swe,
Burmese MP, said India should work with the UN to revive democracy in Burma. The Hindu, 10 June 2009

Former Singapore prime minister Goh Chok Tong has urged Burma’s ruling generals during a visit to the
country to ensure that elections due next year are free and fair, a report said Wednesday. Goh, still a senior
minister in Singapore, told junta leader Senior Gen. Than Shwe and Prime Minister Thein Sein not to ignore
the global interest in the trial of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the Strait Times reported. But he also
said the case against the Nobel peace laureate - who faces up to five years in prison for violating the terms
of her house arrest after a U.S. man swam to her lakeside home - was a domestic matter, the report said. The
city-state’s former prime minister met the two senior generals Tuesday, with each meeting lasting more than
an hour, the newspaper said. AFP, 10 June 2009

President Barack Obama’s choice as top U.S. diplomat for East Asia said Wednesday the United States is
interested in easing its long-standing policy of isolation against military-run Burma. Kurt Campbell,
however, told U.S. lawmakers at his Senate confirmation hearing that Burma’s heavy-handed treatment of
detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi hinders any U.S. effort to change course and engage the
ruling junta in Burma. “As a general practice, we’re prepared to reach out, not just in Burma but in other
situations as well,” Campbell said. But, he said, the junta’s trial this week of Suu Kyi on charges that could
put her in prison for five years is “deeply, deeply concerning, and it makes it very difficult to move
forward.” AP, 10 May 2009

11 June 2009, Thursday


Burmese pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi believes her trial by the ruling junta is “politically
motivated”, her lawyer said Thursday, as he lodged an appeal over a ban on two witnesses. The opposition
leader met with her legal team in prison on Wednesday to discuss her defence against charges that she broke
the rules of her house arrest when an American man swam to her lakeside property in May. “Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi said yesterday when we met that the trial is politically motivated,” Nyan Win, one of her three
lawyers and the spokesman for her National League for Democracy (NLD), told AFP. 11 June 2009

Lawyers for jailed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi filed an appeal Thursday to Burma’s High Court to
reinstate two key defense witnesses in a case that could put her in prison for five years. Suu Kyi gave her
legal team instructions to pursue a second appeal during a 90-minute meeting Wednesday at Insein Prison,
where she is being held while on trial on charges of violating the terms of her house arrest, lawyer Nyan
Win said. The charges stem from the surprise visit of an American man who swam across a lake to her
house. The District Court trying Suu Kyi allowed only one of four defense witnesses to take the stand. On
appeal, the Rangoon Divisional Court on Tuesday ruled that a second witness could be heard. Two senior
members of Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party remain barred from giving testimony. Suu Kyi
“told us to see it through to the end as the ruling is legally wrong,” Nyan Win said. AP, 11 June 2009

Burmese pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi is dissatisfied that her lakeside home is still guarded by
authorities despite her house arrest officially ending in May, a lawyer has said. The Nobel laureate,
currently held in Rangoon’s notorious Insein prison, said friends had been denied access to her residence
despite the fact that police told her in May that the house arrest had been cancelled. AFP, 11 June 2009

The leaders of France and Germany expressed grave concern Thursday for Aung San Suu Kyi, who has
been put on trial by Burma’s junta, and appealed to China and India to intervene on her behalf. During a
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joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, President Nicolas Sarkozy said he had
sought to speak by phone to the pro-democracy leader but the military government denied his request. “We
are asking our Chinese and Indian friends for help and to take into account the concern that we have for the
Nobel Peace Prize winner ahead of a conviction that appears, unfortunately, unavoidable,” said Sarkozy.
AFP, 11 June 2009

12 June 2009, Friday


Burmese officials on Friday postponed an appeal hearing and adjourned the main trial of democracy leader
Aung San Suu Kyi, in what diplomats said were attempts by the junta to stall the legal process. Aung San
Suu Kyi’s high court appeal, seeking to overturn a ban on two defence witnesses at her trial, was due to be
held on June 17 but a later date will now be set, said one of her three-member legal team, Nyan Win. She
appeared in court for a 20-minute hearing on Friday, but the closed-door prison trial was then adjourned to
reconvene on June 26 when it will hear from legal expert Khin Moe Moe, whose testimony was initially
refused. “They will now accept the testimony of Khin Moe Moe. She will testify as an expert on legal and
political matters and explain that Aung San Suu Kyi was not the person who disturbed the peace and
stability of the people,” Nyan Win said. The court told Aung San Suu Kyi’s defence team that a two-week
court recess was necessary because Khin Moe Moe, whose witness ban was overturned by an appeal court
on Tuesday, lives far from Rangoon in eastern Shan state. Another legal expert, Kyi Win, has already
testified for Aung San Suu Kyi. Bars remain on Win Tin, a journalist who was Burma’s longest serving
political prisoner until his release in September, and detained deputy NLD leader Tin Oo, but Nyan Win
said he hoped for a positive verdict by the high court. “We expect our appeal to be accepted by the high
court because our request is clearly in accordance with the law,” he said. Nyan Win, who also acts as the
NLD’s spokesman, said he had also been given permission to visit the now deserted lakeside property of
Aung San Suu Kyi on Saturday, where she was kept in near isolation. The Nobel Peace Prize winner, aged
63 and recently in poor health, faces up to five years in jail if convicted. Some 20 members of her NLD
party on Friday sat outside Rangoon’s notorious Insein prison, where Aung San Suu Kyi is being held.
Western diplomats in Rangoon say a string of delayed court dates is a sign that the ruling generals are
seeking to stall the proceedings after being shocked by the vehement worldwide criticism of the trial. AFP,
12 June 2009

A conviction for the charismatic National League for Democracy (NLD) party leader is widely expected in a
country where the courts often bend the law to suit the military. The Supreme Court on Thursday accepted
an appeal over a lower court’s decision to bar two of her defense witnesses, senior NLD member Win Tin
and the party’s detained vice-chairman, Tin Oo. The appeal will be heard on June 17. If the court overturns
the bans and allows the pair to testify, final arguments and a verdict on Suu Kyi’s case would be reached
“much later,” Nyan Win added. He said Khin Moe Moe’s testimony will highlight flaws in the
prosecution’s case and “explain that these charges are all politically motivated.” Suu Kyi is charged under
Section 22 of an internal security law to protect the state from “subversive elements” but her lawyers say all
charges should be dropped because the legislation is outdated. She has blamed lax security for allowing
Yettaw to swim to her home. She has spent more than 13 years in detention since her first period of house
arrest in July 1989. Her latest stint was lifted on May 26 and she is now being held in a guesthouse at
Rangoon’s infamous Insein prison while the trial continues. Reuters, 12 June 2009

Five political prisoners in Rangoon’s Insein prison have been held in punishment cells – military dog cells –
and banned from receiving family visits since 11 May 2009, the Assistance Association for Political
Prisoners (Burma) has learned They are Naing Naing, National League for Democracy Member of
Parliament, Soe Han, NLD member and lawyer, Aung Naing, NLD member, Lwin Ko Latt, student and
member of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions, and U Sandimar, senior abbot monk. Aung Myo
Thein, AAPP, 12 June 2009
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The Burmese junta’s number 2, Vice Sr-Gen Maung Aye, is to travel to China soon on a visit analysts say
will include talks focusing on the regime’s uneasy relationship with ethnic ceasefire groups based along
Sino-Burmese border. The visit was announced on Friday in the state-run newspaper The New Light of
Burma, which said Maung Aye and his wife would travel to China “soon.” Irrawaddy, 12 June 2009

Despite of promised by authorities to provide round-the-clock electricity supply in Rangoon, an official


from Ministry of Electrical Power in Naypyidaw said, it is almost impossible until next month. Rangoon
Electricity Board Secretary, Lt. Col. Maung Maung Latt, in a recent briefing to journalists said, Rangoon
would get all round-the-clock electricity in July. However, the officer from the concerned Ministry said it
was unlikely. Mizzima, 12 June 2009

A Burmese junta-backed militia group involved in the offensive against the Karen National Union near the
Thai-Burma border has reportedly threatened to shell Thai villagers if they don’t supply them with food.
Thousand of Karen have fled into Thailand over the past week following attacks by the government, backed
by the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), against the Karen National Union. Up to 6000 people
are believed to have crossed into Thailand and are now holed up in makeshift camps along the border.
Medical group the Free Burma Rangers (FBR) said yesterday that DKBA troops had threatened villagers
in Thailand’s Noh Bo village with artillery bombardments unless they supply food to support them in their
attack. Irrawaddy, 12 June 2009

“Freedom from fear.” These words, uttered by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in 1990, resound more than ever as a
call for help at a time when the Burmese junta has initiated proceedings against her that are as absurd as
they are unjustified. We are not fooled: This is a poor pretext to prevent her from participating in the
upcoming elections. Bernard Kouchner, The New York Times, 12 June 2009

Indonesia has asked India and China to push for reform in the military-ruled Burma, whose trial of
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has sparked international outrage. Foreign Ministry spokesman Teuku
Faizasyah said Friday the request was raised in a recent UN forum, which convened envoys from India,
China, Burma and Japan, as well as representatives of the multilateral body. “Those countries play a key
role to a settlement in Burma’s issue... and we would very much like to see them urge Burma to embrace the
value of human rights,” he said. Both China and India have maintained their backing of Burma’s notorious
junta due to their close economic ties in a time when western countries and international organizations
consider imposition of more economic sanctions on Rangoon. Lilian Budianto, The Jakarta Post, 12 June
2009

Thailand’s condemnation of the Suu Kyi trial and the arrival of thousands of Burmese refugees has put
relations between the two countries under “unprecedented strain”, according to a Burmese state-run
newspaper. Burma has come under mounting international criticism over the trial of opposition leader Aung
San Suu Kyi, whose next hearing has been adjourned until 26 June. Thailand, who holds the chair of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc, has recently expressed “grave concern” both at the
lack of democratic progress in the country and the potential for the trial to tarnish the bloc’s image. DVB,
12 June 2009

This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson William Spindler at the press briefing, on 12
June 2009, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. UNHCR staff have visited five sites in northern Thailand
where Karen villagers are taking shelter after fleeing eastern Burma since 3 June. We have now verified the
presence of 2,000 recent arrivals. The Karen villagers are taking shelter mostly in temples, in a communal
hall and in private Thai homes in four villages. A large group at a fifth place called Mae Usu who were
reported to be sheltering in a cave are actually in a large field that was once the site of a refugee camp many
years ago. By and large, the Karen villagers say they fled in fear of conscription by armed forces or of
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forced labour as porters for armed forces. Those who mentioned military action mostly said they fled in
anticipation of fighting as the Burmese army and their allies, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army,
approached rebel Karen National Union bases and villages. Our staff report that most of the new arrivals
seem to be women and children. Some of the Karen women say many of their men stayed behind to protect
crops and livestock. They also admit some men are scattered throughout Thai villages trying to find day
labour and are not registered at the five sites. Many of the new arrivals said they would like to go back to
Burma if the situation calms down. Many said they had crossed over to Thailand for safety for short periods
in the past and then gone home. Thai authorities have responded quickly and sympathetically to the needs of
the new arrivals and we are working well together with them and with non-governmental agencies to meet
the needs of the Karen villagers. Relief web, 12 June 2009

13 June 2009, Saturday


Karen villagers trying to reach the relative safety of Thailand after weeks of heavy fighting in Karen State
are trapped and hiding in the jungle, as Burmese junta troops and their allies try to prevent them from
joining the four thousand civilians who have already crossed the border. Saw Hla Htun, the chairman of the
Karen Youth Organization, told The Irrawaddy on Saturday that several hundred villagers from Pa-an
District in southern Karen State were unable to reach the border because Burmese soldiers and troops from
the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) are blocking their way. Saw Yan Naing, Irrawaddy, 13 June
2009

Singapore’s Senior Minister, Goh Chok Tong, has urged Burma to continue with its process of national
reconciliation and democracy. Wrapping up his four-day visit to the country, Mr Goh noted that without
political reform, Burma will not be able to achieve fast economic growth like other ASEAN economies.
And in its efforts towards national reconciliation, Mr Goh said Burma cannot ignore the international
interest surrounding pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s trial. Ms Suu Kyi is currently on trial for
breaching the rules governing her house arrest. Mr Goh said he had constructive discussions with Burma’s
top leaders, including Senior General Than Shwe. And it provided him with insights into just how complex
Burma’s political situation is. He said: “I could see that Senior General Than Shwe is in a very difficult
position. He has inherited this military regime – Burma has been under military government since 1962, so
it’s not his creation. Burma has come to a cul de sac, how does it make a u-turn? I think that’s not easy.” Mr
Goh added that Burma’s stability is dependent on bringing together the three parties – the military
government, the ethnic groups and the opposition. Channel News Asia, 13 June 2009

14 June 2009, Sunday


Come Friday, the world’s most famous prisoner of conscience will turn 64. But there is no cause to
celebrate. Aung San Suu Kyi’s latest gift from the government of Burma was another farcical trial designed
to extend her detention. On May 14, she was moved from her home on University Road in Rangoon, where
she has been under house arrest for most of the last 19 years, to Insein prison. The court’s argument was
that, by allowing American John William Yettaw to enter her lakeside residence, she had violated the terms
of her house arrest. Suu Kyi’s plea was that she felt sorry for Yettaw after he swam across Lake Inya to visit
her. This recent travesty is yet another tribulation the Nobel Peace Prize winner has had to endure in her
long struggle to bring democracy and freedom to her native country. Despite a thumping win in the 1990
general elections, Suu Kyi has never been allowed to take office as her country’s rightful leader. During her
extended detention, her British husband, Dr Michael Aris, died, and she has barely seen her two sons,
Alexander and Kim. Aung San Suu Kyi’s family has played a crucial role in her country’s history. Martin
Vengadesan, The Star Online, 14 June 2009

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Malaysia-based Nyan Lin Aung, an NLD activist in charge of migrant workers’ issues, says Aung San Suu
Kyi is virtually irreplaceable. “She has a unique position. She is a national leader who leads by example.
She stands for justice and is trusted by everyone in the country. She is accepted not just by the Burmese
race, but by also the Shan, the Mon and the Karen. “We are worried about her health. The current regime is
afraid of her popularity and always tries to undermine her. They have even tried to infiltrate the NLD. The
situation at home is terrible now, but we won’t give up. Even though we had to leave because of the
economy and rigid control by the military, we have faith that one day things will change. Aung San Suu Kyi
can change our future.” thestar.com.my, 14 June 2009

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa left for burma on a two day official visit this morning. The
President will hold bilateral discussions with the Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council,
Senior General Than Swe and other high ranking officials of the Burmese government including Prime
Minister Gen.Thein Sein. Burma and Sri Lanka last week celebrated 60 years of diplomatic relations and
Burma as a gesture made a token financial grant towards the welfare of displaced persons in the North.
asiantribune.com, 14 June 2009

Taiwan has recently acted to strengthen its economic and trade cooperation with Burma as part of its efforts
to seek closer ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), an expanding regional
economic bloc. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) on mutual cooperation between the quasi-official
Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) and the Union of Myanmar Federation of
Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) was signed in Rangoon last week, according to a TAITRA
statement. e Taiwan News, 14 June 2009

15 June 2009, Monday


Burma’s junta has dropped its guard over opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s compound in Rangoon
since her house detention officially ended May 27, but she has meanwhile been transferred to Insein Prison,
opposition sources said Monday. “Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s house is already free from control by the
authorities,” Nyan Win, one of Suu Kyi’s lawyers, said. Suu Kyi, currently a resident at Rangoon’s
notorious Insein Prison, has assigned two men to take care of her family compound in her absence, said
Nyan Win, who is also the spokesman for the National League for Democracy (NLD) opposition party
which Suu Kyi leads. thaindian.com, 15 June 2009

Veteran journalist Win Tin said on Monday Burma’s military rulers are going the whole hog to garner
diplomatic support from regional countries in the face of growing international condemnation over the trial
of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Win Tin, who is also a central executive committee member of the
Aung San Suu Kyi led National League for Democracy said, the visit of Sri Lankan President Mr. Mahinda
Rajapaksa and Singapore’s Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong are all part of the junta’s effort to cosy up to
regional countries. “Clearly, the junta is in a tight spot as the international community has reacted more
sharply than it had anticipated. And since it might be difficult for the regime to try and influence the West,
they at least want the support of regional countries,” Win Tin added. He said the junta had not anticipated
that there would be such a loud outcry from the international community by putting on trial opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi. “It seems to have miscalculated on the strong support for Aung San Suu Kyi by
the international community,” Win Tin said. The junta wants to gauge China’s reaction over the mounting
pressure and is likely to go ahead and sentence the Burmese Nobel Peace Laureate, if China gives the green
signal, he said. According to Win Tin, the junta is determined to sentence Aung San Suu Kyi to a prison
term and put her away before their proposed 2010 general elections. But it had not anticipated such an
outburst from the international community. Sources said Thura Shwe Mann, the third leader in the Burmese
military hierarchy, last week visited China without making any official announcement. On Monday, the
Chinese News Agency Xinhua reported that Vice-Senior General Maung Aye, number two in the military
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hierarchy, is visiting China. Observers believe these visits are aimed at explaining and trying to convince
China about the junta’s stand regarding the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi and the regime’s plans ahead. Win
Tin said, “Whatever the circumstances, the junta is likely go ahead with its plan if China approves.”
Mizzima, 15 June 2009

A delegation of former political prisoners and human rights activists from Burma have formally delivered a
petition to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, calling on him to make it his personal priority to secure the
release of all Burma’s political prisoners. Almost 680,000 signatures were collected in just ten weeks in the
largest global coordinated action for Burma yet. The delegation included Tate Naing, former political
prisoner and Secretary of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma); Khin Ohmar, Foreign
Affairs Secretary of the Forum for Democracy in Burma; and Nyi Nyi Aung, whose mother and two cousins
are serving jail terms of up to 65 years for their pro-democracy activities. Nyi Nyi Aung said, “I am grateful
to have had the opportunity to deliver this petition to the UN. I truly believe every signature counts. To Mr.
Ban Ki-moon, my message is simple: Your words show you take this issue seriously. But now I want to see
what action you will take to secure the release of my family and all Burma’s political prisoners.” There are
currently more than 2,100 political prisoners in Burma’s prisons and labour camps. Last month, National
League for Democracy member Salai Hla Moe became the 140th political prisoner to die in detention since
1988. His family were only informed of his death on a routine prison visit, almost three weeks after his
death. The 48 year-old activist leaves behind a wife and four children. Tate Naing said, “How many more
political prisoners have to die before the UN will act? I urge Mr. Ban Ki-moon to accept nothing less than
the immediate and unconditional release of all Burma’s political prisoners in his current negotiations with
the regime. He must not allow any more delay. Political prisoners, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, are
the hope for democracy and future leaders of our country. Their lives are at stake.” Aung Myo Thein,
AAPP, 15 June 2009

Burma’s second top leader Vice Senior-General Maung Aye left Naypyidaw Monday for Beijing to begin a
six-day official visit to China at the invitation of Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping. Aimed at promoting
neighborly, friendly and cooperative ties with China, Maung Aye, who is Vice-Chairman of the Burma State
Peace and Development Council (SPDC), is paying his third visit to China in six years. Maung Aye, is also
Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Services and Commander-in-Chief of the Army, traveled to
China in August 2003 and in April 2006. chinaview.cn, 15 June 2009

Today is the second day of President Mahinda Rajapakse’s official visit in Burma. The President
participated in religious activities at the Uppaththatan Viharaya in the Burma’s administrative capital Nepito
this morning. President Mahinda Rajapakse also visited a herbal park in the area. Meanwhile, the visiting
Sri Lankan President met Prime Minister of Burma Thein Sein at his office yesterday. The President
thanked Mr. Sein and his government for their warm welcome and hospitalities extended to the Sri Lankan
delegation. Sri Lankan Broadcasting Corporation, 15 June 2009

Hollywood star Julia Roberts and detained Chinese activists are among celebrities and political prisoners
tweeting and signing petitions for the release of Burma’s democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi as she
approaches her 64th birthday – her 14th spent in detention – organizers said Sunday. Suu Kyi will spend her
64th birthday Friday in Rangoon’s notorious Insein prison, facing charges of violating terms of her house
arrest by harboring an American who swam uninvited to her lakeside home. “We must not stand by as she is
silenced again. Now is the time for the international community to speak with one voice,’ Roberts wrote as
part of a campaign – ‘64 words for Aung San Suu Kyi” – organized by a coalition of human rights and
activist groups. The campaign, launched May 27, asks Suu Kyi’s supporters to tweet, write text messages or
send video and photos to its Web site, http://64forsuu.org. “Burma’s generals think they can act with
impunity. We’ll have to wait until after the trial verdict to see if this time will be any different,” said Mark
Farmaner of Burma Campaign UK, one of the organizers. Actress Demi Moore, actor Kevin Spacey, artist
Yoko Ono and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown were among the contributors to the Web site. James
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Cameron, director of “Titanic” and “The Terminator,” wrote, “While my heroes are fictional, Aung San
Suu Kyi is a real-life hero and she needs help from you.” In a parallel campaign, the organizers have to date
gathered the signatures of 107 former or current political prisoners from over 20 countries calling for the
release of political prisoners in Burma and calling on the U.N. Security Council to impose a global arms
embargo on the Southeast Asian nation. “The continued denial of your freedom unacceptably attacks the
human rights of all 2,156 political prisoners in Burma. As those also incarcerated for our political beliefs,
we share the world’s outrage,” the 64-word message said. The signatories include Kim Dae-jung, a former
South Korean president and Nobel Peace Prize laureate; Shirin Ebadi, an Iranian human rights campaigner
who also won the prize; former Czech President Vaclav Havel; and two female Chinese activists currently
under house arrest, Yuan Weijing and Zeng Jinyan. “Aung San Suu Kyi’s continued detention shames
Asia,” wrote Kim. Anwar Ibrahim, former deputy prime minister of Malaysia, urged the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations to lift its policy of nonintervention in Burma, which is a member of the 10-nation
bloc. Organizers of the campaign include Human Rights Watch, the U.S. Campaign for Burma, Burma
Info Japan, Open Society Institute, France’s Info Birmanie and Amnesty International. AP, 15 June
2009

The Korean government is failing to hold Korean corporations accountable for abuses connected to natural
gas development in military ruled Burma, according to a report released today by EarthRights International
(ERI) and the Shwe Gas Movement (SGM). The report, entitled A Governance Gap: The Failure of the
Korean Government to Hold Korean Corporations Accountable to the OECD Guidelines for Multinational
Enterprises Regarding Violations in Burma, details how the Korean government summarily rejected a 43-
page complaint filed in October 2008 by ERI, SGM and nine co-complainants, including Korea’s two
largest labor organizations regarding abuses connected to the Shwe Gas Project, a large-scale natural gas
development project in Burma led by Korea’s Daewoo International. The complaint detailed violations of
six OECD Guidelines, including a failure to respect international human rights law. The report released
today explains substantive problems with Korea’s decision, which was issued in late 2008. It highlights how
the Korean decision is inconsistent with decisions from NCPs in other countries, and documents inherent
conflicts of interest within the Korean government: The ministry tasked with receiving OECD complaints is
the same ministry tasked with promoting overseas energy development projects and the same ministry that
provided Daewoo a sizable loan to proceed with the controversial Shwe Project. 15 June 2009

16 June 2009, Tuesday


China would like to join with Burma to promote comprehensive, stable and lasting relations, Vice President
Xi Jinping said Tuesday. During talks with Burmese State Peace and Development Council Vice-Chairman
Maung Aye, Xi said China valued good-neighborly relations with Burma. He said Burma was among the
first group of countries that forged diplomatic ties with the People’s Republic of China, and Sino-Burma
relations had maintained good momentum. Xi also said the two countries should implement on-going
projects to boost their economies amid the global downturn. He stressed that the Five Principles of Peaceful
Coexistence were the cornerstone of China’s diplomacy, and as a good neighbor, China hoped Burma would
overcome difficulties to achieve stability and prosperity. Maung Aye expressed gratitude for China’s long-
term assistance. He particularly mentioned that China sent medical teams after Burma was hit by a cyclone
last year. He reaffirmed Burma would support China’s stance on the Taiwan and Tibet issues. Chinese
Premier Wen Jiabao met with Maung Aye earlier Tuesday. Hailing the 60-year diplomatic relationship,
Wen said the two nations enjoyed traditional friendship and broad common interests. Maung Aye said his
government valued the relationship with China. Maung Aye came to China on an official visit scheduled for
June15 to 20 at Xi’s invitation. chinaview.cn, 16 June 2009

If the junta fails to release pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the Association of Southeast Asian
Nation’s (Asean) credibility will be “affected inevitably,” Thai Prime Minster Abhisit Vejajjiva told The
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Far Eastern Economic Review recently. During the Far Eastern Economic View’s interview published on
Tuesday, 16 June, Abhisit, who is now chairman of Asean, said Burma’s political process will have to be
inclusive to gain the acceptability and respectability of the international community. However, the Thai PM
said the Burma issue is the responsibility of the international community and not just Asean. Irrawaddy, 16
June 2009

U.N. investigators said on Tuesday the trial of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi flouted
international standards and urged the country’s military rulers to ensure it was open and fair. In a strongly
worded joint statement, the five human rights investigators noted a U.N. panel issued an advisory ruling a
year ago that the Nobel laureate’s continued house arrest was arbitrary. The trial of Suu Kyi and of
American John Yettaw, whose uninvited visit to her home last month was deemed a breach of her house
arrest, is set to resume on June 26. “The five experts called upon the authorities of Burma to allow the
justice system to function in an independent and impartial manner, so as to guarantee an open and fair trial
for the defendants, and to grant unfettered media access,’ the joint statement said. Suu Kyi says the trial is
politically motivated to keep her in detention during next year’s multi-party elections. “So far, the trial of
Aung San Suu Kyi and her aides has been marred by flagrant violations of substantive and procedural
rights,” said Leandro Despouy, the U.N. special rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers.
“Transparency in the administration of justice is a pre-requisite of any state governed by the rule of law,’
added Despouy, an Argentine lawyer. All witnesses with relevant evidence must be allowed to testify, he
said. Only one witness called by the defence had been permitted to give evidence so far, although a second
has been granted permission, compared with 14 called for the prosecution. The trial had mostly been
conducted behind closed doors and the media were prevented from speaking to the defence lawyers,
according to the statement issued in Geneva. “National and international media should be granted full access
to the trial,” said Frank La Rue, U.N. special rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression. The U.N.
working group on arbitrary detention declared arbitrary her house arrest after May 2008. Chairwoman
Manuela Carmena Castrilo said on Tuesday this meant “Aung San Suu Kyi needs to be released
immediately and unconditionally.” Reuters, 16 June 2009

Five UN human rights experts have called on Burma to guarantee a fair trial for imprisoned Nobel Prize
laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and her two aides. Leandro Despouy, a UN expert on the independence of
judges and lawyers, says the trial so far “has been marred by flagrant violations of substantive and
procedural rights.” Israel News, 16 June 2009 / Thein Win

17 June 2009, Wednesday


It cannot have pleased Burma’s ruling family: the collapse of a 2,300-year-old gold-domed pagoda into a
pile of timbers just three weeks after the wife of the junta’s top general helped rededicate it. “People were
laughing at her,” said a longtime astrologer, reached by telephone in Burma, speaking of Mrs. Kyaing
Kyaing. “O.K., she thinks she is so great, but even the gods don’t like her – people believe like that,” the
astrologer said on the condition of anonymity because of the danger of speaking to reporters. “Even the
spiritual world will not allow her to do this thing or that thing,” the astrologer said. “People laugh like that.”
The ceremony was part of a decades-old campaign by the senior general to legitimize his military rule on a
foundation of Buddhist fealty – dedicating and redecorating temples, attending religious ceremonies and,
with his influential wife, making donations to monks and monasteries. That campaign was undermined, and
perhaps fatally discredited, in September 2007 when soldiers beat and shot monks protesting the military
rule in the streets, invaded monasteries without removing their boots and imprisoned or disrobed hundreds
of monks. “No matter how many pagodas they build, no matter how much charity they give to monks, it is
still they who murdered the monks,” said Josef Silverstein, a Burma specialist and professor emeritus at
Rutgers University, at the time of the protests. “The fact that the umbrella did not stay was a sign that more
bad things are to come, according to astrologers,” said Ingrid Jordt, a professor of anthropology at the
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University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, and a specialist in Burmese Buddhism. “It is also a sign that Than
Shwe does not have the spiritual power any longer to be able to undertake or reap the benefit from good acts
such as this,” Professor Jordt said in an e-mail message. “In a sense, the pagoda repudiated Than Shwe’s
right to remain ruler.” The New York Times, 17 June 2009

It is time to treat Than Shwe as the war criminal that he is, and hold a commission of inquiry into crimes
against humanity, writes Benedict Rogers.Within the past month, two new shocking chapters of misery
have opened up in Burma’s decades-long tragedy. The first is the trial, on ludicrously fabricated charges, of
democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who marks her 64th birthday this coming Friday. Now in the
notorious Insein Prison, after over 13 years of house arrest, her trial is a blatant attempt by the regime to
keep her locked up. Her continued detention is illegal under both international and Burmese law, according
to the UN – which is why the regime has gone to such absurd lengths to find fresh charges. The second is
the attacks within the past week on Ler Per Hur , a camp for internally displaced people (IDPs) in Karen
State, Burma. Situated on the banks of the Moie river, opposite Thailand, Ler Per Hur has been home to
more than 1,200 Karen IDPs who had fled the Burma Army’s attacks on their villages deeper inside Burma.
Although it has twice been attacked before, it has for the past seven years provided a place of sanctuary and
relative peace for those escaping the junta’s policies of forced labour, rape, torture, destruction of villages,
crops and livestock, extrajudicial killings and conscription of villagers as human minesweepers.
telegraph.co.uk, 17 June 2009

18 June 2009, Thursday


Supporters of Burmese democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi made preparations around the world Thursday to
mark her 64th birthday, with calls for her release from jail as she faces trial by the ruling junta. In Rangoon,
NLD members were making preparations at party headquarters for a similar celebration to those in previous
years, including giving breakfast to Buddhist monks. “We have to hold the birthday party without the host
again. We would be very happy if she could be released, we are hoping and praying for this,” senior party
member Lei Lei told AFP. “We will offer a dawn meal to five monks early in the morning to mark Daw
Suu’s birthday. After that we will release balloons, doves and sparrows before the small party starts,” said
May Win Myint, another senior party member. Campaigners across the world will mark the day with events
ranging from live music and speeches in Malaysia, evening vigils in Ireland and Australia and debating
forums in Thailand. The website “64 for Suu” was set up to gather birthday wishes – including many via
Twitter and YouTube – and has so far received nearly 10,000. Famous names who have sent messages
demanding her release include British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, footballer David Beckham and US
actors George Clooney and Julia Roberts. On Monday, a global petition was delivered to UN Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon, signed by more than 670,000 people from 220 countries, calling for the release of all
Burma’s political prisoners, especially Aung San Suu Kyi. AFP, 18 June 2009

Two members of the opposition National League for Democracy party arrested after praying for the release
of political prisoners in Burma have each been sentenced to one-and-a-half years in prison. The two, Chit
Pe and Aung Soe Wai, were arrested on 21 April after holding a prayer ceremony at a pagoda near to
Rangoon division’s Twante township, and charged under Section 295a which addresses “desecration of
religious buildings and property.” Aung Soe Wei’s wife Ma Lwin said the two were immediately taken to
Rangoon’s Insein prison following the verdict and were barred from speaking to family members waiting
outside the court. Lawyer Kyi Toe said that his requests to authorities to let him meet his clients to were
denied. “I made a request to the police station chief Myint Kyaw and also to the court, but was denied both
times,” said Kyi Toe. “I was not given the right to freely talk to and discuss with my client from the start
until the end of the case.” Meanwhile, three National League for Democracy (NLD) youth members in
Rangoon were arrested by authorities last Friday. NLD spokesperson Nyan Win said it was a further sign of
the ruling State Peace and Development’s Council’s repression of opposition groups in Burma. “The NLD
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has been under pressure from the SPDC for many years and it is not easing, even when they are promising a
new election and the end of all arguments,” said Nyan Win. “But we are not in depression; we will continue
doing our work and will never change our non-violence policy.” DVB, 18 June 2009

Burmese government forces captured three Karen rebel positions on Thursday in the latest fighting that has
forced thousands of refugees to flee into neighbouring Thailand, commanders said. The army and their
Karen allies were also threatening two bases of the Karen National Union (KNU), the largest rebel group in
the eastern Burma. Thai army officials say some 3,000 Karen refugees have fled across the border into
Thailand since the fighting began. The U.N. refugee agency has said it is working with the Thai government
to assist the refugees. Rebel leaders say the latest offensive is part of the military regime’s campaign to
eliminate all opposition ahead of promised multi-party elections in 2010. Reuters, 18 June 2009

Burma State Peace and Development Council Vice-Chairman Maung Aye ended a two-day visit Thursday
to Xi’an, capital of China’s northwestern Shaanxi Province. Maung Aye was received by Shaanxi Governor
Yuan Chunqing. Both sides agreed that China and Burma, as friendly neighbors, should strengthen
cooperation in fields like technology, education and economy. During his stay in Xi’an, Maung Aye visited
the terracotta warriors in the mausoleum of Qinshihuang, the first emperor of a united China, and the Famen
Temple, which had kept a finger bone of the founder of Buddhism since 874 AD. Maung Aye came to
China for an official visit scheduled for June 15-20 at the invitation of Vice President Xi Jinping. He is
scheduled to head for Hangzhou in the eastern Zhejiang Province. Chinaview.cn, 18 June 2009

The Taiwan Free Burma Network – an alliance of more than 100 groups supporting the democracy
movement in Burma – will hold a Free Burma Concert tomorrow as part of an internationally coordinated
campaign calling on Burma’s military junta to release more than 2,000 political prisoners. “This is the first
time we will be holding a public Free Burma Concert at an outdoor location,” Tsai Ya-ju, an executive
member of the group, told the Taipei Times. “In the past three years since the first concert in Taiwan, we’ve
always had the concert indoors.” Free Burma Concerts in Taiwan are held annually on June 19, the birthday
of Burma democracy pioneer Aung San Suu Kyi. The Taipei Times, 18 June 2009

Burma protestor Mike Robertson shocked Lloyd’s staff after climbing the London headquarters building
today. Robertson put up a five metre banner urging Lloyd’s underwriters to stop financial dealings with
Burma. Robertson was later arrested by police. His protest was timed to coincide with the eve of the
birthday of Burma’s elected Prime Minister, Aung San Suu Kyi. Suu Kyi’s 64th birthday falls on Friday 19
June. Robertson scaled the Eiffel Tower in November 2007 to draw attention to the campaign. Insurance
Times, 18 June 2009

Soccer star David Beckham, pop singer Madonna and billionaire investor George Soros have joined an
online appeal supporting Burma opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who will spend her 64th birthday in
detention tomorrow. “Now is the time for the international community to speak with one voice: Free Aung
San Suu Kyi,” reads their message of support. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Virgin Group Ltd.
Chairman Richard Branson and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary
Robinson posted video messages on the Web site 64forSuu.org. Bloomberg, 18 June 2009

Images of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi will be displayed on the European Parliament’s
buildings at Place du Luxembourg, Brussels, this Thursday and Friday in support of the EP’s campaign for
her release before her trial resumes on 26 June. A giant image of Aung San Suu Kyi will be projected onto
the building of the former Quartier Léopold station from 10pm to midnight on Thursday 18 and Friday 19
June. In addition, posters of the former Sakharov Prize winner, with the slogan “Free Aung San Suu Kyi
now’ in English and Burmese, will be placed on the outside of the walkways linking the different EP
buildings as of Friday morning. European Parliament President Hans-Gert Pöttering has called on the
Burmese military authorities to release Aung San Suu Kyi immediately and unconditionally, saying “She
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was arrested on 14 May accused of violating the conditions of her detention under house arrest, as an
obvious pretext for keeping her detained as the country approaches new multi-party elections in 2010.” Mr
Pöttering also appealed for a fair and transparent trial in accordance with international standards. He added
“The European Parliament, which enshrines the values of democracy and freedom for which the European
Union is a beacon throughout the world, reaffirms its complete support and solidarity with Aung San Suu
Kyi. This courageous woman represents the best hopes of her people for a free and prosperous future.”
European Parliament News Report, 18 June 2009

The Burmese military junta has invited United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to visit Burma
next month, but UN sources say he is unlikely to accept if opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is convicted
and sentenced to imprisonment or a further term of house arrest. The sources say said Ban wants to make
sure that any visit to Burma produces tangible results and is not used for propaganda purposes by the
military junta. Irrawaddy, 18 June 2009

19 June 2009, Friday


Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is marking the 64th birthday of Burma’s democracy leader Aung
San Suu Kyi today by calling on the United Nations Security Council to take immediate action to secure her
freedom, the release of all political prisoners and an end to the Burma Army’s offensive against civilians in
eastern Burma. CSW’s East Asia Team Leader, Benedict Rogers, who has made almost 30 visits to Burma
and its borders, said: “On Aung San Suu Kyi’s birthday, it is time for the international community to turn its
tributes into action. Her unjust detention violates international law, and the continued imprisonment of over
2,100 activists is a scandal. The gross violations of human rights in Burma, particularly against the Karen
people at this time, including the use of rape, forced displacement, destruction of villages, torture, forced
labour and extra-judicial killing must be addressed. It is time for the UN Security Council to impose an arms
embargo on the regime, establish a commission of inquiry to investigate crimes against humanity, and
mandate the Secretary-General to make the release of all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi,
his personal priority”. CSW, 19 June 2009

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) is calling for the release of Burma’s pro-democracy leader Aung San
Suu Kyi on her 64th birthday today. The TUC is as part of a global movement demanding the release of all
Burma’s political prisoners, and calling on the UN Security Council to step up pressure on the military
regime by establishing a global arms embargo on Burma. TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:
“The British union movement sees Aung San Suu Kyi’s continued incarceration and trial as an outrage.
Aung San Suu Kyi is the symbol of hope for a free and prosperous Burma. What better gift to give her on
her birthday than her freedom? And the freedom of the thousands of political prisoners - many of whom are
trade unionists or labour activists - who are rotting away in Burma’s jails for doing nothing more than
speaking up for their rights.” The TUC is calling for an end to the persecution of Burmese workers and the
unions that represent them, and for the total abolition of forced labour which is rife. Burma needs a
constitution that will pave the way for a truly democratic and prosperous nation, not a sham puppet state
keeping its people in misery. The UN Security Council should join the birthday celebrations by putting in
place a global arms embargo against this brutal regime.” tuc.org.uk, 19 June 2009

Paul McCartney, U2 and Yoko Ono have joined the ranks of international celebrities marking the birthday
of Aung San Suu Kyi with personal messages of support and renewed calls for her immediate release.
Message of support from celebrities and international figures have been published on the 64forsuu.com
website. “Aung San Suu Kyi is an inspiration to her country and to the rest of the world,” said Paul
McCartney, while Yoko Ono published a poem that included the lyrics “Your heart beats with my heart. My
eyes see what you see. My belief is your belief.” Other celebrities that have supported the 64forsuu
campaign include David Beckham, Julia Roberts and Steven Fry. The renowned Indian musician and
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conductor Zubin Mehta added his voice to calls for Suu Kyi’s release. “As a proud neighbour of Burma,
being an Indian. I am extremely hopeful that the authorities in Burma will not judge Aung San Suu Kyi and
will release her as soon as possible on this birthday,” he said. “I know I speak for hundreds of thousands of
Indians who say that she is a shining light in our part of the world, and we pray for her quick release.” Ban
Ki-moon was yesterday invited to visit Burma by the country’s ruling generals, although he is yet to make a
decision due to suspicion that the trip may be used by the junta for propaganda purposes. British Prime
Minister Gordon Brown also offered his willingness to “extend the hand of friendship” was the military
government to “rethink their ways”. DVB, 19 June 2009

Burma pro-democracy figure Aung San Suu Kyi turned 64 in prison Friday, while a judge considers when to
hear her appeal to allow more witnesses at her subversion trial. “Today is Aung San Suu Kyi’s 64th birthday
and it is a tragedy that she will spend it in prison as the Burmese regime pursues its absurd and contemptible
sham trial of her,” British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Friday. CNN, 19 June 2009

Sixteen Burmese refugees have joined Burma pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi in detention on her
birthday today, but in far away Malaysia. Police picked up the 16 for being without any identification
papers at the Taman Jaya Park here about 9 pm where they were attending a commemoration organised by
Pakatan Rakyat parties. Two of the detainees were later released. Among those at the gathering was DAP’s
Ronnie Liu, who is a Selangor exco member. Police had mounted an operation to stop people from
gathering to celebrate the Nobel laureate’s birthday. There were a few other gatherings to celebrate her
birthday in Malaysia and around the world, including one organised by the British High Commission in
formerly trendy Bangsar. Human rights group Suaram said those arrested are detained in the Petaling Jaya
district police station and denied access to lawyers. Some activists have begun a candle-light vigil outside
the police station. “We strongly urge the police to release all the individuals arrested immediately and
unconditionally. We also demand that the Malaysia government recognise the refugee’s status and providing
protection to them, while guaranteed the people rights to assembly and stop the assault on freedom of
expression,” said Suaram coordinator Temme Lee. The Malaysian Insider, 19 June 2009

The 17 women serving in the US Senate made a joint appeal Friday for the release of Burma’s opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi as she spent her 64th birthday in prison. “The military junta has tried for years to
stifle the will of the people and silence the voice of Suu Kyi through a brutal campaign of violence and
oppression,” they said. “Yet Aung San Suu Kyi remains a beacon of hope for a future of democracy, the rule
of law and human rights,” they said. The Women’s Caucus of the US Senate is headed by Dianne
Feinstein, a Democrat representing California, and Kay Bailey Hutchison, a Republican from Texas. AFP,
19 June 2009

20 June 2009, Saturday


Burma’s second top leader Maung Aye concluded a week-long visit to China and returned home Saturday
afternoon. Maung Aye, vice-chairman of the Burma State Peace and Development Council arrived in
Nanning, capital city of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, from east China’s Zhejiang Province Friday
night. Guo Shengkun, the Communist Party chief of Guangxi, met him Saturday noon. Guo said Guangxi
and Burma have complementary economies, and the two should promote cooperation in agricultural, trade,
mining and cultural areas. Maung Aye said Burma hopes to expand cooperation with China in resources
exploration, and will actively participate in the China-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)
Expo in Nanning this October. Nanning was Maung Aye’s last leg of China tour. He also visited Beijing,
Shaanxi and Zhejiang. chinaview.cn, 20 June 2009

The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) calls on ASEAN leaders to urgently meet to
deliver new and effective policies and mechanisms that are desperately needed vis-a-vis Burma’s military
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junta that will enable a tangible and lasting solution to the country’s crisis. Members of Parliament from
various ASEAN countries, at a forum co-organized and co-hosted by the AIPMC, ‘Friends of Burma’, the
Regional Centre for Social Science and Sustainable Development, and the Centre for Ethnic Studies and
Development of the Chiang Mai University delivered strong messages to ASEAN leaders calling for change
in the dire situation in the military ruled nation. “There has been a considerable increase in military
offensives and armed fighting in ethnic states especially in the Karen State over the past few weeks. Ethnic
communities are fleeing their villages into Thailand while some remain as internally displaced persons in
Burma,” said AIPMC President Kraisak Choonhavan. AIPMC Senior Adviser Loretta Ann P Rosales
added that in the Shan State, acts amounting to systematic sexual violence are used by Burma’s military as
weapons of war. “Testimonies and documentation by Shan people, fleeing their homes, indicate that women
and children are subjected to rape and torture by soldiers,” said the former Philippines Congresswoman
adding that since 2001 till now, there have been 297 rape cases in Shan State alone. “This is outrageous and
unacceptable. AIPMC condemns such acts by the regime and armed groups. We insist that ASEAN uses its
human rights charter to investigate and put a stop to such atrocities,” stressed Loretta at the sidelines of the
event marking Aung San Suu Kyi’s 64th birthday. Parliamentarians M. Kulasegaran and Charles Chong,
from Malaysia and Singapore respectively, reminded ASEAN that its ‘constructive engagement’ with the
military regime has failed. “It’s all about dollars and cents at the end of the day for governments such as
Malaysia whom invest with a military that uses the money to repress and harm its leaders like Aung San
Suu Kyi and its citizens and not help them at all,” said Kulasegaran. Participants at the event, primarily from
Chiang Mai University’s academia, delivered messages of support and solidarity to Aung San Suu Kyi
who celebrates her birthday once again in detention. Asiantribune, 20 June 2009

A group of senators, activists and academics has called for Burma to be suspended from Asean in protest
against the ruling junta’s oppression of pro-democracy movements. The group includes Senator Jon
Ungphakorn and academics such as Nidhi Eowseewong from Chiang Mai and Charnvit Kasetsiri. Their
open letter was issued yesterday to mark the 64th birthday of Burma’s democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.
They called on Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan to suspend Burma as an Asean member country for
one year until Mrs Suu Kyi is released from jail. They also urged other Asean member countries to expel
Rangoon from the grouping if the Burmese regime fails to bring about democracy and political reform in the
country within three years. The Bangkok Post, 20 June 2009

The European Council yesterday called “for the immediate unconditional release of Burmese opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has tirelessly defended universal values of freedom and democracy”. Unless
she is released, the summit statement said, “the credibility of the 2010 elections will be further
undermined”, and the leaders pledged to respond with additional targeted sanctions. The EU renewed visa
bans and an asset freeze in May for a year. The Irish Times, 20 June 2009

A rights group has accused Burma’s military government of prosecuting opposition leader Aung San Suu
Kyi in order to keep her in custody through the planned 2010 general election, which the group said would
be neither free nor fair. The Hong Kong-based Asian Human Rights Commission issued a statement Friday
saying charges against Aung San Suu Kyi for violating the terms of her house arrest have no basis in law
whatsoever. The group said the trial is being motivated by purely political considerations, and it urged
concerned United Nations agencies and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to take action. The
rights group also called for the International Committee of the Red Cross go be given access to detention
facilities throughout Burma. VOA, 20 June 2009

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon is expected to visit Japan at the end of June before possibly traveling
to Burma in early July, U.N. diplomatic sources said Thursday. During Ban’s trip to Japan, which will be
his third visit to the country since taking the lead at the world body, he is expected to meet with Prime
Minister Taro Aso and other Japanese leaders in Tokyo and discuss a broad range of issues, including North
Korea, climate change and U.N. reform. But the possible visit to Burma is “still under consideration,”
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though it could take place in early July, one of the sources said. Meanwhile, The Associated Press reported
out of Rangoon Thursday that a Western diplomat was quoted as confirming that the junta is ready to host
Ban for a “very brief visit” early next month. The Japan Times, 20 June 2009

21 June 2009, Sunday


Burma has jailed two supporters of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi for one and a half years for
insulting religion after they prayed at a pagoda for her release, her party has said. Chit Pe and Aung Saw
Wai, members of the detained Nobel laureate’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party, were each
sentenced last week, according to lawyer and NLD spokesman Nyan Win. The pair were arrested at their
homes in April after they led a religious ceremony at a pagoda in Twante, about 40 kilometres (30 miles)
west of Rangoon, at which they offered prayers for their leader’s freedom. AFP, 21 June 2009

A North Korean ship that the United States is shadowing is likely headed for Burma, South Korean
television reported on Sunday. YTN channel quoted a South Korean intelligence source as saying the final
destination of the Kang Nam looks to be Burma, after leaving a North Korean port on Wednesday. North
Korea has raised tensions in the region in the past months by test-firing missiles, restarting a plant to
produce arms-grade plutonium and holding a May 25 nuclear test, which put it closer to having a working
nuclear bomb. Fox News quoted a senior U.S. military source as saying the ship appeared to be heading
toward Singapore and that the navy destroyer USS John McCain was positioning itself in case it gets orders
to intercept, according to a story on its website. Singapore, a U.S. ally, said it would act “appropriately” if
the vessel heads to its port with a cargo of weapons. Singapore has the world’s busiest shipping port and is
also the world’s top ship refueling hub. The Kang Nam is the first North Korean ship to be monitored under
the new sanctions, adopted this month in response to Pyongyang’s May nuclear test. The resolution
authorized U.N. member states to inspect North Korean sea, air and land cargo. Reuters, 21 June 2009

The Russian Foreign Ministry objects to political and economic pressure on Burma and hopes for an
unbiased trial of opposition leader Suu Kyi, the ministry’s information and press department said on
Sunday. Russia is watching “the efforts of the Burmese government to achieve peace and national concord,”
the department said. “We believe that Burma will ensure the fulfillment of the reform program, primarily
the holding of parliamentary elections in due time in 2010.” Moscow “opposes attempts to internationalize
the internal situation in Burma, because it does not endanger peace and security in the region and the world
at large. In our opinion, the political and economic pressure on that country is counterproductive, as it
enhances isolationist feelings of the Burmese military and exacerbates the socioeconomic position of
citizens,” the department said. “We see no reasons why the UN Security Council should discuss Burma. At
the same time, we call on Burma for greater openness and cooperation with the international community, as
well as for closer relations with the mission of Special Representative of the UN Secretary General Ibrahim
Gambari. We are confident that this negotiating mechanism is useful in building up mutual understanding
and confidence between Burma and the world,” the department said. Russia hopes that the trial of “Burma
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi will be unbiased, strictly comply with national laws and humanitarian
standards, and take into account the international opinion,” the department said. Itar-Tass, 21 June 2009

A Prachinburi astronomer said yesterday that Thais would be able to observe a solar eclipse for about six
minutes from approximately 7-9.30 am on July 22. Worawit Tanwutthibundit said the 240-kilometre-long
shadow would give one of the longest-lasting solar eclipses in history and be visible in India, Pakistan,
China, Burma, Thailand and Japan. The Upper North will see a 60-per-cent eclipse, the Lower North 50 per
cent and the Upper South 30 per cent. The Nation, 21 June 2009

Sen. John McCain says the U.S. should board a North Korean ship it is tracking if hard evidence shows it is
carrying missiles or other cargo in violation of U.N. resolutions. McCain says that such cargo would
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contribute to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction to nations that pose a direct threat to the
United States. South Korean media reported Sunday that the ship was sailing toward Burma via Singapore.
AP, 21 June 2009

United Nations special envoy Ibrahim Gambari is scheduled to visit Burma on June 25, a government
official said. Gambari’s June 25 visit will be his eighth to Burma and he will likely stay two days. His last
visit was January 31. On that visit he met with Suu Kyi and executive members of the NLD, but he was
denied a meeting with Senior General Than Shwe. The official, who requested anonymity, said Gambari
will discuss national reconciliation, but his visit is also seen as preparing for a probable visit by UN
Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon in July. Ban will be in Tokyo from June 30-July 2 to meet government and
business leaders. Ban told reporters at the UN headquarters in New York early this month that he was ready
to visit Burma. “Promoting democratization, including the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political
prisoners, has been one of my top priorities and it will continue to be my top priority,” Ban said then.
“When the time is appropriate and conditions are ripe, as I said many times, I’m ready to visit Burma. I’m
working on that now.” Ban visited Rangoon and the delta areas devastated by Cyclone Nargis in May 2008.
Earth Times, 21 June 2009

22 June 2009, Monday


A Burmese woman, Daw Mya Kyi, aged 117, has been found as the country’s oldest woman, the local
Myanmar Times reported Monday quoting the Department of Social Welfare. Daw Mya Kyi, born in Mae
Taw Su village in Mandalay Division and now a widow, survives with two daughters with no contact with
the elder one. She is a kind-hearted woman and is now living in a house donated to her by well wishers. She
claims that her daily life is normal, saying that she can eat whatever she has appetite but not sour food for
health reason. She, who devotes to religious undertaking and donation socially, is now found to be in good
health, according to the report. The population of Burma, which hit 57.5 million as of May 2008, increased
by about 2 percent annually. Of the country’s population, the female account for over 50 percent.
chinaview.cn, 22 June 2009

For years, John Yettaw had experienced visions that warned him of events to come. Sometimes the
Missouri resident ignored them and came to regret it. This time, though, he intended to act. In early 2009,
the 53-year-old told friends and family that he had seen himself as a man sent by God to protect the life of a
beloved foreign leader. He arranged for his kids to stay with a friend, borrowed money to buy a plane ticket
and printed new business cards, as if launching a new life. He seemed calm at first, spending hours at the
local Hardee's, where he used the free Wi-Fi to download music—Gladys Knight, Michael Bublé—and
Mormon sermons from Salt Lake City. But as his flight date approached, he also showed signs of
nervousness. He broke down on the shoulder of his best friend, and didn't sleep at all on his last night at
home. Sometime after 3 a.m. on April 15, he woke his son Brian, 17, and his three younger children for a
family prayer, and piled them into a minivan for the hourlong drive to the airport. Unlike the backpack tour
Yettaw had taken through Asia late last year, this trip would propel him into the heart of Burma’s repressive
regime and an ongoing crackdown on dissidents that has drawn condemnation from Barack Obama and
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, among others. On the 20th, he flew to Bangkok, where he
spent a week waiting for his Burmese visa and sending whimsical e-mails home, including a final cheerful
message: “Pray. Study peace. Live calmness. Kindness toward everyone. Love and pray.” The next word the
family got regarding Yettaw came in a 5 a.m. phone call from the consulate at the U.S. Embassy in
Rangoon. He had been arrested just past dawn on May 6, seized as he kicked through the soupy brown
waters of Inya Lake, a man-made reservoir some four miles from his hotel. He had made an unauthorized
and uninvited two-day visit to the weathered colonial-style home of Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Prize–
winning leader of Burma’s pro-democracy movement. Suu Kyi says that she asked Yettaw to leave, but
relented when he complained of hunger and exhaustion. “The Lady,” as locals call her, trounced opponents
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in the country’s last open election in 1990, but the junta refused to recognize the results, and has kept her
under arrest for 13 of the past 19 years for trying to unseat the regime. She was due to be released on May
27, ahead of next year’s landmark national elections – the first in two decades. But now Suu Kyi, the
Oxford-educated daughter of Burmese revolutionary Aung San, faces five more years for violating the terms
of her imprisonment and breaking the country’s law forbidding unregistered guests from staying overnight.
Yettaw, too, is on trial for charges including “illegal swimming” and breaching security laws; judging from
the line of questioning in court, Burmese authorities suspect he intended to help Suu Kyi escape. At the start
of the legal proceedings last month, they presented two black chadors, two long skirts, three pairs of
sunglasses, six colored pencils, flares, flashlights and a pair of pliers as evidence of a getaway plot. Yettaw
was also carrying empty jugs he used for buoyancy, and a camera wrapped in plastic with a picture of the
improvised flippers he used for the mile-long swim. Since his arrest, he has been held in Insein Prison. If
convicted, he faces as many as five years behind bars—perhaps more if he is found guilty of trying to spring
Suu Kyi. Both he and his host (Suu Kyi’s lawyer says, “This is a political case, not a criminal one”) have
pleaded not guilty. “He had no criminal intent,” Yettaw’s lawyer, Khin Maung Oo, told newsweek, adding
that the only charge he should face is “lurking house-trespass,” a lesser crime on the books in Burma. “He
has no relationship with anything political. His only mission was to save her.” Newsweek, 22 June 2009 /
Nyunt Than, badasf.org

23 June 2009, Tuesday


We’e just heard that from inside Burma’s notorious Insein prison Aung San Suu Kyi has asked her lawyer to
thank the tens of thousands of people that wished her happy birthday last Friday. Her lawyer Nyan Win just
released this message: “Shesaid she thanks those at home and abroad who wished her a happy birthday,
because she cannot reply to everyone.” Burma’s brutal regime wants the world to forget Aung San Suu Kyi.
The tens of thousands of people like you that left birthday messages of support to her sent a strong message
to Burma’s General’s. We showed that the world will never forget Burma’s democracy leader or any the
2,155 political prisoners currently detained in appalling conditions inside Burma. Johnny Chatterton,
Campaigns Officer, Burma Campaign UK, 23 June 2009

District police in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia should free Burmese asylum seekers detained since June 19, 2009,
at a peaceful celebration of the 64th birthday of the Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Human
Rights Watch said today. “The Malaysian authorities only made themselves look ridiculous by cracking
down on a peaceful celebration of Aung San Suu Kyi’s birthday,” said Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director
at Human Rights Watch. “By detaining Burmese asylum seekers who were calling for democracy in their
homeland, Malaysia was broadcasting support for Burma’s despotic generals.” The scheduled gathering in
Malaysia was one of many held worldwide to condemn Suu Kyi’s arbitrary detention and her current trial in
Rangoon. The Nobel laureate has spent 14 of the last 20 years in some form of detention. HRW, 23 June
2009

Several senior military Burmese officials have been dismissed over the weeks followed the recent
publication of photographs of secret tunnels built by North Korean experts between 2003-2006 inside
Burma, according informed sources. The sources, who asked not to be identified because the information
they gave could endanger their lives, said that the Burmese intelligence officials have began massive
investigations to identify the sources of leakages. They have combed the city of Rangoon and interviewed
associates of former intelligence chief, Lt Gen Khin Nyunt to search for persons who might leak one of the
most secretive programs. They have already arrested several suspects including journalists who might have
accessed to these sensitive photos and documents. The Nation, 23 June 2009

Weighed down by state corruption, economic decline and vastly uneven development, Burma has ranked at
the tail-end of this year’s Failed States Index, published by US-based Foreign Policy magazine. The
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current economic recession has sparked conflict and instability across the world, and has pulled many
struggling countries further toward the brink of collapse. In Burma, however, the majority of responsibility
for near economic breakdown and endemic human rights abuses lies with the military government, says
Foreign Policy’s Failed States Index, which ranked Burma 164 out of 177 countries. Like Zimbabwe, the
report says, Burma is failing because its government is “strong enough to choke the life out of its society.”
The Southeast Asian pariah state ranked below North Korea, Ethiopia and East Timor overall, and only
above Somalia and Sudan in terms of even development. Burma is one of the world’s most isolated states,
and is under tough United States and European Union sanctions, which have contributed in part towards the
country’s economic decline, although state corruption is widely perceived as the key catalyst for this.
Burmese political analyst Aung Thu Nyein said that the results were not surprising. “It reflects the reality of
the current situation in Burma, where the economy is in a bad state and there major political problems,” he
said. “The government is not providing public services. The main problem for me is the military rule - it’s
not surprising that there is a failed state when the army is in power.” Corruption is also a major problem, he
said, and it “affects every sector of society”. The index used 12 political, economic and social indicators,
including external intervention and presence of public services, to measure whether a country qualifies as a
‘failed state’. Burma was ranked as one of 14 countries deemed to be in a “critical” state, with Somalia
heading the list, followed by Zimbabwe and Sudan. DVB, 23 June 2009

Burma’s jungle capital of Naypyidaw has been chosen to host this year’s ASEAN meeting on transnational
crime, with Chinese, EU and UN delegates lined up to attend, according to Burma’s Weekly Eleven journal.
Senior officials of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) had originally earmarked late
June for ninth annual meeting, although Weekly Eleven now say it will take place from 1 to 3 July. A report
released by the US state department earlier this month said that human trafficking within Burma’s remains
“significant”, despite Burma in April signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Thailand aimed
at stemming the flow of trafficking between the two countries. This is in addition to Burma being party to
the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime and the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and
Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children. The US report also labelled Burma as “a
destination country for child sex tourism” and stated that Burma has not “adequately addressed” trafficking
for commercial sexual exploitation and labour exploitation within the country. Many Burmese women and
children are trafficked to neighbouring countries such as Thailand, China and Malaysia, often for forced
marriage arrangements. Within Burma, trafficking of girls for the purpose of prostitution “persisted as a
major problem”, said the US report. Similarly, Burma is listed by the CIA as being the world’s second
largest producer of opium, behind Afghanistan. Government-allied armed groups, particular the United Wa
State Army, are seen to be key players in the industry. DVB, 23 June 2009

A North Korean ship suspected of carrying illicit weapons was plying the waters off Shanghai on Tuesday
en route to Burma, a news report said, as regional military officials and a U.S. destroyer kept a close eye on
the vessel’s movements. The Kang Nam, accused of transporting illicit goods in the past, is believed to be
carrying banned small arms to Burma, a South Korean intelligence official said Monday, speaking on
condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the information. AP, 23 June 2009

The U.S. Navy vessel that had been monitoring a North Korean ship suspected of carrying illicit weapons
has handed over duties to another Navy destroyer, officials told FOX News. The USS John C. McCain has
pulled back into port and is no longer monitoring the North Korean Kang Nam, according to U.S. defense
officials. The Kang Nam, which is currently in the Taiwan Straits and appears to be on course for Burma, is
now being monitored by the the U.S.S. McCampbell, according to two senior U.S. defense officials. Fox
News, 23 June 2009

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24 June 2009, Wednesday
Lawyers for democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi pressed military-ruled Burma’s top court to overturn a ban
on two key witnesses at her internationally condemned trial, her party said. The Nobel Peace laureate faces
up to five years in jail on charges of breaching the terms of her house arrest after a bizarre incident in which
an American man swam uninvited to her lakeside home in May. A court at Rangoon’s Insein prison last
month barred two senior members of her National League for Democracy (NLD) from giving evidence, but
the Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal against the decision. “We gave our arguments to the Supreme
Court for about one hour today. We do not have a date for the decision and must wait for it to be posted on
the court’s list,” NLD spokesman and defence lawyer Nyan Win said. The two barred witnesses are Win
Tin, a journalist who was Burma’s longest-serving political prisoner until his release in September, and
detained deputy NLD leader Tin Oo. “Regarding today’s arguments, the prosecution complained about U
Win Tin as he gave interviews to foreign media. We said that that is not related to the law,” Nyan Win said.
U is a term of respect in the Burmese language. Aung San Suu Kyi’s lawyers earlier this month successfully
appealed against a ban on a third witness, while a fourth has already testified. The prosecution has so far had
14 witnesses, adding to opposition and international claims that the proceedings are a show trial designed to
keep the democracy icon locked up ahead of elections scheduled by the regime in 2010. AFP, 24 June 2009

Burmese court authorities Wednesday postponed the next hearing in the controversial trial of opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who had been scheduled to appear in court Friday. The special court set up in
Insein Prison delayed the hearing indefinitely as it awaits a decision by the Burmese Supreme Court on
whether it will allow more defence witnesses, Nyan Win, a member of Suu Kyi’s defence team, said. Insein
Prison was scheduled originally scheduled to hear the testimony of Khin Moe Moe, a witness for the
defence, on Friday. On Wednesday the Supreme Court heard defence arguments for allowing two more
witnesses to appear in Suu Kyi’s favour, including Tin Oo, the deputy leader of the opposition National
League for Democracy, and senior party member Win Tin. Judges said it would be impossible to accept Tin
Oo as a witness because he is currently under house arrest. They added that Win Tin, a former journalist,
gave several interviews to the Democratic Voice of Burma, the BBC and Radio Free Asia, in which he had
demonstrated a difference of opinion with authorities, Nyan Win said. “We said there is no law against
witnesses having different opinions than authorities,” Nyan Win said. The Supreme Court postponed
deciding on whether to allow the two to be witnesses in the trial, which has been delayed several times since
it began last month. The charges have drawn widespread international criticism. Earth Times, 24 June 2009

There is heightened security in Rangoon with at least 30 army trucks with uniformed riot police personnel,
patrolling the city on Wednesday. The army trucks are each carrying at least 20 policemen and are patrolling
various townships of Rangoon, eyewitnesses said. “We can see about 30 to 40 army trucks carrying
uniformed policemen patrolling the city. It looks like they are on high alert. They also have machine guns
mounted on the trucks. They came to our township at about 3 p.m. (local time),” an eyewitness from Insein
Township told Mizzima. “Earlier, when they patrolled like they are doing now, the police would carry
shields but today they had a policeman standing on the truck with a machine gun mounted on the hood,” he
added. Mizzima, 24 June 2009

Burma’s jailed democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is to be awarded an honorary degree by the University
of Ulster. The Nobel Peace Laureate will be awarded the honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) in absentia at the
university’s forthcoming graduation ceremony in Derry. The pro-democracy activist has led peaceful and
non-violent resistance against the Burmese dictatorship for more than 20 years and won the right to be
prime minister in the 1990 election despite being put under house arrest. She continues her fight for
democracy and freedom for the people of Burma despite her imprisonment by the Burmese authorities. The
degree will be accepted on her behalf by Mra Razam Linn who will deliver a speech written by Aung San
Suu Kyi at the graduation ceremony which takes place at Derry’s Millennium Forum on Tuesday, July 7.
Derry Journal, 24 June 2009
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An American destroyer was tailing a North Korean ship suspected of transporting weapons toward Burma,
as anticipation mounted Wednesday that the North could soon conduct short- or medium-range missiles
tests. The Kang Nam left the North Korean port of Nampo a week ago, and the destroyer USS John S.
McCain was following as it sailed off the Chinese coast. The sailing sets up the first test of a new U.N.
Security Council resolution that authorizes member states to inspect North Korean vessels suspected of
carrying banned weapons or materials. AP, 24 June 2009

U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown reiterated Wednesday that his government would tighten sanctions
against Burma over what he called the “sham trial” of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. “At the last
meeting of the European Council we sent a very powerful message that unless action is taken in Burma to
free Aung San Suu Kyi, then we are prepared to take further sanctions against the regime,” Brown said in
the weekly question and answer session in parliament. Brown also called on U.N. Secretary General Ban
Ki-Moon to visit Burma. The prime minister said the actions of the Burmese regime were “completely
unacceptable.” Dow Jones, 24 June 2009

25 June 2009, Thursday


Fighting between government forces and ethnic rebel groups in Burms’a Karen State has in recent weeks
pushed thousands of refugees into neighboring Thailand. The upsurge in hostilities stems from the military
regime’s drive to transform the ethnic ceasefire armies into government-controlled border guards and in the
process assert central control in the contested territories ahead of general elections scheduled for 2010.
Attacks led by the government-aligned Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) and supported by
Burmese army soldiers commenced on June 2 against the Karen National Liberation Army’s (KNLA)
battalions and general headquarters, situated along the Thai-Burma border. The offensive has shifted
international media attention away from the trial of pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi and short-
circuited a recent Thai diplomatic overture to mediate a ceasefire between the government and insurgent
group. The struggle between the insurgent Karen and Burma’s ruling military junta has ground on for 60
years, making it the world’s longest-running insurgency. Fighting along the Thai-Burma border has been a
source of friction between the two Southeast Asian countries, especially since Burma’s military has asserted
greater control over long-contested border regions. Some analysts contend that’s raised the temperature of a
long-time regional security hot spot, made hotter in recent years by frequent cross-border incursions and
shoot-outs often involving drug traffickers. The recent scaled-up attacks will no doubt have been noticed in
Washington. Asia Times Online, 25 June 2009

Malaysian authorities might deport up to 14 Burmese nationals who were arrested at a demonstration to
mark jailed pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s birthday, human rights activists said Wednesday.
AP, 25 June 2009

26 June 2009, Friday


On the subject of UN envoy Gambari’s visit to Burma, which began this morning, Win Tin said that
dialogue must be sought. “When Mr. Gambari comes, he must meet with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi - that
must be his priority,” he said. “If he can’t do that his trip has no meaning and has no value.” DVB, 26 June
2009

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27 June 2009, Saturday
Several monks on Saturday refrained from going out to collect swan offering in Myingyan town in
Mandalay division, following a visit and offerings made by junta’s Minister of Industries (1) Aung Thaung.
Monks in Burma, who usually go out at dawn for food offerings from devotees, on Saturday refused to go
when they came to know that the visiting Industries Minister Aung Thaung would also make offerings to the
monks. A local monk told Mizzima that ‘Ponya Thaharya’, the group that regularly organises food offerings
for monks in Myingyan town, usually makes swan offerings to about 700 monks in town, but on Saturday
only about 300 monks turned up. “We did not want to go. Only new comers, who do not understand and
younger novices, went. But when we made the offering it was attended only by about 250 to 300 monks.
Most of the monks who understand did not go,” the monk told Mizzima. The organisation mobilises donors
or devotees who wish to offer food to monks’ everyday. Aung Thaung, who is a native of Wei Laung
village in Myingyan Township, on Friday also called a mass meeting and summoned villagers in the
township to listen to his speech in Myingyan’s High School No. (1). But locals said despite being called
only a few attended the meeting. “Aung Thaung arrived on Friday and called for a meeting. Local
authorities went from village to village and made announcements about the meeting. They threatened that
those who do not attend will be fined Kyat 1,000 (USD 1). But despite the threat only a few turned up. Not
more than 15 people each from one village turned up,” a local resident said. During the meeting, Aung
Thaung explained about the ongoing trial of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the American man
John William Yettaw. He also introduced Kyaw San and Win Myint, who have been nominated as
candidates from Myingyan Township for the 2010 general elections. He also warned the people not to get
involved in any possible future anti-government protests. Residents of Myingyan town have been carrying
out a photo campaign for opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Mizzima, 29 June 2009

28 June 2009, Sunday


The authoritarian governments of China, Cuba and Burma have been selectively censoring or limiting the
news out of Iran in recent days. In China, political commentators tinted their blogs and Twitter feeds green
to show support for Iranians disputing President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s re-election. The deaths of at least
20 people in violent clashes in Tehran have drawn comparisons online to “June 4,” the date of the
Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989. “The Iranian people face the same problems as us: news censorship
and no freedom to have their own voices,” blogger Zhou Shuguang, 28, said in a telephone interview. The
Chinese Communist Party has portrayed the protests in Iran as orchestrated by the United States and other
Western powers, not a grass-roots movement. In Cuba, President Raul Castro’s government has imposed a
complete blackout of news on Iran’s elections. But developments are trickling through, anyway. Havana-
based blogger Yoani Sanchez, 33, said the Iranian protests -- in particular, the reportedly widespread use of
Twitter, Facebook and cell phones -- served as “a lesson for Cuban bloggers.” In Burma, the junta’s New
Light of Burma has drowned out news from Tehran with articles on bombings in Iraq and Afghanistan. But
some of the nearly 200 journals published privately in Rangoon and Mandalay have seized on the topic.
“What we, the private media, are trying to do was to put in as much stories of what’s going on in Tehran in
our papers,” the editor of a Rangoon-based weekly publication said in an e-mail. The Washington Post, 28
June 2009

UN troubleshooter Ibrahim Gambari is expected to brief UN chief Ban Ki-moon on his recent visit to
Burma, before the secretary general heads to Asia and possibly to the military-ruled nation. Gambari flew
out of Burma on Saturday following a two-day visit aimed at paving the way for Ban’s prospective trip early
next month, which would come against the backdrop of the trial of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The Nigerian diplomat met twice with Foreign Minister Nyan Win in the junta’s remote administrative
capital Naypyidaw before holding talks with Singapore’s ambassador and UN staff in Rangoon, Burmese
officials said. He was expected to brief Ban back in New York on the outcome of his mission before the UN
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chief departs for Japan on Monday, UN spokesman in Bangkok Hak-Fan Lau said. Ban will then decide
whether to go ahead with plans to visit Burma early next month, according to UN sources in New York.
State media in Burma confirmed the focus of Gambari’s meetings there was on the UN secretary general’s
expected visit in early July. The New Light of Burma, the state newspaper, said Gambari “called on
Minister for Foreign Affairs U Nyan Win on 26 and 27 June”. The pair “held discussions about the
programme for the visit of His Excellency Mr Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary General, to Burma,”
the newspaper reported Sunday. But the UN special envoy to Burma did not meet Nobel Laureate Aung San
Suu Kyi himself before flying out of the country on a Saturday evening Thai Airways flight. The UN boss
and Gambari have been trying to persuade Burma’s ruling generals to free all political detainees, including
Aung San Suu Kyi, and steer their country on the path to democracy and national reconciliation. AFP, 28
June 2009

Former US first lady Laura Bush called for new international pressure on Burma in order to force its
military leaders to stop human rights abuses. “With UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon planning to visit
Burma this summer, it is crucial that he press the regime to take immediate steps to end human rights
abuses, particularly in ethnic minority areas,” the spouse of former president George W. Bush wrote in an
op-ed piece in The Washington Post. “There have been 38 UN resolutions condemning these abuses, yet the
horrors continue unabated,” she pointed out. “Under the junta’s brutal rule, too many lives have been
wasted, lives whose talents could have helped all of Burma prosper.” Bush hails Aung San Suu Kyi’s
“continued example of civil courage,” saying that it reminded Americans of the desire of people around the
world to live in freedom. “We should all share her hope and add our voices to those who risk so much to
protest tyranny and injustice in Burma and beyond,” Bush said. AFP, 28 June 2009

The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations says the U.S. is keeping close tabs on a suspected North Korea
arms ship. An American destroyer has been tracking the North Korean freighter sailing off China’s coast,
possibly on its way to Burma. Ambassador Susan Rice says the U.S. is pursuing and following the ship’s
progress closely. But she is not saying what the U.S. actually might do on the high seas - such as whether to
contact and request inspection. It is the first ship to be monitored under a U.N. resolution that bans North
Korea from selling a range of arms and weapons-related materiel. The resolution allows other countries to
request boarding and inspection of such ships, but the ships don’t have to give permission. AP, 28 June
2009

29 June 2009, Monday


Burma’s highest court Monday rejected an appeal by lawyers of Aung San Suu Kyi to reinstate two key
witnesses in a trial that has sparked global outrage. The High Court upheld a lower court ruling, meaning
Suu Kyi will be granted only two defense witnesses in her ongoing trial. Her trial resumes July 3 when an
additional defense witness will testify before the District court inside Insein prison where Suu Kyi has been
facing trial since May 18. Suu Kyi’s lawyers pursued a second and final appeal to reinstate the remaining
two barred witnesses, Win Tin and Tin Oo, both senior members of Suu Kyi’s National League for
Democracy. Prosecutors argued that Win Tin, a prominent former journalist and ex-political prisoner,
should not be allowed to testify because he is critical of the government and often gave interviews to foreign
media, said Nyan Win. The defense team argued there was no law in the tightly ruled country that bars court
testimony from government critics, Nyan Win said. Prosecutors argued that Tin Oo, the party’s deputy
leader, shouldn’t be allowed to testify because he is currently under house arrest, Nyan Win said. Defense
lawyers noted to the court that Suu Kyi herself was under house arrest but that didn’t stop authorities from
putting her on trial, Nyan Win said. Suu Kyi was allowed to testify May 26 and her term under house arrest
officially ended the next day. AP, 29 June 2009

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Securing Burmese visas for international aid workers is again proving problematic more than a year after
Cyclone Nargis killed nearly 140,000 people and affected another 2.4 million. After Nargis struck, Burma’s
military-led government initially hesitated to allow in large numbers of aid workers, but that all changed on
30 May 20008 with the establishment of the Tripartite Core Group (TCG). The TCG - comprising the
government, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the UN - has been instrumental in
facilitating nearly 2,000 visa applications over the past year, with a fast-track process for workers involved
in cyclone relief efforts. But in March 2009 the government reverted to the pre-Nargis system, requiring
international aid workers to apply directly to their respective line ministries, which in turn would submit
their applications to the Foreign Affairs Policy Committee (FAPC), which handles all visa applications.
More than 200 visa applications are now pending with the FAPC. “We understand the FAPC meet once a
week, but it’s not enough to process the backlog,” Thierry Delbreuve, head of the UN Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Rangoon, told IRIN on 29 June. “Patience is a must, but
we are pursuing all avenues to rectify this,” he added. UN agencies like the World Health Organization
(WHO) are now obliged to submit their visa applications to the Ministry of Health, while confusingly some
UN agencies are continuing to file their applications with the TCG. The line ministries or TCG act as
conduits for the visas; they make recommendations, complete the files, and make 23 copies of each visa
request for the FAPC. “It’s slowing our operations down. Some agencies, some NGOs have already
indicated things cannot go on in this way,” Delbreuve said. The government says there are no new
restrictions, but others wonder whether it is trying to impose some kind of quota system on aid workers per
NGO or UN agency. “It’s as though they don’t want a lot of foreign aid workers in the country,” one
international aid worker who preferred anonymity told IRIN. “It’s as though they think the cyclone effort is
over, when in reality the recovery and rebuilding effort is really just beginning.” The switch to the old
system came at a time when more aid workers were needed in the country, not fewer, he said. Most visas are
single entry, so if an international aid worker needs to attend a meeting in Bangkok or has to leave the
country for personal reasons, he or she has no choice but to reapply to get back in. While heads of office can
usually get a visa for up to a year, most aid workers receive six months or less. “There are no rules. You just
don’t know,” one UN staff member, who initially had permission to stay for just two weeks, said. “There is
constantly an extension application from one of us in the system,” she added. To address the problem, the
UN has offered to support the authorities in whatever way it can. Sometimes the process has been speeded
up, observers say: On the eve of the arrival of UN special envoy to Burma Ibrahim Gambari on 26 June, the
FAPC in a single meeting approved 103 single entry (one month) visas for international aid workers. But
others are not so lucky, and donor programmes are beginning to be affected. On 29 June, the UN World
Food Programme (WFP) temporarily suspended its helicopter air service to the cyclone-affected Irrawaddy
Delta after a pilot in Bangkok failed to get an entry visa after waiting more than three weeks. IRIN, 29 June
2009

Russian and Italian engineering companies are reported to be involved in the development of a huge iron
ore mine in Burma’s eastern Shan state that campaigners say could displace more than 7,000 homes. The
already volatile Shan state is home to Burma’s second largest iron ore deposit, on the site of Mount Pinpet.
Excavation of the site began in 2004, and work includes the conversion of around 11,000 acres of
surrounding land for construction of a cement factory and iron processing plant. The Pa-O Youth
Organisation (PYO), in a report released today, said that more than 25 villages home to around 7000
mainly ethnic Pa-O people could be destroyed by the Pinpet Mining Project. “The government don’t talk to
the villagers, they don’t negotiate with the villagers regarding plans for the mining project - they don’t really
discuss in advance what they are going to do,” said Khun Ko Wein. The report points to Russian company
Tyazhpromexport as being the major foreign investor in the Pinpet Iron Factory, with $US150 million so far
channeled into the project. An Italian company, Danieli, which claims to be one of the world’s leading
suppliers of equipment to the metals industry, is also highlighted in the report. Another concern of PYO’s is
the link between the Pinpet mine and rumours that Burma is mining uranium, a key ingredient for nuclear
weaponry. According to the report, Burma’s Ministry of Energy has officially announced the presence of

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five uranium deposits in the country, although has not publicly stated that these will be mined. DVB, 29
June 2009

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon will travel to Burma on Friday and Saturday after a three-day visit to
Japan, the United Nations announced Monday. Ban visited the militarily ruled nation last year, too. The
U.N. chief’s trip came after U.N. special envoy to the country Ibrahim Gambari met with Foreign Minister
Nyan Win amid renewed calls from the international community for the release of Burma’s pro- democracy
leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Gambari did not meet with Suu Kyi or other opposition party leaders during his
visit. It was Gambari’s eighth visit to Burma since he became special envoy for the country in May 2006.
He last visited the country in January this year. Kyodo, 29 June 2009

Burma’s courts have barred two of Aung San Suu Kyi’s four witnesses, just as UN Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon announced he will travel to the country on July 3-4. In New York, Inner City Press asked Ban’s
spokesperson Michele Montas if Ban has any comment on the barring of these two witnesses, Win Tin and
Tin Oo of the National League for Democracy. Ms. Montas said of Ban, “He’s not talking about the trial
right now.” In fact, Ms. Montas’ Office reached out to media organizations which indicated they would
have staffers from Bangkok and elsewhere in the Far East accompany Ban and told them that Ban wants
only particular reporters who cover him at the UN. It would appear that, faced with negative press coverage
of the first half of his term, particularly of his pro-government victory tour in Sri Lanka, Team Ban has
sought to control how the Burmese trip is covered by hand selecting who gets to cover it. Inner City Press,
29 June 2009

30 June 2009, Tuesday


Burma’s highest court rejected an appeal yesterday by Aung San Suu Kyi’s lawyers to reinstate two key
witnesses in a trial that could send the pro-democracy leader to prison for five years. High Court judge Tin
Aung Aye rejected the appeal because it was “intended to disturb and delay the trial,” court officials said on
condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. The court’s ruling means
only two people will testify in Suu Kyi’s defense at her trial, which resumes Friday, and that a verdict could
be reached in a week or two. kuwaittimes.net, 30 June 2009

Aung San Suu Kyi met her lawyers Nyan Win, Kyi Win, Khin Htay Kywe and Hla Myo Myint in a guest
house in Burma’s notorious Insein Prison at 1 pm on Tuesday. “We discussed her case and how to deal with
it during the trial to resume tomorrow,” Kyan Win said. During the meeting with her lawyers, Aung Sang
Suu Kyi said that she disagreed with some statements made by Khin Ye in a press conference held in
Nayphidaw, the new jungle capital of Burma in the last week of June, regarding the cleaning of flotsam
plant growing on the edge of Innya lake alongside her house and the her alleged non-cooperation with
authorities over an American man John William Yettaw’s intrusion into her home in early May. “The police
chief said there is regular cleaning of flotsam on Innya Lake near her house. Suu Kyi said, the authorities
had cleaned the plants once in six month after she complained to them several times,” Nyan Win said.
Mizzima, 3 July 009

UN chief Ban Ki-Moon announced that he would visit Burma and said that he must meet the democracy
leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, for the trip to be effective. This news was welcomed by the leader’s political
party. A spokeswoman for Ban announced late Monday that the UN secretary general would travel to the
military-ruled nation later this week for talks with the junta on the release of all political prisoners, including
Suu Kyi. Ban is due to arrive Friday, the same day as a Burmese court is due to resume the trial of the Nobel
laureate on charges of violation of her house arrest after an American man swam to her lakeside home. “We
welcome Mr Ban Ki-moon’s visit,” Nyan Win, the spokesman for Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for
Democracy (NLD) and a member of her legal team, told AFP. “His visit will focus on three main things: to
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release all political prisoners, to start dialogue and also to ensure free and fair elections in 2010,” he said.
“Regarding these three things, he needs to meet with Aung San Suu Kyi.” The 64-year-old opposition icon
is currently being held at Insein prison in Yangon where the internationally condemned trial is being held.
She faces up to five years in jail if convicted. The UN chief decided to go ahead with his trip after being
briefed Sunday by his special envoy to Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, who paid a short preparatory visit to the
country last week. Ban will address “the resumption of dialogue between the government and opposition as
a necessary part of any national reconciliation process, and the need to create conditions conducive to
credible elections,” his spokeswoman, Michele Montas, said. The ruling junta has promised to hold
elections in 2010, but critics say they are ‘a sham designed to entrench the generals’ hold on power’ and that
the trial is designed to keep Aung San Suu Kyi behind bars during the polls. Aung San Suu Kyi has spent 13
of the last 19 years in jail since the junta refused to recognise the NLD’s landslide victory in Burma’s last
elections, in 1990. The Dawn, 30 June 2009

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is scheduled to visit Burma on Friday and Saturday, and
there’s little hope for the release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from the trip, said a prominent
Burmese opposition leader. Commenting on the trip, Win Tin, a prominent leader of the main opposition
National League for Democracy (NLD) said that the international community has achieved little in the way
of real progress toward national reconciliation. “Therefore, I do not expect Daw Aung San Suu Kyi would
be released during or after Ban Ki-moon’s trip,” he said. “But it’s because the junta has failed to response to
the international calls.” Win Tin, who spent 19 years as a political prisoner, told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday
that he welcomed Ban’s trip. “I agree with Mr Ban Ki-moon’s agenda: release of political prisoners and
dialogue for national reconciliation. But I want to point out that Burma’s problem now is about its
constitution rather than the election,” Win Tin said. “So we need to review this unjust constitution first and
then talk about the election. That will be more reasonable for the country’s democracy process,” he said.
Although Ban’s trip is confirmed, a UN spokesperson indicated there was no agreement that he would meet
with Suu Kyi, even though he requested to meet with the pro-democracy leader. “Despite the NLD’s
protestations and the growing international pressure, there was never any real likelihood of Aung San Suu
Kyi being freed ahead of the planned election in 2010,” noted a London-based think-tank, The Economist
Intelligence Unit, in its June report on Burma. “The last time she was released, in May 2002, the junta
clearly miscalculated the extent to which she had remained a popular and influential figure,” said the report.
Wai Moe, Irrawaddy, 30 June 2009

Reporters Without Borders and the Burma Media Association today condemned the military junta for
intimidating the press trying to cover recent national and international events, as a journalist was jailed for
two years after being arrested near the home of Aung San Suu Kyi. “Since the UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari
arrived in Burma one might expect greater tolerance on the part of the authorities, but on the contrary, the
trial of Suu Kyi is being held in a climate of repression and censorship,” the press freedom organisations
said.”We call on the UN envoy to show firmness in his talks with the authorities, including on the release of
all political prisoners and an end to prior censorship. Without this, there can be no approval of any
reconciliation process or elections,” they said. The two organisations strongly condemned the two-year
sentence imposed on freelance journalist Zaw Tun on 18 June. A former journalist with the magazine The
News Watch, he was arrested near the Suu Kyi’s home by a police officer who claimed he had shown
‘hostility’ towards him. He was found guilty at a court in Bahan, near Rangoon, of obstructing the work of
an official. A Rangoon journalist said that Zaw Tun was taken immediately to jail after the verdict. Military
intelligence agents on 23 June went to several media offices to demand lists of journalists who had taken
part in journalism training sessions at the US Embassy in Rangoon. The renowned journalist U Win Tin,
who was cited as a defence witness in the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi, has been under constant surveillance
by the special police. The prosecutor refused to accept the former political prisoner as a witness because he
criticises the government, particularly in foreign media. The junta has imposed strict censorship on both
national and international news items. The censorship bureau, the Press Scrutiny and Registration Division,
banned the publication of news on the arrival of a North Korean cargo ship, Kang Nam 1, in a port near
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Rangoon, which is suspected of transporting weapons. A journalist in Rangoon told the magazine Irrawaddy
that “most newspapers have tried to report on the arrival of the cargo vessel but the government censor
rejected all the articles”. The censorship bureau also banned some articles on demonstrations that followed
the disputed elections in Iran. The press was refused the right at the start of June to publish information
about the investigation into the collapse of the Danoke pagoda in Dala, near Rangoon, in which several
people died. “We cannot publish articles or photos about this incident, because it was the wife of junta
leader General Than Shwe who installed the sunshade on the pagoda on 7 May 2009”, one journalists
explained. She is known to be very superstitious. The censorship bureau on 1st June threatened the privately
owned weekly True News for carrying an article in its 19 May issue by the famous journalist Ludu Sein
Win who said that “many governments cannot tolerate criticism from journalists”. The censors alleged that
the paper changed the front page after it had been passed by the censors. Reporters Without Borders
revealed at the end of 2008 that the censorship bureau sent all media offices a document detailing ten rules
imposed on editors, who would be punished if changes were made after the article had been checked. The
state-run media reported the charges against Suu Kyi, without giving anything the full statements by the
defence. The daily New Light of Burma reported the main developments in the trial insisting there was
complicity between the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and the American William Yetaw, who swam to her
lakeside home on 3 May. In its 27 May edition, the daily published the full questioning of Suu Kyi by the
judge, but the cross examination by defence lawyers were only briefly summarised in the official press. The
state press also relays the junta’s threats against the opposition, as happened on 5 June, when the New Light
of Burma carried threats by the authorities against the youth branch of the National League for Democracy
for putting out a statement. 24-7PressRelease.com, 30 June 2009

The 50,000th refugee from Burma to leave the camps along the country’s border with Thailand for
resettlement abroad will arrive in the US on Tuesday, the United Nations Refugee Agency said. Some
112,000 refugees remain along the Thai-Burma border, in a problem that has now being going on for 20
years. The man who will be the 50,000th refugee to be flown to the West, will resettle in New Jersey with
his wife and daughter, after living and teaching primary school in a camp since 1996. The resettlement of
Burmese refugees is the largest project of its kind in the world, as the UN generally pushes for refugees to
return to their home nation once problems have been settled. The UNHCR said it does not expect the
112,000 remaining refugees in camps there to be able to return home “any time soon.” The Burmese refugee
resettlement programme has been running since 2004. earthtimes.org, 30 June 2009

In September 2007, thousands of Buddhist monks led the “saffron revolution,” a series of peaceful marches
in response to military oppression and a dire economic situation in Burma. Since then, three monks who
escaped Burma and settled in Utica, N.Y., have continued campaigning across the United States for
democracy and human rights for their country with the All Burma Monks’ Alliance. During the revolution,
U Gawsita was beaten by military soldiers, along with hundreds other protesters. “When our nonviolent
protest began to threaten power of authority, the government accused us as terrorists, and started to crack
down with guns and sticks,” he said. But the monks remain dedicated to the cause. U Agga Nya Na, who
wants to study political science, said that he was confident that he could contribute to the campaign for
Burma’s democracy even while living in the United States. “We can make many young students inspired for
democracy and human rights for Burma,” he said. The founder of the alliance and one of the leaders of the
2007 revolution, U Pyinya Zawta, said he was tortured and incarcerated by the government in Burma for 10
years. He says he believes that the cause demands attention now. “It is a very critical time in history of
Burma,” he said. “Aung San Suu Kyi is being tried now. If the world leaders can come together now to free
Aung San Suu Kyi, this will be great opportunity to promote democracy in Burma.” He also stresses that the
saffron revolution has not ended. “My country has not gained democracy yet,” he said. “I will continue to
struggle for democracy as long as Burma is not free.” The New York Times, 30 June 2009

Japanese police have arrested three men on suspicion of attempting to illegally export into Burma heavy
machinery that could be used in the development of missile systems. The reports surfaced yesterday on the
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Japanese news website, Yomiuri Shimbun, who reported that the three men, two Japanese and one Korean,
were charged under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law. The Yomiuri quoted police as saying
that the three men, who were working for a Hong Kong-based North Korean trading firm, were caught with
a magnetic measuring device “believed necessary for developing long-range ballistic missile systems on
instructions from North Korea”. The export was attempted in January this year, at a cost of around seven
million yen (US$73,000). Police reportedly believe that the same firm has transported similar machinery to
Burma in the past. According to the Yomiuri report, the firm’s office in North Korean capital Pyongyang is
believed by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) to be involved in the development of
weapons of mass destruction. DVB, 30 June 2009

The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki Moon, will visit Burma on Friday in a diplomatically risky effort to win
concessions from the country’s military dictatorship. Mr Ban hopes to persuade the Burmese junta to release
political prisoners, including the country’s democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, in advance of an election
next year, denounced by opposition groups as fraudulent and meaningless. “The Secretary-General
considers that three of the most important issues for the future of Burma cannot be left unaddressed at this
juncture of the country’s political process,” Mr Ban’s spokesperson, Michele Montas, said yesterday in New
York. “These are the release of all political prisoners, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi; the resumption of
dialogue between the Government and Opposition and the need to create conditions conducive to credible
elections. timesonline.co.uk, 30 June 2009

1 July 2009, Wednesday


Burmese politicians have expressed fear that Ban Ki-moon’s visit to Burma will achieve little without
concerted attempts to meet National League for Democracy members, including Aung San Suu Kyi.
The UN Secretary General is due to arrive in Burma on Friday on a two-day visit, the exact itinerary of
which is unknown. Senior members of the National League for Democracy (NLD), as well as a number of
human rights groups, have said however that the trip will be meaningless unless a meeting with NLD
members, and even Suu Kyi, is secured. “If Ban Ki-moon can spare two days to meet with the junta, he
should also consider trying to find a way to meet with the other side,” said NLD Central executive
Committee member U Win Tin. “If not, and he leaves Burma having only made friends with the junta, then
this trip would be meaningless.” DVB, 1 July 2009

About 100 Burmese activists rallied in Japan on Wednesday, calling on visiting UN chief Ban Ki-moon to
press the junta to free political prisoners including democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Protesters said
Ban, who is slated to visit Burma on Friday and Saturday, must press the military regime for a concrete
outcome when he meets the generals ruling the isolated country formerly known as Burma. “Ban Ki-moon
used to say he would not visit until the military regime makes visible progress” toward democracy, said
Myat Thu, 44, a Japan-based activist. “I want him to achieve the release of political prisoners, like Aung
San Suu Kyi,” he said, referring to the Nobel Peace laureate who has been under house arrest for 13 of the
past 19 years. The protesters rallying outside the foreign ministry held pictures of the democracy leader and
chanted for democracy in Burma. Japan has historically maintained relatively friendly ties with Burma and
was previously its leading donor. Tokyo drastically reduced development aid to Burma over human rights
concerns, particularly after the junta cracked down on pro-democracy demonstrations led by Buddhist
monks in 2007. However, the Japanese government refused to join its Western allies in imposing sanctions.
AFP, 1 July 2009

Laura Bush, the former first lady who made Burma a personal project, wrote recently in the Washington
Post that it was crucial Ban Ki-moon press the regime to take immediate steps to end human rights abuses,
particularly in ethnic minority areas where rape was common. She said the youngest victim was 8, the oldest
80. The Huffington Post, 1 July 2009
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A North Korean ship monitored for more than a week by the U.S. Navy has changed course and is heading
back the way it came, U.S. officials said, as Pyongyang warned Wednesday it will take military action if
anyone attempts to search its vessels. The Kang Nam 1 – originally believed to be bound for Burma with
suspicious cargo on board, possibly illicit weapons – turned around and headed back north on Sunday, two
U.S. officials said on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence. Burma’s authorities had informed the
North Korean ambassador that it would not allow the Kang Nam to dock if it was carrying weapons or other
banned materials, a Radio Free Asia report said. Koh Yu-hwan, an expert at Seoul’s Dongguk University,
said North Korea appears to have decided to bring home its vessel because of Burma’s reaction. “The
North’s cargo ship appears to have changed its course as the country’s rogue image could be further
strengthened if illegal weapons were on board,” he said. huffingtonpost.com, 1 July 2009

The UN’s refugee agency announced yesterday that it had resettled the 50,000th Burmese refugee from
Thailand’s nine border refugee camps as part of the world’s largest refugee resettlement programme.
Currently there are around 112,000 registered Burmese refugees in Thai border camps. Added to the many
that are not registered, the figure nears 140,000. The ongoing conflict in Burma’s western Karen state,
which borders Thailand, has forced another 4000 refugees into Thailand in the last month, although few of
these have ended up in camps. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has been operating the
programme since 2004, with the number of resettlements rising dramatically in 2005 when the US opened
its doors to refugees from the camps. UNHCR spokesperson William Spindler said yesterday that
resettlement in a third country had become the only viable option for Burmese refugees in Thailand’s
camps, given problems settling permanently in Thailand and the dangers of returning to Burma. “So for
them, resettlement in a third country is the best option,” he said. “For this reason we are very grateful to
countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, Finland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and
Sweden for offering refugees a chance to begin new lives.” DVB, 1 July 2009

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is likely to meet Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi during
his visit to the country later this week, an official said on Wednesday. “He is supposed to meet Aung San
Suu Kyi when he arrives here but we cannot definitely tell his schedule,” said an official who requested
anonymity. Ban is scheduled to visit Burma Friday and Saturday at the official invitation of the ruling junta.
He is expected to meet the country’s most powerful man, Senior General Than Shwe, head of the State
Peace and Development Council, as Burma’s junta styles itself, officials said. Besides Suu Kyi and Than
Shwe, Ban also plans to meet with political parties and ethnic groups and travel to the Irrawaddy delta
region that was devastated by Cyclone Nargis on May 2-3 last year, killing up to 150,000 people.
hindustantimes.com, 1 July 2009

2 July 2009, Thursday


UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is to meet senior members of the party of Aung San Suu Kyi when he
visits Burma this week but has no plans yet to see the opposition leader, a party spokesman said. Ban is set
to arrive in the military-ruled nation on Friday for a two-day visit focused on pressing the junta to release all
political prisoners including the jailed Nobel peace laureate. “The authorities informed us that five central
executive committee members of the NLD (National League for Democracy) are to meet Mr Ban Ki-moon.
We don’t know details yet,” NLD spokesman Nyan Win told AFP. He said the five did not include Aung
San Suu Kyi, who is currently being held at the notorious Insein Prison in the commercial hub Rangoon
where she is on trial for breaching the terms of her house arrest. Nyan Win and other members of her legal
team were due to meet her at the jail on Thursday, a day before her trial resumes. A Burmese official
speaking on condition of anonymity said that Ban would meet with members of 10 political parties
including the NLD in the administrative capital Naypyidaw on Friday. Ban is also set to meet junta leader

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Senior General Than Shwe in Naypyidaw on the same day and is due to fly back to Rangoon on Saturday,
officials said. AFP, 2 July 2009

Somalia remains the world’s most dangerous country for minority groups, followed by Iraq, Sudan,
Afghanistan and Burma, a leading human rights group said. The five were in unchanged positions from last
year’s Minority Rights Group International’s (MRG) list of countries where groups or peoples are most
at risk of genocide, mass killing or other systematic violent repression. MRG director Mark Lattimer said:
“Ethnic and religious minorities across West Asia are under greater threat than ever before as a result of
escalating military operations against Islamic extremists.” Half the top 20 countries in the “Peoples under
Threat 2009’ report are African and six are in Asia. AFP, 2 July 2009

After his talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
told reporters in Tokyo on Tuesday that he was aware of concerns about his July 3-4 visit coinciding with
the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi, the main opposition leader, who has been under house arrest for several
years. “It may be the case that the trial happens during my visit to Burma. I am very much conscious of
that,” Ban told reporters. “I consider that three of the most important issues for Burma cannot be left
unaddressed at this juncture,” he said. According to Ban, the first issue on his agenda will be the release of
all political prisoners, including Suu Kyi. The other two points are the resumption of dialogue between the
military rulers and the opposition and the creation of conditions favorable to a trustworthy election.
upiasia.com, 2 July 2009

UN chief Ban Ki-moon prepared Thursday for a risky visit to Burma amid warnings that the trip will be a
“huge failure” if he fails to secure the release of detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Ban is set to
arrive in the military-ruled nation on Friday for a two-day visit that the UN says will focus on pressing the
junta to free all political prisoners, including the Nobel peace laureate, who is currently on trial. He is due to
meet junta leader Senior General Than Shwe and members of opposition parties including Aung San Suu
Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD), but there are no plans yet for him to meet her, officials said.
AFP, 2 July 2009

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon begins a high-risk trip to Burma on Friday, where he will press the
military junta to release all their political prisoners and prepare for credible elections next year. The stakes
are high for Ban and the risk of failure great. Halfway through a five-year term at the helm of the United
Nations, Ban has faced a wave of criticism recently from detractors who say his low-key approach to the job
does not work. He is eager to prove them wrong, U.N. diplomats say. Ban is aware that the timing of his trip
to the former Burma is far from ideal, as he made clear when he spoke to reporters in Tokyo on Tuesday. He
said he understood the concerns about the timing of his visit, which begins on the day the widely criticised
trial of Burma’s opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, is set to resume. “I will try to use this visit as an
opportunity to raise in the strongest possible terms and convey the concerns of international community ...
to the highest authorities of the Burmese government,” Ban said. Reuters, 2 July 2009

3 July 2009, Friday


The trial of Burma’s detained pro-democracy leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi was
adjourned at the last minute until July 10, one of her lawyers has said Friday. The adjournment came even
as United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Burma’s former capital of Rangoon Friday
morning at the start his two-day official visit to the country. The trial of Suu Kyi, who is accused of
violating the terms of her house arrest by allowing a U.S. national to swim to her lakeside residence in
Rangoon, had been due to resume Friday morning. But as lawyers gathered at Rangoon’s Insein jail,
officials announced that the trial, already adjourned for more than a month, had been put off once again.
Speaking to reporters Nyan Win, a member of Suu Kyi’s legal team, said the Supreme Court did not send
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the case files to the lower court, so the case has been adjourned until July 10. He said Suu Kyi had
“expressed her surprise that this happened.” RTT News, 3 July 2009

Detained Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi is in complete agreement with United Nations Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon’s three main points to resolve Burma’s political imbroglio during his two-day visit to
Burma on Friday. Speaking to Mizzima on Thursday, Nyan Win, lawyer of Aung San Suu Kyi said the
detained Burmese democracy leader supports Ban’s major agendas to address the political deadlock in
military ruled Burma. “She said the three issues are worthy of discussion,” Nyan Win said. Aung San Suu
Kyi’s comment came because the UN Secretary General, during his stay in Burma, plans to resolve the
issues of political prisoners, bring up the issue of resumption of dialogue between the government and the
opposition, persuade the junta to initiate national reconciliation, and set the stage for credible elections
slated for 2010. Mizzima, 3 July 2009

Burmese junta supremo Than Shwe smiled briefly but gave nothing away as he listened on Friday to U.N.
chief Ban Ki-moon, at the start of what Ban has called a “tough mission” to promote democratic reform. “I
thank you for your invitation. I’m happy to be here and to see you are in good health since I last saw you,”
Ban told the 76-year-old general, wearing a khaki uniform adorned with medals. The rare meeting with the
reclusive general took place in Than Shwe’s lavish Bayint Nuang Yeiktha office in Naypyidaw, the new
capital hastily built in the hills of Shan Plateau in 2005. Ban, on what he has called a “tough mission” to
press the junta to release all political prisoners and hold fair and credible elections, commended the general
for his contributions to peace, prosperity and democracy in the former Burma. “I would like to help move
your country forward and appreciate your commitment to moving your country forward,” Ban said, offering
a smile and a firm handshake to the man who has led the military regime for 17 of its 47 years in power.
Moments later, the media were ushered out of the room. Ban was expected to ask Than Shwe’s permission
to meet opposition leader Aung san Suu Kyi, who is on trial for breaching the terms of her house arrest. Suu
Kyi’s trial was adjourned earlier on Friday because of a clerical error by the court, according to her lawyer.
On arrival in Rangoon, Ban said he would convey international concern about Suu Kyi’s trial and press the
regime to ensure next year’s multi-party elections are credible and transparent. “The genuine will of the
Burmese people should be reflected.” Reuters, 3 July 2009

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had a rare meeting with Burmese junta supremo Than Shwe on
Friday but left with no clear answer to his request to see detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. “He
told me that she is on trial. I told him that I wanted to meet her in person,” Ban told reporters after a meeting
with the junta leader lasting nearly two hours in the country’s remote new capital, Naypyidaw. “I am
awaiting their consideration and reply,” Ban said. Ban had made no secret of his intention to ask for
permission to meet Suu Kyi during his two-day trip, which critics say has been orchestrated by the junta to
try to legitimise the Nobel laureate’s trial. Ban called for the release all political prisoners ahead of the
election and meaningful dialogue between the junta and opposition parties. “This election should be
credible, fair and inclusive, and a legitimate one,” Ban said. “I was assured that Burma’s authorities will
make sure that this election will be held in a fair and free and transparent manner.” manoramaonline.com, 3
July 2009

The increasingly close ties between Burma and North Korea since the two sides quietly resumed diplomatic
relations in 2007 could also cast a shadow over Mr Ban’s trip. A 37-page document in Burmese obtained by
Radio Free Asia detailed a visit by 17 Burmese officials, including General Thura Shwe Mann, the chief of
staff of the army and Burma’s third-ranked leader, to Beijing and Pyongyang last November. The stated aim
of the visit was “to modernize the Burmese military and increase its capabilities through visiting and
studying the militaries” of China and North Korea, and a memorandum of understanding was signed with
North Korea counterparts on November 27. The report also says the Burmese delegation was shown North
Korean surface-to-air missiles and rockets, along with naval and air defense systems and tunnel
construction, including how Pyongyang stores aircraft and ships underground to protect them from aerial
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attack. The delegation also visited a Scud missile factory. Pyongyang has been a major supplier of Scud
missiles to Iran, Egypt, and Syria since the 1980s. Photographs in the report show a Burmese delegation in
civilian clothing in North Korea, suggesting a bid to maintain a low profile. Experts suggested that the
leaking of the document was timed to coincide with Mr Ban’s visit by figures inside the junta who are
unhappy with the cooperation with North Korea. Reports in South Korea suggest that North Korea may
already be illegally exporting weapons to Burma via overland routes in China in order to avoid naval
interception. Last week, the Kang Nam 1, a North Korea ship that has been used for weapons trading in the
past, turned back before reaching Burma while being tracked by a US Navy destroyer. The Chosun Ilbo
newspaper said Pyongyang has exported weapons to Iran, Syria, Laos and Burma worth USD800 million
since 2008. telegraph.co.uk, 3 July 2009

The junta is usually impervious to international pressure, although U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
may believe he has some sway with the generals, having convinced them to allow aid agencies to operate in
Burma after the devastating Cyclone Nargis last year. Analysts say Ban may have been given some
indication by the generals, or by U.N. envoy Ibrahim Gambari after his trip last week, that his visit can bring
some kind of positive result. “There must be something worthwhile he can achieve but it won’t be enough to
satisfy the international community,” said Trevor Wilson, a former Australian ambassador to Burma. “He
has to be seen to be tough and uncompromising when he meets the generals and they will appear attentive.
However, they’re a hardline bunch and I’m not optimistic they’ll change.” thestar.com, 3 July 2009

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown called on Burmese authorities on Friday to halt the trial of
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and to release her. Brown’s call, in a post on the Huffington Post
website, timed his comments to coincide with a visit to Burma by United Nations Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon. “I call on the regime to mark Ban Ki-moon’s arrival by immediately halting her trial, which
makes a mockery of justice, and ending her detention which undermines their credibility in the eyes of the
world,” Brown said. Reuters, 4 July 2009

The British Embassy in Jakarta has displayed a giant image of jailed Burma democracy leader Aung San
Suu Kyi to call for her release and that of other political prisoners in the military-ruled country. The image
was projected onto a banner installed at the perimeter of the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta
from Thursday until Saturday, the embassy said in a statement released Thursday. The projection will start
at sunset. The initiative is being launched as Suu Kyi’s trial resumes in Burma on Friday; United Nations
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is also scheduled to visit the country on Friday. “The UK government
believes it is essential that progress is made during the secretary-general’s visit in laying the groundwork for
free and fair elections in Burma in 2010,” the statement said. “The visit will offer an opportunity for the
Burmese regime to respond to the many calls for the release of all political prisoners, including Aung San
Suu Kyi; and to allow the start of a genuinely inclusive political dialogue involving the opposition and
minority groups.” British embassy deputy head of mission Matthew Rous said Burma’s neighbors had a
duty to call loudly for Suu Kyi’s release. “I am greatly encouraged by the fact that Indonesia’s voice is
being heard so loudly and clearly. I hope the British Embassy’s initiative will help us all to keep Aung Sang
Suu Kyi’s image in front of our eyes during this hugely important visit,” he said. thejakartapost.com, 3 July
2009

4 July 2009, Saturday


British Prime Minister Gordon Brown raised the prospect Saturday of further sanctions against Burma
following UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s fruitless visit to the military regime. “We await the
secretary-general’s report,” Brown said in a statement from his office. “I hope that there is still the
possibility of a change of approach from Burma. But if not, my sad conclusion is that the Burmese regime
has put increased isolation, including the possibility of further sanctions, on the international agenda.”
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Brown’s comments came after Burma’s refusal to let Ban meet pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi
during a two-day visit. Ban described the move “a setback for the international community.” AFP, 4 July
2009

As U2 kicks off its world tour, the Irish rockers are turning a spotlight on Burma’s jailed opposition leader
Aung San Suu Kyi. On its Web site and on stage, U2 is asking fans to wear a Suu Kyi mask in support of
the 64-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner. “Wear it to work or college. Wear it on the bus or the train. Wear
it in the pub or at shops. And don’t forget. Bring it to a U2 show,” the band says on its official Web site. A
mask of Suu Kyi’s smiling face can be downloaded and printed from http://www.u2.com and appears
inside the program for the band’s “360 degree” tour, which opened earlier this week in Barcelona. Lead
singer Bono paid tribute to Suu Kyi at a packed Barcelona stadium Tuesday night when he introduced U2’s
2000 single, “Walk On,” which was written for her. “This next song is dedicated to Aung San Suu Kyi and
the people of Burma,” Bono told the crowd, according to a statement received Friday from the Burma
Campaign UK. The London-based human rights group helped coordinate a recent campaign that groups
celebrities, musicians and dignitaries calling for Suu Kyi’s release. “Let’s send her a message of love and
support. Let us stand with her ... Put on your masks,” Bono said, according to the statement, which said
thousands in the audience were wearing or holding the masks. AP, 4 July 2009

North Korea sought payment through a bank in Malaysia for its suspected shipment of weapons to Burma
that is being carried on a freighter tracked by the U.S. Navy, a source said Saturday, as quoted by
Yonhap.The visit by a U.S. envoy to Malaysia this weekend will focus on ways to cut off the payment
transaction for the cargo from the bank in Malaysia to North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, the source said.
“Kim will have a hard time collecting his money,” the high-level source said, speaking strictly on condition
of anonymity. The source declined to identify the bank due to diplomatic concerns. Philip Goldberg, the
U.S. coordinator for the implementation of a U.N. Security Council resolution that punishes North Korea for
its May 25 nuclear test, is scheduled to arrive in Malaysia on Sunday.The visit comes after the White House
said late last month that U.S. President Barack Obama discussed North Korea and financial regulations with
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razakon by phone.It also comes as North Korea’s Kang Nam freighter is
apparently returning home after being tracked by a U.S. Navy destroyer that suspects it is carrying cargo
banned under the resolution.Resolution 1874, which reinforced sanctions that were imposed after North
Korea conducted its first nuclear test in 2006, bans Pyongyang from exporting any type of weapons -- light
or heavy. According to another source in Seoul, the Kang Nam is believed to be carrying small Soviet-era
arms such as AK-47 rifles and RPG-7 anti-tank launchers. AK-47s and RPG-7s are two of the most widely
traded Soviet-era weapon types that North Korea is capable of producing on its own. “Kim appears to have
received earnest money for the shipment, but it is a small sum compared to the payment held up in
Malaysia,” the source said. Resolution 1874 bans states from making financial transactions with North
Korea that could help the communist state build its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.The U.S. slapped
financial sanctions on a Macau bank in 2005 to freeze USD 25 million worth of North Korean assets,
effectively cutting off Pyongyang’s access to the international financial system.Banco Delta Asia was also
accused of helping North Korea launder money it had acquired by circulating sophisticated counterfeit
US$100 bills called “supernotes.” Goldberg visited China ahead of his visit Malaysia. Despite the resolution
banning development of weapons of mass destruction, North Korea test-fired a series of missiles Thursday
and Saturday into the East Sea, where it had imposed a June 25-July 10 maritime ban for a military
exercise.North Korea test-fired a barrage of short-range missiles in the days following its latest underground
nuclear explosion.The U.S. believes there are “multiple” North Korean ships used to export weapons. Focus
English News, 4 July 2009

United Kingdom’s Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Ivan Lewis has praised and
thanked the Philippines for its “strong” stance in calling for political reforms in Burma and for pushing for
a credible human rights body in the region. Lewis met on Thursday with officials from the Department of
Foreign Affairs (DFA) headed by Undersecretary for Policy Enrique Manalo, which the United Kingdom
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Embassy in Manila noted was as the first high-level bilateral talks between the UK and the Philippines. He
also expressed the British government’s openness to help the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) in its human rights initiatives in the region. “The UK Government looks forward to the day when
this body makes a substantive contribution towards tackling human rights abuses in the region and we stand
ready to help you make that happen,” the British senior official told the Philippine delegation. The
Philippines has been persistently calling on Burma authorities to follow the roadmap to democracy, which
includes the release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners. “The UK is
immensely grateful to the Filipino government for the leading role that it has played in the ASEAN on
Burma. The tough statements from the Philippine Government on Aung San Suu Kyi and the position it has
taken on the death penalty are an example to other states in the region, Lewis said in his closing statement.
Manila Bulletin, 4 July 2009

Ban Ki-moon, MMK, 4 July 2009

Excellencies,
Distinguished guests and colleagues Ladies and Gentlemen,
This is my second visit to Myanmar in just over a year. Both visits have been at critical times for the
country’s future. My first visit was in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis. This devastating natural disaster,
which took so many lives and created so much hardship, touched hearts across the globe. In Myanmar’s
moment of need, the world responded generously. I want to personally thank everyone here today for your
remarkable contributions to the relief and recovery effort. You have saved lives, rejuvenated communities
and made it possible for many thousands of people to reclaim their livelihoods. You have helped Myanmar
to overcome adversity. It is important that this work continues.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I felt the tragedy of Cyclone Nargis deeply -- as a fellow Asian and as Secretary-General. I am Asia’s
second Secretary-General. The first was Myanmar’s U Thant. I revere his memory. I also recall his wise
words. U Thant said: “The worth of the individual human being is the most unique and precious of all our
assets and must be the beginning and end of all our efforts. Governments, systems, ideologies and
institutions come and go, but humanity remains.” This is why I have returned. As Secretary-General, I
attach the highest importance to helping the people of this country to achieve their legitimate aspirations.
The United Nations works for people – their rights, their well-being, their dignity. It is not an option. It is
our responsibility. I have come to show the unequivocal shared commitment of the United Nations to the
people of Myanmar. I am here today to say: Myanmar – you are not alone. We want to work with you for a
united, peaceful, prosperous, democratic and modern Myanmar. We want to help you rise from poverty. We
want to work with you so your country can take its place as a respected and responsible member of the
international community. We want to help you achieve national reconciliation, durable peace and
sustainable development. But, let me emphasize: neither peace nor development can thrive without
democracy and respect for human rights. Myanmar is no exception.
Ladies and Gentlemen,

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The challenges are many. But they are not insurmountable. We know from experience that securing
Myanmar’s peaceful, democratic and prosperous future is a complex process. None of Myanmar’s
challenges can be solved on their own. Peace, development and human rights are closely inter-related.
Failure to address them with equal attention will risk undermining the prospects for democracy, durable
peace and prosperity. However, we also know that where there is a genuine will for dialogue and
reconciliation, all obstacles can be overcome. The question today is this: how much longer can Myanmar
afford to wait for national reconciliation, democratic transition and full respect for human rights? The cost
of delay will be counted in wasted lives, lost opportunities and prolonged isolation from the international
community. Let me be clear: all the people of Myanmar must work in the national interest. I said this
yesterday when I met with representatives of Myanmar’s registered political parties and with those armed
groups that have chosen to observe a cease-fire. I encouraged them respectively to honour their
commitments to the democratic process and peace. Nonetheless, the primary responsibility lies with the
Government to move the country towards its stated goals of national reconciliation and democracy. Failure
to do so will prevent the people of Myanmar from realizing their full potential. Failure to do so will deny the
people of Myanmar their right to live in dignity and to pursue better standards of life in larger freedom.
These principles lie at the core of the United Nations Charter, whose opening words are “We the peoples”.
The founding Constitution of independent Myanmar echoes these noble words. We must work together to
ensure that Myanmar’s future embodies these principles too. With this in mind, I bring three messages.
First, respect for human dignity is the precondition for peace and development everywhere. Myanmar was
one of the first United Nations Member States to adopt the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It
subscribed early on to the consensus that respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms is
indispensable to political, economic and social progress. Unfortunately, that commitment has not been
matched in deed. Myanmar’s human rights record remains a matter of grave concern. The Government has
articulated its goals as stability, national reconciliation and democracy. The upcoming election –the first in
twenty years – must be inclusive, participatory and transparent if it is to be credible. Myanmar’s way
forward must be rooted in respect for human rights. This is why I say that all political prisoners, including
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, should be released without delay. When I met General Than Shwe yesterday and
today, I asked to visit Ms. Suu Kyi. I am deeply disappointed that he refused. I believe the government of
Myanmar has lost a unique opportunity to show its commitment to a new era of political openness.
Allowing a visit to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi would have been an important symbol of the government’s
willingness to embark on the kind of meaningful engagement that will be essential if the elections in 2010
are to be seen as credible. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi must be allowed to participate in the political process
without further delay. Indeed, all the citizens of Myanmar must be given the opportunity to contribute fully
to the future of this country. National reconciliation cannot be complete without the free and active
participation of all who seek to contribute. The country must embark on a process of genuine dialogue that
includes all concerned parties, all ethnic groups and all minorities. People must be free to debate and to
engage in political dialogue, and they must have free access to the information that will help them
participate meaningfully in the democratic process.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Any transition is difficult. Myanmar has already undergone transitions from sovereign kingdom, to occupied
colony, and now independent State. This history carries a twin legacy of armed conflict and political
deadlock, including recent painful events: the repression of demonstrators in 1988, the cancellation of the
1990 election results, and the clampdown on peaceful dissent that continues to this day. At the same time,
there have been some positive efforts that should be recognized. Although still fragile, the cease-fire
agreements between the Government and armed groups have reduced the level of conflict. The United
Nations has wide-ranging experience in making such gains irreversible. Sovereignty, territorial integrity and
national unity are legitimate concerns for any government. We contend that opening and broadening the
political space is the best way to ensure that each group and each individual becomes part of the greater
collective project. The military, all political parties, ethnic minority groups, civil society, and indeed every
son and daughter of Myanmar has a role to play in this country’s transition. Only mutual compromise,
respect and understanding can lay the foundations for durable peace, national reconciliation and democracy.
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My second message is on addressing the humanitarian needs of Myanmar’s people. I am glad I have been
able to return to see the progress made in the Irrawaddy Delta. The loss of some 130,000 people was tragic,
but the rebuilding I saw today was impressive. The tragedy showed the resilience of the people of Myanmar.
It also demonstrated that people throughout the world care deeply about Myanmar and its people. Above all,
the response to Cyclone Nargis proved the value of engagement over isolation. The unprecedented
cooperation between Myanmar, the United Nations and ASEAN through the Tripartite Core Group, with the
support of the donor community, has demonstrated that humanitarian imperatives and the principles of
sovereignty do not conflict. Humanitarian assistance -- in Myanmar as elsewhere -- should never be held
hostage to political considerations. We can and must work together to ensure access to humanitarian and
development assistance to all those in Myanmar who need it. This brings me to my third message. It is time
for Myanmar to unleash its economic potential. Myanmar sits in the middle of Asia’s economic miracle.
Harnessing Myanmar to the rapid advances taking place around it is the surest way to raise living standards.
I welcome the Government’s policy of opening up to outside trade and investment, and its efforts to achieve
the Millennium Development Goals, control HIV, combat human trafficking and curtail opium production.
But the reality is that millions continue to live in poverty. Standards of living in Myanmar remain among
the lowest in Asia. The people of Myanmar need jobs, they need food security and they need access to
health care. We must work to ensure that the people of Myanmar can benefit from and contribute to the
regional and global economy. We must recognize that the region and the world have much to gain from a
stable, prosperous and democratic Myanmar. We must work together for that goal. The Government of
Myanmar must seize the moment. It must take advantage of the opportunities that the international
community is prepared to offer to the people of Myanmar.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I came here as a friend. My duty is to uphold the ideals and principles of the United Nations Charter. My
role is to encourage all of you – the Government, political parties, ethnic groups, civil society – to move
forward together as one people and one nation. Nothing is insurmountable or impossible when the people’s
interest is placed above divisions. The region and the world are changing fast. Myanmar only stands to gain
from engagement -- and from embarking on its own change. The Government of Myanmar has repeatedly
stated that cooperation with the United Nations is the cornerstone of the country’s foreign policy. We ask it
to match deeds with words. The more Myanmar works in partnership with the United Nations to respond to
its people’s needs and aspirations, the more it affirms its sovereignty. Similarly it is incumbent on the
international community as whole to work together to help Myanmar meet our shared goals: a united,
peaceful, prosperous and democratic future, with full respect for the human rights of all the country’s
people. Kyae zoo tin bar tae. Ban Ki-moon’s Speech, Rangoon, Irrawaddy, 4 July 2009

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says he is “deeply disappointed” after the Burmese junta rejected his
second and final request to meet jailed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Ban met Saturday with Senior
Gen. Than Shwe for a second inconclusive round of talks. Ban told reporters he is sorry to report it is “not
possible” for him to see the jailed Nobel Peace Prize winner. AP, 4 July 2009

UN chief Ban Ki-moon gave a rare public speech on Saturday outlining his vision for a democratic Burma,
just hours after the ruling junta refused to let him meet opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Ban told an
audience of diplomats, UN agencies and non-governmental organisations that the military regime must free
the pro-democracy icon and introduce other reforms for the good of the country’s people. “I am here today
to say: Burma, you are not alone. We want to work with you for a united, peaceful, prosperous, democratic
and modern Burma,” Ban said at the Drug Elimination Museum in the commercial hub Rangoon. “We want
to help you rise from poverty ... work with you so that your country can take its place as a respected and
responsible member of the international community,” the secretary general said. “But let me emphasise:
neither peace nor development can thrive without democracy and respect for human rights. Burma is no
exception.” AFP, 4 July 2009

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United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon concluded his two-day official visit to Burma and left the
country Saturday evening. During his stay in the country’s new capital Naypyidaw, Ban had two meetings
with Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Senior-General Than Shwe on Friday and
Saturday, according to a report of the state-run Burma Radio and Television (MRTV) Saturday. Dealing
with the cooperation issue with the United Nations, Than Shwe said, as a UN member, Burma would like to
cooperate with the world body and expressed thanks for its aid to his country in its relief and rehabilitation
tasks in the post Cyclone Nargis period, the report said. Touching on the issue of Burma’s forthcoming
general election in 2010, Than Shwe told Ban that his country would continue to follow its seven-step
roadmap and promulgate in time the Election Law which is being drawn to fairly enable organization of
political parties for entering the election and being inclusive, it said. Upon Ban’s request to meet Aung San
Suu Kyi, Than Shwe maintained that as Aung San Suu Kyi, along with U.S. citizen John William Yettaw, is
under trial, his request was therefore turned down, the report said. At the meetings, Ban said the U.N. agreed
to Burma’s seven-step roadmap, saying that the organization wants to see the country’s 2010 election be
democratic and inclusive, according to the MRTV report. Ban expressed wishes to extend more aid for
Burma’s post-storm reconstruction. Before the conclusion of his Burma trip, Ban gave a nearly-an-hour
public address in Rangoon’s Anti-Drug Museum Saturday evening. Diplomats, UN agencies, non-
governmental organizations and media reporters attended the event. During his Burma visit, Ban also met
with the leadership of 10 legal political parties and ethnic peace groups. Ban also inspected the
reconstruction site in cyclone-hit Irrawaddy division’s Dedaye. chinaview.cn, 4 July 2009

UN Secretary general Ban Ki-moon faced a barrage of criticism last night for apparently praising the
Burmese junta without winning any concessions over human rights or a move towards democracy. Mr Ban
was under pressure to produce results from his two-day mission to Burma, which was criticised as providing
an endorsement of the Burmese leadership just as it is staging a trial of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The high-stakes visit to Burma comes at a critical time for Mr Ban, whose low-key approach to his job has
been criticised as ineffectual. He came under further fire on arrival in Naypyidaw, the regime’s
headquarters, when he told junta leader Gen Than Shwe: “I appreciate your commitment to moving your
country forward.” “That is absolute nonsense,” said Brad Adams, a Burma specialist at Human Rights
Watch. “It’s just what we implored him not to say, to make these diplomatic gaffes. Than Shwe has steadily
moved his country backwards.” British officials were also furious at the remarks. They had urged Mr Ban
not to visit Burma, and risk handing the junta a propaganda prize, without ensuring he would gain
concessions in the form of the release of political prisoners and steps towards genuine democracy. Gen Than
Shwe said little at his meeting with Mr Ban and did not grant his request to meet Suu Kyi in prison. Mr Ban
expressed hope that a meeting could still be permitted. “I am leaving tomorrow, so logically speaking I am
waiting for a reply before my departure,” he said. The secretary general added that he had called for the
release of all political prisoners before the elections, but got no response. However, Mr Adams said: “A
meeting with Than Shwe is not a success. Even a meeting with Suu Kyi shouldn’t be counted as a success, if
all it means is she goes from being in jail back to being under house arrest. irishtimes.com, 4 July 2009

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon knew he was taking a risk by traveling to Burma this week to plead
with the country’s ruling generals for a meeting with imprisoned opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Several Western diplomats warned Ban the generals would use his presence to claim legitimacy for their
autocratic rule, even as they proceed with what many regard as a show trial of Suu Kyi for allegedly
violating terms of her house arrest. But regional powers China and India argued that engagement was more
likely to soften the regime’s hard line against political opposition. Ban did not get the meeting with Suu Kyi
on Friday, though he emerged from two hours of talks with Senior Gen. Than Shwe saying he had urged the
regime to “accelerate the process of democratization.” The U.N. has been cooperating with key players and
regional organizations. It is not only the United Nations that can raise a moral voice. But when it comes to
universally accepted principles, the United Nations has been very vocal. When there are civilian casualties,
crimes which should be condemned in the name of humanity, sexual violence against women, I have been
more vocal than any world leaders. And I was swift in going to Burma. I was the first, and as of now the
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only one, who has gone into Burma and talked to Senior Gen. Than Shwe. I have spoken on the basis of my
moral duty. I will clearly tell them that they must fully understand the expectations of the international
community. The whole international community wants to see Burma promote the protection of human
rights; release political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi; treat Aung San Suu Kyi as a partner for
national reconciliation. She can play an important role. Burma is an example of where it’s very difficult to
defer to the regional players, because the regional players are not bringing much pressure to bear. That is
why I have been working very hard to try to open up this dialogue channel. I was the one to pry open this
door last year, and the United Nations was able to save at least half a million people after Cyclone Nargis.
There is a clearly Asian culture and a clearly Western culture. Both should be mutually respected and
mutually complemented. Most people regard my style as low-key, soft-spoken. But this so-called quiet
diplomacy is just one part of my diplomatic style. Sometimes when you deal with a certain leader who has
been quite closed, it is much more effective when you engage one-on-one. For them, they regard their face,
or authority, as No. 1. They don’t want to be lectured in front of many of their senior advisors. My
experience tells me if I raise sensitive issues in public, then their reaction will be very official, very
emotional and hard-line. It doesn’t help the purpose of our meeting. But if we meet in private, we can really
open up our hearts and I can really advise these leaders, very sincerely, in a direct way, a very vocal way
sometimes. Sometimes it is very heated. In many cases, like in a meeting with President Omar Hassan
Ahmed Bashir of Sudan, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, or even with Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad, I’ve been engaged in quite direct, straightforward talks, without much diplomatic courtesy.
Freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, freedom of information -- those are basic principles of a
democracy. Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2009

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said that he will meet with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki
Moon after Ban concluded his visit to Burma late Saturday. The two sides will talk about ties between
ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), the United Nations, Burma and Thai-Cambodia border
dispute, Abhisit was quoted by the Nation news website as saying. Thailand currently chairs the ASEAN,
which includes Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand
and Vietnam. Ban will end his two-day official visit to Burma late Saturday and will make a stop over at
Thailand’s Suvarnabhumi Airport at around 10:00 p.m. local time. chinaview.cn, 4 July 2009

5 July 2009, Sunday


Today, like most days, Aung San Suu Kyi will sit and wait. She will spend the day with the two women she
has been detained with since 2003. That she is being held in a “guesthouse” in the grounds of Rangoon’s
Insein jail, as opposed to her lakeside house where she has spent the past six years, makes little difference;
she has no television, radio or phone. But today is special, and for the most dismal of reasons. It is the
5000th day of her incarceration. Ms Suu Kyi is being held at the prison, having been charged with violating
the terms of her house arrest after a mysterious American swam to her home and spent the night there. In
truth, the only crime committed by the graceful opposition leader was to win an election two decades ago.
Even now, the junta is terrified that this slight 64-year-old widow has the power to do something they have
never been able to do: lead and unite the people of Burma without the threat of force. That is why she is
kept a prisoner, out of sight but never out of mind. Andrew Buncombe, nzherald.co.nz, 5 July 2009

Aging former political prisoner Win Tin says he wasn’t surprised that U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-
moon’s visit to Burma to plead for the release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi ended in failure.
Ban said Saturday he was “deeply disappointed” that Senior Gen. Than Shwe refused to allow him to see
Suu Kyi, adding that she should be released “without delay.” He said Burma’s human rights record was a
matter of serious concern. But Win Tin, 80, a former journalist and founding member of Suu Kyi’s National
League for Democracy, said he didn’t expect a breakthrough. “I am not being cynical, but I expected
nothing much from the visit. Even though he came at the invitation of the regime, it can be seen as the
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regime’s response to worldwide pressure due to Aung San Suu Kyi’s trial,” he said by telephone Saturday
from Burma. “If there is no real political progress, we will see Burma under a military dictatorship for many
years.” Meanwhile, Win Tin says he is practically homeless. His property was seized by the government
when he went to jail on July 4, 1989, and his friends have been denied the government approval needed to
house him. Born into a poor family in north Rangoon, Win Tin dreamed of joining Burma’s struggle for
independence from the British. When he was a teenager, he met Aung San, the nation’s independence hero
and father of Aung San Suu Kyi. Win Tin asked if he could join the resistance and was rebuffed. “Aung San
plainly said ‘Stick with your studies. There are many people to fight. The time will come for you,’ “ Win
Tin said. When an uprising broke out in 1988, he became a founding member of NLD and a close aide to
Suu Kyi. He was arrested a year later and jailed, and his sentence was extended when he managed to
smuggle out a report to a United Nations official about torture and other human-rights violations rampant in
Burma’s jails. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, Win Tin had repeatedly refused to sign a
letter promising to give up his political activities as a condition of his release. Local media have reported
that Win Tin could be jailed for refusing to return his prison-issue dungarees. He says he will continue to
wear the prison blues until Burma is free. “I remember Daw Suu Kyi’s response to this kind of warning
about her security. She said, ‘If a quack shoots me with a pistol, then the whole world will know where this
bullet comes from,’ ” he said. latimes.com, 5 July 2009

The opposition party of Aung San Suu Kyi said today the United Nations’ secretary-general’s recent trip to
military-ruled Burma was a failure but it was not his fault. Nyan Win, spokesman for Suu Kyi’s National
League for Democracy party, said UN chief Ban Ki-moon’s “failure to achieve his objectives was not due to
a lack of effort but a lack of willingness and genuine goodwill on the part of the government”.
irishexaminer.com, 5 July 2009

Burma’s pro-democracy opposition has said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s visit to the country has
shown the military regime has no genuine interest in promoting national reconciliation and democratisation.
'”Mr Ban Ki-moon is leaving Burma empty-handed, without even meeting Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, much
less achieving his goal of securing the release all political prisoners and getting the regime to engage in a
dialogue with the opposition,” said Aye Thar Aung, a senior member of the Committee Representing the
People’s Parliament in Burma. “We do not believe in hopeful diplomacy, and we are not hopeful of political
change in our country,” he added. Mr Thar Aung said the UN chief’s visit was an opportunity for the
military regime to “showcase” its road map to a kind democracy that would ensure the military’s continued
grip on the levers of power. newkerala.com, 5 July 2009

Before it began, United Nations officials had described UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon’s visit to
Burma as a diplomatically risky mission that could end in failure. After it ended, following two days in
Burma and two rare and lengthy meetings with the reclusive leader of the country’s military government,
Ban had come away with nothing concrete to show for his venture. His requests to meet imprisoned Nobel
Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi were rejected. His pleas for the government to release its 2,000-plus
political prisoners were ignored. “I believe the government of Burma failed to take a unique opportunity to
show its commitment to a new era of openness,” Ban told reporters at Bangkok’s international airport
Saturday night. time.com, 5 July 2009

6 July 2009, Monday


South Korea said Monday that a North Korean freighter suspected of carrying banned cargo was expected to
return to home port, as United States officials claimed that international sanctions had forced the ship to turn
back. The 2,000-ton ship, the Kang Nam 1, left North Korea in mid-June and was believed to be heading
for Burma only days after the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution that banned the North
from nuclear and ballistic missile tests and called for a global embargo on its trade in weapons. The
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American Navy tracked the ship amid suspicions that the North was using the voyage to test Washington’s
will to enforce the sanctions. Late last month, the ship turned around and began sailing homeward. On
Sunday, Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. said the ship turned back because the United Nations sanctions
prevented it from entering any port. The ship was sailing in international waters between China and the
Korean Peninsula on Monday and was likely to enter North Korean waters within the day, said Won Tae-
jae, a spokesman of the South Korean Defense Ministry. North Korea has not explained why the ship
appeared to have canceled its voyage. American authorities monitored the ship on the high seas but did not
stop and search it — a move the North said it would interpret as an act of war — while working with
regional governments to inspect the ship under the United Nations mandate if it entered their ports. The
New York Times, 6 July 2009

“If Ban is saying it’s disappointing it must be really bad – it basically means he’s got absolutely nowhere.
He should have realized it was going to be a disappointing trip,” David Mathieson from Human Rights
Watch told AFP. “He didn’t even get one of the empty gestures the State Peace and Development Council,
the name for the ruling junta, probably should have given him so he could cast it as a minor victory.” “Now
he has to go back to New York and brief the Security Council and basically say ‘We have got nowhere. We
have to seriously rethink our engagement strategy,’” HRW’s Mathieson said. “This really shows that he’s
got to put more pressure on China and Russia in the Security Council, I think that’s one thing to come out of
it.” Aung Myo Thein of leading activist group the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners of
Burma, based in Thailand, said Than Shwe’s hardline stance could itself backfire by causing international
outrage. “In a way it’s a good situation. People can now know the intentions of the regime and discuss with
each other about the situation,” he said. “They should now take whatever the regime says with a grain of
salt.” chinapost.com.tw, 6 July 2009

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on Monday for Burma’s generals to prepare for
credible multi-party national elections next year. Ban was speaking to a news conference in Geneva after a
two-day trip to Burma, where he was denied a visit to detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. “It is
up to the leadership to set in place the elements necessary for elections to be credible and legitimate,” he
said. Reuters, 6 July 2009

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon ended a mission to Burma saying he was “deeply disappointed” that
the isolated nation’s top military ruler denied him a visit to jailed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. In
two days of rare talks with Senior General Than Shwe, the UN chief urged the reclusive 76-year-old leader
to release Suu Kyi and other political prisoners ahead of elections scheduled for next year. But their
meetings on Friday and Saturday in Naypyidaw, the junta’s remote administrative capital, left Ban saying
that his diplomatic gambit had produced no immediate results and amounted to “a setback to the
international community’s efforts to provide a helping hand to Burma.” “I am deeply disappointed that they
have missed a very important opportunity,” Ban said. chinadaily.com.ch, 6 June 2009

The Burmese junta’s refusal to allow U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to visit detained opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi will likely prompt a new push for Security Council action, but all depends on
China. The 15-nation council has been unable to take serious action in the case of the former Burma because
China, the nearest Burma has to a major ally, has been opposed. Like the United States, Britain, France and
Russia, China is a permanent veto-wielding member of the council and can block any action. The last time
the council said anything about Burma was in May 2008, when it issued a non-binding statement urging the
junta to ensure an upcoming referendum on the country’s new constitution would be “an inclusive and
credible process.” At the time, critics said the referendum that approved the constitution was a farce. Many
U.N. officials and diplomats worry next year’s multi-party election will be the same. China has shown
flexibility on North Korea. It has supported two sanctions resolutions against Pyongyang for its nuclear
weapons program. But Beijing has been unwilling to allow the council to impose sanctions on Burma,
whose nearly 2,000 km (1,250 mile) coastline provides neighbour China with easy land and sea access to
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South Asia markets. One Security Council diplomat said it may be time to try again to press China to use its
influence on the secretive military rulers of Burma to reform. “I think China knows the council will have to
look again at Burma,” the Western diplomat told Reuters on condition of anonymity after Ban’s visit. Other
Western diplomats have expressed similar views. Reuters, 6 July 2009

7 July 2009, Tuesday


Meanwhile the US Campaign for Burma announced that Ban’s Burma policy is “fundamentally flawed”
and demanded immediate action by the Security Council in a press release on Monday. “Ban not only failed
to obtain the release of the world’s only imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi, or even
a single political prisoner (out of the country’s 2,100) in Burma, but he also failed to even secure a meeting
with her,” the statement said. “For over a decade, the UN Secretary-General has sent envoys to Burma
seeking changes in the country, a policy used by China and Russia as an excuse to avoid action on Burma at
the UN Security Council. Finally, the world can see how this process is fundamentally flawed—without
strong action by the UN Security Council, even the UN Secretary-General himself has failed,” said Aung
Din, executive director of US Campaign for Burma. During his Burma trip last week, Ban met Senior
General Than Shwe. “The United Nations must not allow its credibility to be destroyed by a two-bit dictator
like Than Shwe,” Aung Din said. “It is time for Ban Ki-moon to ask the UN Security Council to pass a
global arms embargo against Burma’s military regime, while at the same time initiating an inquiry into
crimes against humanity and war crimes committed by Than Shwe’s regime,” he said. Irrawaddy, 7 July
2009

Than Shwe is following Ne Win footsteps, he ordered his troops to kill the Monks who are the highest order
and the most respected in Buddhist religion. Than Shwe is a murderer of innocent people, he is suppressing
and hangs on the power with the military that is supposed to give protection to the people. He is using
people’ money building his new palace and spending huge sum to attain nuclear weaponry. The people of
Burma are living in very hardships with not enough electricity and the highest cost of living to survive with
very expensive heath care/medical services. The wicked Than Shwe and his cronies will be toppled before
their planned 2010 crooked election. Than Shwe will die in villain like Ne Win. Henry Soe Win, D4B, 7
July 2009

Burma’s ruling junta wanted Ban Ki-moon to go into a grandiose drug museum through the back door to
prevent the U.N. secretary-general from making a rock-star entrance. Ban eventually did walk through the
front door – a small victory after he had lost far bigger battles, notably a hoped-for meeting with jailed
democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. After a two-day visit in which the generals tried to stage-manage the
world’s top diplomat at every step, Ban left the country with few prospects of even slightly loosening the
iron grip on power held by military regime and its junta chief, Senior Gen. Than Shwe. If people saw Ban
acting independently in Burma “that would cause Than Shwe to lose face,” said Donald Seekins, a Burma
expert at Japan’s Meio University. “So they want to manipulate him.” By snubbing Ban, the country’s
military rulers lost an opportunity to improve its standing among many of the world’s nations that view the
struggling country with rich reserves of gas and minerals as a pariah. Inside Burma, Suu Kyi’s opposition
party said Than Shwe showed he is unwilling to permit real change ahead of the 2010 elections, which
would be the first in two decades. Ban had asked to make his closing speech to diplomats and humanitarian
groups Saturday at a hotel, but the junta refused and forced him to instead speak at the government’s Drug
Elimination Museum. Ban’s staff didn’t want his presence there – where a wax figure depicts a military
intelligence chief chopping opium poppies, which Burma views as a scourge introduced by colonialists – to
appear like another prop furthering the government’s agenda. “They fought us over every last detail,” said a
U.N. official who took part in organizing the trip, speaking anonymously and out of protocol because of the
sensitivity of the matter. Ban – whose mild-mannered facade belies a toughness and occasional temper –
would have preferred a tete-a-tete with Than Shwe to having note-taking aides around, an example of his
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belief in his ability to sway recalcitrant world leaders if only he can get them alone in a room. But Than
Shwe’s idea of a tete-a-tete was to pit himself and the other four generals who together make up the ruling
State Peace and Development Council against Ban and some high-ranking U.N. deputies in the rarely
visited capital of Naypyidaw, according to U.N. officials. The 76-year-old Than Shwe suggested that Ban
might not be invited back until after the elections. Ban said Than Shwe promised to hand over power to
civilians after the elections. But the generals refused to follow U.N. recommendations intended to prevent
sham elections, including publishing an election law and freeing Suu Kyi and 2,200 other political prisoners
to ensure general participation. “Only then will the elections be seen as credible and legitimate,” Ban told
reporters Monday in Geneva, Switzerland. The government refused to honor the results of the 1990
elections after Suu Kyi’s party won in a landslide. The junta tolerates no dissent and crushed pro-democracy
protests led by Buddhist monks in September 2007. At the end of the trip, Ban tried to defuse the notion he
was returning empty-handed. He said the visit was an opportunity to plant seeds that could blossom later
and that he was dutifully relaying the international community’s message the elections must be seen as
credible. In the meantime, Ban said he will keep talks alive with Than Shwe through the so-called Group of
Friends on Burma. That approach hasn’t nudged Burma on key issues. Nor have eight previous visits by
Ibrahim Gambari, Ban’s top envoy to Burma, produced many results. “Than Shwe is using the United
Nations as a way of buying time or distracting people from the main issues, so it isn’t very constructive,”
Seekins said. “I don’t think Than Shwe is willing to make political concessions, especially concerning Aung
San Suu Kyi. I think he would really like to put her away in jail and not have to worry about her.” In the
absence of Suu Kyi, it was left to Ban to deliver unusually stinging remarks about the government, its
pummeling of human rights and the urgent need to set a new course. When he took the stage at the museum,
it was a rarity in the military’s half-century of dominance – an outside political figure allowed to say what
he wants. And after much haggling, Ban’s black Mercedes was allowed to pull up to the front door of the
museum. There, his motorcade disgorged a small entourage of aides and a half-dozen international
journalists. Local press awaited him inside. That also ensured an audience for him in Burma and beyond –
another small victory. AP, 7 July 2009

12 July 2009, Sunday


They prowl their jungle battleground in sneakers and have to steal their weapons, but Burma’s ethnic Karen
rebels say they will never quit their struggle against the junta. The ragtag Karen National Liberation
Army (KNLA) has been fighting Burma’s military government for 60 years -- marking the country’s
eastern border as the stage for one of the world’s longest running conflicts. But a renewed crackdown by
government forces in early June caused 4,000 of the mainly Christian Karen to flee to neighbouring
Thailand, the largest group of refugees to cross in more than a decade, aid groups say. The offensive comes
as Burma’s generals try to stamp out the last of the more than two dozen ethnic uprisings that have riven the
country since shortly after independence in time for elections due next year. Despite the overwhelming
firepower against them, the KNLA say they will not quit. “We never give up,” said David Tharckabaw, a
former soldier with the KNLA and now a leader of the political wing, the Karen National Union (KNU),
based in a secret location on the Thai-Burma border. “Yes, this is an asymmetric conflict, but overall we can
still carry on.” The Karen’s struggle began alongside Burma’s other ethnic minority groups seeking greater
autonomy the year after British colonial rule ended in 1948. Burma’s rulers now hope to use the defectors --
known as the Democratic Kayin Buddhist Army (DKBA) -- as part of a national border defence force ahead
of the 2010 elections, said Zipporah Sein, head of the KNU. “The junta try to push the DKBA to attack the
KNLA base camp... they use their tactics in a tricky way to persuade them (not to rejoin the rebels),” said
Sein, who also spoke to AFP from a secret border location. This sort of “divide and rule” strategy leaves no
doubt that the fight must continue, says Tharckabaw, although he adds that the KNU are willing to talk with
the authorities. “We are always ready to negotiate and we have been there five times already, but they say
you have to lay down arms first. But who would? Where’s the trust?” Tharckabaw said. AFP, 12 July 2009

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17 July 2009, Friday
Astrologers and soothsayers in Burma are reportedly being consulted by an increasing number of people
who haven’t heard for months from family members of the Burmese army’s Electrical and Mechanical
Engineering section working on the regime’s tunnel construction projects. Some are practicing yadaya, or
magic rites, in the hope that family members involved in the projects return home soon and unscathed.
Concern about the fate of officers and soldiers assigned to the tunnel projects has grown following
publication of reports about the secret work. Family members are reportedly worried that after the
completion of the secret tunnel-construction project, the regime may not want the officers and soldiers
involved to communicate with the public. The astrologer said that his clients included some family members
who had visited Naypyidaw to try and meet soldiers and officers from the engineering department. “They
have seen some tunnels near Naypyidaw and they also heard the sound of testing missiles that misfired,” he
said. “They come and see me to get an advice of how to get out of the tunnel project.” According to a MoU
signed between Burma and North Korea in November 2008, Burma plans to build with North Korean
technical assistance a military headquarters facility with a maze of underground tunnels around Naypyidaw,
the country’s remote capital. The government is also believed to be building underground silos to house
anti-aircraft missiles, radar equipment and other military installations. Irrawaddy, 17 July 2009

A British diplomat Friday said the European Union would likely toughen sanctions on Burma’s military
regime if pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was found guilty at her ongoing trial. Asif Ahmad,
Southeast Asia head for the British foreign office, told AFP that diplomats expected Aung San Suu Kyi to
be found guilty over the incident in May when an American man swam to her lakeside house uninvited. He
said if that was the case, once any appeal had been exhausted, the EU would slap further measures on the
junta to signal its disapproval. “Financial sanctions have been certainly at the forefront of what we would be
doing,” Ahmad said. “If the final sentence is anything other than her being free, looser chains are not
acceptable, she has to be free,” he said. AFP, 17 July 2009

18 July 2009, Saturday


Disturbing recent developments concerning evidence of the Burmese military regime’s close cooperation
with the North Korean regime, including acquisition of long-range ballistic missile technology, must serve
as an urgent wake-up call to members of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). These add to regional impacts
of the regime’s oppressive rule, including the increase of transnational crime and mass movements of
millions of Burmese fleeing war, repression, and impoverishment over the past two decades. Last month’s
intensified offensive in Eastern Burma has already witnessed mortar fire falling in Thai territory and more
than 6,000 refugees fleeing to Thailand in a fortnight. Main ethnic ceasefire groups around Burma are
bracing themselves for the resumption of armed clashes after they refused to comply with the junta’s
ultimatum to surrender their armies. An intensified crackdown on the pro-democracy movement that has
seen lengthy jail terms imposed on potential candidates in the 2010 election and the bogus trial of Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi, has severely reduced ethnic leaders’ confidence in the regime’s political roadmap.
Further, the SPDC’s constitution guarantees military subjugation over ethnic groups (the military decides
who will be Minister for Border Affairs). It is time for the ARF, which brings together ASEAN member
states and regional dialogue partners, to move beyond unconditional diplomacy and reduce the Burmese
military regime’s capability to threaten the comprehensive security of the region. Action must include
restrictions and greater regulation of transactions and entities implicated in weapons deals with the regime
and its proxies. It is particularly crucial that those implicated, such as Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, and
China, take effective steps to stem the flow of funds and technology needed for such deals. These sanctions
are less likely to hurt ordinary Burmese who do not use the formal banking system because of prohibitive

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commissions and rules on retail customers. ARF members must no longer allow the SPDC to use diplomatic
dithering to strengthen its capacity to threaten its neighbors. altsean.org, 18 July 2009

19 July 2009, Sunday

NLD Youths, Martyrs’ Day, MMK, 19 July 2009

21 July 2009, Tuesday


Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-Queens, the Bronx) applauded today’s passage by the U.S. House of
Representatives of the Crowley-authored Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act (H.J.Res.56). He released
the following statement in strong support of continuing sanctions against the Burmese military junta until
they release their grip on power, enact democratic and human rights reforms and free the legitimate the
leaders of the Burmese people such as Aung San Suu Kyi:
This legislation was first enacted in 2003 under the leadership of the former chairman of the House Foreign
Affairs Committee and my good friend, Tom Lantos. Tom spent his life fighting for freedom and democracy
for those who could not fully defend themselves. He is greatly missed here in Congress, but his legacy
remains and I have been proud to help carry on his efforts to secure democracy in Burma. Former-Chairman
Lantos would be pleased that we are considering The Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act. This
legislation will reauthorize the current sanctions on imports from Burma’s military regime for an additional
three years as well as maintain the ban on the importation of jade and other gems from Burma. I introduced
The Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act because we must show the military regime currently ruling with
an iron fist in Burma that there are consequences for their actions. Burma’s military regime has carried out a
brutal campaign against its own people. It has destroyed 3,000 villages, forced 1 million people to flee as
refugees, used rape as a weapon of war, and pressed millions of civilians into forced labor – modern-day
slave labor. The junta has also rejected recent diplomatic outreach, which would have been well-received in
the global community. Specifically, the junta refused United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s
request to release political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the nonviolent movement
for democracy and human rights in Burma. Not only did the junta refuse Aung San Suu Kyi’s release, they
even refused Ban Ki-moon’s request to meet with her. The Burmese regime must be stopped. If passed, The
Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act will supplement President Obama’s actions on May 15th – when he
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renewed investment prohibitions against the Burmese military regime that began under President Clinton.
The United States is not alone in using sanctions as part of a diplomatic strategy to help promote change in
Burma. The European Union renewed its Common Position on sanctions and Canada, Australia, New
Zealand, and others have unilaterally imposed their own restrictions. Aung San Suu Kyi and the other
legitimate leaders of Burma have also called on the world to impose sanctions on their country, just as
Desmond Tutu and the leaders of the struggle to end apartheid in South Africa called for sanctions on South
Africa in the 1980s. We must maintain our sanctions against the junta in Burma and I call on all of my
colleagues to vote for the renewal of The Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act. 21 July 2009

22 July 2009, Wednesday


The unabated recruitment of child soldiers into the Burmese Army has been exposed in a report released by
the Thai-Burmese border based ‘Yoma 3’ Burmese News Agency today. The agency said, it took about one
and-a-half years to compile the 72-page ‘Child Soldiers: Burma’s Sons of Sorrow’, which was released on
Wednesday at a press conference held along the Thai-Burmese border. The report includes interviews with
two child soldier deserters, a sergeant and four parents of child soldiers forcibly recruited by the army. “The
junta always claims to the international community and UN that it never recruits child soldiers into the
army. They also always claim that organizations in exile are disseminating concocted stories to western
countries. We wish to let people know clearly what the true facts are,” Nyein Lu, editor of the Yoma 3 told
Mizzima. The report also presented news and photographs of the No. 1 Recruit Centre at Danyingone
Township in Rangoon Division, No. 2 in Mandalay, No. 3 in Yemethin and No. 9 Basic Military Training
School in Zaychaung village of Thaton Township in Mon state. Mizzima, 22 July 2009

“Finally the UN Secretary General travelled to Burma and met with the junta. Although he did not meet
Aung San Suu Kyi, the visit was important. It showed to the people of Burma that the world cares about
what happens in the country. But it also showed how little the junta cares about the world community. Now
the United Nations have to follow up. We must not forget Burma,” says Kjell Magne Bondevik, president of
the Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights. oslocenter.no, 22 July 2009

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton made an explicit appeal to Burma on Wednesday to release
jailed Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, offering the prospect of direct U.S. investment in the
repressive Southeast Asian nation. The release of Suu Kyi is “critical” to easing the strained relations
between Burma and the United States, Clinton said. “If she were released, that would open up opportunities
at least for my country to expand our relationship with Burma, including investments in Burma,” she told
reporters while attending a regional security forum. President Obama renewed a year-long investment ban
on Burma on May 15, citing its “large-scale repression of the democratic opposition,” and U.S. officials
suggested he would reverse it if Burma took strides to ease political repression. The new administration has
made an intensive effort to reach out to repressive governments with a long history of human rights abuses
in an attempt to shift what officials consider stalemated policies. A brutal military junta that has orchestrated
gang rape of ethnic minorities, crushed democracy efforts, and kept most of the nation’s revenue from
natural gas, gems and other natural resources rules Burma. State Department officials are also firmly
convinced that the Burmese government is undergoing a wrenching internal debate over what to do about
Suu Kyi, whose party, the National League for Democracy, won a landslide electoral victory in 1990 that
the military leadership refused to accept. Since then, she has been under house arrest for most of the time, as
have hundreds of her supporters. Clinton’s statement appeared intended to sharpen the choice for the
Burmese government, but Suu Kyi’s attorneys reported Wednesday that they have been denied a request to
meet with her one more time before Friday’s final court hearing. The secretary, in an interview with
National Public Radio on Wednesday, attributed the many delays in the trial to internal angst among the
junta. But other U.S. officials think the trial was postponed to avoid a confrontation at the security

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conference held by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). washingtonpost.com, 23 July
2009

23 July 2009, Thursday


The US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a meaningful offer to the Burmese military regime on July
22, 2009. Mrs. Clinton said, “If Aung San Suu Kyi were released, that would open up opportunities for my
country to expand our relationship with Burma, including investments in Burma”. Now the Burmese
military regime has a chance to grab the opportunity that they are shouting for decades, lifting sanction from
the west. The regime accused Aung San Suu Kyi and her party National League for Democracy (NLD) for
encouraging the West to impose sanction for their human rights violation to its own citizens that NLD
denied for it. Now the ball is in the regime’s court. They have to decide whether they want sanction to
continue or to end by releasing Aung San Suu Kyi. One Burmese high ranking army official said, “We are
using second hand Chinese jet fighters, we rather use American made jets”, another officer said, “Our
uniforms are really bad, even we order to make our own uniforms, it is not good as ordinary US marine
uniform. We refer to use US made arms and ammunition not Chinese made or Russian made.” Many
Burmese army officials do not like to be a close associate with North Koreans, Chinese and Russians. They
want their kids to learn western education and have a good life. Many army officers want to quit from their
job because they no longer feel right to work for the government. Some paid from 500,000 to one million
kyat to resign from their positions. Most of them are not permitted to leave even though they want to
become ordinary citizens. Army captains have a duty to recruit new soldiers every year. Each captain has to
recruit at least two to three new soldiers ordered by the headquarters. If they could not find it, they have to
pay for it to someone who can recruit for them. Burma is going towards North Korean style isolation and if
the generals realized that they are on the wrong path, it is time to change the course for the betterment of the
people. Htun Aung Gyaw, csburma.net, 23 July 2009

The recent aborted voyage of a North Korean ship, photographs of massive tunnels and a secret meeting
have raised concern that one of the world’s poorest nations may be aspiring to join the nuclear club – with
help from its friends in Pyongyang. No one expects military-run Burma, to obtain an atomic bomb anytime
soon, but experts are closely watching the Southeast Asian nation. “There’s suspicion that something is
going on, and increasingly that cooperation with North Korea may have a nuclear undercurrent. We are very
much looking into it,” says David Albright, president of the Institute for Science and International Security,
a Washington, D.C. think tank. The issue is expected to be discussed, at least on the sidelines, at this week’s
ASEAN Regional Forum, a major security conference hosted by Thailand. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary
Rodham Clinton, along with representatives from North Korea and Burma, will attend. In the Thai capital
Bangok on Tuesday, Clinton did not refer explicitly to a nuclear connection but highlighted the military
relationship between Burma and North Korea. “We know there are also growing concerns about military
cooperation between North Korea and Burma which we take very seriously,” Clinton said. AP, 23 July 2009

Meanwhile, The US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton signed a symbolically important treaty with
members of Asean. The Treaty of Amity and Co-operation binds the US more closely into the regional
security architecture – something previous US administrations had fought shy of. “I want to send a very
clear message that the United States is back, that we are fully engaged and committed to our relationships in
South East Asia,” she said before the signing the treaty in the resort of Phuket. Mrs Clinton also said the
Obama administration would soon appoint a permanent ambassador to Asean headquarters in Jakarta. Asean
comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Burma, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and
Vietnam. BBC, 23 July 2009

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should consider expelling Burma if it does not
release imprisoned Aung San Suu Kyi, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said yesterday. Asked on Thai
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television whether ASEAN should kick out the military-ruled member state if it does not free the pro-
democracy leader, Clinton replied: “It would be an appropriate policy change to consider.” AFP, 23 July
2009

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations won’t consider expelling Burma over the detention of pro-
democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, rejecting U.S. calls, Thailand’s prime minister said Thursday. U.S.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told Thai television Wednesday that the regional bloc should consider
kicking out the military-ruled member state if it doesn’t free the Nobel laureate, who is on trial in prison.
But Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, speaking as current chair of the 10-state grouping, said that
while Asean and the West “have the same goal, we cannot implement the same policy.” “There are not
enough grounds to do that. We have already done what we can under the Asean mechanism,” said Abhisit,
referring to the group’s public statements expressing concern over Suu Kyi’s detention. AFP, 23 July 2009

24 July 2009, Friday


After several delays, the trial of Burma’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi entered its final phase
Friday as her lawyer delivered closing arguments under tight security at Rangoon’s Insein Prison. Only Suu
Kyi’s lawyer delivered a final argument Friday. Arguments by lawyers of the others charged were scheduled
for Monday. CNN, 24 July 2009

Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma’s celebrated democracy campaigner, on Friday called for “rule of law” and a
“balance” among the institutions of state such as the executive and judiciary. Ms. Suu Kyi’s plea was read
out by her lawyer, Kyi Win, in a trial court in Rangoon. She was present during the hearing. Mr. Kyi Win
was winding up defence arguments in the case about her alleged violation of terms of a recent phase of her
house arrest which ended on May 27. Defence counsel will resume the concluding arguments on July 27.
And, no date was set for the verdict. The Hindu, 25 July 2009

The trial in Burma of detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been postponed. Suu Kyi, 64, was
“abolutely dissatisfied” with the decision of an army-ruled court in Rangoon, Burma’s capital, to allow
prosecutors more time to prepare their final arguments in the case, said Nyan Win, one of her lawyers.
Lawyers for the Nobel peace laureate early on Friday gave their closing arguments in the trial that could
lead to Suu Kyi being jailed for five years if she is found guilty of violating the terms of her house arrest.
Win told the Reuters news agency that prosecutors had been told to deliver their final arguments on
Monday. aljazeera.net, 24 July 2009

“Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said she was absolutely dissatisfied with the arrangement - giving more time for
the prosecution to prepare the argument,” Nyan Win said. He said that to insure fairness the usual practice is
for courts to have both parties give closing arguments on the same day. On Monday, Suu Kyi’s two female
companions, who are also on trial, are to give their statements, and a lawyer for American John W. Yettaw,
who is charged with trespassing, is to present his argument. The defense has not contested the facts of the
case but argues that the law used by the authorities against Suu Kyi is invalid because it applies to a
constitution abolished two decades ago. It also says that government guards stationed outside Suu Kyi’s
compound should be held responsible for any intrusion in her property. Security was tight around Insein
Prison – where Suu Kyi is being held and also the site of the trial – with roads blocked with barbed wire
barricades manned by police. Seven truckloads of riot police were deployed around the compound.
journalgazette.net, 24 July 2009

Many observers believe the trial is a blatant ploy by Burma’s military rulers to keep Mrs Suu Kyi in
detention and that the outcome is a foregone conclusion, but her lawyers tried to strike an optimistic note
before going to court to present a 23-page closing address. “We are very optimistic because our arguments
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are based on solid legal points,” Mrs Suu Kyi’s main lawyer, Kyi Win, said. “We have the law on our side,
but we don’t know if the judges are on our side.” The defence has argued that it is Mrs Suu Kyi’s guards,
not her, who should be held responsible if someone was able to penetrate the security to reach her house.
The Telegraph, 24 July 2009

On Friday, the country’s English-language state newspaper The New Light of Burma criticised foreign calls
for Suu Kyi's release from Insein prison, saying they showed “reckless disregard for the law.” But Suu Kyi’s
lawyers hailed international calls for her freedom as they gave their closing arguments in a bid to prevent
her being jailed for five years on charges of breaching her house arrest rules. Yahoo.com, 26 July 2009

The sale of a plot of land in detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s house compound has been
opposed by her lawyer through an official letter on Thursday. “We have sent our opposition to the two
lawyers, whose names were in the announcement. We said the plot of land cannot be sold as it is owned by
our client. We have sent a letter opposing it,” Nyan Win, Aung San Suu Kyi’s lawyer told Mizzima. The
July 24, issue of the state-run newspaper “Mirror” carried an announcement stating that a plot of land in the
compound of House No 54 in Rangoon’s University Avenue has been sold and anybody, who objects to the
sale, can oppose it within seven days. The announcement said, a plot of land – 40 A, 41, 42, 42 A, 44 B, 44
C, and 64 C – 200 feet in length and 70 feet wide in Rangoon’s Bahan township has been sold-off by Khin
Maung Aye and that any objection can be lodged within a week. But following the announcement, Khin
Maung Aye’s wife Daw Tin Tin Oo, living separately, made an announcement objecting to the sale of the
plot of land and the constructions on the land. Khin Muang Aye is the foster son of late Thakhin Than Tun
and Daw Khin Gyi, who was the sister of detained Aung San Suu Kyi’s mother Daw Khin Kyi. He is a
retired army officer and also a writer. Though the announcement, signed by High Grade Pleaders Cho Thae
May and Wai Wai Aung said opposition to the transfer can be made, it made no mention of the buyer. “The
plot of land mentioned in the notice is the area that has not been divided. But the notice does not name the
buyer. They have hidden the name of the buyer. We are worried about the notice. We cannot divulge what
we will do but we have our plans,” Nyan Win said. The sale of the plot of land comes at a time when Aung
San Suu Kyi, who lived in the compound, is awaiting a verdict at the Insein prison court. Earlier, Aung San
Suu Kyi’s brother Aung San Oo, claiming to be the rightful heir to the compound of House No. 54, filed a
lawsuit. Mizzima, 30 July 2009

Despite suffering from ill-health, veteran journalist and prominent National League for Democracy (NLD)
personality Win Tin on Friday arrived outside Insein prison as an expression of solidarity with party leader
Aung San Suu Kyi, whose trial has reached its final stages. Win Tin, along with about 300 other supporters,
on Friday waited outside Insein prison where the court is hearing the final arguments of lawyers from both
sides. Win Tin arrived at Insein prison at about 1 p.m. and left around two. “Lawyers went into the prison
compound at about 2 p.m. There were about 300 supporters waiting outside. It might be more I am not sure.
I think there were more people than other days, both old and young,” the 80-year old Win Tin told Mizzima
by telephone. “As I have said time and again, this is a master-minded, trumped-up case, so we are calling
for the withdrawal of the case and the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi,” Win Tin elaborated. He added he
was joined by several other members of the NLD, including Ye Htut, advocate Khin Maung Shein, Aung
Thein, Member of Parliament elect Ohn Maung and women’s activist Naw Ohn Hla. En route to Insein
prison, Naw Ohn Hla and about ten of her friends were taken to Bayintnaung police station and briefly
questioned before being allowed to join their fellow supporters. Mizzima, 24 July 2009

An article published in the US and reprinted in a Burmese state-run newspaper that appeared to criticise
Aung San Suu Kyi’s political tactics has been met with alarm by Burmese politicians and exiled activists.
The Huffington Post, a liberal online magazine based in New York, last week carried an opinion piece
entitled ‘The Future of Burma Cannot Be Tied to Aung San Suu Kyi’. The author, Virginia M Moncrieff,
said that Suu Kyi’s imprisonment has only added to her “near-secular saint status”, a tactic that is “self-
defeating”.“There are groups and individuals working to bring democracy to the country and Daw Aung San
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Suu Kyi is a leading role model for all these people,” said Aye Tha Aung, secretary of the Committee
Representing the People’s Parliament (CRPP). Khin Omar, head of the Network for Democracy and
Development who read both versions of the article, said that she “completely disagreed” with the criticisms
of Suu Kyi, particularly those that claim she doesn’t favour negotiation with the regime. “In reality, she was
the one holding a non-violence policy and has been fighting to find an answer to the problems through
dialogue with all political and ethnic groups participating,” she said. It is widely expected that Suu Kyi’s
trial will end in a guilty verdict, and the charges brought against her carry a maximum five year sentence.
DVB, 24 July 2009

Australia’s Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, says Asian leaders will continue to keep pressuring Burma
over its human rights violations and the detention of pro democracy leader Aung Sung Suu Kyi. His
comments come after a meeting of 27 Asian leaders at the Association of South East Asian Nations’
(ASEAN) summit on the island of Phuket in Thailand. Mr Smith has told ABC correspondent Karen Percy
there was an overwhelming view from ASEAN ministers that Burma needs to make progress on democratic
reforms. “The ASEAN ministers are fully expecting the Burmese administration to make real progress and
not to believe or think they can get away with what they’ve been doing for a long period of time,” he said.
Radio Australia, 24 July 2009

Burmese authorities have permitted a representative from the Norwegian Embassy to be present at the last
court sitting in the case against opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi who has been detained the last 19
years. Norway has repeatedly demanded the immediate release of Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners,
and have also asked that international observers be allowed to be present in the court. We see it as positive
that this request has been met for Norway, says Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere. The British
Ambassador in Rangoon has also been given permission to be present at the last sitting on Friday July 24th.
The Norway Post, 25 July 2009

Diplomats from the embassies of Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Norway have been permitted to
attend the hearing although most of the trial has been held behind closed doors. AFP, 24 July 2009

Amid reports that Burma may be aspiring to join the nuclear club with help from North Korea, Japanese
police on Friday served a fresh arrest warrant on a Tokyo trader on suspicion of illegally exporting to
Rangoon a machine that can be used for developing missiles. Ri Gyong Go, 41, president of Toko Boeki
trading company here, is suspected of exporting a small-sized cylindrical grinding machine in violation of
Japan’s foreign exchange and foreign trade law. He allegedly shipped the machine to Burma from Nagoya
port on November 20, 2008, without permission from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, police
said. Ri has admitted to the allegations, Kyodo news agency quoted police as saying. Cylindrical grinders
can be used to develop missile control systems and centrifuge machines for uranium enrichment. The
devices are used to grind magnets. Ri was first arrested on June 29 on suspicion of attempting to export also
to Burma a separate instrument that can be used to produce weapons without a government permit, the
report said. Ri allegedly received an order for the cylindrical grinder from a North Korean-affiliated trading
house in China. He then placed an order with a machinery maker in Japan and shipped the device to
Burma’s Ministry of Industry No 2, according to investigations. Zee News, 24 July 2009

Russia’s state-controlled Novosti news agency has declared that Moscow’s cooperation with Burma on
commercial nuclear development does not contravene international treaties on preventing the spread of
nuclear weapons. The agency this week quoted a Russian foreign ministry spokesman, Andrei Nesterenko,
on the issue at the same time the US expressed concerns about a possible liaison between the Burmese and
North Korean regimes. Rosatom, Russia’s state-owned nuclear energy corporation, signed an agreement in
2007 to help construct a nuclear research center in Burma, and Moscow will stand by this agreement,
Nesterenko said. The deal, which is supposed to cost tens of millions of dollars, envisages developing a
reactor with an energy capacity of 10 megawatts. Weekly Business Roundup, 24 July 2009
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Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva indicated that ASEAN was not willing to discharge Burma from the
group and would not be able to force its government to release the opposition leader, Ms Aung San Suu Kyi.
After US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged the ASEAN members to pressure the Burmese
government for a release of Ms Suu Kyi, Prime Minister Abhisit insisted that Ms Clinton was only
expressing the US’s standpoint on democracy. Thai Press Reports, 24 July 2009

East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta on Friday urged Australia to learn from the past and push harder
for reform in military-ruled Burma. The Nobel Peace laureate said Australia had turned a “blind eye to
blatant human rights abuses” during Indonesia’s 24-year occupation of East Timor and should not repeat the
mistake. “Australia can, working together with Indonesia for instance… help bring an end to that ugly
situation in Burma,” he told reporters. Australia has imposed financial sanctions and visa restrictions on
members of the regime in Burma, and banned all defence exports to the country. It also called last month for
the release of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, the democracy icon who has spent most of the past 19
years in detention. But Ramos-Horta said “occasional statements” were not enough and urged Australia to
apply consistent pressure for reform in the country. “It’s been going on for over two decades with the
imprisonment of Aung San Suu Kyi and there is no light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. “Here is where
Australia can be more proactive and not only be happy with occasional statements.” Aung San Suu Kyi’s
National League of Democracy won a landslide election victory in 1990 that the junta, in power since 1962,
refused to recognise. AFP, 24 July 2009

The US Senate has approved a one-year renewal of sanctions banning the import of Burmese goods to the
US, and will now look to Congress for an extension to the boycott. The decision belonged to the Senate
Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over United States’ international trade. The current resolution on
Burma, contained in the 2003 Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act, authorizes Congress to renew the
import ban each year through to 2012. DVB, 24 July 2009

A ban on imports from Burma has been renewed for one year by the US House of Representatives. The
ban affects a range of products but especially Burmese gemstones via third countries, said the Voice of
America radio station. The house action seeks to renew the import bans contained in the Burmese Freedom
and Democracy Act, which was due to expire on July 26. The sponsor of the renewed import ban, New
York Democrat Joseph Crowley, said it was justified because the “junta has also rejected recent diplomatic
outreach” on the Suu Kyi issue. Weekly Business Roundup, 24 July 2009

27 July 2009, Monday

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Aung San Suu Kyi’s supporters in front of the Insein prison. AP, 27 July 2009

A court in army-ruled Burma heard final arguments on Monday in a case involving opposition leader Aung
San Suu Kyi, who faces five years in prison if found guilty of breaching a draconian security law. Lawyers
read closing arguments for the other defendants, two of Suu Kyi’s housemaids and John Yettaw, an
American intruder whose two-night stay at Suu Kyi’s home in May could land all four defendants in jail.
The prosecution may wrap up its case against Suu Kyi later on Monday, court officials said. However, Suu
Kyi’s lawyer, Nyan Win, told Reuters he did not believe a verdict was imminent. “I expect all the
arguments will be made today but I think the verdict might take as long as two or three weeks,” he said. A
guilty verdict is widely expected in a country where courts are known to rule in favor of the army, which
has governed the former Burma for nearly 50 years. Reuters, 27 July 2009

28 July 2009, Tuesday


The high-profile trial of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi concluded Tuesday with the court
announcing it will deliver its verdict at the end of the week, officials and diplomats said. Judge Thaung
Nyunt said the court will make its ruling on Friday, according to an Asian diplomat in the courtroom and a
government official. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the
media. Suu Kyi’s lawyers had expected a verdict next month. Details on why the court set the earlier date
were not immediately available. Defense lawyers gave their final statements Tuesday in the case that has
drawn international condemnation from world leaders, Hollywood celebrities and the United Nations.
Defense lawyer Nyan Win said before the start of Tuesday’s session that he held out hope for a verdict in
Suu Kyi’s favor. “We are confident that we will win the case if things go according to the law.” Suu Kyi
and three other defendants were scheduled to reply to arguments presented Monday by prosecutor Myint
Kyaing, the lawyer said. Diplomats from Japan, Singapore, Thailand and the United States were allowed to
attend the trial Tuesday, one of the diplomats said, citing embassy protocol for speaking on condition of
anonymity. Suu Kyi won London-based Amnesty International's highest award Monday for her defense of
human rights, underscoring international support for her struggle to bring democracy to the military-ruled
country. At a concert Monday in Dublin, Ireland, U2’s Bono publicly announced the award — Amnesty’s
Ambassador of Conscience Award — before 80,000 cheering fans. The rights group said it hopes its highest
honor would help deter Burma’s junta from imposing any harsh new punishments on her. But neither
international outrage, nor offers of closer ties with the US if Suu Kyi is freed, appear to have deflected the
ruling junta's determination to neutralize — if not imprison — her. AP, 28 July 2009

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29 July 2009, Wednesday

NLD Statement dated 29 July 2009


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US President Barack Obama extended sanctions against Burma, including a ban on gem imports, as the
military regime prepares a verdict for democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The White House in a brief
statement said Obama signed into law a bill overwhelmingly approved by Congress that would prolong
sanctions on all imports from Burma for three years. The sanctions were due to expire this week. The
measure also confirms a ban on US sales of Burma’s gems, which had until last year still entered the US
market due to a now-plugged loophole. Congressman Joseph Crowley, who introduced the bill in the
House, said that the junta in Burma “must be stopped.” “We must show the military regime currently ruling
with an iron fist in Burma that there are consequences for their actions,” said Crowley, a New York
lawmaker from Obama’s Democratic Party. He denounced Burma’s “brutal campaign against its own
people,” which has triggered a major refugee problem, along with the regime’s refusal to let UN chief Ban
Ki-moon even see Aung San Suu Kyi on a recent visit. AFP, 29 July 2009

30 July 2009, Thursday


Military-ruled Burma’s state media on Thursday warned citizens against inciting protests as democracy
leader Aung San Suu Kyi began stockpiling supplies ahead of a possible five-year jail term. A conviction is
widely expected in the two-and-a-half-month trial, which has sparked international outrage. It has been
repeatedly delayed as the junta fended off criticism and calls for the release of Suu Kyi. The 64-year-old
opposition icon has asked for English and French novels and Burmese-language books including
dictionaries and religious works to help her pass the time if she is jailed, her lawyer Nyan Win said. “I think
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is preparing for the worst,” Nyan Win, who is also a spokesman for her National
League for Democracy (NLD), told AFP. Daw is a term of respect in Burmese. “She has said that if she has
to stay in prison for a long time, she has only one thing to do and that is reading.” AFP, 30 July 2009

The novels of John le Carré and biographies of Winston Churchill are among the books that Aung San Suu
Kyi, the Burmese democracy leader and Nobel Prize winner, is assembling in anticipation of a long prison
sentence when a court in Rangoon delivers its verdict on her tomorrow. Her lawyers say that she has
resigned herself to a guilty verdict, after her two-and-half-month trial for allegedly breaking the terms of her
house arrest. If her fears are realised, she will be confined, not in the large house where she was formerly
detained, but in one of Burma’s jails, where more than 2,000 other political prisoners also languish. Times
Online, 30 July 2009

Fears that Suu Kyi will be jailed are proving too much for some of the female supporters in her party, who
said they had wept when the court announced on Tuesday that it would deliver a judgement this week. “We
cried as we feel really sorry for her in our heart. But we will remember her words that we should hope for
the best and prepare for the worst,” Aye Aye Mar, a senior NLD member, told AFP. “We felt so sad when
we heard the verdict will come. Our leader is always thinking for the benefit of the country. Although we
know that the truth will come out one day, we can’t do anything apart from pray for her release.” 30 July
2009

Activists on Thursday evening distributed leaflets in Rangoon’s Tamwe Township urging the people to
wage war against the military junta if the verdict on Friday finds opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi guilty
and sentences her to a prison term, eyewitnesses said. The letters, signed by the ‘Committee leading
peoples’ movement to destroy military rule and to restore democracy,’ says that “As Aung San Suu Kyi will
be sentenced to a prison term on July 31, we urge everybody to take up the war in their respective
capacities.” The distribution of the leaflets came despite authorities maintaining tight security in and around
Rangoon to prevent any form of movement prior to the day the Insein prison court is to pronounce a verdict
on Aung San Suu Kyi. Mizzima, 30 July 2009

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Nyi Nyi Htwe, a lawyer belonging to the opposition camp, recently released from jail and forced out of his
profession, alleged he is finding it difficult to continue with his present calling of selling government lottery
tickets because he is being hounded by authorities. His business associates have been warned against
dealing with him. He is currently finding it extremely difficult to franchise government lottery tickets and
hiring a push-cart, given the harassment by the authorities. Nyi Nyi Htwe was sentenced to a six-month
prison term on October 30, 2008 by the northern District Court in Rangoon’s notorious Insein prison on
charges of ‘contempt of court’. He was, at the time, defending three National League for Democracy
members including Yan Naing Tun, who were arrested and were facing trial for praying at the Pagoda for
the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners. During the trial, the judge told Nyi Nyi Htwe
to tell his three clients to change their sitting postures, where they had turned their backs to the judge. But
the young lawyer said “they have their rights to sit the way they want.” The judge charged him with
‘contempt of court’ and under Article 288 and sentenced him to six-months in prison. While he served the
prison term, authorities revoked his bar license. He was released on April 28, after he completed his six-
month term. Mizzima, 30 July 2009

Humankind has the ability to live in freedom and in peace. We have seen that goodness has triumphed over
evil; we have witnessed political transitions in South Africa, and elsewhere, evidencing that we live in a
moral universe. Our world is sometimes lacking wise and good leadership or, as in the case of Burma, the
leadership is forbidden to lead. More than anything, the new trial and detention of Aung San Suu Kyi speaks
volumes about her effectiveness as a leader. The only reason the generals need to silence her clarion call for
freedom is because they fear her and the principles she stands for. She is the greatest threat to their
continuing rule. Her only crime is that if she is allowed to stand for elections, she will definitely win. The
universal demand for human freedom cannot be suppressed forever. This is a universal truth that Than
Shwe, the dictator of Burma, has failed to understand. How frustrated must he be that no matter how long he
keeps Aung San Suu Kyi in detention, no matter how many guns he buys, and no matter how many people
he imprisons, Aung San Suu Kyi and the people of Burma will not submit. The demands for the freedom of
Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners of Burma grow louder and echo around the world, reaching
even his new capital hidden in central Burma. Words, however, are not enough. Freedom is never given
freely by those who have power; it has to be fought for. Aung San Suu Kyi and the people of Burma deserve
nothing less than our most strenuous efforts to help them secure their freedom. Every day we must ask
ourselves: have we done everything that we can? I pledge that I will not rest until Aung San Suu Kyi, and all
the people of Burma, are free. Please join me. Desmond M Tutu, guardian.co.uk, 30 July 2009

China appears to be making alternative plans in case its Middle East oil transshipment port and pipeline
project in Burma fails because of regime change. The Chinese state-owned oil and gas conglomerate China
National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) is spending at least US $1.5 billion to use Burma as a conduit for
oil shipments from the Middle East and Africa. But as a backup in case this scheme has to be abandoned it
is now also investing in a multibillion dollar oil project in northern Malaysia. The CNPC is to play a central
role in a regional oil processing and transshipment hub link between the Middle East and China on the
northwest coast of Malaysia facing the Indian Ocean just like the port development at Kyaukpyu on Ramree
Island on the central Burma coast. Irrawaddy, 30 July 2009

U.S. President Barack Obama and Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo agreed Thursday to join
forces in tackling the issues surrounding Burma and North Korea. Arroyo became the first leader of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations to meet Obama. “We stand behind the United States on the position
that it has taken with regard to Burma and with regard to North Korea’s nuclear adventurism,” Arroyo told
reporters with Obama at the White House. Obama thanked Arroyo for her support on U.S. policies in Asia.
“We are very grateful for the strong voice that the Philippines has provided in dealing with issues in Asia,
ranging from the human rights violations that have for too long existed in Burma to the problems that we’re
seeing with respect to nuclear proliferation in North Korea,” he said. AP, 30 July 2009

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31 July 2009, Friday

31st JULY
Black Friday
Or
Bloody Friday.
Let’s strike.
It must be “Fightday”.
Aung Way, MMK, 30 July 2009

The Burma court scheduled to deliver a verdict in the high-profile trial of opposition leader Aung San Suu
Kyi said Friday it was not yet ready to make a decision and adjourned until Aug. 11, diplomats said. Suu
Kyi rose to her feet after the judge’s announcement, turned to foreign diplomats in the courtroom and said
jokingly, “I apologize for giving you more work,” a Western diplomat said on condition of anonymity,
citing protocol. The 64-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate is charged with violating the terms of her house
arrest by harboring an American man who swam to her house uninvited. She faces up to five years in prison.
Her trial has drawn international condemnation since it opened May 18. Critics have accused the military
government of using the bizarre incident as a pretext to keeping Suu Kyi behind bars through the country’s
planned elections next year. Friday’s hearing lasted only a few minutes. “The presiding judge walked into
the courtroom and said the verdict will be postponed until Aug. 11 because the court is not ready to give the
ruling,” a foreign diplomat who attended the hearing told The Associated Press. The court was closed to
journalists. Another diplomat said the judge added that the ruling required “further deliberation.” The
diplomats interviewed asked not to be named because of the sensitivity surrounding the trial. Security was
heightened Friday ahead of the expected verdict, with teams of riot police stationed nearby. All roads
leading to Rangoon’s Insein prison – where the trial is being held in a court inside the compound – were
blocked by barbed-wire barricades. Suu Kyi’s lawyers had said they were cautiously optimistic about the
outcome. “The charges against our client are not strong and we are confident that we will win if things go
according to the law,” lawyer Nyan Win said early Friday as he entered the prison. AP, 31 July 2009

The verdict in the trial of Noble Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has been postponed to August 11,
2009. Meanwhile, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) has learnt that the regime
arrested at least 30 NLD members in the early hours of this morning, between midnight and 1 am. Three of
those arrested were later released. The reason for their arrest is not clear.
1. Ko Myint Ngwe (Yenangyaung Township, Magwe Division)
2. Ko Tint Lwin (Yenangyaung Township, Magwe Division)
3. Ko Than Aung (Yenangyaung Township, Magwe Division)
4. Ko Khin Win (Yenangyaung Township, Magwe Division)
5. U Aye Myint (Aunglan Township, Magwe Division)
6. U Min Maung (Aunglan Township, Magwe Division)
7. Ko Soe (Taungdwingyi Township, Magwe Division)
8. Ko Par Lay (Taungdwingyi Township, Magwe Division)
9. Ko Kyaw Naing (Taungdwingyi Township, Magwe Division)
10. U Tha Aung (MP) (Myothit Township, Magwe Division)
11. Ma Zin Ma Ma Tun (Myothit Township, Magwe Division)
12. Ko Than Soe Myint (Myothit Township, Magwe Division)
13. U Pike Ko (Pakokku Township, Magwe Divison)
14. U Kyaw Nyunt (Pakokku Township, Magwe Divison)
15. U Tin Myint Aung (Pakokku Township, Magwe Divison)
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16. U Thaung Soe (Chairparson of Minbu Township, Magwe Division)
17. Ko Nay Myo Kyaw (Saku Township, Magwe Division)
18. Ko Aung Win (Pwintbyu Township, Magwe Division)
19. Mg Thu Ya (Pwintbyu Township, Magwe Division)
20. Ko Htay Win (Kamma Township, Magwe Division)
21. Ko Htein Win (Dagon Myothit Township, Rangoon)
22. Daw Khin Win Kyi (Dagon Myothit Township, Rangoon)
23. Ma Khin Myat Thu (Mingaladon Township, Rangoon)
24. Ko Nay Lin Kyaw (Dawbon Township, Rangoon)
25. Ko Nay Lin Soe (Thaketa Township, Rangoon)
26. Ko Sai Kyaw Kyaw (Tamwe Township, Rangoon)
27. Ko Tin Min Naing (North Okkalapa Township, Rangoon)
Three NLD members were arrested then later released.
28. Daw Naw Ohn Hla (North Okkalapa Township, Rangoon)
29. U Nyunt Hlaing (MP-Aunglan)
30. Ko Myint Aung (Sanchaung Township, Rangoon)
Aung Myo Thein, aappb.org, 31 July 2009

Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo called Friday for the immediate release of Nobel Peace
Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, saying that Burma should demonstrate whether it has a legitimate hold on
power by accelerating a “road map” to democracy and by permitting the full participation of Suu Kyi’s
party in elections. “The best way to find out whether the government is legitimate would be to accelerate the
road map and have elections being conducted in an atmosphere and an environment in which Aung San Suu
Kyi and her party are able to participate fully,” Arroyo said in an interview. “It would help to promote
human rights, democracy and peace and stability in the region.” Washington Post, 31 July 2009

Last Friday, Indonesia’s electoral commission certified the winner of the country’s recent presidential
election, a free and fair contest that demonstrated the strength of democratic norms in a country ruled for
decades by strongmen supported by Washington. Meanwhile, next door in Burma, a political show trial is
preparing to convict that country’s legitimately elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, of “crimes” she did not
commit, most likely renewing her jail sentence to prevent her from contesting elections next year.
Curiously, the US President Barack Obama administration is flirting with the idea of normalizing relations
with Burma’s military junta, at a time when Indonesia’s example – and Indonesian leaders’ outspokenness
about Burma’s repressive political system – should be spurring the United States toward greater support for
Southeast Asian democrats, rather than legitimizing the notion that Burma should be governed by the kind
of strong hand that has been thoroughly discredited in Indonesia and across the region. Dan Twining,
shadow.foreignpolicy.com, 31 July 2009

1 August 2009, Saturday


Burma’s isolated military junta is building a secret nuclear reactor and plutonium extraction facilities with
North Korean help, with the aim of acquiring its first nuclear bomb in five years, according to evidence
from key defectors revealed in an exclusive Herald report today. The secret complex, much of it in caves
tunnelled into a mountain at Naung Laing in northern Burma, runs parallel to a civilian reactor being built at
another site by Russia that both the Russians and Burmese say will be put under international safeguards.
Two defectors were extensively interviewed separately over the past two years in Thailand by the
Australian National University strategic expert Desmond Ball and a Thai-based Irish-Australian journalist,
Phil Thornton, who has followed Burma for years. One was an officer with a secret nuclear battalion in the
Burmese army who was sent to Moscow for two years’ training; the other was a former executive of the
leading regime business partner, Htoo Trading, who handled nuclear contracts with Russia and North Korea.
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Their detailed testimony brings into sharp focus the hints emerging recently from other defector accounts
and sightings of North Korean delegations that the Burmese junta, under growing pressure to democratise, is
seeking a deterrent to any foreign “regime change”. Their story will ring alarm bells across Asia.
smh.com.au, 1 August 2009

UN Chief Ban Ki Moon pressed for the immediate release of detained democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi
during a meeting with Burma’s UN ambassador ahead of the verdict in her trial, a UN spokesman said on
Friday. Farhan Haq told reporters that Mr Ban met with Ambassador Than Swe on Thursday and
‘reiterated his clear expectation and that of the international community that the government of Burma will
give careful consideration to the implication of any verdict in the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi and exercise its
responsibility to ensure her immediate release.’ Burma’s junta has kept Ms Suu Kyi in detention for nearly
14 of the past 20 years, since it refused to recognise the NLD’s landslide victory in elections in 1990. In his
meeting with Mr Than Swe, Mr Ban also reiterated the international community’s expectation that the
military regime ‘will act in Burma’s interest by taking timely and positive steps’ in following up specific
proposals he made during his recent visit there, ‘starting with the release of all political prisoners’. Mr Haq
said the UN secretary general was informed during the meeting that the verdict in Ms Suu Kyi’s trial was
being postponed. Earlier on Friday, a Burmese court postponed its verdict in the trial until Aug 11, adding to
uncertainty over the ruling junta’s plans for the democracy icon. straitstimes.com, 1 August 2009

2 August 2009, Sunday


“We hope that she will be freed unconditionally,” said Nyan Win, one of Suu Kyi’s lawyers and a
spokesman for her National League for Democracy. “We have nothing much to do. We are just waiting for
the next trial date. Tomorrow we will submit an application to the authorities to meet Aung San Suu Kyi and
we hope to meet her on Wednesday or Thursday,” he said. He said Suu Kyi, currently detained at
Rangoon’s notorious Insein prison, had instructed her defence team to visit her before August 11.
deccanherald.com, 2 August 2009

Burma’s junta showed rare concern for foreign opinion by delaying the Aung San Suu Kyi verdict, but only
because it wants to minimise the fallout while pursuing its hard line against her, analysts said. The
postponement of the judgment until August 11 is a sign that normally intransigent military ruler Than Shwe
is at least partly considering the domestic and international uproar a long jail term would provoke, they said.
But the regime’s apparent indecision over the trial is about balancing its determination to have Ms Suu Kyi
locked up during elections next year with its desire to give the trial a veneer of legitimacy abroad, analysts
added. “It’s international pressure and they’re worried about domestic anger,” Thailand-based Burma
analyst and academic Win Min told AFP. 2 August 2009

Burma’s military regime has collaborated in recent years with North Korea and Russia to develop a reactor
capable of producing one nuclear bomb a year by 2014, a news report based on the testimony of two
defectors claimed Sunday. The report, published in the Bangkok Post’s Spectrum magazine Sunday after a
similar article appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald, was the result of a two-year investigation into
Burma’s nuclear ambitions by Desmond Ball, a regional security expert at the Australian National
University, and Phil Thornton, an Australian journalist based on the Thai-Burma border. Basing their report
primarily on the testimony of two defectors from the Burmese regime, including one army officer and a
book keeper for a trading company with close links to the military, the report claimed that Burma is
excavating uranium in 10 locations and has two uranium plants in operation to refine uranium into
“yellowcake,’ the fissile material for nuclear weapons. To have a capacity to make nuclear weapons Burma
would need to build a plutonium reprocessing plant. Such a plant is planned in Naung Laing, central Burma,
where Russian technicians are already “teaching plutonium reprocessing,” the army defector Moe Jo, an
alias, told the investigators. Burma signed a memorandum of understanding with Russia’s atomic energy
Page 169 of 226
agency in May, 2007, to build a 10-megawatt light-water reactor unsing uranium. The report suggests that
Burma’s non-military nuclear ambitions are nonsense. “They say it’s to produce medical isotopes for health
purposes in hospitals,” civilian defector Tin Min, a former employee of the junta-connected Htoo Trading
Company, told Spectrum. “How many hospitals in Burma have nuclear science? Burma can barely get
electricity up and running. It’s nonsense,” Tin Win, an alias, said. Htoo Trading, owned by Burmese
business tycoon Tay Za, who has close connections with the military, is handling shipments of yellowcake
to both North Korea and Iran, the report claimed. It speculated that in the future North Korea might provide
Burma with fissionable plutonium in return for yellowcake. The report’s two authors urged Burma’s
neighbours in the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to closely monitor Burma’s nuclear
programme, the subject of much speculation in the past. earthtimes.org, 2 August 2009

3 August 2009, Monday

Page 170 of 226


NLD Statement dated 3 August 2009

Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi said at her recent trial that the charges against her over the
American intruder bring into question Burma’s judiciary and constitution, according a statement by her
party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), on Monday. Suu Kyi reportedly said at the trial on July
24 that unless Burmese courts did something about her current period of detention, the current charge
against her—harboring American intruder John W Yettaw—could not be examined correctly and
completely. “Equally critical is the principle that justice must not only be done, but must be seen to be done,
clearly and unequivocally,” she said in the statement before the court. She said that in Burma, there is
misuse of the definition of the word “constitution,” which calls into question “the credibility of the
government’s dignity.” In her statement, Suu Kyi said that Yettaw entered her compound that she acted
carefully so as not to endanger the intruder and the security guards who were responsible for preventing
people from entering her compound. Irrawaddy / Burmanet, 3 August 2009

The absurd and ultimately self-defeating harassment of Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is to
be dragged out for another two weeks. The dictators of that sad country were unable or unwilling to meet
the promise of a verdict in her case. So the world will wait until at least next week for the judges to read the
next justification for jailing and further impeding Mrs Suu Kyi. By tossing her into the infamous Insein
prison and forcing her to appear at a trial, the Burmese generals seem to be trying to increase her
intimidation. They have succeeded instead in further shaming their own country and increasing the
sympathy around the globe for their prisoner. Editorial, Bangkok Post, 3 August 2009

Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirajuda said over the weekend that he hoped the
postponement of the verdict in the trial of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was due to the Burmese
government’s concern over international reaction, particularly from the Association of Southeast Asian

Page 171 of 226


Nations. Hassan said he found it odd that the guards at Suu Kyi’s house were not prosecuted for their
negligence in allowing an American man stay at her house in early May after swimming across a lake. Suu
Kyi was charged with harboring the American at her home. At her trial, Suu Kyi said she did not know the
man and had no idea he was coming. “There has been no news of the house guards being prosecuted,”
Hassan said, adding that the Burmese government has been intransigent despite regional pressure and
sanctions. “I do not want to speculate so let’s just wait and see what the outcome will be on August 11,”
Hassan said, referring to the date of the verdict, adding that he hoped the court would clear Suu Kyi of the
charges. Jakarta Globe, 3 August 2009

4 August 2009, Tuesday


The American man on trial in Burma for swimming to the lakeside home of Aung San Suu Kyi was
hospitalised overnight after having convulsions in prison, a hospital worker told AFP Tuesday. John Yettaw,
54, who is known to have diabetes and other health problems, was taken from Insein prison to Rangoon
General Hospital on Monday night, the worker said, and is now recovering after treatment. “Mr Yettaw was
hospitalised since last night. He is getting better now,” said the hospital worker on condition of anonymity.
Yettaw was taken to hospital by police after having a fit, and has been kept under guard in the hospital,
away from other patients, the source said, adding that his condition was not serious but not giving further
details. Yettaw, a former military veteran from Falcon, Missouri, is on trial alongside opposition leader Suu
Kyi and two female aides of Suu Kyi's after he donned homemade flippers to swim to her home in May. The
devout Mormon said he embarked on his mission to warn Suu Kyi of a vision that she would be
assassinated. He faces charges of abetting Suu Kyi’s breach of security laws, immigration violations and a
municipal charge of illegal swimming. All four defendants face up to five years in prison. Yettaw was
arrested just days before the most recent, six-year spell of Suu Kyi’s house arrest was due to expire in the
military-run nation. mp.com.ph, 4 August 2009

Voicing concern over the deteriorating health of Burma’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, former
Nepalese Premier Girija Prasad Koirala has appealed to Rangoon’s military regime to immediately release
her from detention. “It has been a matter of widespread concern for the supporters of human rights and
democracy around the world that Suu Kyi’s long-term house arrest has led to deterioration of her health. So,
I appeal to the government of Burma for her immediate release,” Koirala, the President of the Nepali
Congress (NC), said in a statement. PTI, 4 August 2009

The Thai government is investigating suspected nuclear collaboration between Burma’s military regime and
North Korea following media reports here that Burma is building a secret nuclear reactor with Pyongyang’s
help. However, Thai National Security Council chief Thawil Pliensri said a probe by national intelligence
agencies has not yet found any indication that the reports were true. Thai Foreign Ministry spokesperson
Vimon Kidchob said the Thai embassy in Burma had not found any evidence of nuclear collaboration
between North Korea and Burma. Ms Vimon said Bangkok believed that Burma would adhere to the
Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapons Free Zone (SEANWFZ) agreement which came into force in 1997 after
being signed by all members of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). “I am confident that all
members of the SEANWFZ are adhering to this principle,” she said. The New Kerala, 4 August 2009

The United States Monday reiterated concerns over military cooperation between North Korea and Burma,
but fell short of elaborating on what kind of cooperation the two reclusive regimes are seeking, according to
Yonhap News. “We do have concerns about the nature of cooperation between both Burma and North
Korea, and North Korea and any other country,” Philip Crowley, assistant secretary of state for public
affairs, told a daily news briefing. “I think, over time, we would like to clarify with Burma more precisely
the nature of its military cooperation.” Crowley was responding to reports that Burma has an underground
nuclear facility built with the help of North Korea. Koreaherald.co.dr, 4 August 2009
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5 August 2009, Wednesday
Daryl Kimball, of the Arms Control Association, told the Nelson Report, an influential online security
report, that although there had been no evidence of a Burmese nuclear-weapons quest, whatever the North
Koreans were doing must be made a priority by the International Atomic Energy Agency, of which Burma
is a member. “The report is probably enough cause for the IAEA director-general and Russia to seek
clarification from Burma and request a special inspection,” Mr Kimball said. Brisbane Times, 5 August
2009

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon won support Wednesday from key nations for his appeal to Burma’s
government to free detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and release all political prisoners — and
he said he expects a positive response from the country’s military rulers. The U.N. chief told reporters after
chairing a closed-door meeting of the Group of Friends on Burma that he was pleased at their support which
he said confirmed the international community’s desire for Burma to respond positively “to our concerns,
expectations and encouragements.” The Group of Friends includes about 15 countries — Burma’s
neighbors, interested Asian and European nations, and the five permanent U.N. Security Council members,
the U.S., Russia, China, Britain and France. Ban said he told the group that he reiterated to Burma’s U.N.
ambassador on July 31 his expectation and that of the international community that careful consideration be
given to the implications of the verdict in Suu Kyi’s trial, which could come on Aug. 11, and to “use this
opportunity to exercise its responsibility to ensure her immediate release.” “I expect that the authorities of
Burma will respond positively and in a timely manner to the expectations and concerns and repeated calls of
the international community to release all political prisoners, and particularly Daw Aung San Suu Kyi,” Ban
said. Soon after Ban returned to New York, Burma’s U.N. Ambassador U Than Swe promised the Security
Council that the government will free some political prisoners and allow them to participate in 2010
elections, but he gave no numbers. The secretary-general said he had no firm indication either. “I hope they
will take necessary measures to implement their commitment,” he said. When a reporter noted that he
appeared more optimistic about a positive response from the government than he was last week, Ban said: “I
am working very hard to, first of all, mobilize the necessary political support for the democratization of
Burma.” “I am representing the will and expectations of the whole international community, particularly the
members of the Group of Friends of Burma to convey this message correctly to the Burmese authorities so
that they can respond positively,” he said. “This is what I am expecting.” He said participants at the meeting
agreed that the Group of Friends would meet again on the sidelines of the ministerial meeting of the U.N.
General Assembly which begins Sept. 23.

6 August 2009, Wednesday


Daw Aung San Suu Kyi met her four legal counsels today afternoon to discuss the case relating to the sale
of a part of her residential plot. Her lawyers Kyin Win, Nyan Win, Hla Myo Myint and Khin Htay Kywe
discussed the case with her in Insein prison for over two and-a-half hours. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
explained to her lawyers the background of the case and the ownership of the residential plot. “We mainly
discussed the case over her residential plot. In brief, Daw Suu said that her younger brother had no right to
sell the plot. He cannot sell this part of the plot on his own or on her behalf, which is in the physical
possession of Daw Suu. She said that she would take necessary action in consultation with her lawyers if
such a situation arises,” her lawyer Nyan Win told Mizzima. “We sent an objection letter ‘as per instruction
given by client’ on July 30 to two higher grade pleaders, Cho The May and Wai Wai Aung, which says the
sale of the plot is unlawful. But we have not yet received any reply from the two women lawyers”, Nyan
Win said. In the classified advertisement column in ‘The Mirror’ on July 24, a notice appeared which said
some parts of a plot situated on No. 54, University Avenue had been sold and anyone can object to the sale
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within a week. The notice said their client Khin Maung Aye had sold the undivided part measuring
(100’x70’) of Bahan Township, Plot No. 40 A, 41, 42 A, 44 B, 44 C and 64 C and anyone can send his/her
objection to them within seven days. Khin Maung Aye is the adopted son of late Thakin Than Tun and Daw
Khin Gyi, who was a retired army officer and writer. Daw Aung Suu Kyi’s mother Daw Khin Kyi and Daw
Khin Gyi were sisters. In the year 2000, her elder brother Aung San Oo filed a suit for taking possession of
this plot from her. Mizzima, 6 August 2009

A local woman in Mongkeung Township, southern Shan State was beheaded by the Burma Army troops
that have been launching a four-cut campaign since 27 July , according to villagers who recently fled to
Thailand. In the morning of 3 August, Nang Hsoi, 29, from Wan Kart village, Ho Khai village tract was
arrested in her village by soldiers from Mongkeung based Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) # 514 after falsely
accusing her as the wife of a Shan State Army (SSA) ‘South’ fighter and collaboration with the SSA, said a
local villager who asked not to be named. “In the evening soldiers took her to a bridge nearby the village,
cut her head down and threw it into the creek,” he said. Two days before her death, over 10 villagers from
Wan Kart, Wan Kawng and Wan Long village were detained on suspicion of being SSA spies at the army
base. The Burma Army that has been the four-cut campaign (cutting food, funds, intelligence and recruits to
the armed resistance by local populace) had ordered villagers in Mongkeung, Kehsi and Laikha townships to
leave their homes within 5 days, from 1 to 5 August. Since then, at least 300 houses in the three townships
were razed to the ground and more than 300 villagers were forcibly relocated to the town, said a source. The
campaign drive was led by the Mongnawng – based Military Operations Command (MOC) # 2 command:
Loilem based IB#9, and #12, Laikha based IB#64 and LIB#515, Namzang based IB#66, #247 and LIB#516,
Mongnai based IB#248 and LIB#518, Panglong based LIB#513, Mongkeung based LIB#514 and
Mongpawn based LIB#517. To date, 21 villages from Panghsang village tract and 9 villages from Wan Htee
village tract in Laikha township alone were forced to resettle in Marklang quarter of the town. During the
drive some were beaten and some were reportedly killed, forcing many others to hide in the jungle, said
another villager who is seeking asylum on the Thai-Burma border. “There were some people who are hiding
in the jungle preparing to seek refuge in Thailand,” she said, “Many people will be coming soon.”
Currently, about 10 people are seeking asylum in areas near Thailand. During the last engagement on 15
July, the Burma Army’s LIB 515 suffered 11 killed, 1 captured and 5 assorted weapons lost. During the
1996-98 campaign against the SSA, 1,500 villages were destroyed and more than 300,000 in southern and
eastern Shan State were forcibly relocated, a third of which had escaped into Thailand. SHAN, 6 August
2009

Democratic US Senator Jim Webb will travel to Burma over the next two weeks, becoming the first US
lawmaker to visit the country in more than 10 years, his office announced on Thursday. Webb – a Vietnam
war veteran who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on East Asia and Pacific affairs – leaves
Sunday and will also visit Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia over a two-week span. The Virginia
lawmaker, whose precise itinerary was not disclosed, aims “to explore opportunities to advance US interests
in Burma and the region,” his office said in a statement. AFP, 6 August 2009

7 August 2009, Friday


Latest reports of the Burmese Army’s four-cut campaign revealed that a Shan woman from Shan State
South’s Laikha township was gang-raped in front of her husband, by personnel of the Burmese Army, which
has been waging a four-cut campaign since late July. “License to Rape,” a report by the Shan Women’s
Action Network (SWAN), which was published in 2002, detailing 173 incidents of rape and involving 625
women and girls, had shaken the international community. SHAN, 7 August 2009

Armed conflict will reignite in Burma if the ruling junta continues to force ceasefire groups to transform
into border guards, a key armed ethnic group warned yesterday. The New Mon State Party (NMSP) said in
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a statement that it is keen to maintain its 14-year-old ceasefire agreement with the Burmese government, but
will not accept the dissolving of its armed units before self-determination is achieved. Burma’s ruling State
Peace and Development Council (SPDC) has embarked on a campaign to transform ceasefire groups into
border guards in an attempt to reduce their numbers and return them to the ‘legal fold’. Ceasefire groups
have said however that agreeing to the proposals would weaken the groups and effectively make them
subordinated wings of the Burmese army. “Our Central Executive Committee has decided not to go along
with the plan to transform us into a border militia as it promises no insurance for the people of Mon state
and to ourselves,” said the NMSP’s Nai Hong Sa Boung Khine. He added however that pressure from the
junta had eased recently regarding border guard transformation. The NMSP also said in its statement that
existing peace in the country will be seriously threatened should the authorities resort to coercion to achieve
their objective. The public declaration by the NMSP followed a similar announcement by another influential
ceasefire group, the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO). The KIO said it agreed in principle with
the border guard proposal but suggested that step should be taken only when the nation is at peace and after
a popularly elected democratic government is in place. ”No one likes the idea about the border guard force,”
said James Lum Dau from the KIO. “When the majority is opposing it and only one party likes the idea, it is
not practical to be pushing for a result.” Reports surfaced last month of a campaign by the junta to use
religious leaders and influential businessmen to convince ceasefire groups in Kachin state to become border
guards. According to a resident of Kachin state’s capital Myitkyina, government officials had been meeting
with church pastors and business owners to help put pressure on the KIO. DVB, 7 August 2009

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is calling on the international community to unite to bring change
to Burma, on the 21st anniversary of the military crackdown on pro-democracy protests. CSW’s East Asia
Team Leader Benedict Rogers said: “It is essential that we do not simply remember this anniversary as yet
another in Burma’s tragic history of brutal oppression. The most fitting tribute the world could pay to those
who sacrificed their lives would be to unite and take concrete steps to support the brave Burmese people in
their struggle for freedom. We call on the international community, working through the UN Security
Council, to prioritise the release of all political prisoners in Burma, including Aung San Suu Kyi. We urge
countries with influence on the regime, such as China, India, Russia and members of ASEAN, especially
Singapore and Thailand, to recognize the severity of the political and humanitarian crisis in Burma, which
affects the whole region, and to act to bring about change. We call on the EU, including the United
Kingdom, and the United States to work with Burma’s neighbours to secure the release of political
prisoners, the introduction of a universal arms embargo and the establishment of a commission of inquiry to
investigate crimes against humanity in Burma. These are the steps that are required if we are to prevent
another 21 years of torture, rape and murder with impunity in Burma.” CSW, 7 August 2009

Sixty five international women’s groups called on the UN Security Council on Friday to initiate action to
bring Burma’s junta leaders before the International Criminal Court. “We call for the UN Security Council
to start with a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the horrific campaign of terror by the military regime
and to refer Senior General Than Shwe and his cronies to the International Criminal Court for all crimes
including for the imprisonment of Nobel Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in violation of international
law,” the groups said in a joint statement. The statement—also signed by the Thailand-based Women’s
League of Burma (WLB)—was sent to all members of the UN Security Council and UN Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon. The statement said strong international intervention in Burma was needed to end systematic
human rights abuses by the Burmese junta. Irrawaddy, 7 August 2009

8 August 2009, Saturday


Exiled opposition leaders from Burma came together at the UN on Friday to present a plan for a democratic
future in their homeland and ask the UN to transmit it to the country’s military rulers. The opposition
leaders called for the release of Nobel Prize-winning pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other
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political prisoners, a dialogue with the regime, credible elections in 2010 and a review of the constitution
adopted last year. The alliance of political parties and ethnic groups asked the UN Security Council and
Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to send its reconciliation plan to the military regime in Burma. Sein Win, a
cousin of Suu Kyi and head of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma, which describes
itself as the country’s government-in-exile, called her trial a “mockery of justice.” He said the regime “has
made a lot of promises, but if you look at the facts, it’s not getting any better” as human rights are violated,
villages are destroyed and the country becomes more militarized. He condemned the regime’s purported
nuclear ambitions. Jeremy Woodrum, co-founder of the Washington-based US Campaign for Burma, said
it’s significant that Burma’s diverse political and ethnic groups joined in support of the reconciliation
initiative. He said the Security Council should focus on issues it has ignored like the use of child soldiers,
the rape of women from minority ethnic groups, forced labor and the destruction of villages. An arms
embargo would severely undermine the military regime, he said. Irrawaddy, 8 August 2009

The Coast Guard on Thursday detained a “suspicious” North Korean ship, which had dropped anchor off
Hut Bay in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, after more than six hours of high drama that ended with
Indian sailors firing in the air. Officials of Army intelligence, Intelligence Bureau and other agencies are set
to inspect the ship and interrogate its occupants. K R Nautiyal, DIG, Coast Guard, Andaman and Nicobar
Region, told TOI over phone that “several things were amiss” about merchant vessel MV Musen, which
later declared that it was carrying 16,500 tonnes of sugar from Thailand to Umm Qasr in Iraq. “She
shouldn’t have dropped anchor here in the first place, she didn’t respond to our signals, and her log book
was found to be vague,” Nautiyal said. North Korean ships have often been found to be involved in ferrying
nuclear and missile components for regimes clandestinely seeking to acquire such arsenals. Early on, it was
a recipient of clandestine transfers of weapons technology and materials from China. It has since emerged as
a major source of proliferation; its alleged clientele include Pakistan, Syria, Iran, and now, Burma. In fact,
some years ago, India had detained another North Korean ship that was carrying missile components for
Pakistan. Concerns about North Korean vessels have heightened since reports of Pyongyang’s help to
Burma’s nuclear bomb-making programme have appeared. Burma’s nuclear ambitions are also reportedly
helped by some Pakistani nuclear scientists. article.wn.com, 8 August 2009

Dreams of revolution die hard in the silences of this city’s monsoon-soaked streets. Under cover of night, on
a wet, deserted strip of jetty, a young opposition activist gazed toward the ragged lights on the opposite bank
of the Rangoon River and talked into the wind that blew through a pair of coconut trees. “I am not afraid,
but I do not want to be arrested, not at this time,” said the activist, 27, who had fled Rangoon days earlier,
trailed by an intelligence agent. A flickering neon bar sign caught the contours of his disguise – a baggy
anorak, a pair of glasses, a hairnet to mask his thick, dark mane. “If I’m arrested, I cannot take part in
demonstrations or campaigns.” On the run or under watch, Burma’s semi-clandestine opposition activists
have struggled to rouse action while their leader, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, languishes
in Rangoon’s Insein Prison. She is being tried on charges that she broke the terms of her house arrest when a
U.S. citizen swam across a lake in May to visit her in the compound where she has been confined for 14 of
the past 20 years. For an issue as emotive as the fate of the leader whom Burmese refer to in whispers
simply as the Lady, the general inaction has in many ways revealed the fragility of long-cherished visions of
toppling the junta from the streets, born of memories from the mass pro-democracy protests of 1988. Some,
such as the young activist, have ventured from remote village hideouts back into the cities to launch
protests. In the past two months, dozens have defied barriers and a heavy police presence to hold a vigil
outside Insein Prison, where Suu Kyi is being held. Others have distributed pamphlets or photos of her, and
some have tried to trigger spontaneous marches with what they call “flash strikes” – unfurling banners in
crowded markets in the hope that people will follow. washingtonpost.com, 9 August 2009 / Neill Staurland,
D4B

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9 August 2009, Sunday
Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi faces fresh uncertainty this week over her internationally
condemned trial, with her US co-defendant’s illness threatening to further delay the verdict. Suu Kyi’s
lawyers have hailed the repeated delays as a sign that the judges have ‘serious legal problems’ - but analysts
say the real decisions are being made by reclusive junta leader Than Shwe from the bunker capital
Naypyidaw. Burma’s regime ‘has a window from August 10 and 20 because after that all the governments
come back to normal and then early September you have the UN General Assembly,’ the Western diplomat
said. A prison court is scheduled to hand down judgment on Nobel Peace laureate Suu Kyi and American
John Yettaw when it meets on Tuesday for what was expected to be the final episode in the nearly three-
month-long legal imbroglio. But diplomats and officials said it could be postponed once again because
Yettaw - who sparked the case by swimming to her lakeside home in May - remains in hospital after
suffering repeated epileptic seizures. Burmese officials, also speaking anonymously, had said on Saturday
that Yettaw’s health was improving slightly and that he was ‘eating well’ after fasting for weeks, but said
the trial could be delayed at least another week. ‘If Yettaw’s health does not improve or deteriorates we are
heading towards a postponement. We will know more on Monday,’ added a Western diplomat, asking not to
be named. ‘But if his condition improves during the weekend Burma’s ruling junta have no interest in
delaying further the verdict,’ the diplomat said. AFP, 9 August 2009

Exiled Burmese nationals in Bangkok on Saturday called for democracy at home as they marked the 21st
anniversary of the 1988 uprising with their leader Aung San Suu Kyi behind bars. About 50 activists outside
the Burmese embassy in the Thai capital donned white T-shirts and red head scarves, shouting: “We want
democracy!”, with similar actions planned around the world, including Japan, Canada and France. The
demonstrations mark the anniversary of the student-led uprising against Burma’s military rulers that began
on 8 August 1988, and was crushed that September by the army, killing more than 3 000 people. However,
in Burma’s main city of Rangoon on Saturday, the streets were quiet amid tightened security for the
anniversary, with police trucks patrolling overnight as state media denounced anti-government groups.
mg.co.za, 9 August 2009

Saturday was the 21st anniversary of the first popular uprising in Burma that was violently crushed by the
country’s military regime.The response was so brutal that even two decades later the Burmese people
continue to live in fear. Thousands of people were gunned down like flies and despite the fact that more than
two decades have passed, the junta hasn’t let up on its brutal tactics. August 8, 1988, commonly referred to
as “8888”, was the start of a long revolution for the Burmese people against an awful regime. More than
3,000 people’s lives were brutally cut short for simply demanding a freer society and that the government
cater to their needs. In short, all the people wanted was a decent government that could provide them with
the basic goods and services. However, apparently meeting these needs was far too difficult for the military
junta, so they responded with bullets and tanks. Still, more than two decades later, the spirit of Burma’s
democracy shows no signs of waning. Young activists continue to work hard, putting their lives on the line
to tell the world about the atrocities being committed by the government against its own people. The “8888
generation’ continues in its quest for political freedom and openness despite the great risks they face. Two
years ago, Burmese people from all walks of life, together with thousands of Buddhist monks, took to the
streets to once again call for change. They came face to face with the soldiers who, as video footage has
shown, did not once hesitate in using violent means to crush the demonstration. When the dust settled, there
were reports that demonstration leaders, including saffron-robed monks, had been hunted down one by one,
snatched from their beds and never seen again. As in the past, this wave of violence caused an international
outcry and forced the UN Security Council to sit up and take notice. Still, progress has been slow. Early last
May Cyclone Nargis devastated more than 1.2 million villagers, and the international community responded
with great sympathy and an influx of humanitarian assistance. Some of this aid arrived on naval ships, but as
expected the junta preferred to see its own people rot to death rather than allow alien ships to dock on its
shores to unload food and medical supplies. In fact, the ships weren’t even allowed to enter Burmese
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territorial waters. Asean hoped that it could use the incoming foreign assistance as a catalyst for some sort
of political change. Yet the grouping and the rest of the international community learned that giving the
Burmese junta the benefit of the doubt can be quite costly. No amount of pressure from Asean or even
international sanctions has worked. Economic rehabilitation and restructuring, as expected, have been used
as tools to strengthen the regime’s grip on power. Besides a generation of activists with an unwavering
commitment to peace and national reconciliation, the 8888 Generation also brought to the forefront Aung
Sang Suu Kyi, one of Burma’s best-known political prisoners. Suu Kyi, currently being subjected to a farce
of a trial, faces the prospect of going to prison yet again. However, the recent decision to postpone the
verdict on her suggests that the junta is wondering how to deal with a case as sensitive as hers. In a country
where every little move is analysed from top to bottom, the decision could be a cause. The presiding judges
said they had decided to postpone the verdict because they needed to review several “legal problems”.
Strangely, in a country where the judiciary system and the junta leadership are more or less two sides of the
same coin, the idea of them reviewing legal problems might offer a glimmer of hope. Editor, The Nation, 9
August 2009

Hours before the performance art show was to open to the public, the censors arrived and the grilling began.
Under their watchful gaze, the nine artists performed parts of their works, aware that every movement could
arouse suspicion. It is the high-stakes ritual that every public art exhibition must undergo in military-ruled
Burma – scrutiny by the Ministry of Information’s censorship board. Any politics or criticism of the
government can close a show and land an artist in jail. So can sexual content. For Burma’s small but vibrant
arts community, the risks have never been higher. Government censorship has always been a part of life
under the junta, but last year, the regime cast a wider net for its critics, jailing hundreds including
comedians, writers and musicians. Saw Wai, a poet, was jailed for two years for publishing a love poem
with a hidden message calling the country’s top general, Than Shwe, “power crazy.” Maung Thura, a
comedian who goes by the name Zarganar, is serving a 35-year term for criticizing the government’s slow
relief effort in last year’s cyclone disaster. Zeyar Thaw, a popular hip-hop musician suspected of leading an
underground student movement, was sentenced to six years. For the show’s organizer, Moe Satt, the
censors’ visit made for a nerve-racking morning. All the money and work he had put into coordinating the
show could be undone in a single decision. In the end, he grasped the government’s official permit with a
sense of relief. “There are many restrictions,” he said during an interview days later. “You never know what
they are thinking. But I don’t confront. I find ways to dialogue with them. I find other ways to do what I
want.” magicvalley.com, 9 August 2009

The delay in the trial of Burma’s democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has fuelled intense speculation about
why the military junta is dragging out the court ruling and what its real agenda is. As Burma’s top general
Than Shwe has often told subordinates, international pressure “is like an elastic band” - when it’s pulled
tight nothing should be done as it only makes matters worse. When the elastic band is relaxed “we proceed
with our plans”. There is no doubt that the international pressure is very taut at the moment, and the
delaying tactics appear to fit neatly into Than Shwe’s strategy of dealing with the opposition leader’s
continued detention. But he must know that the campaign in support of Aung San Suu Kyi will not subside.
At least 30 National League for Democracy (NLD) activists were arrested in Rangoon and other towns on
the eve of the original verdict hearing, although many have since been released. Some Burma watchers say
that Aung San Suu Kyi being found guilty is a fait accompli. Public sentiment echoes that of the diplomats.
“No one is in any doubt about the outcome,” said Moe Moe, a taxi driver in the country’s main commercial
city. “Those men in green in Naypyidaw know she is the people’s hero and the real leader of this country.”
Than Shwe plans to announce the formation of an interim government that will hold administrative power
for at least one year, until the elections are staged, according to senior military sources in Naypyidaw. He
and other senior generals around him, especially Maung Aye, plan to stand down when the time is right,
after the elections planned for next year. New houses are being built for them near Maymo. The regional
commander has confiscated large tracts of land there and new residences for the top military brass are
already being built, according to Burmese military sources. All government ministries have been told to
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complete all their outstanding work by the end of August, especially the preparation of statistical
information. Aung Thaung, the minister and a close confidant of Than Shwe’s, recently told his deputies
that there would be a new government soon, and he may no longer be the minister. Most of the current crop
of ministers have also told their staff they will no longer be ministers by the end of the year. It is understood
that members of the interim government will not be allowed to run in the elections, which is why the
ministers will resign their posts and not take part in the pre-election administration. Many analysts believe
Than Shwe has been waiting for the verdict to further marginalise Aung San Suu Kyi before proceeding
with his plans for a a civilian administration ahead of the elections. For Than Shwe, there is another major
consideration - what to do with Aung San Suu Kyi after the elections. While it may be relatively easy to
keep her locked up until then, the problem is that releasing her afterwards would only ensure she would be
an enormous thorn in the side of any civilian government. So Than Shwe’s plans must involve finding a
way to neutralise her and at the same time give her her freedom. That is the key issue Than Shwe now has to
grapple with, and until he decides what to do with her, she will remain in detention. Larry Jagan,
bangkokpost.com, 9 August 2009

The United States called on Friday for the unconditional release of Burma democracy leader Aung San Suu
Kyi and urged the country’s military rulers to begin a process of national reconciliation. “As the world
honours the long struggle of the Burmese people for a better future, we renew our call on the Burmese
authorities to begin a process of national reconciliation and a genuine transition to democracy,” State
Department deputy spokesman Rebert Wood said in a written statement made public on Friday.
smh.com.au, 9 August 2009 / Henry Soe Win, D4B

10 August 2009, Monday


Verdicts in the trial of Burma’s democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi may be postponed again because of
the continued hospitalization of the American defendant who swam to her home, a lawyer and hospital
sources said Monday. AP, 10 August 2009

The delays in the court proceeding against Aung San Suu Kyi are caused by disagreements within the
military regime over how severely to punish her, according to Burmese army sources. Some generals—
notably Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo, Secretary 1 of the ruling military council—are said to want
to see her imprisoned. The general is also close to Aung Thaung, minister for Industry (1), an extreme
nationalist believed to be one of the masterminds of the Depayin massacre in May 2003, when Suu Kyi’s
motorcade was ambushed in central Burma. He is said to harbor a deep hatred of Suu Kyi. Observers inside
Burma say Aung Thaung and Tin Aung Myint Oo are working together with the police and ministry of
interior to influence the outcome of Suu Kyi’s trial. Police Chief Gen Khin Yi and Minister of Home Affairs
Maung Oo are close to the Tin Aung Myint Oo faction, and Khin Yi had been holding press briefings on
Suu Kyi. It is believed that hardliners have instructed the police chief to concoct the case against Suu Kyi.
Last Friday, Gen Khin Yi claimed in comments to reporters that John William Yettaw, the American whose
intrusion into Suu Kyi’s home initiated the case against her, had connections with Burmese exiled groups.
The police chief also denied media reports that the regime had plotted with Yettaw. Speculation continues to
circulate in Rangoon that Yettaw had received a large sum of money from regime leaders to intrude into Suu
Kyi’s home in May. It’s also speculated that Aung Thaung collaborated with Than Shwe and Tin Aung
Myint Oo to concoct the case against Suu Kyi. Others are reportedly in favor of a more lenient sentence for
the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who was being held in house detention until the start of her trial in May.
Among those who appear to be reluctant to commit Suu Kyi to prison is Gen Thura Shwe Mann,
Coordinator of Special Operations, Army, Navy and Air Force, according to the army source—who told The
Irrawaddy he wanted to see Suu Kyi sentenced “within the framework of the law.” Irrawaddy, 10 August
2009

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Two days ahead of the scheduled verdict in the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi, US Sen Jim Webb arrived for a
personal visit in military-ruled Burma. Webb, the chairman of the East Asia and Pacific Affairs
Subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is known to support a pro-engagement policy
with the military regime. Burma is the first country he will visit on an Asian fact-finding tour. According to
the senator’s official Web site, his trip is to “explore opportunities to advance US interests in Burma and the
region.” The Democratic senator of Virginia is well-known in Washington for his pro-engagement stance on
Burma. He is scheduled to meet regime officials in Naypyidaw. Irrawaddy, 10 August 2009

“The Burmese are too divided to suddenly put all their history behind them,” said retired Rutgers University
professor and Burma expert Josef Silverstein in an email message. The Jakarta conference was planned in
part “to stay relevant to meet the criticism” that older dissident groups are too inflexible, said Sean Turnell,
a Burma expert at Macquarie University in Sydney. Dissidents are considering new approaches “probably
because things are looking so dire” in the country, with little change in recent years, forcing exiles to look
“for a new way,” said Monique Skidmore, a Burma expert at the University of Canberra in Australia. “I’m
pleased it’s happening,” she said. online.wsj.com, 10 August 2009

11 August 2009, Tuesday


At 10 a.m. word was out that at least 30 reporters and several international diplomats were to be allowed to
witness the final day’s proceedings at Aung San Suu Kyi’s trial. Although cameras and mobile phones were
prohibited inside the courtroom, security personnel were on hand to video everyone entering. The “special
court” inside the prison compound had been elaborately and garishly decorated for the occasion. It looked
like the Vaudeville Theater with the invited guests seated on red chairs staring at a stage framed in garish
yellow curtains. The court convened at 10:45 a.m. when John W Yettaw, who has been receiving medical
treatment recently for a stroke, was led into the court wearing a blue and white long-sleeved shirt and milk-
colored trousers. Aung San Suu Kyi entered the court at 10:50 a.m. She was wearing a traditional pink
blouse and a brown sarong. She looked pale and rather frail. As soon as she came in, she offered a few
words of thanks to the diplomats for coming to the trial, and apologized for being late. Her companions
Khin Khin Win and Win Ma Ma followed her in. At 11 a.m., the judges began reading out the case history
of John W Yettaw. They concluded with the verdict: for violating the Immigration Act, he was sentenced to
three years in prison with hard labor. For violating the Municipal Act which prohibits swimming in Inya
Lake, he was sentenced to one year in prison with hard labor. The judges then turned to the case of Aung
San Suu Kyi and everyone in the courtroom maintained a heavy silence. The diplomats and journalists
concentrated intently. Suu Kyi’s lawyers stood up to pay respect to the court. The Lady also stood up for a
short while. Her mood was calm. Yettaw, on the other hand, sat forlorn with his head bowed, although his
lawyer was standing. The judge proceeded to read out the case history. It took quite some time. He
concluded by stating that it was incorrect to assert that the 1974 constitution had been abolished; it is still in
effect. Therefore, he said, Aung San Suu Kyi, Khin Khin Win and Win Ma Ma were each sentenced to three
years in prison with hard labor under Section 22 of the Law to Safeguard the State against Dangers of Those
Desiring to Cause Subversive Acts (1975). Yettaw was also sentenced to another three years in prison for
violating Section 22 of the same act. After reading out the verdicts, the mood among the diplomats became
anxious and agitated, but the judges left the courtroom immediately. Then, while Suu Kyi was talking to her
lawyers and preparing to leave the courtroom, Minister for Home Affairs Maj-Gen Maung Oo walked in
and announced that he had a prepared statement that the diplomats and journalists might like to hear. He
read out an order by Sr-Gen Than Shwe stating that if the court found Suu Kyi guilty, he would reduce the
sentence in half and suspend it. If she would live “well” at her Inya Lake home under the restrictions
imposed on her, she would be granted amnesty before her suspended sentence had expired. He stated that
the restrictions that Aung San Suu Kyi, Khin Khin Win and Win Ma Ma must follow are: they must live in
her residence located on University Avenue; they are only allowed to go out into the house’s yard; they can
get access to doctors and nurses for health reasons; Suu Kyi can meet guests in accordance with permission
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from the authorities concerned; she can watch local TV channels such as Myawaddy and MRTV (Myanmar
Radio and Television), as well as local newspapers and journals; and she can request paper if she needs to
write something. Apart from the above restrictions, if she wants to do something, she can do it if she gets
permission from the authorities concerned, and she must live under these restrictions for the next 18 months,
Maung Oo said. Everyone filtered out the courtroom at 12:30. Irrawaddy, 12 August 2010

Suu Kyi was sentenced to three years jail and hard labour by a court in Rangoon on Tuesday, but the head of
the ruling military junta commuted the punishment to 18 months house arrest. The court sentenced her on
charges of breaching the terms of her house arrest after a bizarre incident in which an American man, John
Yettaw, swam to her lakeside house in May this year. ANI, 11 August 2009

A Burmese court has found pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kui guilty of violating her house arrest,
but the head of the military-ruled country says she can serve out a 1 1/2-year sentence under house arrest.
The court initially sentenced Suu Kyi on Tuesday to a three-year prison term. But after a five-minute recess,
the country’s home minister entered the courtroom and read aloud a special order from junta chief Than
Shwe. The order said Than Shwe was cutting the sentence in half to 1 1/2 years and that it could be served
under house arrest. Suu Kyi has been in detention for 14 of the last 20 years, mostly under house arrest. Tin
Win, Federation of Workers’ Union of Burmese Citizens (in Japan), 10 August 2009, 11:24 PM.

1. The Burmese military dictators constantly attempt to keep Daw Aung San Suu Kyi out of the people’s
struggles for democracy and freedom, by any means, includingcommitting a plot to endanger her life
and her unjust detention.
2. Such attempts were evidently proven by the following incidents either committed or engineered by the
regime.
• Various forms of obstruction during the organizing trip of the National League for Democracy
(NLD) in Irrawaddy Division on April 5, 1989 and particularly, she was even threatened at gunpoint
by a military officer
• The attack on the convoy of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her entourage by members of pro-regime
Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) in Rangoon on November 9, 1995
• The assassination attempt near Depayin village in Upper Burma orchestrated by military generals on
May 30, 2003
• Her terms of house arrest since July 20, 1989
After the failed attempt to end her life at the ‘Depayin Massacre’ in 2003, she has unjustly been put under
detention for almost six and half years, and even in accordance with their legal reference applied to her
detention, her terms of house arrest would end soon.
3. With no more legal ground for the SPDC government to continue to detain Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, it
would be forced to release her, so the regime has used the case of Mr Yettaw invading her home in order
to keep her away from the NLD and the people. This is just a political plot made by the SPDC regime.
This is just another shocking crime committed by the Burmese military government against Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi.
4. It is obvious that this unjust imprisonment of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is for no other reason than to
weaken the NLD’s political leadership and the struggle of the people of Burma including ethnic groups
for equality and democracy; ensuring the regime's political agenda for permanent military rule in Burma.
5. We, the people of Burma, will never be freed from an oppression of military dictators if we continue to
passively let their acts of terror against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the NLD, the ethnic groups, and all
walks of lives in the country carry on.
6. Therefore, the All Burma Monks Alliance (ABMA), 88 Generation Students and All Burma
Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU) strongly condemn the Burmese military dictators for their
unjust imprisonment of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

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Furthermore, we hereby state that we will double our efforts for release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and
political prisoners, and together with all the people of Burma, continue unwaveringly our struggle for
democracy. 11 August 2009

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) (AAPP) today strongly condemned the guilty
verdict and three year jail term with hard labour - commuted by Senior General Than Shwe to 18 months
under house arrest - handed down to Nobel Peace Laureate and democratic opposition leader Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi, and her two live-in party members Daw Khin Khin Win and Daw Win Ma Ma. American man
John Yettaw was also found guilty of intruding into Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s home, and sentenced to seven
years with hard labour. “There is no justice, no rule of law, and no independent judiciary in Burma,” said
Tate Naing, Secretary of AAPP. “The continued detention of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is the jailing of
Burma’s future. She is the true leader of Burma.” The trial has been yet another travesty of justice
perpetrated by the regime since it illegally assumed power in 1988. Since then, more than 10,000 people
have been arrested and jailed for advocating for democracy and human rights. Today there are more than
2,100 political prisoners in Burma’s detention centres, labour camps and jails. Bo Kyi, Joint Secretary of
AAPP, said, “The fact that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been sentenced to house arrest rather than jail is
immaterial. The point is the regime wants her to have a criminal record so they can prevent her from
standing as a candidate in future elections.” Bo Kyi continued, “It is only through the Burmese people’s
efforts – backed by the international community - that Burma will move towards a new political system
where the rule of law prevails, equality reigns and the right to live free from fear is fully realized.” AAPP
today calls on the UK and US to show international political leadership on Burma at the United Nations.
The UK chairs the UN Security Council in August whilst the US has its turn in September. Together they
should press the UN Security Council to pass an arms embargo on Burma, and initiate a Commission of
Inquiry into crimes against humanity in the country. AAPP, 11 August 2009 / Aung Myo Thein

Dr Myint Cho, who represents exiled Burmese parliamentarians in Australia, says the court’s decision is
outrageous and politically motivated. “I know it is a deliberate act to keep Aung San Suu Kyi confined so
she can not participate in the planned elections in 2010,” Dr Cho said. “We call on the international
community, particularly the Australian Government, to act on Burma now, to secure release of Aung San
Suu Kyi and all remaining political prisoners in Burma.” Burma Campaign Australia co-ordinator Zetty
Brake says the sentence and continued detention of Suu Kyi is a travesty of justice. “Unfortunately we’re
not surprised by this verdict. It had been the regime’s plan all along to ensure that Aung San Suu Kyi was
further isolated from the people of Burma and excluded from their sham 2010 elections,” she said.
abc.net.au, 11 August 2009 / Henry Soe Win

ASEAN-based activists today reiterated their support for an international arms embargo and a UN Security
Council Commission of Inquiry into crimes against humanity in Burma, in the wake of the sentencing of
Burmese democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The sham trial, farcical verdict, and illegitimate jail
sentence that was bizarrely ‘commuted’ to house arrest is the latest in a series of ploys designed by Burma’s
military regime to ensure that the most viable pro-democracy candidates are excluded from the upcoming
2010 elections. “The SPDC may hope that its twisted version of mercy to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will
convince the international community to ease off the pressure. The international community must not be
fooled. Even now, the regime continues to commit atrocities against ethnic communities in Eastern Burma,
torturing and killing defenseless men, women, and children,” asserted Debbie Stothard, Coordinator of the
Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (Altsean-Burma). 11 August 2009

The Internationa Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) categorically denounces this Tuesday’s verdict
against Aung San Suu Kyi and demands her immediate and unconditional release. After what the ITUC
regards as a mock trial, the leader of the Burmese opposition was initially sentenced to three years in prison
with forced labour for breaching the terms of her house arrest, though the sentence was subsequently
commuted by the head of the junta Than Shwe to 18 months’ house arrest. For the ITUC it is quite clear that
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this mock trial was mainly aimed at ensuring that the key figure in the Burmese opposition could play no
part in the forthcoming national “elections”, due to be held in 2010. Unless some form of pardon is
announced between now and 2010, today’s sentence is indeed likely to prevent Aung San Suu Kyi from
standing in those elections. ituc-csi.org, 11 August 2009

The European Union is preparing sanctions against Burma that include restricting trade with state-owned
firms and barring certain individuals from entering the bloc, Sweden said on Tuesday. The planned
measures are in response to the sentencing of opposition leader Aung Suu Kyi to 18 months in detention for
violating an internal security law. Fredrik Reinfeldt, prime minister of Sweden, which currently holds the
EU presidency, said in a statement the sentence was “unlawful” and said the EU called on the unconditional
release of Suu Kyi. “These sanctions include measures such as trade restrictions against certain state owned
companies and prohibition of entry into the EU for the four key individuals responsible for the decision,” he
said. Reuters, 11 August 2009

French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Tuesday condemned the ‘brutal and unjust verdict’ handed to Burma
human rights activist Aung San Suu Kyi by a Rangoon court and called for new sanctions against Burma’s
military regime. An Elysee Palace statement said Sarkozy urged that the sanctions must in particular ‘strike
the revenues from the exploitation of forests and rubies’ in Burma. The only aim of the ‘political trial’ of
Suu Kyi was to prevent the Nobel Peace Prize laureate from continuing her battle for a free Burma, the
statement said. monstersandcritics.com, 11 August 2009

BAN KI MOON DEPLORES AUNG SAN SUU KYI VERDICT; URGES HER IMMEDIATE RELEASE
• Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is deeply disappointed by the verdict in respect of Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi. The Secretary-General strongly deplores this decision.
• The Secretary-General urges the Government to immediately and unconditionally release Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi and to engage with her without delay as an essential partner in the process of national
dialogue and reconciliation.
• Unless she and all other political prisoners in Burma are released and allowed to participate in free and
fair elections, the credibility of the political process will remain in doubt.
UN Statement, 11 August 2009 / Ko Ko Lay

US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, in a statement released during her tour of Africa, said
Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi ‘should not have been tried and should not have been
convicted.’ Reacting to the new 18-month house arrest sentence, Clinton again called on the Burma military
rulers to lift Suu Kyi’s house arrest, and also to release the more than 2,000 political prisoners being held in
the country’s prisons. ‘The Burmese junta should immediately end its repression of so many in this country,
start a dialogue with the opposition and the ethnic groups,’ said the statement issued from Washington.
Failure to do this, Clinton warned, would mean ‘the elections they have scheduled for next year will have
absolutely no legitimacy.’ monstersandcritics.com, 11 August 2009

World leaders have reacted with anger and disappointment to the conviction of Burmese pro-democracy
leader Aung San Suu Kyi for violating security laws. The UN called for her immediate release after she was
sentenced to a further 18 months of house arrest - where she has spent 14 of the past 20 years. The US, the
European Union, Britain and France were among those who condemned the verdict. But trading partners
China and India have made no public comment. The UN Security Council adjourned an emergency session
without agreeing a response to the sentencing, and will resume deliberations on Wednesday. Britain’s
ambassador to the UN, John Sawers, who is head of the Security Council this month, said some countries,
including China and Russia, had asked for more time to consider a draft statement condemning the verdict.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said he “strongly deplores” the verdict and called for Ms Suu Kyi
to be freed. “Unless she and all other political prisoners in Burma are released and allowed to participate in

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free and fair elections, the credibility of the political process will remain in doubt,” he said. The UN special
envoy to Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, said Ms Suu Kyi was “absolutely indispensable to the resumption of a
political process that can lead to national reconciliation”. In Asia, the governments of Indonesia and the
Philippines have been outspoken in condemning the sentence. But, says the BBC’s Jill McGivering, it is
notable that two of Burma’s biggest trading partners and allies - India and China - have avoided public
comment on the trial. India and China, with Thailand, have been accused by critics of propping up the
military government, especially in recent years as growing economic sanctions have strangled its trade
relationship with the West. BBC, 11 August 2009

12 August 2009, Wednesday

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NLD Statement dated 12 August 2009 No. 24

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NLD Statement dated 12 August 2009 No. 25

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“It was at least a relief that Daw Suu is kept in her house. I had thought the government would keep her
inside Insein prison,” said Moe Moe, a 45-year-old school teacher. Her conviction and continued detention
were condemned by world leaders and sparked demonstrations in cities from London to Japan on Tuesday.
The European Union began preparing new sanctions against the country’s military regime, and a group of
14 Nobel laureates, including the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, called on the U.N. Security
Council to take strong action against the country. President Barack Obama termed the conviction a
violation of the universal principle of human rights and said Suu Kyi should be released immediately. U.S.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton called for the release of more than 2,000 political prisoners,
including Yettaw, who was convicted along with Suu Kyi and sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment with
hard labor. Yettaw’s lawyer, Khin Maung Oo, said Wednesday that he was preparing documents to file an
appeal. “I will try my utmost to get my client deported as quickly as possible, especially because of his
health condition,” Oo said, adding that he did not immediately know whether Yettaw was being detained in
a cell or at the prison hospital. Yettaw, 53, spent a week in the hospital for epileptic seizures before the
verdict. He is also said to suffer from asthma and diabetes. “How is he going to do hard labor if he is so ill?”
his former wife, Yvonne Yettaw, told The Associated Press by telephone from Palm Springs, California.
“Maybe they’ll realize he won’t make it seven years, and they’ll send him home.” Virginia Sen. Jim Webb
will visit Burma later this week as part of a five-nation Asia tour, prompting some speculation that he will
try to negotiate Yettaw’s handover to the U.S. AP, 12 August 2009

As chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Thailand released a statement on Wednesday in
which it expressed “deep disappointment” at the Burmese court’s ruling on Tuesday and stressed Burma
hold free and fair elections by including all political parties when the country goes to the polls next year.
Bangkok Post, 14 August 2009

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd declared himself to be “deeply dismayed” by Suu Kyi’s conviction
and sentencing under Burma’s “Law Protecting the State Against the Dangers of Subversive Elements.”
“The Austarlian Government is convinced that Aung San Suu Kyi was tried on spurious charges and not
granted a fair hearing,” Mr Rudd said. Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said yesterday he had instructed the
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to call in Burmese Ambassador Hla Myint to express Australia’s
“dismay” at Suu Kyi’s conviction and sentencing. Mr Smith said Suu Kyi’s sentence would remove any
protect of her participating in Burma’s elections, scheduled for next year. He said Australia’s Ambassador
to Burma, Michelle Chan, would also convey the Australian Government’s views directly to the Burmese
regime. Mr Smith said the Governmnet would update Australis’s financial sanctions against the Burmese
regime, while Mr Rudd announced that Radio Australia would resume transmissions to Burma. Coalition
foreigh affairs spokewoman Julie Bishop also condemned the sentencing. Meanwhile, Burma Campaign
Australia spokeswoman Zetty Blake said the regime “never had any intention of releasing Aung San Suu
Kyi because they know that she will unite the country and lead the people in their struggle for democracy.”
The Canberra Times, 12 August 2009 / U Kin Oung

Four independent United Nations human rights experts on Wednesday deplored the confinement of Aung
San Suu Kyi to 18 months of house arrest, and reiterated their call for her immediate and unconditional
release. “This was a baseless trial convened by the Government of Burma to exclude Aung San Suu Kyi
from the 2010 elections,” the mandate holders stated. The charges laid against the leader of the National
League for Democracy and Nobel Peace Prize laureate were in violation of international human rights law.
“The court was not independent, judicial guarantees were disregarded, and charges under the State
Protection Act were unsubstantive. As we have stated time and again, this trial should never have occurred
in the first place,” the four UN experts said. This view was confirmed by the most recent opinion adopted by
the UN Working Group on arbitrary detention on Aung San Suu Kyi, which declared the continuation of her
house arrest to be arbitrary (Opinion 46/2008). Aung San Suu Kyi was sentenced under article 22 of
Burma’s State Protection Law 1975 after an uninvited intruder swam across Lake Inya and spent two nights
at Aung San Suu Kyi’s home. “If the State assumes the responsibility to prevent access to the house of Aung
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San Suu Kyi and has disciplined, even punished, 20 security officials in connection with the incident,” the
experts said, “how can she then be held criminally liable for an unwanted intrusion?” The State Protection
Law 1975 is based on Burma’s 1974 Constitution, which was annulled when the military government took
power in 1988, prompting the Working Group on arbitrary detention to conclude that Aung San Suu Kyi’s
continuing house arrest lacks any legal basis (Opinions Nos. 9/2004 and 46/2008). “In addition to the fact
that the holding of this trial was unlawful,” the experts said, “we are also deeply concerned about numerous
reports of irregularities in the way it was conducted.” “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
guarantees the right not to be arbitrarily detained, as well as the rights to due process and a fair trial, and to
freedom of opinion, expression and assembly,” the experts said. “None of these have been complied with.”
They rejected the suggestion that the trial was a purely internal affair as is also evidenced by three
statements concerning the situation in Burma and Aung San Suu Kyi in particular issued by the United
Nations Security Council on May 25, 2009; May 2, 2008; and October 11, 2007. Aung San Suu Kyi has
been subjected to house arrest for almost 14 of the past 20 years. She was rearrested on May 10, 2003, and
her house arrest was subsequently extended until it reached the maximum term permitted under Burma’s
own laws in May 2008. It was then illegally extended for another year by the authorities. Aung San Suu Kyi
was sentenced for violating the terms of this house arrest order. Two of her aides were also sentenced under
Section 109 of the Penal Code for aiding and abetting another in committing a crime. “This case has been
riddled with irregularities from start to finish,” the four experts concluded. The four Special Procedures
mandate holders making the statement were the Vice Chairperson-Rapporteur of the Working Group on
arbitrary detention, El Hadji Malick Sow; the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the
right to freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue Lewy; the Special Rapporteur on the situation of
human rights defenders, Margaret Sekaggya; and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in
Burma, Tomas Ojea Quintana. KUNA, 12 August 2009

From the streets of London to the White House in Washington, calls are multiplying for the immediate and
unconditional release of Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. But the generals ruling Burma
appear indifferent to the outcry over the latest sentence handed down to her. But international protests in
support of Suu Kyi are being accompanied by calls for tougher santions against the regime, with the
European Union set to lead the way. The Burmese pro-democracy leader has already spent 14 of the past 20
years in detention. She was sentenced to a further 18 months of house arrest for violating security laws after
an American man swam uninvited to her lakeside home in May. He has been given seven years hard labour.
The junta stands accused of delivering a sentence designed to keep the Nobel peace laureate out of next
year’s elections. An emergency UN Security Council meeting was adjourned, with no official statement on
the verdict. Euronews.net, 12 August 2009

13 August 2009, Thursday


The Burmese junta’s latest scorched earth campaign in Shan state has in the last three weeks destroyed 500
homes and uprooted around 10,000 civilians, according to a data released today. Burma’s eastern Shan state
has long been a site of conflict between the Burmese army and armed opposition groups, driven in part by
its abundance of opium poppy plantations. Data compiled by Shan Human Rights Foundation (SHRF), the
Shan Women’s Action Network (SWAN) and other Shan community-based organizations show that since
27 July, around 40 villages have been relocated by the army. According to the groups, it is the single largest
forced relocation in Shan state since a campaign from 1996 to 1998 saw the uprooting of 300,000 villagers,
many of whom fled to Thailand. Much of the campaign has focused on Laikha township, where over 100
villagers, including women, have been arrested and tortured, and three have died. Many of these were
displaced by the previous campaign. “One young woman was shot while trying to retrieve her possessions
from her burning house, and her body thrown into a pit latrine,” said a joint press release. “Another woman
was gang-raped in front of her husband by an officer and three of his troops.” The groups have called on the
UN Security Council to set up a Commission of Enquiry to investigate what they believe to be crimes
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against humanity. They have also demanded that members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) “seriously review their engagement with this pariah nation”. “The regime brazenly committed
these crimes even as the whole world was watching them during the trial of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi,” said
Charm Tong of SWAN. “They are thumbing their noses at the international community.” DVB, 13 August
2009

In a process of ganging up, which could put the Burmese military junta on the back foot, four ceasefire
ethnic armed groups, which rejected the regime’s proposal to transform into a ‘Border Guard Force’ (BGF),
formed a military alliance last month to counter the junta’s military overtures. The formation of the military
alliance was disclosed by the United Wa State Army (UWSA). The ceasefire groups, which rejected the
junta’s proposal of changing to BGF are the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), the United Wa State
Army (UWSA), Myanmar Nationalities Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and the National
Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA). “We reached an agreement about two months ago. We don’t want any
more war. We want peace. But we have to defend ourselves. Having reached an agreement, however, we are
united,” an officer of the UWSA told Mizzima. According to the agreement, if one of the ceasefire groups
breaks the agreement with the junta, other ceasefire groups will presume their ceasefire agreements with the
regime have also broken, he added. Sino-Burma border based Burmese observer Aung Kyaw Zaw said that
this military alliance may be based on their common position of respective national objectives and rejection
of the junta’s proposal to transform their armies into BGF. “There are basically common central works
along the border. They have a common national objective. They have mutual understanding of mutual
assistance among them if it is necessary. Rather than having an agreement, they have many common
positions among them. Moreover they have the same military experience over the years,” he said. Mizzima,
13 August 2009

Lim Kit Siang, vice-president of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Caucus on Burma, said the junta had
shown “utter contempt” for the organisation’s ideals and that regional governments must now respond with
more than words. “The time has come for ASEAN to seriously consider expulsion or at least suspension of
Burma from ASEAN,” he said in a statement. Analysts said the timing of the latest drama was unfortunate
as ASEAN members had just forged agreement on the human rights body. AFP, 13 August 2009

The European Union on Thursday extended its sanctions against the Burmese regime following the trial of
Aung San Suu Kyi, slapping a visa ban and asset freeze on members of the judiciary. The 27 EU nations
also widened their existing assets freeze to cover all businesses owned and controlled by members of the
regime and their associates. The moves were taken “in reaction to the verdict against Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi and given the gravity of the violation of her fundamental rights,” the European Council said in a written
statement approved by all 27 EU capitals. Under the new restrictive measures “members of the judiciary
responsible for the verdict are added to the existing list of persons and entities subject to a travel ban and to
an assets freeze,” the statement said. The move comes after Tuesday’s conviction of opposition leader and
Nobel Peace Laureate Suu Kyi and an American man who swam to the lakeside home where she was
already under house arrest. indiatimes.com, 13 August 2009

Two days after Burma sent opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi into further house arrest, regional
governments are fine-tuning their responses. The Indonesian government has been criticised for returning
to the dictatorship era after it blocked a meeting of Burmese exiles in Jakarta. Indonesia has stopped a two-
day conference of exiled Burmese opposition groups that was due to discuss plans for a possible future
transition to democracy in Burma. The Indonesian authorities said foreign groups that question other
governments were not allowed to operate in Indonesia. But a member of parliament in Jakarta, Eva Kusuma
Sundari, accused the authorities there of caving in to pressure from Burma. She said she had seen a letter
from the Burmese embassy objecting to the meeting and threatening damage to Burma-Indonesia relations if
it was allowed to continue. She expressed amazement that the Burmese Embassy could dictate Indonesian
government policy, and said the embassy was clearly interfering in Indonesia's domestic affairs. She said
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some of the Burmese meetings would continue, but in an informal capacity. The Jakarta Globe newspaper
described the government’s move as draconian, and “harking back to the New Order era under former
dictator Suharto”. BBC, 13 August 2009

Ministry of Foreign and Trade Spokesperson’s Comment on the Verdict against Aung San Suu Kyi
2009-08-13 15:26 Spokesperson’s Office
1. The Government of the Republic of Korea deems it regrettable that the Burmese government has
convicted and sentenced Aung San Suu Kyi to 18 months of house arrest.
2. The Government of the Republic of Korea urges the Burmese government to release Aung San Suu Kyi
and all other political prisoners and hopes that it will take the path toward genuine national
reconciliation and democratization through substantive dialogue with all of its political groups.
MOFAT, 16 August 2009 / Yan Naing Htun

International responses to Tuesday’s sentencing of Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma’s pro-democracy leader, to an
extended period of house arrest have split on Asian and Western lines. The leaders of Britain, France and
the United States all strongly condemned the one-and-a-half-year sentence as a travesty of justice and the
trial as a sham. United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon added his voice to renewed calls for her
immediate release. Most Asian countries - apart from the Philippines and Indonesia - have been more muted
in their response, labeling the decision more diplomatically as “a mistake”. Suu Kyi’s detention is certain to
increase divisions between the West and Asia on how to encourage genuine political reform in military run
Burma. At least that is what the junta’s top general Than Shwe appears to be counting on, as he moves
forward with plans to introduce “guided democracy”, including tentative multi-party elections scheduled for
later next year. Suu Kyi was handed an additional 18 months under house arrest after being convicted of
violating state security laws. Her alleged crime: to offer food and shelter to an uninvited US citizen, John
Yettaw, who secretly swam to enter her lakeside residence in the old capital of Rangoon. Suu Kyi denied
abetting Yettaw, though she always expected to be convicted, her lawyers told Asia Times Online.
According to her Burmese lawyers, she will challenge the verdict in the High Court. She has also instructed
her defense counsel to exhaust all legal avenues in challenging the regime, according to her American
lawyer, Jared Gensher. “A shamefully predictable verdict, and a sentence shamelessly designed to
constitute a concession to international pressure and concern,” said Amnesty International’s Bangkok-based
Burma researcher, Benjamin Zawacki. The international hue and cry may not force Burma’s generals to
reconsider their decision, but it may yet force them to revise their strategy. The entire purpose of the junta’s
touted “roadmap to democracy” was to give international credibility to the civilian government installed
after next year’s elections. Polls that exclude Suu Kyi, analysts say, will not pass the democratic sniff test
with most Western democracies. “The military rulers are frightened of her because they know that if she
was allowed to run in the elections, the whole country would vote for her,” claimed Soe Aung, a
spokesperson for the exiled political opposition based in Thailand. By sentencing her to 18 months, the
regime will effectively keep her out of public sight until after the election is held next year. According to
sources in Naypyidaw, Than Shwe is still open to some sort of a rapprochement with Washington. China
and Singapore, key Burma allies, apparently earlier urged the junta to seize the opportunity presented of a
possible US review of its Burma policy in exchange for certain concessions, including the release of
political prisoners. But judging by Obama’s and other Western leaders’ strident response to Suu Kyi’s
sentencing, that deal is off the table. Larry Jagan, Asia Times Online, 13 August 2009

The United Kingdom supports Thailand’s call for the Burmese junta to release all political prisoners from
detention, British ambassador to Thailand Quinton Quayle said after a meeting with Prime Minister Abhisit
Vejjajiva on Thursday. Thailand, as chair of the Assocation of of Southeast Asean Nations, on Wednesday
issued a statement calling for the immediate release of all political prisoners, including opposition leader
Aung San Suu Kyi, to enable them to participate in the general election due next year. Mr Quayle said he
and Mr Abhisit discussed the sentence the court at Rangoon’s Insein Prison gave to Mrs Suu Kyi - three
years in jail with hard labour for breaching the terms of her house arrest after an American, John Yettaw,
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swam uninvited to her lakeside home in May. The sentence was later commuted by Than Shwe, chairman of
the ruling State Peace and Development Council, to 18 months under house arrest. “I agree with the
statement issued by Thailand, as the Asean chair, for all political prisoners to be released. The court
sentence will not help ensure any political progress in Burma in the future,” said the ambassador. Mr Quayle
said the European Union and the United Nations were considering imposing sanctions which would not be
aimed at Burma but at the Burmese government, especially the military. “We are considering what to do to
spur international reaction against the Burmese court’s ruling,” he said. Bangkok Post, 13 August 2010

The U.N. Security Council agreed after two days of talks to issue a statement Thursday calling on Burma’s
military government to immediately release opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political
prisoners. The council's 15 member nations voiced “serious concern at the conviction and sentencing of
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and its political impact” and reaffirmed three previous statements since 2007. They
also urged the ruling junta to begin a genuine dialogue with the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and other
political parties and ethnic groups. A Burma court on Tuesday convicted the Nobel Peace Prize laureate of
violating the terms of her previous house arrest by sheltering an uninvited American visitor. In a nod to
Burma’s colonial past, the council’s member nations again pledged a commitment to the sovereignty and
territorial integrity of Burma, but said that “the future of Burma lies in the hands of all of its people.” AP,
13 August 2009

14 August 2009, Friday


A report in the Jurist notes that lawyers for Burmese opposition pro-democracy advocate Aung San Suu Kyi
and American John Yettaw have said that they will file appeals against Tuesday’s guilty verdicts. Suu Kyi
and Yettaw were convicted of violating state security laws after Suu Kyi, who was under house arrest,
allowed Yettaw to stay in her home after he swam across a lake to visit her. Suu Kyi was sentenced to 18
more months of house arrest, and Yettaw was sentenced to seven years in prison, with four years of hard
labour. Meanwhile, world leaders and human rights groups have continued to criticise Suu Kyi’s trial and
conviction. The Dalai Lama is quoted as saying he was ‘deeply saddened’ by the sentence and called for
her release. A spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said he ‘strongly deplores this
decision’, and that he ‘urges the government to immediately and unconditionally release’ Suu Kyi. The
report also quotes Amnesty International as calling the verdict ‘shameful’. legalbrief.co.za, 14 August
2009

Win Tin, an 80-year-old veteran opposition member released from jail last year after serving 19 years in
solitary confinement, said: “Of course, we have to struggle, not just for democracy but for the release of our
leader. It’s almost impossible – the regime has a very detailed plan to keep her detained. They want to keep
her out of politics because she is so powerful and so popular.” The Independent, 14 August 2009

Burma Prime Minister General Thein Sein met with visiting Democratic Senator of the United States Jim
Webb in the new capital of Naypyidaw Friday afternoon, the state-run Burma Radio and Television
reported. Webb also met with the State Constitution Drafting Commission, led by Chief Justice U Aung
Toe, the report said. chinaview.cn, 14 August 2009

Thailand, as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, sought a consensus Friday from the
other nine ASEAN members as to whether the group should seek a pardon for Burma’s democratic icon
Aung San Suu Kyi. Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya told reporters by telephone from Kuala Lumpur
that he had sent out a letter to all the other nine ASEAN members to seek the consensus. The Philippines
denounced the court ruling as “incomprehensible and deplorable” and renewed its call for Suu Kyi’s
“immediate and unconditional release.” Malaysia expressed “deep disappointment” and said it would
consult with other ASEAN members on the development. While Singapore also expressed disappointment
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and hope that Suu Kyi will be allowed to participate in the political process as soon as possible, it
commended Burma’s generals for reducing her sentence and keeping her out of jail. Indonesia’s Foreign
Ministry said it is “strongly disappointed” with the court verdict. Vietnam did not comment directly on the
ruling but urged Rangoon to “adopt measures to promote national reconciliation and dialogue between
concerned parties in Burma.” Kyodo, 14 August 2009

China may well be backing Naypyidaw, when it comes to democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi and the over
2,000 political prisoners in Burma, but it has adopted a tough stance, twice in a week, when the Burmese
Army tried to impose itself on one of the former communist armies, according to sources on the Sino-Burma
border. On August 8, it had successfully convinced the Burmese Army, which had entered the Kokang
territory “without our permission” to carry out an inspection on a location suspected to have an arms
factory. “Due to China’s intervention, the Burmese Army pulled out,” said a local source. China was the
only country which supported Naypyidaw’s decision to continue Aung San Suu Kyi’s house arrest on
August 11. SHAN, 14 August 2009 / Hla Kyaing, burmanet.org

Countries around the world have condemned the sentence. US President Barack Obama said the sentence
was “unjust” and called for the release of Suu Kyi and thousands of other political prisoners. “Suppressing
ideas never succeeds in making them go away,” he said. The European Union said it would reinforce
sanctions against the regime and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, of which Burma is a member,
issued an expression of disappointment, an unusual move for the regional group. UN Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon, who has shown keen interest in getting the Burmese government to release Suu Kyi, demanded
her unconditional release. Korea Herald, 14 August 2009 / Tin Kyi, Burma Related News

The European Union has added four state-run media outlets to its list of Burmese sanctions targets in
response to the court ruling against pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Four media enterprises – the
Myanmar News and Periodicals Enterprise, which publishes three state-run newspapers; the Tatmadaw
Telecasting Unit, which runs Myawaddy Television; Myanmar Radio and Television; and the Myanmar
Motion Picture Enterprise—were added to the revised sanctions list published on Friday. The EU stated that
it put the media organizations on the list because they have been involved in promoting the regime’s
policies and propaganda. Wai Moe, Irrawaddy, 14 August 2009

The guilty verdict issued by Burma’s military junta against Aung San Suu Kyi has made the country’s
political weather gloomier and murkier. Most citizens, including military officials, are upset at the unjust
and arbitrary decision of the court. It is likely to engender more social unrest in the near future. The verdict
handed down by the Insein Prison Court on Tuesday found the Nobel laureate and key opposition leader
guilty of violating the terms of her house arrest. The only significant rival to the ruling junta has been
consigned to another 18 months of house arrest. The scene in the court was very theatrical. First Thaung
Nyunt, the puppet judge, stated the anticipated sentence – three years in prison with hard labor. Next, the
junta’s Home Minister Maung Oo read out an order from Senior General Than Shwe, commuting the
sentence to 18 months under house arrest. Than Shwe cautiously adjusted the sentence to deliver the word
that he is not a stupid villain and he does not want to quarrel with the international community. But his
attempt was in vain. In essence, Than Shwe wanted the Lady to remain in custody until after the 2010
election. In fact, what both the international community and the people of Burma want is to free Aung San
Suu Kyi immediately without any condition. The verdict was strongly opposed by a group of Nobel
laureates including the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former Soviet leader Mikhail
Gorbachev. “This illegal verdict is just one more instance of the junta’s contempt for justice, security and
democracy for the Burmese people,” pronounced Nobel laureate Jody Williams. The group of Nobel
laureates demanded that the U.N. Security Council investigate “war crimes and crimes against humanity”
committed by the military junta that rules Burma. The leaders of Britain, France and the United States all
strongly condemned the 18-month sentence as contempt for justice and the trial as a sham. U.N. Secretary-
General Ban Ki-moon added his voice to renewed calls for her immediate release. In conclusion, Burma is
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at a crucial crossroads now. Than Shwe’s verdict against Aung San Suu Kyi will have an enduring impact
on the unfortunate nation. This verdict will create more civil defiance and new civil wars in Burma. All
ethnic nationalities, including the Burmese, have a strong determination to fight for their freedom, justice
and equality. They also know clearly that the junta’s 2010 election is a pair of iron shackles to enslave them.
Therefore, since Than Shwe has rejected the Lady’s offer of national reconciliation, it is unavoidable that he
will face new challenges including civil disobedience and rebellion. Zin Linn, upiasia.com, 14 August 2009

Thailand is continuing to oppose sanctions against Burma’s gems to put more pressure on the military
regime after the sentence imposed on opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi this week. Prime Minister
Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday Thailand had no problem with other countries beefing up arms sanctions
against Burma but banning gems would affect the Kingdom. Thailand and China are the two main importers
of gems from Burma. The US has banned imports of rubies, jade and other stones direct from Burma and
through third countries. Mr Abhisit made clear Thailand’s position on gems sanctions in talks with US
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Bangkok on July 21. Burma faces stiffer sanctions after it confined Mrs
Suu Kyi to her house for a further 18 months. A court found her guilty of violating the terms of her house
arrest when US national John Yettaw swam across a lake to stay uninvited at her villa for two days in May.
The Burma issue is on the agenda at a meeting today in Manila between Mr Abhisit and Philippine President
Gloria Arroyo. British ambassador to Thailand Quinton Quayle said after talks with Mr Abhisit that more
measures would be imposed on Burma if the junta continued to ignore calls for Mrs Suu Kyi’s release. “We
will consider measures shortly to put more pressure on Burma because the international community
disagrees with this kind of verdict,’ Mr Quayle said after his meeting with the prime minister. Britain now
holds the presidency of the United Nations Security Council. I think Prime Minister Abhisit and his foreign
minister, Kasit Piromya, will have to hold talks with all Asean country leaders in order to find out what next
steps can be taken, apart from issuing a Asean statement,” Mr Quayle said. As chair of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations, Thailand released a statement on Wednesday in which it expressed “deep
disappointment” at the Burmese court’s ruling on Tuesday and stressed Burma hold free and fair elections
by including all political parties when the country goes to the polls next year. Bangkok Post, 14 August
2009

The Obama administration gave its blessing to Democratic Sen. Jim Webb’s trip to military-run Burma, a
visit criticized by dissident groups and conservatives who argue that it validates a violent junta accused of
massive abuses against its people. Webb’s visit comes amid world anger at the conviction Tuesday of
democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi along with an American citizen, and the beginning of another 18-
month house arrest for the Nobel Peace Prize laureate. In a letter to Webb, three Burmese dissident groups
expressed amazement that the senator would visit Burma, so close to the verdict against Suu Kyi. “We are
concerned that the military regime will manipulate and exploit your visit and propagandize that you endorse
their treatment on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and over 2,100 political prisoners, their human rights abuses on
the people of Burma, and their systematic, widespread and ongoing attack against the ethnic minorities,” the
letter said. Walter Lohman, director of the conservative Heritage Foundation’s Asian studies center, said
the meeting “will certainly serve to validate the junta at a time when international revulsion has reached one
of its periodic, crisis driven peaks.” AP, 14 August 2009 / Tin Maung Thaw

The UN Security Council belatedly issued a statement on Thursday expressing “serious concerns” over the
sentencing of opposition Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi for a further 18 months under house detention.
The 15-nation council had considered a stronger statement that would have condemned the conviction and
verdict by a Burmese court against Suu Kyi, leader of the National Luegue for Democracy. The statement
issued by British Ambassador John Sawers, the council president, swapped “condemnation” for “serious
concerns” because of objection by some unnamed countries. Those countries had demanded that the council
not interfere with Burma’s judicial system and internal matters. The statement was hammered out and
watered down during private consultations between Sawers and other council members since Monday. He
said all 15 council members supported the text before he made it public. Sawers said council members
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stressed the importance of releasing “all political prisoners” in Burma. “The members of the UN Security
Council express serious concerns at the conviction and sentencing of Daw Aung San Kyi and its political
impacts,” said the statement, which Sawers read to reporters. nationmultimedia.com, 14 August 2009

Meanwhile, the US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, said Aung San Suu Kyi’s conviction is a violation
of universal principles of human rights. “The Burmese regime should immediately and unconditionally
release her and the more than 2,100 other political prisoners currently being held,” she said. “Aung San Suu
Kyi’s sentencing also precludes her from taking part in the elections scheduled for next year, and thus
undermines the legitimacy of those elections,” Rice said. Rice said: “Rather than using this moment to
create the necessary conditions for a genuine dialogue and inclusive political process with all actors, the
Burmese authorities have now moved further away from national reconciliation and deepened their isolation
from the rest of the world.” Irrawaddy, 14 August 2009

A US Senator has arrived in Burma to meet military ruler Than Shwe. Democratic Senator Jim Webb, who
will be the most senior US official to meet Than Shwe, chairs the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee
on East Asia and Pacific affairs. He is close to President Barack Obama. Senator Webb is not expected to
meet Ms Suu Kyi. bignewsnetwork.com, 14 August 2009

15 August 2009, Saturday


Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi was positive and cheerful after returning to her Inya Lake
residence, one of her lawyers, Kyi Win, told The Irrawaddy on Friday. “She was not dejected and I was
surprised to see that, on the contrary, she appeared cheerful and was laughing,” the lawyer said. Suu Kyi
met with her lawyers on Wednesday around the dining table in her lakeside house, he said, adding that Suu
Kyi appeared upbeat as she spoke of the trial. Suu Kyi knew the verdict would be “guilty,” but was not
upset and showed no signs of bitterness, Kyi Win said. The lawyer also said that the defense team was
surprised to learn that Sr-Gen Than Shwe’s letter to the court was dated and issued on the August 10th and
not on August 11th, the day the judge read out the final verdict. Suu Kyi initially received a three-year prison
sentence, but that was immediately commuted to 18 months under house arrest when Home Affairs Minister
Maung Oo read out Than Shwe’s letter to the courtroom announcing his decision to cut her three-year
sentence in half. The suspended sentence was also applied to the verdict against Suu Kyi’s two companions,
Win Ma Ma and Khin Khin Win. Suu Kyi is now a prisoner again in her own house, but her lawyer said that
she is preparing to appeal. “Suu Kyi wants to appeal and she is correct,” he said. “But the chances of
success are very slim – she was convicted even before she was arrested.” Kyi Win likened the house arrest
restrictions imposed on Suu Kyi to keeping a child in a boarding school. The restrictions against the
opposition leader and her two companions are: they must only live in Suu Kyi’s residence located on
University Avenue; they are only allowed to go out into the house’s yard; they can get access to doctors and
nurses for health reasons; Suu Kyi can meet guests in accordance with permission from the authorities
concerned; she can watch local TV channels such as Myawaddy and MRTV (Burma Radio and Television),
as well as local newspapers and journals; and she can request paper if she needs to write something. “Suu
Kyi doesn’t usually watch television, but is an avid reader and spends most of her time reading books during
her house arrest,” the lawyer said. When asked whether they could bring her foreign newspapers and
magazines, her lawyers were told that all materials must be submitted to the authorities for screening. Her
lawyers have also noticed that local security forces and the police have elevated the watchtower which
overlooks Suu Kyi’s compound. Another noticeable change at her home since she was detained in May is
that all the bushes have been cleared. Suu Kyi is aware of the outpouring of support and the international
reaction to the verdict against her, said the lawyer. “But she is always looking forward to a dialogue,” Kyi
Win added. When asked about China’s stance toward Burma and Suu Kyi, the lawyer warned that China is
playing with fire. Political observers have said that because of the highly publicized trial and the
international attention that she received during the trial, Suu Kyi’s status is strengthened both inside and
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outside Burma and that she has gained a stronger position in Burmese politics than before. “She was almost
forgotten before the trial,” a diplomat in Rangoon said, adding that the irony is the regime has promoted her
status and international standing. Suu Kyi has already spent nearly 14 of the past 20 years under house
arrest, although Tuesday’s conviction was the first time she has been found guilty of any offense.
Irrawaddy, 15 August 2009

A five-day public movement known as the White Campaign has been launched in Burma following the
imprisonment of Aung San Suu Kyi and will be carried out across four of Burma’s principle divisions. The
campaign was organiseed by a group who have continually held prayer ceremonies every Tuesday since Suu
Kyi’s first incarceration, and includes members of her National League for Democracy (NLD) party. Myint
Myint Aye, NLD secretary in Mandalay division’s Meiktila township, who is one of the organisers of the
campaign, urged the public to join. “From 15 to 19 August, we will be wearing white and holdng prayers at
pagodas,” he said. “This is to peacefully express our will to bring our leader to freedom. We urge our NLD
members across Burma to join in with the campaign.” Anyone can join in with the campaign by wearing
white, offering white flowers at pagoda and by painting houses and fences with the colour white, she said.
The campaign will be carried out in around 20 different townships in Pegu, Mandalay, Magwe and Rangoon
divisions. Pegu NLD women’s wing leader Khin Nyunt Mu said the campaign “is not a demonstration, this
is not an act against the government – we are to only show our will from inside the law.” “We urge the
people to use everything white during the campaign – wear white, ride white and also offer white flowers at
the pagoda as well as painting your house white or hang white plastic bags by your doors.” DVB, 15 August
2009

Buddhist monks, angered by the Burmese junta’s decision to place democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi
under a further 18 months of house arrest, may be preparing to take to the streets again in protest, according
to sources in Rangoon. Burma’s monasteries, some with as many as a thousand monks, have been largely
silent since a crackdown on monk-led protests nearly two years ago. But some monks say that simmering
resentment could come to a head again over the August 11 court ruling, which found Suu Kyi guilty of
violating the terms of her house arrest. “We can’t accept the court’s shameful verdict,” said a monk from a
monastery near Rangoon’s famous Shwedagon Pagoda. “The military government has angered us again.”
“Local authorities are closely watching young monks and their monasteries,” said a resident of North
Okkalapa Township, on the outskirts of Rangoon. “There are plainclothes security forces keeping an eye on
them. I’m not sure if the monks will take to the streets again or not.” There are more than 400,000 monks in
Burma – roughly equal to the number of personnel in the armed forces of the military-ruled country. They
have always played an important role in Burma’s social and political affairs, often in opposition to
oppressive regimes. Since the 2007 uprising, dubbed the Saffron Revolution, the Burmese authorities have
applied pressure on senior monks to control younger monks. “Local authorities and the township Sangha
Mahanayaka Committee [the state- sponsored Buddhist monks’ organization] have asked monasteries to
submit the personal details and three photos of every monk,” said a monk from Zabuaye Monastery in North
Okkalapa Township. “The authorities have also warned senior monks that if any monk from their monastery
becomes involved in anti-government demonstrations, the senior monks will be either disrobed or sentenced
to three years in prison,” said the monk. The monk also said that the authorities have strictly restricted travel
by monks, who are no longer allowed to go anywhere without a letter of recommendation from their
monastery. Irrawaddy, 15 August 2009

The international lawyer for Aung San Suu Kyi says Australia’s Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, could play a
key role in pushing for her release. The Australian Government has urged the United Nations to impose an
arms embargo on Burma in response. In an interview with the Australia Broadcasting Corporation, Ms Suu
Kyi’s lawyer Jared Genser says the Prime Minister should also pressure China to intervene. “Because
China is really key, sharing a border with Burma as it does, with substantial investments in the country
particularly in oil and gas, if China can be made to see the wisdom in doing more internationally, that along

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with India, Thailand, Singapore and other countries in ASEAN that could be very very helpful to moving
towards a process of national reconciliation in Burma.” radioaustralianews.net.au, 15 August 2009

The wide-spread protests by monks and civilians in August/September 2007, and ensuing violent
crackdown, has opened a new window of opportunity to end impunity for the ongoing crimes being
perpetrated by Burma’s military leadership. Burma was added for the first time to the United Nations
Security Council Agenda last year. Special powers are granted under Chapter VII of the United Nations
Charter which allow the Security Council members heightened power to address situations that constitute a
threat to international peace and security. These powers encompass addressing the most serious crimes in
countries such as Burma.The Burmese military junta, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC),
continues to exercise dictatorial control over the lives of the people of Burma as it has done with impunity
for over forty years, routinely employing torture, rape, slavery, murder, and mass imprisonment as tools to
consolidate its power and silence any dissent. These acts go far beyond a repudiation of democracy; they are
criminal violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, including violations of the Geneva
Conventions. The Global Justice Center is working with the Burma Lawyers’ Council to push for
accountability and stronger action by the United Nations Security Council for the ongoing heinous crimes in
Burma. The Project on Criminal Accountability for Heinous Crimes in Burma aims to uphold international
commitment to the rule of law and to enforce the rights to redress and criminal accountability of the people
of Burma through the creation by the United Nations Security Council, under its Chapter VII power, of an
Independent Commission of Inquiry to investigate possible war crimes, crimes against humanity or
genocide. A focus on criminal investigation will reframe the dialogue from democracy and human rights to
criminal accountability and will put pressure on the SPDC by alienating it from political and economic
friends, such as China and Russia. There is a growing international consensus that no safe harbor should
exist for perpetrators of heinous crimes. The Project on Criminal Accountability for Heinous Crimes in
Burma seeks to raise international awareness and commitment to ending impunity for the most serious
crimes of concern to the international community, which threaten the peace, security and well being of the
world. Burma Digest, 15 August 2009 / Minye Kyawswar, New Generations

Thailand, as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, has proposed that other Asean members
ask the Burmese government to give a pardon to its opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. But two Asean
members - Vietnam and Laos - oppose Thailand’s move, saying Asean should not interfere in the affairs of
Burma. Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said Thailand has written to other Asean members seeking a
consensus to demand that the Burmese government considers giving a pardon to Mrs Suu Kyi.Vietnam state
media reported yesterday that Vietnam did not support calls by other Asean member states for Burma to free
Mrs Suu Kyi. The state-run Viet Nam News said Vietnam had no criticism of Burma’s decision on Tuesday
to place Mrs Suu Kyi under house arrest for the next 18 months, effectively barring her from elections next
year. “It is our view that the Aung San Suu Kyi trial is an internal affair of Burma,” Vietnamese government
spokesman Le Dung said on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Laos said it shared the same
view as Vietnam. Vientiane said the trial of Mrs Suu Kyi took place in accordance with the country’s law. It
was opposed to interfering in neighbouring nations’ affairs. “As a member of Asean, we uphold the basic
principles of Asean as stipulated in the Asean Charter, particularly the principle of non-interference in each
other’s internal affairs,” said Lao foreign affairs spokesman Khenthong Nuanthasing. On Wednesday, the
Thai government called on Burma to release Mrs Suu Kyi immediately and allow her to participate in next
year’s elections, echoing its own statements and those of other Asean members at the group’s regional
forum last month. bangkokpost.com, 15 August 2009

Next Tuesday’s deportation of a Burmese refugee and former child soldier Nay Myo Hein has been halted
following the intervention of Immigration Minister Jason Kenney and Public Safety Minister Peter Van
Loan who have agreed to let the 25 year old Saskatoon resident stay in Canada on humanitarian grounds.
Minister Van Loan has issued a stay of deportation and Minister Kenney has granted Nay Myo Hein a
temporary resident permit which crucially paves the way for Nay Myo Hein’s permanent residency in
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Canada. Canadian Friends of Burma especially thanks Minister Kenney for his vital role in Nay Myo
Hein’s case and consistent support for the democratization process in Burma. Ye Yint, yeyintnge.com, 15
August 2009

U.S. Sen. Jim Webb obtained the release Saturday of American John Yettaw, who had been sentenced to
seven years of hard labor in Burma for visiting detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, his office
said. Webb, who chairs the East Asia and Pacific Affairs subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee, will accompany Yettaw to Bangkok, Thailand, on Sunday aboard a military aircraft, his office
said. It is the second success in a day for Webb, a Democrat from Virginia, who earlier held separate
meetings with Suu Kyi and Burma’s top official, junta leader Senior Gen. Than Shwe. “It is my hope that
we can take advantage of these gestures as a way to begin laying a foundation of good will and confidence-
building in the future,” Webb said in a statement. Webb met with Suu Kyi for nearly an hour Saturday, his
office said. He described the meeting as “an opportunity for me to convey my deep respect to Aung San Suu
Kyi for the sacrifices she has made on behalf of democracy around the world.” Webb is also the first
American official ever to meet with Than Shwe. Webb said he requested that the country’s leadership
release Suu Kyi from her 18-month house arrest. Webb is the first member of Congress to visit Burma, in
more than a decade. Though he is not in the country on behalf of the State Department, he is there in his
official capacity as a senator, and his trip may indicate a shift in America’s hard-line stance against the
reclusive country. “He has been very consistent in his view about the need for aggressive diplomacy with
these kind of authoritarian regimes around the world,” Webb’s spokeswoman, Jessica Smith, told CNN
from Washington. She said Webb believes that “if we engage with Burma, it will benefit all countries
involved if we speak to Burma’s leadership.” Webb’s discussions with the country’s leaders were “very
frank,” Smith said. CNN, 15 August 2009 / Richard Aung Myint

Political Prisoner PM Aung San Suu Kyi


and Senator Jim Webb, MMK, 16 August 2009

U.S. Sen. Jim Webb is going to meet with UMFCCI (Union of Myanmar Federation of Chamber of
Commerce and Industry) members tomorrow morning. He requested the authority to meet with U Win Tin
and U Khin Maung Swe. He also requested to meet with jailed 88 GS student leaders and activists but not
allowed. Shwe TSL, 8888 People Power, 15 August 2009

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton coming home with two released journalist from Pyongyang indicate a
sign of thaw with North Korea, on the other hand Burma not only refused to have any rapprochement but
did not respect the wishes of the Burmese people and international community particularly the UN by
sentencing Daw Aung San Suu Kyi again to one and half years to confinement. Is it a sign of new and softer
approach by the Junta or a tactical manoeuvre to ease international pressure? Anyhow, dictators often like to
make concessions to well-connected and influential foreigners who beat a path to their door asking for a
favour. In as much as the release of the two American journalists from North Korea does not indicate that
North Korea is suddenly going to change its nuclear policies, so also the release of John Yetaw will not
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move the Junta as prove can be seen in its refusal to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi who should not be
arrested just because she soundly beat them in an open election. Any how the first visit by the chairman of
the Senate foreign Relations Committee seems to indicate that the Obama administration is attempting steer
the regime towards a new era of engagement and reward the dictators. One wonders what is the long term
policy of the US towards Burma? The world knows the obstinacy or the cruelty of the thuggish power
maniacs Burmese generals, who have subjugated the 50 million plus people and fully supportive at the UN
by China, did not care the UN nor the civilized international community. One could recollect that the
International Labour Organization said that it would seek to “prosecute members of the ruling Burmese
Junta for crimes against humanity.” And in 2007, anti-government protests by Burmese monks and people
were brutally suppressed. As if all this isn’t bad enough, in May 2008, the ruling thugs prevented
international assistance to survivors of Cyclone Nargis, greatly exacerbating a situation which resulted in
400,000 people dead and 1 million homeless. Obviously the Burmese people were quite bewildered when
the Secretary of State outlined the 3 Ds policy (Defence, Diplomacy and Development) and the crucial
aspect of the 4th D (Democracy) was conspicuously left out. The US had made it clear that neither sanctions
nor engagement has worked in Burma. Moreover at the Asian Regional Forum the Secretary of State seems
to send the wrong signal for after chastising Burma for its nuclear connection with North Korea eulogise the
Junta for enforcing the UN resolution 1874 designed to prevent the spread of nuclear arms. American non-
proliferation experts have called on the international nuclear watchdog to seek clarification from the
Burmese Regime over its nuclear program after a report that quoted defectors claiming there was a secret
military nuclear program not subjected to IAEA inspection. The reclusive Burmese Junta knew that with the
world full-blown economic crisis, international community will not pay much attention to Burma. The
policies and measures adopted by the West, ASEAN and other major countries will inevitably benefit them
since these players do not have unified positions and coordinated approaches. Each thinks its policy is better
and result-oriented than others. Sad but true, that policy-makers on Burma have spent more time discussing
their differences than trying to bridge perception gaps or consolidating tangible engagements that could
immediately impact on the Burmese Generals. Even in some quarters of the international community have
come round to accept that the Burmese generals will not change any time soon and it is better for them to
show flexibility and understanding of the Burmese quagmire and help the Burmese people even though the
regime will benefit from such generosity. In such a backdrop, General Than Shwe had made a well
calculated risk of the domestic and global response with a sugar coat of leniency of 18-month sentence, long
enough to keep Suu Kyi in custody in the next year election which will formalize the military’s grip on
power. As long as there is no concerted approach and policy coordination, the regime is safe because, after
all more than two decades China and India, the two most powerful Asian players, are still in two minds
about their own roles regarding Burma. They have their own interests to protect in supporting the regime as
can be clearly seen at the UN Security Council. Amid the shifting caprices of a regime that lacks any
legitimacy, a lone object of trust among Burmese, repeatedly credited as the sole figure capable of bridging
deep divides fomented since a 1962 coup, amplifying her status as a beacon of resistance is a reminder to
the people of Burma and the international community of the military Junta’s penchant for Kafkaesque
distortions of justice and its intransigence in the face of widespread international condemnation. Yet Senator
Jim Webb will be warmly shaking the hands of Than Shwe whose hands are soak with blood. The problem
of Burma is a constitutional and not an ethnic problem like a horizontal one in the Balkans but a vertical one
with the ethnic nationalities together with the pro democracy movement struggling against the Burmese
army. The crux of the problem is the broken concordat of the 1947 (the Panglong Conference). Until and
unless one can solve the very root of the problem, no lasting peace can be found in this a geo strategically
important area of the Southeast peninsular. The current Junta will not let go of its power or negotiate until
and unless it is forced to. With the US concentrating on Afghanistan there is every possibility that it will
soon become the highest producing narco country whose windfall will shore up the coffers of the Junta who
is a nuclear aspirant and as such the problems should be nib in the bud before it become like North Korea. It
is high time for the US to have a sustained concentrated Burma policy. “Smart Targeted Sanctions” that aim
at crippling the financial dealings of the Junta and its associates, particularly in S’pore while at the same
time send the right message to the people of Burma, e.g. blocking certain bank transactions and visa
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permits. Embargoes on trade and investment that are hurting the Burmese Generals and not the people
should be reinforced. More humanitarian aid including higher education via the NGOs directly to the local
and international NGOs working inside and the peripherals with a check and balance system is
recommended. While explaining Burma’s motive behind its nuclear ambition it reveals that it was basically
the inability of the Junta to compete with neighbouring Thailand on conventional weapons as the border
clash of 2002 demonstrates compelled the Generals to acquire nuclear capability to ‘play power like North
Korea. The Junta aspires to become nuclear for the dual purpose of international prestige and strategic
deterrence. It has also become clear that under growing pressure to democratize may seek a nuclear
deterrent to any foreign moves to force regime change. It remains undoubtedly true that just like
Pyongyang; Rangoon too would like to have a nuclear bomb so that they can challenge the Americans and
the rest of the world. Will America stand up to its ideal? Ba Thann Win, 15 August 2009

16 August 2009, Sunday


Well-informed sources told The Irrawaddy that before Webb’s non-official visit, Sr-Gen Than Shwe
authorized secret discussions between Burmese and US representatives in a calculated diplomatic maneuver
to deflect international pressure stemming from the sentencing of Suu Kyi. The Burmese side gave the green
light to the senator’s visit shortly after her bizarre trial ended last week. Webb arrived days after the
conviction, and Yettaw’s release came a few days later. In the past, the regime has played similar tactical
maneuvers to dilute international pressure. Burma watchers recall that in February 1994, US Rep Bill
Richardson was allowed to meet Suu Kyi for more than five hours at her house. This newest gesture comes
at a moment when the Obama administration is set to release its new Burma policy, following rising signals
that US officials are open to new approaches on Burma, including, perhaps as a first step, the lifting of visa
bans on Burmese officials and restoring the post of ambassador in Burma. Yettaw’s release sends a
conciliatory signal to the US and European Union and carries the potential to deflect stronger sanctions. The
US expanded its sanctions only last month. Burma watchers warn that Yettaw’s release is purely superficial
because Suu Kyi and 2,100 other political prisoners remain in prison. Real substance is needed to justify
US, or international, policy changes, and yet there’s a danger that the regime could manipulated the event to
its advantage. “It is important for the Burmese leadership to hear the strong views of American political
leaders about the path it should take toward democracy, good governance and genuine national
reconciliation,” said Mike Hammer, a spokesman for the National Security Council. On Saturday, Fred C.
Lash, a state department spokesman, reiterated that Yettaw’s release was a welcome step but more is
needed. “We also call on Burmese authorities to release unconditionally Aung San Suu Kyi and all of
Burma’s more than 2,100 political prisoners in order to begin a process of national reconciliation and
inclusive political dialogue,” he said. Chiang Mai-based Burma analyst, Bertil Lintner, a Swedish journalist
and author of several books on Burma, said, “It is naïve to expect these generals to listen to America and
change their course.” Regime watchers noted that a background drama involving Burma and China was also
unfolding during Webb’s visit. China’s unchallenged economic influence in Burma is growing, and Asia’s
largest power clearly enjoys a regional strategic advantage in its unchallenged relationship. Webb noted in
an earlier statement: “As the United States continues its attempt to isolate Burma due to the human rights
policies of its military regime, China’s influence has grown exponentially.” However, Lintner said, “There’s
no way that Burma will give up China because of America.” Burma’s main concern, he said, is to maintain
its good relationship with China and India, its two powerful neighbors, followed by Asean and a good
relationship with the rest of the world including the U.S and EU. A veteran Burmese journalist told The
Irrawaddy that the regime’s relationship with China is deeply rooted, but even so Than Shwe and other top
leaders are unhappy that China lends its political support to ethnic armed groups along the Sino-Burma
border, in fear that clashes between the junta’s troops and ethnic armies could unleash a wave of refugees
seeking safety in China, much like what has happened on the Thai-Burmese border. Only this month, about
10,000 people, including Kokang and Chinese migrants, sought shelter in China after tensions increased
between government troops and the Myanmar [Burma] National Democratic Alliance Army, a Kokang
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ceasefire group.“Than Shwe is a clever chess player, and he may want to send a signal to China that he
could have better relations with America,” said the Rangoon-based journalist. However, considering the
regime’s heavy reliance on China in terms of military hardware, trade and investment, plus a planned gas
pipeline into Yunnan Province, he said, “The 20-year-old girl [Burma] is now pregnant, and she is not going
to leave her husband [China] anytime soon.” Aung Zaw, The Irrawddy, 16 August 2009

Burma is following the North Korean style maneuvering with the West but every country has its own unique
position and political back ground. The Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been under house
arrest since 1993 and her term was nearly expired at that time John Yettaw incident occurred. The Burmese
regime has a hard time to make an excuse to extent her house arrest according to their chosen law which
only allow 5 years terms of house arrest. When Yettaw illegally entered her lake house, the regime grabbed
the opportunity and put her on trail. Now Yettaw is free, but Aung San Suu Kyi has to spend her time under
house arrest for another one and half year. It is like the regime is using one stone to hit two birds. Extending
ASSK house arrest until their plan election in 2010 is over because ASSK has tremendous support from
Burmese people. At the same time releasing John Yettaw is a wise move to defuse the heat from the US
government. The Burmese regime knows that if they do not release Yettaw, they have to take care of him
and face more pressure from the US. Indeed, they are thanking Yettaw for doing his stupid stunt to swim
across the lake and enter the opposition leader house at night which gave them a golden opportunity to lock
their feared opponent. Yettaw is free and the US government is happy but Burmese beloved lady is still
living in isolation. It is ironic to see Yettaw enter Aung San Suu Kyi’s lake house uninvited and was set free
based on humanitarian grounds. On the other hand, three innocent women were put under house arrest for
uninvited guest. Rationally, if the Burmese Generals freed the guilty one, why not Aung San Suu Kyi?
North Korea is still standing tall while its people are starving to death. Burma generals are enjoying the
income from gas deal with Thailand and China while the whole world has been criticizing the regime
without appropriate action since 1990. Htun Aung Gyaw, 16 August 2009

A Thai government proposal for ASEAN to write to Burma’s junta to seek a pardon for democracy icon
Aung San Suu Kyi has gained support from Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, Singaporean Foreign
Minister George Yeo said late Saturday. Yeo made the comments after meeting Thai counterpart Kasit
Pirompya who was on a two-day visit to Singapore after calling on his counterparts in Malaysia and
Indonesia to consult other Association of Southeast Asian Nations members about the situation in Burma.
Singapore’s Foreign Ministry has made the transcript of the comments available to the media Sunday.
Kyodo, 16 August 2009

A US citizen jailed for swimming to the house of Burmese democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi was set to fly
out of the army-ruled nation Sunday with a visiting American senator who secured his release. John Yettaw
was handed over to US embassy officials at Rangoon’s notorious Insein prison after Democrat Senator Jim
Webb persuaded the military junta to spare him from a sentence of seven years’ hard labour, officials said.
thejakartaglobe.com, 16 August 2009 / Salong, Shwe Gas Movement-India

U.S. senator Jim Webb said on Sunday he had asked Burma to free opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi
and let her take part in politics during talks that secured the release of an American jailed for visiting her.
The Democratic senator landed in Bangkok, capital of neighboring Thailand, with John Yettaw, whose
swim to Suu Kyi’s home in May led to her renewed detention after authorities said his uninvited stay had
breached the terms of her house arrest. Suu Kyi was sentenced last week to another 18 months under house
arrest, and Yettaw’s action is widely seen as having given the junta a pretext to keep Suu Kyi out of politics
until after an election due next year. Webb said he had raised the issue. “I’m hopeful as the months move
forward they will take a look,” he said. “With the scrutiny of the outside world judging their government
very largely through how they are treating Aung San Suu Kyi, it’s to their advantage that she’s allowed to
participate in the political process.” “What I said to the leaders of Burma is that I believe that it will be
impossible for the rest of the world to believe the elections were free and fair if she was not released.” He
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said the United States stood ready to help Burma. Yettaw was not at the news conference. He went
immediately to hospital after landing in Bangkok, where he walked from the plane to a waiting vehicle with
a steadying hand from officials. He spent several days in hospital this month in Rangoon. Yettaw had been
sentenced to seven years’ hard labor on three charges, including immigration offences. “I believe what
happened was regrettable,” Webb said. “He was trying to help. He’s not a mean-spirited human being.”
Some in Burma remained bitter at the treatment of Suu Kyi. “The most tangible outcome of his visit is the
release of John Yettaw, who caused the mess,” said Thakhin Chan Tun, a former ambassador to North
Korea. “However, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who is completely innocent in this incident, is still under house
arrest.” Reuters, 16 August 2009

Some of the junta’s critics have expressed disappointment with the latest developments. “I don’t think Sen.
Webb can be proud for the release of Mr. John Yettaw, while our leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who is the
real victim of this conspiracy and injustices, and two women colleagues, are still under detention,” said
Aung Din of the U.S. Campaign for Burma, a Washington-based group. Daw is a term of respect used for
older women. “This will surely make a negative impression among the people of Burma. They will think
that Americans are easy to satisfy with the dictators when they get their citizens back,” he said.
examiner.com, 16 August 2009

17 August 2009, Monday


“It was my clear impression from her that she is not opposed to lifting some sanctions,” Sen. James Webb
(D-Va.) told journalists on Monday. Webb met with Suu Kyi for 40 minutes at her home in Rangoon during
a weekend trip to Burma, but he declined to comment further for fear of misrepresenting her position. Suu
Kyi has always been represented as a staunch supporter of sanctions, but given that she has been held almost
incommunicado for most of the past six years, there is little consensus on whether her position might have
changed. Webb also said he brought up the recent allegations that Burma might be pursuing some kind of
military nuclear capability, perhaps with assistance from North Korea. “It was communicated to me early on
that there was no truth to that,” he said. Washington Post, 17 August 2009

The government of Burma has released the American citizen John William Yettaw. The authorities should
immediately release the democracy icon Dawn Aung San Suu Kyi said that U Nyan Win, the spokesman of
the National League for Democracy (NLD). On 14 August 2009, the American Senator Jim Webb arrived in
Burma and met Senior General Than Shwe. The American citizen John Yettaw was released not long after
the meeting. A week ago Yettaw was sentenced to 7 years of hard labour on charges for illegally intruding
Suu Kyi’s house while she was under house arrest. “The Burmese government released the American, why
don’t they release Aung San Suu Kyu. She did not do anything wrong. She should be also released”, U
Nyain Win said. During his stay in Burma Senator Jim Webb met general Than Shwe and Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi and the representatives of other ethnic parties. “In my opinion, Senator Webb came to Burma to
achieve an understanding with the military government. The senator’s visit was not beneficial for the
Burmese people. There is no progressive development in Burma”, U Nyain Win added.
The Secretary General of the Committee Representing the People’s Parliament (CRPP) U Aye Tha Aung
said Senator Webb came to Burma to understand more about the current situation and to pave the way for
new political approach to the Burmese government. “Mr. Yettaw would have been driven out of the country
no matter with or without the visit of Mr. Webb. It is not important whether Yettaw would be punished or
not. The important fact is that SPDC managed to keep Daw Suu off the campaign trail ahead of next year’s
elections”, U Aye Tha Aung stated. The former member of the New Mon State Party expressed an opinion
that Webb’s visit to Burma was a tactical approach to the Burmese military government. “There is no point
for them to held Yettaw prisoner for a long time. They try to use his release in order to stabilize their
positions abroad”, he added. IMNA, 17 August 2009

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While it looks good on the surface, that in Korea, Clinton actually got a face-to-face meeting with Kim and
effected the release of the two prisoners and in Burma, Webb likewise met with Than Shwe and got the
release of Yettaw on the surface, it looks good that the US and these two nations have gotten off on a good
start with their relationships. The hard truth is, with North Korea, the US was so busy getting the release of
the two American women they did not get a chance to address the issue of nuclear weapons, rockets and the
ongoing hostilities and human rights in North Korea. Similarly, Webb was so engaged in getting Yettaw
released and getting a meeting with DASSK, he was not able to get her release, nor any other political
prisoners, nor even mention the ongoing attacks in Shan and Karen states where there are over tens of
thousands new refugees, nor the ongoing suffering of the Rohingyas and Chins getting persecuted and
facing starving as well as Kachins and many other ethnic groups across the nation. And as for the new
weapons of mass destruction, rockets, tunnels from North Korea, he was far from even thinking about it. All
he could think of was dropping sanctions and doing business, and cited Vietnam as a showcase. Vietnam
government has prospered due to open trade, but as for human rights and freedom, it is still as repressive as
ever. Vietnam and Laos were the ones that opposed any action from ASEAN when the Thai recently
mentioned ASEAN should do something for Aung San Suu Kyi’s release. The US is about to give up its
biggest card, sanctions, and does not have anything to show for it except for the release of one misguided
wanna-be hero. He is coming back home free, while the Lady he says he admired so much, whom he said he
wanted to help so much, gets another 18 months along with her two colleagues. So much for Cetana
becoming Wedana. Dr. David Law, 17 August 2009

The release of John W Yettaw, the American who got Aung San Suu Kyi into trouble by intruding into her
home, has puzzled and angered many Burmese. Bo Kyi, joint-secretary of the Assistance Association for
Political Prisoners, a Burmese human rights group based on the Burmese-Thai border, said Yettaw’s release
came as no surprise. “I think the regime just wanted to use him. Everybody knows that the regime wanted
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, not Yettaw.” Bo Kyi was accused by the regime of sending the American to
Burma, where he entered Suu Kyi’s home illegally at the beginning of May and gave the regime a pretext
for arresting her and putting her on trial. She was sentenced to three years hard labor, but had her sentence
cut to 18 months house arrest. Yettaw was sentenced to seven years imprisonment, but a US senator, Jim
Webb secured his release after a meeting with junta leader Snr-Gen Than Shwe. Several Burmese, both
within the country and in exile, likened the drama to a Hollywood farce. One wrote on the Web site of The
Irrawaddy: “Webb’s performance reminds me of Patti Page’s song ‘How much is that (Yankie) doggie in
the window” and a ‘Saving Private Yettaw’ movie directed by Than Shwe. Perhaps, they might win Oscars
next year.” A Rangoon physician said it was “unreasonable that the main culprit in the case was released but
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who is totally innocent, is still detained.” Win Tin, a prominent opposition leader
said the Burmese were interested not in the release of Yettaw but in Suu Kyi’s fate. A veteran Rangoon
journalist speculated that Webb’s success in securing Yettaw’s release was “part of the packages from
America to restore a normal relationship with the regime.” Speculation continued that Yettaw’s venture had
been orchestrated—also with help from the US—to create a legal case against Suu Kyi. There were
suggestions, not supported by hard evidence, that Yettaw had been paid by the regime to undertake it?
Yettaw claimed he entered Suu Kyi’s home to warn her after dreaming that she was in danger of
assassination. Wai Moe, Irrawaddy, 17 August 2009

While the sight of a freed American prisoner landing on home soil is a celebrated victory, recent high-
profile diplomatic rescues in North Korea and Burma can also complicate U.S. diplomacy. The release
Sunday of an American man from Burma after a visit there by Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia follows closely on
the heels of a similar rescue of two journalists by former President Bill Clinton in Pyongyang earlier this
month. Both gained their public goal – the freedom of U.S. captives. But both also nudged open a
diplomatic door that could either invite welcome change or slam shut on President Barack Obama’s
emerging foreign policy. With their timing so close, the Clinton and Webb missions may suggest to other
rogue nations that in dealings with the Obama administration, holding American hostages can be a
profitable political ploy. “They can look at this and say, there’s a new game afoot,” said John Bolton,
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former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. “They think, we can get legitimacy and high level attention
by using Americans as pawns.” Such visits, argue experts, can give regime leaders an aura of respect and
recognition that may make it harder for the U.S. to press for sanctions or continue isolation policies aimed at
forcing change in everything from humans rights to nuclear power. At the same time, Bolton said, there is
the risk that other would-be heroes across the Washington power spectrum may also decide that they too
could wage “publicity hound diplomacy.” AP, 17 August 2009

In exchange for the release of John Yettaw, the American who provided Burma’s ruling junta an excuse to
extend the house arrest of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, Senator Jim Webb provided the junta an
opportunity for saturation media coverage of what will pass there as US endorsement of its rule.
This was a simple transaction. Junta chief Than Shwe got what he wanted, and he gave up something
(someone) that had already served the regime’s purpose. It will not lead to a new opening in US-Burma
relations - unless of course, the US is prepared to pare its objectives in a way that ensures the regime meets
them. As Senator Webb has indicated before, this would entail accepting elections next year under a sham
constitution. And, as things now stand, a lowered standard would also have to allow for the continued
detention of Suu Kyi, detention of more than 2000 other political prisoners, and Suu Kyi’s prohibition from
competing in the elections. That is not a road map. It is capitulation. The Obama Administration claims it
simply gave Senator Webb the customary support the State Department gives to any traveling Senator.
Maybe so. But it may also be a no-lose effort to facilitate a change in policy without really taking a stand in
favor of it. “Engagement” and meetings with dictators do not constitute policy unto themselves; they are
diplomatic tools. In the most recent expression of policy, the House, Senate, and White House just weeks
ago renewed sweeping sanctions against Burma. Until the Administration takes a clear stand on a new
policy, Burma, the world, and concerned Americans can only assume that the policy of bringing maximum
pressure to bear on Burma’s ruling generals stands. The Administration has amply demonstrated that it can
secure the release of Americans in difficult circumstances abroad. The verdict is still out on whether it can
secure American national interests in the process. Deals like this are a bad sign. Either it is allowing others
to drive US policy or it is confusing what is essentially consular work with foreign policy. It is time for the
Administration to lay its cards on the table, complete its review of America’s Burma policy and let
Washington fight it out. Heritage, 17 August 2009

18 August 2009, Tuesday


Walter Lohman, director of the Asia Studies Center at the Heritage Foundation, wrote last week that the
State Department long ago ceded Burma policy to Congress, where support for sanctions is strong. While
Webb, a Vietnam War veteran and “a serious student of Southeast Asia,” should be commended for his
military service and his commitment to the region, Lohman said, his “views on Burma are his own” and do
not represent U.S. policy. “Than Shwe, our adversaries, challengers, allies and friends should well take
note.” Henry Soe Win, D4B, 18 August 2009

The time to end sanctions is after Suu Kyi and her 2,100 fellow political prisoners are freed, and the junta
enters a genuine political dialogue with ethnic minorities and Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy,
winners of Burma’s last free election in 1990. Webb may mean well, but he risks playing the dupe to a
vicious dictatorship. bostom.com, 18 August 2009

19 August 2009, Wednesday


Serious confabulations are on in some Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) battalions under the
command of the Karen National Union’s 6th Brigade, where ways are being explored to reunite with its
breakaway faction the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA). Should the exploratory moves bear fruit,
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it will be a blow to the Burmese military junta, which has been pitting the two Karen groups against each
other. The Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) led by Tha Htoo Kyaw split from the mother unit the
Karen National Union (KNU) in 1994. They are now based in Myaing Gyi Ngu village, Hlaing Bwe
Township, Karen State. Mizzima, 19 August 2009

In the wake of the sentencing of National League for Democracy (NLD) leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the
International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Altsean-Burma, and the Burma Lawyers’ Council
(BLC) urge the European Union (EU) to support the establishment of a UN Security Council Commission
of Inquiry into crimes against humanity and war crimes in Burma. The EU responded to the verdict of Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi with additional targeted measures against Burma’s military regime, the State Peace and
Development Council (SPDC), including new restrictions on the four judges responsible for the verdict. In
addition, the EU imposed an asset freeze on four SPDC-run media companies. “The EU must not be fooled
by the SPDC’s phony attempt to show leniency on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The SPDC has fulfilled its
strategy to keep Daw Aung San Suu Kyi out of the picture while, at the same time, the SPDC tells the world
that Burma is on the path to democracy. How can the SPDC’s planned elections be given any credence
when war still rages in Eastern Burma?” questioned Debbie Stothard, Coordinator of Altsean-Burma. In
June, SPDC Army attacks against Karen villagers forced over 6,000 civilians to seek refuge across the
border in Thailand. In late July, the regime forcibly displaced over 10,000 villagers in Central Shan State.
Since 1997, the regime has destroyed over 3,000 villages and displaced over half a million civilians in
Eastern Burma. FIDH, Altsean-Burma, and BLC firmly believe that there must be a UN Security Council
Commission of Inquiry into crimes against humanity and war crimes in Burma. It is the only way to show
that the international community is serious about stopping the SPDC’s human rights violations and ending
impunity in Burma. FIDH, Altsean-Burma, and BLC urge the EU to take the lead on this issue. “This is a
critical juncture that requires leadership from the European Union members. The EU must set an example
for the international community and urge others to follow. With the SPDC’s planned elections growing
near, time and pressure are of the essence,” said Aung Htoo, Secretary General of BLC. Neill Staurland, 19
August 2009

20 August 2009, Thursday


About 70 Chin teenagers in Matupi Township in Chin State in western Burma have been forced into
military training, according to Chin sources. Local sources said soldiers from Infantry Battalion No.304,
which is based in Matupi Township, ordered nine villages to select at least eight youths over 18-years-old
per village for military training. “People have to work in the fields to grow paddy at this time of year, the
rainy season. We are short of food and no one wants to go for military training,” said a Chin resident in
Matupi. Matupi is one of seven townships in Chin State facing food shortages due to plagues of rats
destroying crops. Similar conscription took place in the northern part of Ye Township in Mon State in
southern Burma in July, when Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) No. 343 ordered 200 youths to go for military
training, according to Lawi Oung, a resident in Ye Township. “The participants were taught how to beat
people, how to handle riots and how to hold guns,” he said. “The training took one month, but the
participants were only given fake bamboo guns during training.” The families of those who refused to join
had to pay 6,000 kyat [US $5..50] for exemption, according to Lawi Oung. The villages where conscription
took place are in a “black area,” which is close to a Mon rebel-controlled area, according to Thailand-based
the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM). Analysts said that the junta is training militias to
prevent any uprising in the planned 2010 election, but they may also be preparing them for use as frontline
troops when they attack Mon rebels. Junta troops have conducted similar military training in several
townships in Shan Sate in Northern Burma in recent months, according to the Chiang Mai-based Shan
Herald Agency for News. About 100 youths in Muse Township near the Chinese border in northern Shan
State were forced to undergo military training. Speaking to The Irrawaddy on Thursday, Saengjuen, an
editor for the Shan Herald Agency for News, said: “an estimated 1000 people have been forced into
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training. Many are former members of forces loyal to the drug lord Khun Sa who died in Rangoon in 2007.
“More people have been conscripted this year for basic military training, and to be taught how to collect
news, organize campaigns and prepare military operations,” he said. Saengjuen believes such militia troops
will be used to attack armed ethnic ceasefire groups in Shan State, such as those in the Wa, Kokang, and
Mong La areas, if tension keeps mounting. Meanwhile, about 500 private mercenaries from Tang Yan
Township in eastern Shan State were forced to join junta troops in preparation for a possible attack on the
United Wa State Army (UWSA). Tension between junta troops and ethnic ceasefire groups has been
mounting after the latter refused to transform their troops into border guard forces in Shan State in July.
Irrawaddy, 20 August 2009

Claiming that Nagas living in Burma enjoy no basic rights, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has
appealed to the Centre and the junta in Rangoon to do the needful for the welfare of the tribals. Rio said he
has met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister P Chidambaram and Burma’s Ambassador to
India and requested them to take initiatives for recognition of Nagas living in the neighbouring country and
ameliorate their sufferings. “The Nagas living in Burma do not enjoy any basic rights. There is no school,
no college, no health centre, no drinking water. They are living a primitive life. We want the end of the
problems of our brethren in that country,” he said. A total of six lakh Nagas, belonging to 12 different tribes,
live in Burma in 254 villages in a territory three times bigger than Nagaland, the Chief Minister said. PTI,
20 August 2009

Persecuted and oppressed in Burma, Rohingya Muslims are fleeing across the border into Bangladesh.
Starving and stateless, they live in squalid makeshift camps. And yet, as Cyrus Shahrad discovers, they have
not lost hope. The discrimination and violence against the Rohingyas began in Burma's western Rakhine
State following the 1962 coup, when the military junta that still reigns first seized power. Marriages became
subject to costly and time-consuming applications for licences; similar permissions were required for travel,
so that many Rohingyas never left their villages until the day they fled their country. Land rights were
revoked, leaving farmers helpless as government officials occupied fields and repossessed livestock. Boys
and men were routinely rounded up and forced to work on government projects from construction to jungle
clearing; many of the mothers, wives and daughters they left behind were raped by soldiers. Those who
refused to work were sent to prison, where they were beaten or tortured. The unofficial number of refugees
is, however, far higher thanks to a second wave of border crossings in the past two years. It is hard to put
even a rough figure on the scale of the influx: Bangladesh's refusal to accede to the 1951 Refugee
Convention gives it no legal obligation to guarantee the status or safety of refugees, and no Rohingya has
been formally registered since 1992. Moreover, the similarities between the Rohin­gyas and the
Chittagonian-speaking natives of Cox’s Bazar make it hard to distinguish asylum-seekers from local people.
But the numbers are growing. The official Kutupalong camp is now surrounded by a nebulous shanty town,
whose mud and thatch homes make the original wicker and galvanised steel houses look luxurious by
comparison. The 200 refugees arriving at the camp in 2007 were followed by 2,000 more in 2008; by March
2009, more than 20,000 unofficial settlers were ranged around Kutupalong, and hundreds more are turning
up every week. Conservative estimates now put the total number of Rohingyas in Bangladesh back at
around 250,000. newstateman.com, 20 August 2009 / Zin Linn, NCGUB: New & Articles on Burma

General Than Shwe is a master of deception and psychological warfare. Divide and rule has long-dominated
the Burmese general’s strategic options. His chauvinism and xenophobia makes him extremely cautious
about being over-reliant on any one ally. At present there are growing concerns at the top of the military
about China’s position, and the top general is looking at how to balance Beijing’s growing influence in the
country. Relations with Asean, India and to some extent Russia, were meant to do that. But over the last 12
months China’s economic and military role has grown out of all proportion, dwarfing the position of other
Asian allies. “More critically, China has not backed the regime strongly enough in its efforts to disarm the
ethnic cease-fire groups,” said Win Min, a Burmese academic at Chiang Mai University. “This has angered
Than Shwe, who may now be looking for alternative ways to rein in the rebel groups.” “The warm reception
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given to the US delegation led by Senator Webb, including the diplomatic staff based in Rangoon who are
normally shunned or called in to get a dressing down, was a clear signal to the Chinese: ‘See, if you don’t
help us we can turn to other powerful friends’,” said an Asian diplomat based in Rangoon. So the Burmese
military regime seems to be trying to make some international re-alignments. And if they are serious about
engaging the international community, especially the US, they may even heed some of its concerns, and
then they will have no alternative but to deal with Aung San Suu Kyi. Gen Than Shwe, at the behest of
some of Burma’s Asian allies, is keen to improve relations with the US, according to military sources in the
Burmese capital Naypyidaw. The senator’s visit makes this extremely evident. “You cannot fail to see in
this that the junta is keen to tell the world that sanctions do not work and we are open to dialogue,” said a
Western diplomat based in Rangoon. One of the key obstacles is certainly the continued detention of Aung
San Suu Kyi. Aung San Suu Kyi will be released before the elections next year, a senior military source told
the Bangkok Post. The elections are expected to be held late next year. But now it seems possible that “The
Lady”, as she is frequently referred to in Burma, may be freed before the end of the year. Larry Jagan,
Bangkok Post, 20 August 2009

The Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights on Wednesday condemned the detention of
Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and demanded that the government sever diplomatic ties with
Burma’s military regime. In a unanimous resolution, the committee that met under the chairmanship of
Afrasiab Khattak observed that Burma’s military rulers had not only trampled the democratic aspirations of
their people, but had also ignored the demands of the international community. The committee expressed its
solidarity with the people of Burma in their struggle for fundamental rights and demanded that the
government end diplomatic ties with the military regime in Burma until Suu Kyi and other political
prisoners were released and democratic rights and constitutional rule restored. “The despotic dictatorship
has crossed all limits in violating international norms of democracy, civilised governance and human
rights,” the committee said. The Daily Times, 20 August 2009

21 August 2009, Friday


Burmese authorities have freed John Yettaw, who was convicted and sentenced following his uninvited visit
to pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s house. In charges stemming from that incident, Ms. Suu Kyi
was given an additional 18-month sentence, extending a detention that has lasted for much of the last 19
years. While the United States welcomes Mr. Yettaw’s release, it remains very concerned about the
continued detention of Ms. Suu Kyi and more than 2,100 other political prisoners, including Min Ko Naing,
Ko Ko Gyi, and Su Su Nwe, who have been denied their liberty because of their pursuit of a government
that respects the will, rights, and aspirations of all Burmese citizens. VOA, 21 August 2009

Burma’s exiled prime minister Sein Win explains how Aung San Suu Kyi is dealing with her sentence – and
argues that, as long as the junta is around, Burma has no hope. The guilty verdict handed down last week
came as no surprise to those following the bizarre case brought against Burmese opposition leader Aung San
Suu Kyi by the country’s military government. The junta – in power since 1962 – claimed that the Nobel
Peace Prize winner broke the rules of her house arrest when she allowed American John Yettaw into her
house after he swam across a lake to see her last May. Her original sentence was three years’ hard labor, but
in a PR play, Gen. Than Shwe, the junta leader, commuted it to 18 months’ house arrest. Suu Kyi, who was
elected prime minister in 1990 when her National League for Democracy party won the elections, has been
under house arrest for 14 of the past 20 years. Her first cousin Sein Win—who in January was re-elected
prime minister of the exiled Burmese government—was in Indonesia last week to launch the Movement for
Democracy and Rights for Ethnic Nationalities, a coalition of major Burmese ethnic and pro-democracy
parties, both exiled and within Burma. Newsweek, 21 August 2009 / bignewsnetwork.com / burmanet.org

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Senior South-East Asian officials recommended Friday that their foreign ministers issue a joint appeal to
Burma’s military rulers for the release of detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, an Indonesian
official said. Suu Kyi has spent 14 of the past 20 years under detention and last week received an additional
18 months of house arrest for violating the country’s security laws after an uninvited US man swam to her
lakeside home. Officials from the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which Burma is a
member, met Thursday and Friday to debate a proposal for a common regional stance on Suu Kyi’s
continued detention by Burma’s military regime. ‘The officials agreed that such a joint appeal is a good
idea, and they recommended the foreign ministers to take follow-up action,’ Indonesian Foreign Ministry
spokesman Teuku Faizasyah said. He declined to elaborate on details of the recommendation, saying that
Thailand, which now holds the rotating chairmanship of ASEAN, would make a statement on the matter.
Earlier, Faizasyah said that amnesty for Suu Kyi was among the issues discussed by the officials. The
spokesman said Indonesia had urged Burma to review the sentence for Suu Kyi and allow her to decide
whether she would take part in an election scheduled for next year. Rights activists have said that the
sentence was aimed at preventing Suu Kyi from taking part in the election. monstersandcritics.com, 21
August 2009 / Neill Staurland, D4B

Tourism Concern has welcomed the closure of a legal loophole targeted at operators offering tours of
Burma. Director Tricia Barnett said the Burma (Financial Restrictions) Regulations 2009 makes it an
offence for UK firms, including tour operators, to provide financial benefits for prominent members of the
country’s military regime and their associates. It is one of a series of measures deployed by the European
community in a bid to force Burma's military junta to introduce democratic reform in the country. Travel
Weekly, 21 August 2009

Philip Crowley, US State Department spokesman, said: “We remain very concerned about the continued
detainment of Aung Sun Suu Kyi and more than 2,100 prisoners that are in detention. We continue to look
for signs that the Burmese government is prepared to embark on a meaningful dialogue with Aung Sun Suu
Kyi, along with the rest of the democratic opposition. “And obviously, Burma needs to have a dialogue with
a full range of ethnic minority leaders in Burma, and move towards a peaceful transition to genuine
democracy and national reconciliation.” As for a more comprehensive indication of US policy going
forward, it remains a waiting game. A US State Department official said the review continues and gave no
date for when the results might be announced. Channel News Asia, 21 August 2009

When former US President Bill Clinton traveled to North Korea earlier this month to win the release of two
imprisoned American journalists, he probably didn’t realize that he was setting a trend. But less than two
weeks after his high-profile visit to Pyongyang, another US politician had embarked on a similar—but even
more ambitious – mission. Unlike Clinton, Senator Jim Webb was not acting as an official emissary of the
Obama administration when he went to Burma last week. This meant that he was free to set his own agenda,
which went far beyond extracting an American citizen from a foreign prison. Although the release of John
Yettaw enabled him to declare his visit a “success,” it was, in fact, only incidental to his mission, the real
purpose of which was to set the stage for US engagement with Burma’s pariah regime. Webb, who chairs
the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs, is a prominent critic of US
sanctions on Burma who has long argued that they are counterproductive to political progress in the country
and not conducive to American interests. It came as no surprise, then, that the Burmese junta welcomed him
with open arms. If Webb wants to help Burma, he needs to send an unequivocal message to the regime that
Washington will not be satisfied with anything less than the release of the country’s 2,100 political
prisoners, including Suu Kyi. If he’s not prepared to make that demand, he should congratulate himself on
the “success” of his mission, and leave it at that. Irrawaddy, 21 August 2009

For the record, let me summarise the pertinent facts: Mrs Suu Kyi’s detention was due to expire on May 27:
the junta was searching for an excuse to extend her detention beyond the 2010 election. The eccentric Mr
Yettaw, who believed he was “sent by God” to save her from assassination, was arrested on May 3. As a
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main defendant, he was sentenced along with Mrs Suu Kyi, who received a three-year sentence on Aug 11.
Mr Yettaw was released on Aug 16. To see Mr Yettaw walk out of prison wasn’t a surprise, but it reeked of
bitter irony. Senator Webb was Mr Yettaw’s saviour; Mr Yettaw was the junta’s saviour. In twisted logic,
the junta might even have seen his release as a reward for being the “Godsend,” the unwitting tool of Gen
Than Shwe’s devious plotting. Behind this deeply dramatic story, however, there are two specific moments
that we must not forget. Before May 3, Mrs Suu Kyi was scheduled to be released; after Aug 11, she is
under a new period of house arrest until 2011. More interestingly, Senator Webb told reporters in Bangkok
on Sunday: “I don’t want to misrepresent her views, but my clear impression is that she is not opposed to
the lifting of some sanctions.” But the next day that interpretation began to unravel. What Mrs Suu Kyi said
to Senator Webb was that “interaction” between the junta and the domestic opposition must occur before
sanctions are lifted. The senator may have believed that the “interaction” referred to the junta and the
international community’s sanctions, according to Nyan Win, a spokesperson of her party, the National
League for Democracy, who met with Mrs Suu Kyi on Monday. “She told me that when she met with
Senator Webb she reiterated the need for the Burmese regime to first interact ‘inside the country’. She said
only when that happens ‘will Burma benefit from relations with the international community’,” Mr Nyan
Win told The Irrawaddy. He said the Nobel Peace Prize laureate who is regarded as a strong supporter of
economic sanctions, also told Senator Webb: ‘She was not the one who imposed sanctions against the
Burmese regime. She is not in a position to lift those sanctions.” As for US Senator Jim Webb’s
“breakthrough”, there is no such thing. The future will be more of the same: a manipulative junta set in its
ways, determined to form a military-dominated parliament next year, determined to ignore the calls of the
international community. Kyaw Zwa Moe, Irrawaddy, 21 August 2009

How was a retired bus driver from Missouri able to make a flipper-clad, two-kilometer swim to the heavily
guarded house of Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung Sang Suu Kyi, one of the world’s most famous
dissidents? While John Yettaw languished in Burmese jail during his trial for “illegal swimming,” all we
could do is speculate. But now, in an exclusive interview with NEWSWEEK, Yettaw has offered an
explanation: Burmese security officials let him. “I don’t know why they didn’t stop me,” he says. “The man
with the AK-47 shook my hand and let me in.” In his first full-length interview, conducted by telephone
from his home in central Missouri, Yettaw addressed the rationale for his undiplomatic dip, responding to
critics and speaking at length about his commitment to Burma. “I want to free Burma. I want to stop the
suffering there. I am antijunta. I will never be at peace, emotionally or psychologically, until that woman is
free, until that nation is free,” he said. Late Thursday night, the 53-year-old Missourian remained an
enigmatic figure, failing to clarify lingering questions and offering rambling and occasionally contradictory
responses. Yettaw declined to say where he initially got the idea to visit Suu Kyi by crossing the lake. But
according to one Western diplomat, who requested anonymity in order to speak freely, intelligence reports
show that senior Burmese officials were told to come up with a way to keep the Lady incarcerated, as her
May 27 release date loomed. Around a week before Yettaw’s second swim, this person says, two men
posing as members of the reform-minded National League for Democracy allegedly approached Yettaw in
Mae Sot, an untidy border town in Thailand, and told him that the Lady was ready to receive him. The
Burmese government did not respond to requests for comment. Would he go back to Burma? “Not without
my family,” he said, “and not without an invitation.” Newsweek, 21 August 2009

23 August 2009, Sunday


After years of brutally suppressed street protests, many Burmese have adopted a new strategy that they say
takes advantage of small political openings to push for greater freedoms. They are distributing aid, teaching
courses on civic engagement and quietly learning to govern. “We are trying to mobilize people by changing
their thought process,” said an entrepreneur in the city of Mandalay who is setting up classes on leadership.
He added half in jest, “Civil society is a guerrilla movement.” Government critics including many Burmese
say opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's return to house arrest this month underscores the junta’s resolve
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to keep her out of reach of the population ahead of parliamentary elections next year that many dismiss as a
sham. But a growing number of educated, middle-class Burmese are pinning their hopes on what they call
“community-based organizations,” finding outlets for entrepreneurship and room to maneuver politically in
a country with one of the world’s most repressive governments. At first light on a recent Sunday, a dozen
doctors piled into two old vans, stopped for a hearty breakfast of fish stew and sticky rice, then headed out
to dispatch free medicine and consult villagers an hour outside Rangoon. The group first came together two
years ago to care for demonstrators beaten by security forces during monk-led protests. When Tropical
Cyclone Nargis hit in May 2008, killing an estimated 140,000 people, the doctors joined countless Burmese
in collecting emergency supplies for survivors while the junta rebuffed foreign aid dispatches. Like many of
those ad hoc groups, the doctors have since developed an informal nonprofit organization, meeting regularly
and volunteering at an orphanage and in villages near Rangoon. The group’s leader secured funding from a
foreign nonprofit agency and named his team “Volunteers for the Vulnerable,” or V4V. But to avoid
having their activities labeled as activism, the leader negotiates weekly with the authorities for access to the
villages under cover of an anodyne Burmese fixture -- the abbot of a local Buddhist monastery. For their
own safety, the V4V founder said, “not even all our members know the name of the group.” Washington
Post, 23 August 2009

Some 300 Burmese people held a rally in central Tokyo on Sunday, demanding the military junta release
pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose house arrest was extended this month. The demonstrators,
many wearing T-shirts with her picture, marched through the streets of the Shibuya district in downtown
Tokyo, shouting slogans in unison and handing out leaflets to weekend shoppers. They carried signs saying
‘Unjustice Court of Burma’ or ‘Free Daw Aung San Suu Kyi,’ using a Burmese honorific for Suu Kyi, who
has been detained for 14 of the past 20 years. Earlier this month a prison court in Rangoon convicted the
Nobel Prize laureate for breaching security laws and sentenced her to house arrest for 18 months, drawing
international condemnation. straitstimes.com, 23 August 2009

Burma and South Korea have been striving for enhancing bilateral relations especially bilateral cooperation
in a number of sectors such as economy, investment, education, tourism and culture. According to the
official statistics, Burma-South Korea bilateral trade amounted to 252 million U.S. dollars in the fiscal year
of 2008-09 (April-March), significantly increasing from 108.2million dollars in 2007-08. Of the total,
Burma’s export to Korea took 63.7 million dollars while its import from the East Asian country stood
188.48 million dollars. South Korea has become the 8th largest trading partner of Burma which exported to
Korea about 3,000 items of goods covering agricultural produces, marine and forest products, and garments,
while it mainly imported from Korea steel, garment, electrical and electronic goods. In a bid to boost trade
with Burma, South Korea granted import duty free and quota free on 253 more Burmese goods items for
this year which include agricultural produces, marine and forestry products, textile and traditional handicraft
products. Xinhua, 23 August 2009

24 August 2009, Monday


Burma’s Censorship Board banned the Rangoon-based Weekly Journal, Phoenix on August 21, citing
violation of censorship rules and regulations. The Censorship Board, under the Burmese Ministry of
Information, said that the weekly journal, published every Thursday, has been banned as the publication was
found to have violated the rules set by the board. “Yes, it has been put up on the notice board that the
weekly has been banned from publishing,” said an official at the Board, but declined to provide details of
the violation of the rules. However, an official at the Phoenix Journal said, “Our officials are still trying to
negotiate to get back the license for publication. But, there are only about 30 per cent chances that we will
be allowed to publish.” Phoenix, which has been into publication only for about seven months, was also
banned earlier from publishing one of its issues, which carried news and articles sensitive to censorship. The
notice, which was undersigned by the Director of the Censorship Board, Maj Tint Swe, states that the
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weekly was banned for violating the rules and regulations of censorship time and again. The notice was
circulated on August 20 and on August 21 and was put up on the notice board. The publisher of the Weekly
Phoenix Journal is a former Air force officer. It is published by Maj Mar-J, who is also popularly known as
writer Mar-J. He was removed from his official post after writing satires on the Burmese junta’s shifting of
the capital to Naypyidaw. Besides, his writings were also banned from being published in any other journals
or publications. Mizzima, 24 August 2009

A delegation from Burma led by a top official of a group linked to attacks on supporters of opposition leader
Aung San Suu Kyi is in Japan on an agricultural mission at the invitation of the Foreign Ministry. The visit
has angered supporters of democracy campaigners in Burma, coming soon after a court ruling led to the
extension of Suu Kyi’s house arrest by 18 months. The group is led by Burma’s minister for agriculture and
irrigation, Htay Oo, secretary-general of the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), a
political group that supports the country’s military junta. The USDA is reported to have been involved in the
May 2003 attack on Suu Kyi and members of her group, leaving many dead or injured. Its senior officials
are subject to sanctions by the United States and the European Union, including entry bans and the freezing
of assets. Asahi Shimbun, 24 August 2009

25 August 2009, Tuesday


The conditions of Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s detention have gotten “worse” since her
conviction this month for violating terms of her previous house arrest, her lawyer said Tuesday. Burma’s
military government has not responded to Suu Kyi’s request for a visit by her personal physician, said Nyan
Win, her lawyer and spokesman for her National League for Democracy party. Nyan Win also said he and
his colleagues have not yet been given permission to meet the Nobel Peace Prize laureate since her Aug. 11
conviction to consult on filing an appeal. “The present regulations imposed on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi are
worse than the previous rules,” he said. AP, 25 August 2009

Demands for an international blockade against weapons sales to Burma, in response to the military regime’s
detention of Aung San Suu Kyi, will face difficult challenges from defiant Chinese, Russian, East European
and North Korean arms dealers. “Nothing less than a worldwide ban on the sale of arms to the regime will
do, as a first step,” said British Prime Minister Gordon Brown after Burmese authorities sentenced Mrs.
Suu Kyi on August 11 to an additional 18 months house arrest. scoop.co.nz, 25 August 2009

26 August 2009, Wednesday


The debate over United States and European Union-led sanctions against doing business in Burma is set to
intensify in the wake of US Senator Jim Webb’s recent high-profile meeting with Senior General Than
Shwe and detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Webb spoke out against the sanctions and
Burma’s junta echoed that call through state media. As US policymakers weigh the pros and cons of
economically re-engaging the ruling junta, the process will necessarily take into account that a handful of
military linked businessmen, many allegedly involved in illegal activities, including drug trafficking,
dominate Burma’s underdeveloped economy. For US investors eyeing business opportunities that the
cessation of sanctions would present, dealing with Burma’s top military and business leaders would be key
to gaining market access. Burma is one of the world’s most corrupt countries, according to Transparency
International, an independent corruption watchdog, and US businesses would enter Burma at great risk to
their corporate reputations. In Burmese business circles, the most talked about businessman is Tayza, who
owns the Htoo Trading Company Ltd, also known as the Htoo Group of Companies. Htoo maintains large
logging, construction, property development, import-export, aviation, transportation, shipping and mining
operations. Tayza has also made recent forays into telecommunications and banking, and established
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Burma’s first privately invested airline, Air Bagan. The US Treasury Department placed five of those
companies, along with Tayza, his wife, and eldest son, Pye Phyo Za, on a sanctions list in October 2007
because of their financial connections to the regime and Tayza’s alleged role as an arms broker. In February
2008, the US stepped up those sanctions by putting several more companies and Tayza’s business associates
in both Burma and Singapore on a black list, including Tayza’s brother and business partner Thiha. Htoo
Trading Company Ltd, which includes Ayer Shwe Wah Company Ltd, Myanmar Avia Export Company Ltd
and Pavo Aircraft Leasing Company Ltd, are all currently under US sanctions. US sanctions, first imposed
broadly in 1995, have since 2007 targeted specific generals and their associated business interests by
freezing their assets in American financial institutions. The restrictions also prohibit any commercial or
financial transactions between American individuals and Burmese firms named in the sanctions order and
ban named individuals from travel to the US. Asia Times Online, 26 August 2009

A consortium led by South Korea’s Daewoo International will invest about $5.6 billion to develop Burma
gas fields as part of a 30-year natural gas supply deal with China, a group member said yesterday. The
investment comes just a week after China signed a $41 billion liquefied natural gas import deal with
Australia. The Burma gas development plan will allow the consortium to supply natural gas to China’s top
oil and gas firm, China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), with a peak daily production of 152.4 million cu
m, or about 3.8 million tons annually. A CNPC spokesman yesterday said he is not aware of the deal. The
supply, due to be available from 2013 from the Shwe and Shwe Phyu fields in Burma’s A-1 offshore block
and Mya field in A-3 offshore block, amounts to about 7 percent of China’s current gas consumption of
about 2.225 billion cu m per day. China Daily, 26 August 2009

27 August 2009, Thursday


Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has agreed to appeal a recent court decision that put her under
house detention for the next 18 months, her attorneys said Thursday. “We will file the appeal to the
Divisional Court for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on Monday or Tuesday next week,” Nyan Win, one of Suu
Kyi’s three lawyers, said after meeting with the Nobel Peace Prize laureate to discuss her appeal. Suu Kyi,
64, who has spent 14 of the past 20 years under detention, has also requested that authorities allow her
personal doctor Tin Myo Win to be allowed to visit her regularly for check-ups as was permitted under the
previous rules of her detention. topnews.in, 27 August 2009

Delhi University’s Lady Shri Ram College for Women is organising a cross-country run this Friday to
campaign for release of Burma’s pro-democracy crusader Aung San Suu Kyi, an alumna of the institution.
A large number of students are expected to take part in the run. thehindu.com, 27 August 2009

More Indian companies are to invest in Burma’s information technology (IT) and education sectors this
year, a local weekly The Burma Post reported Thursday. Being one of the IT power countries, India is
willing to support Burma in the advancement of IT sector if Burmese side propose for the assistance, the
report quoting the India embassy, adding that India has also planned to grant more scholarships to Burmese
students who desire to pursue their further education in the country. India has so far awarded scholarships to
over 150 Burmese students, it added. During last year, Burma and India cooperated in implementation of
setting up 11 centers for enhancement of IT skill in key cities of Rangoon, Mandalay and others. The
project, implemented by the Centre for Development Advanced Computing (CDAC) of India and the state-
run Burma Posts and Telecommunications, started at the end of last year and with regard to the project,
Burma sent 100 government servants to India to undergo the training. Meanwhile, Burma and India also
cooperated in implementing cross-border optical fiber link between the two countries to boost information
link which started in December 2006, according to the earlier report. Xinhua, 27 August 2009

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28 August 2009, Friday

U Win Tin, Hla Hla Htay, AFP / Getty Images / amnesty.ca, 23 September 2008
Tom Parry speaks with U Win Tin, a senior member of the National League for Democracy (NLD) who
spent 19 years in prison until his release last year.
Tom Parry: What has kept you going for so long, considering all your years in prison?
Win Tin: Well, my opinion is that when you have to face a military government, you need a little bit of
courage, some sort of confrontation, because if you are always timid and afraid and intimidated, they will
step on you. Sometimes you have to force yourself to be courageous and outspoken.
Parry: Aren’t you worried about your own security?
Win Tin: People tell me I should keep a low profile because they are very anxious about my security. You
can be snatched back to prison at any time, but you can’t help it.
Parry: You have made some difficult decisions in your life. If you could do it again differently, would you?
Win Tin: No, I wouldn’t. You see, formerly I was a journalist and I had no such difficult dilemmas. I could
write and meet people and so on. But when I became a politician in 1988, things became very difficult. I
was not just joining a political party, I was joining an uprising—a people’s uprising. I was one of them. I
was one of the journalists who joined them—the whole country’s uprising. Then, of course, I was dragged
away from political life and sent to prison. I am now 80 and my health is not very good, but still I don’t
mind going back to prison. I don’t want to be intimidated or reverse my way of thinking.
Parry: Over the next 10 years, what would be the best thing that could happen in Burma, and what would be
the worst thing?
Win Tin: The best thing that could happen would be if the junta went away and there was some form of
democratic change. Of course, that is the best scenario. The worst is that we just go into the election under
the terms of the new constitution, which is more or less a prolongation of military rule. That would be the
worst thing because in the next decade there will be no change in the lives of ordinary people. That’s why
we are calling for a review of the constitution, at the very least. We are the ones who have the right to draw
up a constitution after the 1990 election. They forgot about us and started convening the National
Convention. Then they drew up this constitution, which only the military can accept because it prolongs
their rule.
Parry: If the elections do happen, how can the NLD make a difference? How can you stop the continuation
of tight military control?
Win Tin: If we stand firm – because we’ve got the people’s support – in the end, we’ll get the international
community’s support. Now look at the Aung San Suu Kyi case. They tried to snatch her and send her to
prison. And we are making a very loud protest all over the world and also inside the country. Now the
military authorities are rethinking it. I think we should try to convince them that if they go on, it won’t last
long. Even after the elections there will be more uprisings. We have to convince them that this is not the
way they should behave.
Parry: Do you think there is any scope for compromise?
Win Tin: Yes, that is possible. That is why we are asking for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the
start of a dialogue.
Parry: Do you think there is any compromise to be had regarding the constitution?
Win Tin: That is possible, of course, if they agree to the dialogue and if they agree to make some
amendments to the constitution. It is possible the NLD could participate in the election. That’s the
compromise. It’s very difficult. Of course, they are determined to make the constitution legal, to ratify the
constitution in parliament. They are at the point of ratification. There are going to be elections, then there
will be a parliament and then the parliament will ratify the constitution. They feel they are safe. We don’t
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want to have another uprising or anything like that. People are reluctant. For myself, I am rather hard on the
army, I have to admit. But Daw Suu has a very kind attitude toward the army. They should have
negotiations, enter into a dialogue. But they don’t want to talk with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, they don’t
want to let her play a role in our national politics.
Parry: These aren’t the elections we all want to see, but after the elections, do you think they might be more
willing to negotiate with her?
Win Tin: But the thing is, you see, after the election is over, the constitution is in force.
Parry: Forty UN envoys have visited Burma over so many years without having any effect. The trip by UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was also a failure. What do you think the UN needs to do?
Win Tin: Ban Ki-Moon should say to the Security Council: “We should pick up the Burma issue. We should
take the Burma issue to the Security Council.” The last time Burma went to the Security Council was 50
years ago, in 1957/58, when the Chinese occupied Shan State. That’s the only time the Burma question was
sent to the Security Council and they made a resolution. In 2007, at the time of the Saffron Revolution, the
Burma question was sent again but there was no resolution. What we ask the UN and Ban Ki-moon to do is
put the Burma question to the Security Council again and request the Chinese and Russian not to use their
vetoes.
Parry: Wouldn’t it be better to try and build a consensus on how to push for the release of political
prisoners, how to help encourage a review of the constitution and help encourage dialogue?
Win Tin: Well, you see, in this situation, when Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is behind bars and there are more
than 2,000 political prisoners in jail, we have to push harder. If they release all the political prisoners and
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and make some amendments and make a very amicable environment, of course we
can engage in dialogue and make concessions. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi can do it, because she has the
charisma, so people would accept it. If I made concessions, people wouldn’t accept it.
Parry: It has been a great honor to meet you. Thank you for your time.
Win Tin: The media and those kinds of well-wishers are the only friends we have now. Inside we can’t do
anything at all and at the same time some people would like to silence us.
Tom Parry is a freelance journalist based in London. He contributed this interview to Irrawaddy. 28 August
2009

Lawyers for Burma opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi are set to appeal her sentencing next week,
following complaints that new conditions of her house arrest are stricter than before. Suu Kyi met with her
lawyers yesterday at her Rangoon compound where she has been sentenced to 18 months under house
arrest. “We mainly discussed an appeal to reconsider her sentence passed by the Insein district court,” said
lawyer Nyan Win. “We brought along the draft version of the appeal we wrote which is to be amended in
the next few days.” A finalised version of the appeal will be submitted next week. Nyan Win said lawyers
also talked with Suu Kyi regarding the new house arrest conditions set by the government. “In her previous
house detention, she was allowed to meet with family members and also granted a regular medical check-
up, but she doesn’t get these under the new conditions,” said Nyan Win, adding that a lot of the wording in
the new conditions is unclear. Webb, who also met with Suu Kyi, stirred controversy following the visit
with claims that Suu Kyi had hinted at a change in her pro-sanctions stance. This provided the basis for a
commentary published in the New York Times yesterday. “Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said she did not see his
remarks as reflecting the Obama administration’s policy,” said Nyan Win. Nyan Win said the National
League Democracy (NLD) party was informed by the US embassy in Rangoon that three humanitarian
experts from the US senate will be meeting with the party today. DVB, 28 August 2009

Members of Burma’s opposition National League for Democracy have met with staff members of a key
U.S. congressional committee. The American officials arrived in Rangoon on Friday. They work for the
Foreign Relations Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives. The U.S. embassy in Rangoon says the
committee staffers are visiting Burma as part of a regional tour to assess U.S. public diplomacy and
assistance programs. VOA, 28 August 2009

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Three staff members of the US House of Representatives Foreign Relations Committee met Friday with
leaders of Burma’s main opposition party. ‘They wanted to know the political situation of Burma and also
the health of the political prisoners, including the condition of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi,’ National League
for Democracy (NLD) spokesman Nyan Win said after meeting with the three Americans, Lynne Weil,
Jessica Lee and Dennis Halpin. A US embassy official in Rangoon denied that the trip was a follow-up to
this month’s visit of US Senator Jim Webb in which he secured the freedom of American national John
William Yettaw. monstersandcritics.com, 28 August 2009

Three US Congress staffers met with representatives from the opposition National League for Democracy
(NLD) in Rangoon for talks about political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi, and the US policy
review on Burma, an NLD spokesman said. “We met with the Congress staffers at NLD headquarters at 4
p.m. on Friday. The main reason for their trip is to discuss humanitarian issues,” NLD spokesman Nyan
Win said. “We talked about Burmese politics—the first issue they raised concerned the political prisoners.”
The US Congress staffers also asked about Suu Kyi’s detention, he said. During the meeting, the staffers
told the NLD policymakers are still discussing a US policy shift in Washington. “But they said they did not
think a decision on the Burma policy review will come soon,” Nyan Win said. After US Senator Jim
Webb’s recent trip and article in the New York Times, Nyan Win said he told the Congress staffers that Suu
Kyi said she did not think his trip and his writing reflected the policy of the Obama administration. “I think
the staffers came to Burma to survey the facts for the policy review or for Congress,” he said. Irrawaddy, 28
August 2009

The regime is not afraid to insult any international organisation, including Asean, the EU and UN. A recent
example of how the regime blatantly fouled the international community was during UN Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon’s trip to Burma in early July. Most people assumed that pre-arrangements for his visit
included securing the freedom of Aung San Suu Kyi, or at least meeting with her. The regime easily
snubbed the secretary-general by denying him a meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi. But the regime knows that
it is difficult for it to insult the US the same way. Of course, it is up to the US to determine whether it will
allow itself to be insulted. Khin Maung Win, DVB, Oslo, The Nation, 28 August 2009

Resumption of hostilities between the Kokang-Wa-Mongla forces and the Burma Army (after 20 years of an
uneasy but working truce) started yesterday morning when a police patrol that had strayed too near the
Kokangs’ temporary headquarters was attacked. Three policeman were reportedly killed and the rest fled
across the border where they were disarmed by the People’s Liberation Army. Kachin News Group reported
they were soldiers in police uniforms. Meanwhile, the Burma Army that had ousted Kokang leader Peng
Jiasheng has appointed his former deputy-turned-defector Bai Souqian as the new leader. “The Kokang
Army has about 1,000 troops,” said a businessman who had just gone out of business in Kokang. “Not more
than 200 had joined Bai. The rest are still with Peng.” The Burma Army’s next target after Kokang that
covers the Wa’s northern border could be Mongla that protects the Wa’s southern border, said a the anti-
Rangoon Shan State Army (SSA) ‘South’ source. The closure of two borders could have strangled the
UWSA to death without fighting, according to a Thai security source. However, according to reports
coming from the Thai-Burma border, the Burma Army’s next target could also be the UWSA’s 171st
Military Region, opposite Thailand’s Maehongson, Chiangmai and Chiangrai provinces. The Operations
Commander in Mongton, opposite Chiangmai, reportedly demanded on 26 August that the Wa withdraw
from all their bases west of the Mongton-BP1 (Thai border) road. “He didn’t give any deadline as in the
past,” said an informed source in Mongton. “He just said ‘at once’. Naturally, the Wa, instead of complying
with his order, merely reinforced their positions.” On the other hand, no reports of the new Burma Army
units into the area have been received, said the SSA South. “But all our units have been placed on the alert,”
said Col Yawdserk, the SSA’s supreme commander. Meanwhile, Hkun Okker of the National Council of the
Union of Burma (NCUB) said Burma’s military rulers could find itself fighting on two fronts as in 1988.
“September is the second anniversary of the Saffron Revolution,” he told SHAN. “I certainly hope the two

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parties (those protesting in the towns and cities and those fighting on the borders) can find ways to
cooperate and coordinate their activities.” SHAN, 28 August 2009

The United Nations refugee agency today voiced its concern about reports that between 10,000 and 30,000
refugees have fled violence in Burma north-eastern Shan state in recent weeks and headed to China’s
Yunnan province. Andrej Mahecic, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR), told reporters in Geneva that the agency is liaising with the authorities to investigate what the
needs of the refugees are. “Our information is that as many as 30,000 people may have taken shelter in
Nansan county since 8 August, saying they were fleeing fighting between Burmese Government troops and
ethnic minority groups,” he stated. According to information received by UNHCR, local authorities in
Yunnan Province have already provided emergency shelter, food and medical care to the refugees.
“UNHCR has reiterated its readiness to provide support to the authorities in responding to the needs of these
refugees,” said Mr. Mahecic. UN News Centre, 28 August 2009

29 August 2009, Saturday


The man who swam to the lakeside home of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has spoken of
his sorrow that his action led to her arrest and trial. John Yettaw told the BBC that he had a dream that Ms
Suu Kyi was going to be murdered, and swam to her home wearing home-made flippers to warn her. Mr
Yettaw was sentenced to seven years in prison but is now back home after US Senator Jim Webb
intervened. Ms Suu Kyi was sentenced to 18 months’ further house arrest. Mr Yettaw, a devout Mormon
from Falcon, Missouri, told the BBC’s Newshour programme that he had had many strong visions or
dreams which he called “impressions” or “camcorder moments”. In one he says he foresaw an official plot
to murder Ms Suu Kyi and this prompted him to swim twice to her home to warn her of the danger. On the
first occasion he says he left some Mormon scriptures for her but did not enter her home. As he left he was
challenged by an armed guard. He says he shook hands with the guard who then walked away and he took a
taxi away from the scene. But he again swam to her house in May after another dream. “I had been
researching Burma and researching about the internally displaced families and about the numbers of people
who had been murdered and then about the numbers of people through the Cyclone Nargis and then about
Aung San Suu Kyi’s release date and I went to sleep that night and I had a dream that when she was
released she was going to be murdered and I saw a plot,” he said. He said that he believed the inevitable
publicity surrounding his trips would make it impossible for the Burmese military authorities to carry out
their alleged plan to assassinate her. BBC, 29 August 2009

Fresh fighting erupted Saturday in northeastern Burma after days of clashes between government troops and
ethnic rebels drove tens of thousands of people into China, and a bomb tossed across the border killed one
person and injured others. Up to 30,000 people have fled into China from Burma’s Kokang region,
according to reports received by the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. Most of the people injured in
the clashes and in the hospital are ethnic Chinese from Burma, said an official from Zhenkang County
People’s Hospital, who refused to give her name. At least 25 people have been admitted, she said. Chinese
soldiers are now guarding the border area, which has been sealed off, said a staffer at the Zhenkang County
Public Security Bureau, who only gave his surname, Hui. The camps where some refugees are being housed
are under strict control, he said. “Ordinary people cannot go near this area. Even police must be in uniform
and police vehicles to come close.” The fighting near the border has threatened communist China’s goal of
stability ahead of the sensitive Oct. 1 celebration of its 60th anniversary. It also could strain China’s close
relationship with Burma’s military junta. Already, China has told Burma to stop the fighting.
miamiherald.com / bignewsnetwork.com / Hla Kyaing, Recent Burmese News, 29 August 2009

The battle between Burmese troops and ethnic Kokang rebels is becoming fiercer and intensifying in the
rebel territories along the Sino-Burma border in northeast Shan State, said frontline sources. Chinese
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authorities have opened seven refugee camps in its territory bordering Kokang and are supplying food,
drinking water, first aid and providing huts. The Chinese are also dropping food from military aircraft to
Kokang refugees outside refugee camps in different areas, said border sources. According to sources close
to rebels, more than 240 bodies of Burmese soldiers including those of 20 policemen were found in three
battle zones in yesterday’s clashes. Dozens of Burmese soldiers have been captured by the rebels. On the
Kokang side, over a dozen soldiers died and dozens were injured in yesterday’s battle, said sources close to
the rebels. Many Burmese soldiers are abandoning their arms and fleeing to Monggo and Muse areas near
the war zones, said residents in these areas. Yesterday, over 2000 United Wa State Army (UWSA) troops,
an ally of the Kokang rebel, launched a swift offensive against Burmese troops in Chinshwehaw, another
Kokang base and recaptured it from the Burmese troops. Chinshwehaw is now with UWSA. It was captured
from the rebels early this week by Burmese troops, said sources close to UWSA. Over 4,000 Burmese
troops have arrived as reinforcements from Meiktila in Mandalay Division to the Teinni (Hsenwi in Shan
and Sinli in Kachin) on Mandalay-Muse border trade route yesterday, according to local eyewitnesses. A
resident of Kutkai on Mandalay-Muse border trade route told KNG today that Burmese soldiers are forcibly
using civilians as porters for carrying military rations and weapons since yesterday morning. There are also
civilian casualties in the three-day battle between the Burmese troops and rebels but exact numbers cannot
be stated, said rebel sources. At the same time, another ally of Kokang, Kachin Independence Army (KIA)
is on high alert in Kachin State and Northeast Shan State. They are authorized to shoot all Burmese troops
who intrude to the KIA’s territories without waiting for the first shoot policy from Burmese soldiers, said
KIA officials in Laiza headquarters in Kachin State. Chinese security agents are closely watching the battle
between the Kokang rebel and the Burmese troops, said border sources. Border based ethnic armed groups’
sources said, China views Burma’s ruling junta being responsible for the current battle with the Kokang
because the war was started following dishonestly capturing the rebel’s headquarters Laogai on Monday.
Earlier, China warned both ethnic armed groups along with its border and the junta to avoid conflicts, said
border sources. kachinnews.com / Shan-EU / Democracy for Burma, 29 August 2009

Burma has established diplomatic ties with Zimbabwe at ambassadorial level, bringing the total number of
countries in the world with which Burma has such links up to 98 since it regained independence in 1948,
China’s Xinhua news agency said quoting reports in state-run newspaper the New Light of Burma Saturday.
An agreement on the establishment of diplomatic ties was signed by the ambassadors of Burma and
Zimbabwe to India in New Delhi Thursday, the report said. According to the Foreign Ministry, Burma has
so far set up embassies in 30 countries and two permanent missions in New York and Geneva, and three
consulates-general in China’s Hong Kong and Kunming and India’s Calcutta, respectively. Meanwhile, 28
countries have their embassies in Burma. In addition, China and India have respectively set up consulates-
general in Burma’s Mandalay, the second largest city. Bernama, 29 August 2009

31 August 2009, Monday


Burma opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi plans to renovate her lakeside home-cum-prison, where she has
spent 14 of the past 20 years under detention, media reports said Monday. ‘Now that her trial is over, Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi wants to repair her house,’ Nyan Win, Suu Kyi’s spokesman, told The Myanmar Times.
‘She wants to mount iron grills in the windows,’ he said. No renovation work has been done on the house
since Suu Kyi began living there in 1988, when she returned to Burma, after spending much of her
adulthood in England where she attended Oxford University and married a British professor. Suu Kyi is the
daughter of Burma independence hero Aung San. ‘She will spend her own money on the renovation,’ Nyan
Win said. He added that according to city regulations, property owners must apply for a permit themselves,
but given her situation, the permit can be sought by ‘the authorities who are responsible for Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi’s house arrest.’ Authorities erected two fences on the lake side of the compound after Yettaw’s
infamous swim. It was widely believed that Yettaw’s bizarre escapade provided Burma’s junta with a

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pretext to keep Suu Kyi out of the political picture until after a planned general election next year.
Monstersandcritics.com, 31 August 2009

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon responded to Norwegian criticism of his leadership on Monday by
saying he had his own style and charisma. Ban met Norway’s Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg to discuss
climate change during a visit that followed the leak of a scathing memo in which Norway’s deputy U.N.
Ambassador Mona Juul said Ban suffered from “a lack of charisma” Juul accused Ban, a former South
Korean foreign minister, of weak, ineffective and at times counterproductive leadership, Norwegian daily
Aftenposten had reported. Norway has stressed that the letter was an internal diplomatic memo and not a
statement by the government. “We all have a different background, leadership styles. We must respect each
others’,” Ban told a news conference. “I have my own leadership style, my own charisma.” Juul reportedly
wrote that Ban was a mere “passive observer” after Burma’s arrest of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi
and that his visit there to meet the hardline generals was fruitless and could create problems for lower-level
diplomats. The secretary-general pointed to his diplomatic efforts last year, when he persuaded Burmese
Senior General Than Shwe to lift humanitarian aid restrictions after Cyclone Nargis. Ban said he was
committed to work for democratization of Burma. Reuters, 31 August 2009

2 September 2009, Wednesday


The recent decision by Burma’s government to sentence pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi to a
further 18 months’ house arrest shows how difficult it is to deal with that country’s ruling generals. Yet the
first steps toward a new approach may already have been taken. The clearest sign comes from the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which Burma is a member. At first, most of
ASEAN’s member governments responded mildly to the verdict, expressing their “disappointment” -- a
stance that reflects the group’s principle of noninterference in fellow members’ internal politics. But Thai
Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya then consulted his counterparts in Cambodia, Indonesia, Singapore and
Vietnam. As current ASEAN chair, he floated the idea of concertedly requesting a pardon for Aung San Suu
Kyi. ASEAN government officials have since met to draft a text. Approval by the association’s foreign
ministers may come in September, with ASEAN leaders tackling the issue in October. Todayszaman.com, 2
September 2009

3 September 2009, Thursday


Burma’s detained pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi on Thursday appealed against her conviction on
charges of sheltering an eccentric American man who swam to her lakeside house, her lawyers said. The
Nobel peace laureate was ordered to spend 18 more months under house arrest after a court on August 11
found her guilty of breaking security laws following the bizarre incident involving US national John Yettaw.
The verdict sparked international outrage at Burma’s ruling military junta, which has already kept the 64-
year-old opposition leader locked up for 14 of the last 20 years in its bid to crush all dissent. “We have
submitted the appeal to the court,” her lawyer Kyi Win told AFP. Appeals had also been lodged on behalf of
two female aides who live with Suu Kyi and had also been convicted and handed a similar sentence, he said.
The court would hear initial arguments from Suu Kyi’s lawyers on Friday before deciding whether to
officially consider the appeal, said Nyan Win, another of her lawyers and the spokesman for her National
League for Democracy. “Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is not guilty. The main person is the intruder,” Nyan Win
said. Critics have accused the junta of using the charges against Suu Kyi as an excuse to keep the influential
activist locked up during elections due to be held next year. AFP, 3 September 2009

Lawyers for Burma pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi said they would lodge an appeal Thursday
against her conviction on charges relating to an incident in which an American man swam to her home. The
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Nobel laureate was ordered to spend 18 more months under house arrest after a court on August 11 found
her guilty of breaking security laws by giving shelter to US national John Yettaw at her lakeside residence.
“We will submit the appeal this afternoon. Aung San Suu Kyi’s conviction is not in accordance with the law
but we will have to wait to see whether the court agrees to hear the appeal,” her main lawyer Kyi Win told
AFP. He said the appeal would focus on the fact that a 1974 constitution under which the ruling junta had
detained Suu Kyi had been superseded by a new constitution that was approved in a controversial
referendum last year. “Altogether there are 11 reasons for the appeal, but the main thing we will point out is
about the constitution,” Kyi Win said. AFP, 3 September 2009

4 September 2009, Friday


A Burmese court agreed Friday to hear an appeal by the detained opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
of the criminal conviction that extended her house arrest by 18 months, one of her lawyers said. The
Divisional Court in Rangoon set a Sept. 18 date for the appeal after lawyers formally presented their request
Friday, the lawyer, Nyan Win, said. nytimes.com, 4 September 2009

8 September 2009, Tuesday


Lawyers for Aung San Suu Kyi said they have sought permission to meet with the detained Burmese
democracy leader ahead of an appeal hearing scheduled for September 18. “We asked the authorities for
permission to discuss the appeal and receive further instructions from her, but so far we have not received a
reply,” Nyan Win, a lawyer for Suu Kyi, told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday. The Rangoon Division court
agreed last week to hear an appeal against an August 11 judgment that found Suu Kyi guilty of violating the
terms of her house arrest. The appeal was submitted on September 3 and was accepted by the court the next
day. Meanwhile, diplomats in Rangoon and Bangkok have asked Burma’s ruling junta to allow Suu Kyi to
receive visitors, according to diplomatic sources. When Suu Kyi was sentenced to a further 18 months of
house for allowing an American intruder to shelter at her home, the regime said she would be permitted to
meet guests at the discretion of the relevant authorities. Irrawaddy, 8 September 2009

18 September 2009, Friday


Lawyers for detained Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi appealed the recent conviction that
extended her yearslong house arrest Friday, a day after the ruling junta announced it was releasing
thousands of prisoners. The Rangoon Divisional Court said it would deliver its verdict Oct. 2, lawyer Nyan
Win said. “I have done my best. I have done my duty,’ chief defense lawyer Kyi Win said after the one-day,
closed-door hearing that Suu Kyi and reporters were barred from attending. AP, 18 September 2009

2 October 2009, Friday


Detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s lawyer on Friday said the Rangoon division court’s
decision to reject the appeal against her sentence is “legally flawed” as the court arrived at its verdict on a
constitution that it acknowledges being non-existent. Kyi Win, a member of Aung San Suu Kyi’s legal team,
said the divisional court acknowledged that the 1974 constitution is no longer in effect, but said the 1975
law, which is based on the constitution, is still in effect and under which the lower court’s verdict on August
11 is legally binding. “It is a serious legal fraud. If the constitution is no longer in effect, the law based on
that constitution cannot be alive, and thus Aung San Suu Kyi cannot be detained,” Kyi Win told Mizzima on
Friday. According to the law enacted in 1975, Aung San Suu Kyi had been deprived of her fundamental
rights, which are stated in the 1974 constitution. The district court in Rangoon’s Insein prison on August 11
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sentenced the Nobel Peace Laureate to three years, on charges of violating her detention regulations, which
is prescribed in the 1975 law. Despite the argument by defence lawyers that the 1974 constitution is no
longer in vogue, the district court did not acknowledge it and handed down the verdict, Kyi Win said.
Following the sentence, the defence team appealed to the divisional court, citing mainly that Aung San Suu
Kyi cannot be sentenced and must be acquitted as the law, under which she was charged is no longer in
effect. “It is bizarre. I am a high court lawyer and I have also served as a judge but I do not understand how
the 1975 law can restrict the fundamental rights prescribed in the 1974 constitution, which is no longer in
effect,” Kyi Win said. He added that the defence will continue appealing to the high court and will focus on
the flaws of interpreting the law and the constitution. After independence from the British, Burma had its
first constitution in 1947, but following a military coup led by General Ne Win in 1962, the constitution was
scrapped. Under the Newin regime, a new constitution was drafted and approved in 1974. But in 1975, the
Ne Win regime promulgated a set of laws based on the constitution. “The division court’s argument is that
though the 1974 constitution is dead, Aung San Suu Kyi is charged with the 1975 law,” said Kyi Win.
Mizzima, 2 October 2009

A court in military-ruled Burma turned aside opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s latest bid for freedom
Friday, rejecting an appeal against her most recent sentence of house arrest, government sources said. Suu
Kyi was convicted and sentenced in August for sheltering an uninvited American at her home for two days
earlier this year, in a verdict that drew international condemnation and ensured that she would not be able to
participate in elections scheduled for next year. She argued in an appeal that the conviction was
unwarranted, but the Rangoon Division court ruled against the appeal Friday, said the sources, speaking on
condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case. Suu Kyi’s lawyer Nyan Win said ahead of
Friday’s ruling that the defense would take the case to the Supreme Court if her appeal is rejected. “We have
made all necessary plans for any outcome,” Nyan win said. Security was tight Friday, with riot police
ringing the courthouse. Burma’s courts almost always follow the same hard line toward Suu Kyi and the
country’s democracy movement, which the military government often accuses of collaborating with the
country’s enemies to destroy the nation. AP, 2 October 2009

The Burma Center Delhi (BCD) on behalf of 58 Indian and International organizations submitted an appeal
letter to Sonia Gandhi, President of All India Congress Committee (AICC) and Chairperson, UPA on Friday
urging her to draw attention to Aung San Suu Kyi and to revise Indias foreign policy and promote human
rights in order to restore peace, harmony and fraternity in the region. Dr. Alana Golmei, Coordinator of
BCD, along with a group of Burmese activists submitted the appeal letter to Sonia Gandhi at her residence.
She said that the appeal letter was warmly accepted by the concern staff in the office. We have great
expectations from Madam Sonia Gandhi to take prompt action for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi as well
as restoration of democracy in Burma. Kim, New Delhi-based and exile Burmese and Campaign
Coordinator of BCD recalled that during nationwide peoples uprising in Burma in 1988, the then Prime
Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi not only supported the peoples movement but also offered shelter to
democracy activists to continue for democracy in Burma. Even Indian embassy in Rangoon provided
financial support to activists who were fleeing Burma to continue their struggle in India, he added. The
appeal letter was endorsed by prominent Indian and International organizations as well as India-based
Burmese organizations. ANI, 2 October 2009

China and other allies of the military government in Burma have joined an international call for the release
of jailed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. India and Russia also aligned themselves with European
countries and the U.S. to demand that Burma release all political prisoners and allow them to take part in
next year’s elections. The U.N. Human Rights Council’s 47 members unanimously adopted the resolution in
Geneva as a court in Burma rejected Suu Kyi’s latest appeal for freedom Friday. Beijing in particular has
traditionally protected its southerly neighbour from criticism in the global body. Suu Kyi has been detained
for about 14 of the last 20 years. Toronto Star, 2 October 2009

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3 October 2009, Saturday
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada on Saturday urged Burma’s military government to release Aung San Suu
Kyi and all other political prisoners in the country before a general election set for next year. Okada made
the demand during a meeting with Burmese Foreign Minister U Nyan Win on the sidelines of a foreign
ministers meeting involving Japan and Mekong region countries, saying political prisoners including Suu
Kyi should be allowed to participate in the election. japantoday.com, 3 October 2009

14 November 2009, Tuesday


Lawyers representing Burma’s detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has filed an appeal to the
Supreme Court on Friday against the Nobel Laureate’s earlier conviction to an extended period of house
arrest. chinlandguardian.com, 14 November 2009

4 December 2009, Friday


Military-ruled Burma’s supreme court has agreed to hear an appeal against the extended house arrest of pro-
democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, an official said Friday. The Nobel laureate, 64, was ordered to spend
another 18 months in detention in August after being convicted over an incident in which a US man swam
to her lakeside house. A lower court rejected an initial appeal in October. “The supreme court decided to
hear Aung San Suu Kyi’s request. Lawyers have to present arguments before the court on December 21,”
the official said on condition of anonymity. The decision had been posted on the noticeboard of the court in
the former capital Rangoon on Friday, the official added. Nyan Win, a spokesman for Suu Kyi’s National
League for Democracy (NLD), confirmed that the top court had agreed to hear the appeal but said he had no
further details. AFP, 4 December 2009

21 December 2009, Monday


Burma’s highest court agreed Monday to review the most recent extension of democracy leader Aung San
Suu Kyi’s house arrest. Suu Kyi’s lawyers appealed to the Supreme Court last month after a lower court
upheld a decision to sentence her to 18 more months of house arrest. She had been convicted for violating
her previous term by briefly sheltering an American intruder who swam uninvited to her lakeside home. The
legal team argued that her house arrest extension was unlawful as it was based on provisions from the 1974
Constitution that was no longer in existence, Suu Kyi’s chief lawyer Kyi Win told reporters after emerging
from the court Monday. The court posted an announcement on its notice board that it had agreed to hear the
appeal. Final arguments are to take place at a later date. The court also agreed to review the house arrest of
Suu Kyi’s two female companions, who are also ordered confined for 18 months at her compound in
Yangon. Suu Kyi’s sentence ensures she cannot participate in Burma’s first elections in two decades that are
scheduled for next year. Her party swept the last elections in 1990, but the results were never honored by the
military, which has ruled the country since 1962. AP, 21 December 2009

13 February 2010, Saturday


In a statement, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed Tin Oo’s release and said he hoped it
would promote “substantive dialogue” between the National League for Democracy and the government. He

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also urged the lifting of restrictions on Suu Kyi “without further delay” and the release of other political
prisoners. AP, 13 February 2010

15 February 2010, Monday


UN Human Rights Envoy to Burma Tomás Ojea Quintana on Monday condemned the ruling military
government for detaining Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi under a 1975 law that is now
obsolete. He made the comment during a one-hour meeting with Suu Kyi’s lawyers on Monday afternoon,
according to lawyer Nyan Win who is also an NLD spokesman. “He told us that the law of 1975 was
obsolete and that the use of it to keep Daw Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest is outwith international
law,” Nyan Win said after emerging from the meeting with Quintana. Quintana also requested that the
military government meet with Suu Kyi on Feb. 18, Nyan Win told The Irrawaddy. The UN envoy was not
allowed to meet with her during previous visits. Nyan Win said the UN envoy held discussions with him
and Suu Kyi’s other lawyers, Kyi Win, Khin Win Kyi and Hla Myo Myint, about the justice system in
Burma under military rule. Irrawaddy, 15 February 2010

26 February 2010, Friday


Burma’s Supreme Court on Friday rejected an appeal by Aung San Suu Kyi against her extended house
arrest, an official said, keeping her in detention ahead of elections promised by the junta this year. A lower
court rejected an initial appeal in October. “The appeal was rejected,” the Burmese official said on condition
of anonymity, adding that the appeals of Suu Kyi’s two female assistants against similar periods of
detention were also thrown out. Foreign ambassadors including the British, French and Australian envoys
went to the court in the former capital Rangoon to hear the verdict, witnesses said. AFP, 26 February 2010

During a meeting with her lawyers Thursday, Suu Kyi jokingly asked them if she had been behaving well,
as junta chief Than Shwe had said she could receive amnesty if she serves her time according to the
prescribed regulations. Defense lawyer Nyan Win told reporters he would launch one final “special appeal”
before the court after determining why the recent appeal had been rejected. “The court order did not mention
any reasons,” he said. “Although the decision comes as no surprise, it is deeply disappointing,” said British
Ambassador Andrew Heyn, who attended the court session along with diplomats from Australia, France and
the United States. “We continue to believe that Suu Kyi should be released immediately along with the other
2,000 and more other prisoners of conscience.” French Ambassador Jean Pierre Lafosse said Suu Kyi was
“the victim of a sham trial.” “Than Shwe already made the verdict for Suu Kyi and no judge will have the
nerve to change it,” said Aung Din, executive director of the U.S.-based U.S. Campaign for Burma, a
lobby group. “The judiciary system in Burma is just a part of the regime’s oppressive mechanism,’ he said.
“The only way to make the release of Suu Kyi and all political prisoners in Burma is to keep putting
maximum pressure on Than Shwe and his cronies until they feel the heat.” AP, 26 February 2010

The Prime Minister has expressed his disappointment on hearing that an appeal against Aung San Suu Kyi’s
sentence has been denied. Burma’s Supreme Court rejected an appeal to end the opposition leaders’ 14
years of house arrest, according to her lawyer. Gordon Brown said the sole purpose of last year’s “show
trial” has been to prevent Aung San Suu Kyi from taking part in elections later this year. Burma Related
News, 26 February 2010

Singapore said Friday it was disappointed that Burma’s Supreme Court had rejected an appeal by
democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi against her extended house arrest. “It is of course very disappointing
that her appeal did not succeed,” the foreign ministry said in a statement. Singapore said a dialogue between
Burmese authorities, Suu Kyi and other political groups before planned elections this year would offer “the
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best prospects for national reconciliation and the long-term political stability.” Burma’s military rulers have
promised to hold a vote this year under a “roadmap to democracy” but have not set a date. They have
repeatedly rejected international appeals for Suu Kyi to be released ahead of the elections. AFP, 26 February
2010

UN Chief Ban Ki Moon is ‘disappointed Burma opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s appeal against her
extended house arrest was dismissed, his press office said on Friday. “The Secretary General is disappointed
to learn that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s appeal against her continued house arrest was again rejected today,’
a UN statement said. Mr Ban ‘reiterates his call for the release of all political prisoners and their free
participation in the political process,’ calling them ‘essential steps for national reconciliation and democratic
transition in Burma,’ according to the statement. UN, 26 February 2010

27 February 2010, Saturday


The United States on Friday criticized Burma’s Supreme Court for not releasing Nobel laureate Aung San
Suu Kyi, with one lawmaker saying the time had come to tighten sanctions. “We condemn the Supreme
Court’s decision,” a State Department official said, saying that Aung San Suu Kyi was being held under
house arrest “for purely political reasons.” The official, who by protocol could not be named, said that the
United States “strongly’ urged Burma to free other political prisoners and allow them to participate fully in
the political process. Representative Joe Crowley, a Democrat who has long championed Aung San Suu
Kyi, said the time had come for the United States to implement tighter sanctions that target military leader
Than Shwe’s regime. “Aung San Suu Kyi’s 14-year imprisonment has been a sham from day one,” Crowley
said. “The cruel military junta must face consequences for violating the human rights of the Burmese
people,” he said. AFP, 27 February 2010

1 March 2010, Monday


Burma opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is to take a special appeal over her house arrest to Burma’s
supreme court after it was last week rejected. Her lawyers said that the new appeal would go through two
stages: acceptance by the court, and then a final presentation by lawyers at the court. Analysts have said the
appeal will effectively be made to junta chief Than Shwe, who is seen as the main architect behind her
sentencing. Courts in Burma have been criticised as puppets of the government. “There will be two judges
deciding on [he acceptance] and we [lawyers] are to make an argument statement before them,” said lawyer
Nyan Win. “If they accept it, the appeal will be heard before three judges in Naypyidaw. This is the current
legal system procedure.” Nyan Win said that judges last Friday only read out the ruling that rejected the
previous appeal, but did not give any reasons for why it was rejected. DVB, 1 March 2010

9 March 2010, Tuesday


Nobel Laureate and Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi will file a law suit against Khin
Maung Aye, one of her relatives, because he has been trying to sell some land in her current place of
residence. Kyi Win, her lawyer told Mizzima that she will file a case against Khin Maung Aye because he
had tried to make the sale with the help of false documents to prospective buyers. “Though news of a
section of the land where her house is situated being sold was announced through newspapers in July last
year by Khin Maung Aye, she could not initiate action because she was facing a trial in the bizzare case of
US citizen John Yettaw intruding into her house and staying for two days,” her lawyer Kyi Win said. “We
were discussing whether she shall file a case. If Daw Suu agrees to what we have drafted, we will submit it
in court,’ he said. Aung San Suu Kyi’s mother Khin Kyi had lived in the house numbered 54 and 56 till she
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died in January 1989. “Khin Maung Aye claimed that Khin Kyi had given him 170 feet of land. But later we
heard that Khin Kyi threw him out of the house because she had only allowed him to stay temporarily. Khin
Maung Aye is now claiming that he was given the land by Khin Kyi and therefore is trying to sell it,” Kyi
Win said. “Khin Maung Aye has already taken some money from the buyer, a person supposedly from the
literacy circle,” he added. Former Prime Minister U Nu gave the house and the land to Khin Kyi, when she
was the Burmese Ambassador to India in 1960. Suu Kyi has lived in this house since she came back to
Burma in 1988. Mizzima, 9 March 2010

14 May 2010, Friday


The Supreme Court in military-ruled Burma has allowed the detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu
Kyi to submit a “special appeal” for her unconditional release from house arrest in Rangoon, after similar
appeals lodged earlier were rejected twice by military courts. According to her lawyers, the court has not set
any date to hear arguments on the admissibility of the petition, expected to be the last opportunity to seek
her release ahead of the junta-promised elections later this year. Nyan Win, her political associate and
lawyer, said Thursday from Rangoon the petition was based on Suu Kyi’s innocence and the prosecution’s
failure to produce clinching evidence during the trial last year. The latest appeal came just days after Kurt
Campbell, U.S. assistant secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, met with Suu Kyi in Rangoon and
expressed concern about election preparations in Burma, under military rule since 1962. RTT, 14 May 2010

26 June 2010, Saturday


The Group of Eight rich nations on Saturday condemned North Korea for an attack that sank a South
Korean naval ship and called on Iran’s leaders to respect the rule of law and freedom of expression. In a
draft communique seen by Reuters at the summit in Huntsville, north of Toronto, the G8 also asked
Afghanistan’s government to be ready by a July conference in Kabul to demonstrate to its allies tangible
progress that it is taking on greater security responsibility, key to U.S. plans to begin drawing down troops
in mid-2011. The G8 called on Burma’s military rulers to quickly release all political prisoners, including
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel laureate who has spent 15 of the past 21 years in detention.
Reuters, 26 June 2010

13 July 2010, Tuesday


U Nyan Win, a lawyer and NLD Spokesperson, stated that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi told him to submit a
complaint regarding the military regime’s restriction imposed on him not to talk about politics, but the cases
when he meets with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and the restriction was not in accordance with the law. DVB,
13 July 2010

29 July 2010, Thursday


Detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi said that the Burmese election is “absolutely unlikely” to
be free and fair because the election date has not been set and political parties will not have enough time to
campaign, according to a spokesperson who met with her on Wednesday. Nyan Win, who was a senior
official in the disbanded National League for Democracy (NLD) met with Suu Kyi on Tuesday. He told
The Irrawaddy that her health is good, and that they also discussed the appeal of the 18-month extension of
her house arrest and renovation work that was needed on her home. Irrawaddy, 29 July 2010

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13 August 2010, Friday
Burma’s first election in two decades will be held Nov. 7, the junta announced Friday. The brief
announcement was carried on state TV and radio, marking the first time the junta has given a date for the
first polls in the country, also known as Myanmar, since 1990. “Multiparty general elections for the
country’s parliament will be held on Sunday Nov. 7,” according to the announcement from the Election
Commission, which also called on political parties to submit their candidate lists between Aug. 16 and Aug.
30. Ahead of the polls, the ruling military junta has passed numerous laws and rules criticized by detained
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the international community as undemocratic and unfair. Suu
Kyi’s National League for Democracy is boycotting the polls. AP, 13 August 2010

The Union Election Commission announces the election will take place on Nov. 7, a week before the
scheduled release of Suu Kyi. Parties complain they have insufficient time to prepare. Reuters, 14 August
2010

16 September 2010, Saturday


The Police Special Branch summoned U Nyan Win, NLD spokesperson and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s layer
and informed about the case with Daw Suu to wait and see the ‘warning list’ at the Court. NLD News
Bulletin, September 2010

30 September 2010, Thursday


Democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi will be released just days after Burma’s first election in two decades,
officials said Thursday. “November will be an important and busy month for us because of the election and
because of Aung San Suu Kyi’s release,” a Burmese official told AFP, noting the release would come soon
after the country’s 7 November poll. DVB, 30 September 2010

8 October 2010, Friday


Burma’s Supreme Court announced on Friday that it would hold a hearing on October 18 on detained
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s latest appeal against her house arrest. The judges will decide whether
to consider the “special appeal”, according to a notice posted in front of the Supreme Court in the former
capital Rangoon. The Nobel peace laureate’s current term of house arrest is due to end on November 13, just
days after national elections that critics said are aimed at simply entrenching the junta’s power. Suu Kyi
lodged the last-ditch appeal in May. She has already had her appeal rejected twice, most recently by the
Supreme Court in February. The democracy icon, who has spent most of the past two decades locked up,
had her detention lengthened by 18 months in August last year after being convicted over a bizarre incident
in which a US man swam to her lakeside home. Suu Kyi on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against the junta at the
Supreme Court for dissolving her party ahead of the widely criticised polls. Suu Kyi’s National League for
Democracy (NLD) has been forcibly abolished for boycotting the November 7 vote. Channelnewsasia.com,
8 October 2010

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18 October 2010, Monday
Burma’s detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi wants to start using Twitter when she is released
from house arrest to communicate with people around the world, her lawyer said on Monday. Suu Kyi,
whose current term of house arrest is due to end next month, has been locked up in her lakeside home with
no Internet access since 2003, long before the popular micro-blogging website was launched. “Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi has said to me that she wants to have a Twitter account to speak and discuss with the world’s
teenagers,” her attorney Nyan Win said after visiting the Nobel Peace Prize winner. “She said she wanted to
talk with youths as she wanted to know their opinions regarding political, economic and social issues. She
said she can be in touch with them every day if she has this account.” Suu Kyi is due to be released on
November 13, just days after the military-ruled country holds its first election in 20 years, although some
fear the generals may find an excuse to keep her locked up. The pro-democracy icon’s party won the last
election in 1990 but was never allowed to take power, and several periods of confinement mean she has
spent most of the past two decades in detention. Burma’s Supreme Court held a hearing Monday on Suu
Kyi’s latest appeal against her house arrest, but did not announce a decision on whether they would agree to
consider the application. “We have to wait about two weeks for the judgement,” said Nyan Win. “We are
satisfied with our arguments. We’re hoping they will accept the case.” AFP, 18 October 2010

21 October 2010, Thursday


Burma’s highest court has agreed to hear a final appeal to release opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi from
house arrest, her lawyer said Thursday, pressing forward with the case despite her scheduled release in less
than a month. “We believe that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will be released on Nov. 13, but we are pursuing
this legal battle to prove her innocence,” lawyer Nyan Win told reporters. He said the High Court posted an
announcement Wednesday night that it would hear the special appeal on behalf of Suu Kyi, who has spent
most of the past 15 years under house arrest. Nyan Win said lawyers will have to present their argument
before the Special Appellate Bench, a multi-judge panel in the remote administrative capital of Naypyidaw,
on a date that has not yet been set. This will be Suu Kyi’s last legal option to appeal her 2009 conviction for
violating the terms of her house arrest for briefly sheltering an American who swam uninvited to her home.
Suu Kyi’s lawyers have argued that her house arrest was unlawful since it was based on provisions of the
1974 constitution which was abolished after a ruling military junta seized power in 1988, said Nyan Win.
The Nobel Peace Prize laureate has already lost two appeals against the conviction and her 18-month house
arrest expires on Nov. 13, a week after the country’s first election in two decades. Irrawaddy, 21 October
2010

29 October 2010, Friday


Burma’s Supreme Court is today to hear opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s final appeal against her
house arrest, due to end days after controversial elections next month. Burma has said that Suu Kyi may be
freed after November 7 elections, as it attempts to deflect a barrage of criticism over the discredited polls.
The detention of the Nobel Peace Prize laureate has kept her off the scene for the country’s first polls in 20
years, which have been dismissed by critics as a charade aimed at putting a civilian cloak over military rule.
Suu Kyi’s lawyers will present their argument to a panel of three judges in the capital Naypyidaw at the
hearing, which was due to start at 10 am (0330 GMT). It is unclear when a verdict will be announced. “We
have prepared everything,” one of her lawyers, Nyan Win, told AFP. “We will argue that she is not guilty.
We are hoping for her acquittal.” The democracy icon’s current term of detention is due to end on
November 13, although some fear Burma’s ruling generals may find an excuse to extend it. Suu Kyi lodged
the last-ditch appeal in May. She has already had her appeal rejected twice, most recently by the Supreme
Court in February. Court verdicts in the army-ruled country rarely favour opposition activists. Suu Kyi’s
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lawyers say the current period of detention started with her imprisonment on May 14 last year and expect
her to be freed next month, but they are continuing their efforts to have the conviction quashed. Burma’s
Foreign Minister Nyan Win told his Southeast Asian counterparts at a meeting in Hanoi this week that Suu
Kyi may be released after the November 7 poll. There was a cautious response to his comments from the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) but the United States accused Burma of “craven
manipulation” of its election. Bangkok Post, 29 October 2010

Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi looks set for release before nationwide elections to be held in a matter
of days, according to one of her lawyers outside Burma’s top court in Naypyidaw, where the special appeal
against her house arrest began today. “I believe that Aung San Suu Kyi will be free before the election,”
Nyan Win, one of three lawyers representing her, told Mizzima. Khin Htay Kywe and Kyi Win joined Nyan
Win as assistant counsel before the Special Appellate Bench of the Supreme Court in the junta’s capital,
which had accepted the special appeal after two lower courts rejected the basis of arguments made by Suu
Kyi’s legal team. Chief Justice Aung Toe led Deputy Chief Justice Tun Tun Oo and Justice Kyaw Win on
the three-member panel in the three-hour hearing amid calls yesterday and today by respectively US
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for release
of all political prisoners in Burma, Suu Kyi’s current sentence was due to expire on November 13, six days
after Burma’s first elections in 20 years. Party members and supporters were expecting her to be released
from detention at her home on Rangoon University Avenue road. Nevertheless, the court had failed to fix a
date for the next hearing, as was the junta courts usual practice, her lawyer said. “The appeal is to test the
state of Burma’s law and order. We seek not only the freedom of Aung San Suu Kyi but also to restore the
rule of law,” Nyan Win highlighted repeatedly. The leader of the National League for Democracy party has
spent most of her life in detention of various forms since her party won the last national elections in a
landslide in 1990. Party members Han Thar Myint, May Win Myint, Win Myint, Thein Oo, Aye Aye Mar,
Khin Saw Mu, Dr. Myo Aung, Lawyer Khin Maung Shein, Saw Nai Nai, and youth-wing members Myo
Nyunt, Myint Myint Aye, Thuza Lwin, and Min Maw Oo were permitted to attend the trial. Authorities
imposed no unusual security arrangements during the trial or near the court, a 1990 elected member of
parliament Saw Nai Nai told Mizzima. Suu Kyi’s earlier failed appeals were submitted at district and
division level courts. Mizzima, 29 October 2010

The truth shall make you free.


John 8:36 / Rev. Fr. John Sue, Revolutionary Priest
Burma Compatriots
Citizens for Peace, Liberty, Justice, Equality, Stability, and Prosperity
Revolutionaries against censorship, lawlessness, slave labor, rape, torture, corruption, and crony capitalism
Contact Info: burmacompatriots@gmail.com

Note: In honor of the strong will of the Burmese people, we would like to use the conventional English only
in all of our documentations regarding Democracy for Burma.

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