The trial of Burma’s opposition leader continues this week. Aung San Suu Kyi is charged with breaching the terms of her house arrest, following her decision to allow a US national to briefly stay in her residence.
John Yettaw, who is also on trial, told the court he swam to the Nobel Peace Prize winner’s home of his own free will after dreaming she was going to be assassinated soon. Although Suu Kyi has denied any wrongdoing, she could still be jailed as the junta is determined to quiet her ahead of the country’s upcoming elections.
Nevertheless, the trial is a significant reminder about the gross human rights abuses which have been committed for decades now in Burma, especially as it concerns Suu Kyi, who has spent 17 of the last 19 years under military house arrest. Her case and those of her supporters have been well documented internationally.
Sadly, there seems to be no strong will by any world powers to help her due to the involvement of China, which has been accused of sponsoring the country’s junta. Last week’s UN Security Council statement regarding her plight was nothing but rhetoric. It is simply a joke that after all this time, the members of the Security Council could only “express their concern about the political impact of recent developments related to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi”.
We believe that this trial is a calculated attempt by the junta to prevent her from being released on 27 May when her current house arrest formally ends. The junta should do the right thing, and hand Aung San Suu Kyi back her people’s mandate.
editor@metroeireann.com
