Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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May 31, 2009

Burma Defends Trial Against Aung San Suu Kyi
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=2486108:A6F02AD83191E160AFC2310B0DC08A56A13B8D4F2090AB2B&
 
Burma says it had no choice but to prosecute San Suu Kyi for sheltering
an American man who made an uninvited visit to her lakeside home 
Burma says it had no choice but to prosecute detained opposition leader
Aung San Suu Kyi for sheltering an American man who made an uninvited
visit to her lakeside home. Burma's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi
(2008 file)Burma's Deputy Defense Minister, Major General Aye Myint,
said Sunday that Aung San Suu Kyi, in his words, "committed a cover-up
of the truth by her failure to report an illegal immigrant to the
authorities."The general told regional security officials gathered at an
annual summit in Singapore that the trial is an internal affair of Burma
and he warned other countries not to interfere. Earlier Sunday, British
Minister for International Defense and Security Ann Taylor told the
summit that Aung San Suu Kyi has support from people around the world
and should be released. On Saturday, Aung San Suu Kyi's lawyer said
Burmese military authorities allowed the Nobel Peace laureate to meet
with her defense team for two hours in Rangoon's notorious Insein
prison. Attorney Kyi Win told VOA that she is in good health. A
spokesman for her National League for Democracy Party, Nyan Win, also
said the court has postponed final arguments in Aung San Suu Kyi's trial
from Monday to next Friday. He said no reasons were given for the delay.
Aung San Suu Kyi is on trial for allegedly violating the terms of her
house arrest following a visit by an intruder who swam to her lakeside
home in early May and stayed overnight. The American intruder, John
Yettaw, is also on trial. If convicted, Aung San Suu Kyi could be
sentenced to a prison term of up to five years. She has spent 13 of the
past 19 years under house arrest. The sole defense witness allowed to
testify argued in court Thursday that it was the job of government
guards outside Aung San Suu Kyi's home to keep intruders out.

 


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