Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Burma: Suu Kyi trial to be rushed

YANGON – Burma's military regime appeared to be rushing through the trial of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, with five witnesses testifying for the prosecution Tuesday. Her followers say the proceedings are designed to ensure the Nobel Peace laureate remains locked up during elections next year.

Suu Kyi, who has been in detention without trial for more than 13 of the past 19 years, is accused of violating the terms of her house arrest by allowing a visitor to stay at her home without official permission. The offense is punishable by up to five years' imprisonment.

She is on trial with two female members of her party, who live with her, and John W. Yettaw, the American man who triggered the charges by swimming to Suu Kyi's property under the cover of darkness earlier this month and sneaking uninvited into her home. More>>

Burma citizens living in Japan hold portraits of Aung San Suu Kyi as they demonstrate in front of the Myanmar embassy in Tokyo. Myanmar police officers have described to a court how they arrested a US man who swam to the house of Aung San Suu Kyi, as Asian nations joined the West in condemning the trial of the pro-democracy icon (AFP/Yoshikazu Tsuno).

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