RANGOON, Burma – Riot police behind barbed wire barricades ringed a notorious prison where pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was to go on trial Monday [5/18/09] for allegedly harboring an American man who swam to her lakeside home.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 [pronounced "insane"] prison until Suu Kyi is freed.
Defense lawyers said the trial was scheduled for 10:30 a.m. (0300 GMT), but it was not immediately known whether it had begun.
The ambassadors of Great Britain, France, Germany, and Italy as well as an Australian diplomat were barred from entering the prison, but an American embassy official was allowed in since a U.S. citizen is on trial.
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.
"We call all political forces for Free Aung San Suu Kyi to mobilize 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. Burma is the old name for Myanmar and preferred by the military regime's opponents.
The groups included an organization of Buddhist monks, who were at the forefront of the 2007 protests, which were brutally crushed by the regime. More>>
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