Burmese nationals hold portraits of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi during a protest outside the Myanmar embassy in Phnom Penh, May 27, 2009. Activists demonstrated for her release (Reuters/Chor Sokunthea).
YANGON, Burma – Burma's military government said Thursday that its trial of Aung San Suu Kyi would have no political impact, though many have criticized the proceedings as a ploy to sideline the pro-democracy leader during elections scheduled for 2010.
- New York Times Op-Ed (UN special rapporteur on human rights)
The highly popular Suu Kyi, whom the regime has sought to remove from the political arena through years of detention, is on trial for violating the terms of her house arrest after an American man swam to and sneaked into our lakeside home.
A Foreign Ministry statement, carried in state-owned newspapers, said the trial was strictly related to the rule of law and "will not have any political impact."
"The government, therefore, will hold multiparty general elections, fifth step of the Road Map, in 2010," the statement said, referring to the junta's "road map to democracy," which critics say will merely extend the military's decades-long rule under the guise of democracy.
The only witness the defense is allowed to call was scheduled to appear at Thursday's court session as the proceedings seemed to be nearing their end. More>>
Fact file on Aung San Suu Kyi, on trial in Burma. The trial was due to continue today as President Obama urged Burma to free the Nobel peace laureate and pro-democracy icon (AFP/Graphic).
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