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With news *Daw Aung San Suu Kyi may be released to organize her party for the pending election by Senior Burmese Diplomat Min Lwin, I am both happy and fearful. The last assassination attempt on Aung San Suu Kyi made by the junta on May of 2003 is a grim reminder of what the junta is capable of. The need for tight security should be on everybody’s roster if her release comes to pass. Fact is she should have security provided by an international contingent of security experts since I’m fearful the junta will try to have her whacked again. We must not forget the Burmese military’s involvement in the fateful assassination attempt of May 2003, notably Lt. Col. Than Han, Chairman of the Shwe Bo District Peace and Development Council who directed the massacre on May 25th. Over 100 top NLD officials were beaten to death on that fateful day. Fortunately Aung San Suu Kyi survived this attack, to the chagrin of Than Shwe.
The photo to the right shows Lt Col Than Han smiling during the massacre and assassination attempt of May 30th 2003
The release of the political prisoners is also on the agenda according to reports and this is also a welcome piece of news. But again, I am very guarded since the junta is not known for doing anything truly humanitarian. Their lives would be in danger as well since they would be in the public sector and subject to assassination as well. With gangs on the streets of Burma funded and supported by the junta “civilians” would have free reign to execute assassinations while keeping the junta’s hands clean. Is this a trick to get Aung San Suu Kyi out in the public sector then killed by some civilian loyal to the junta? Or is Than Shwe truly turning a new leaf? One thing is for certain, we must be vigilant regardless of what is said for the lives of Aung San Suu Kyi and the political prisoners are in the balance.
With her and the political prisoners release the next area of discord would be the Constitution of 2008 since it is inherently flawed and totally unconstitutional. What guarantee’s are there that the junta will relinquish power if they loose the elections in 2010? The fact they lost in 1990 then arrested the winners is a grim reminder of what can be expected if and when the NLD wins again. Credibility is a commodity that is in very short supply within the ranks of the elite class that has enslaved Burma. It’s ironic that word of a possible release has not stopped the arrests and incarcerations of opposition. Tortures continue on all political prisoners in Insein and other prisons around the country. Ethnic groups continue to flee by the droves as the Burmese Army continues their 4 cuts campaign as well as their genocide program.
Is this latest news just another ploy to buy more time for the junta as they prepare for this rigged election? Or are both Aung San Suu Kyi and the political prisoners simply a bargaining chip to extort money from the USA? If they are bargaining chips their lives will always be in jeopardy and true democracy will never come to pass. Only time will tell as we enter into a new phase as Burma spins towards 2010. On the other hand, what if Than Shwe actually decided to alter the course of destiny? If that were the case he would secure his place in the afterlife as well as that of his generals provided it was sincere. When it was all said and done and Than Shwe was sincere in altering Burma’s destiny I would be the first to give him accolades. I would write a piece that would honor his decision to allow Burma to live and be prosperous once again. But until then, I will continue to observe the activities within Burma with a judicious and skeptical eye.
Detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has written a letter to the head of Burma’s ruling junta with suggestions about how to get Western sanctions lifted, according to her lawyer.
“Aung San Suu Kyi’s letter is her thinking on how to work together to lift the sanctions,” Nyan Win, Suu Kyi’s lawyer, told The Irrawaddy on Friday.
According to diplomatic sources, Suu Kyi also asked for permission to meet with her family and senior members of her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), and requested a meeting with the junta’s top general, Snr-Gen Than Shwe.
Suu Kyi said that she wants to know how many sanctions have been imposed on Burma and how many people are negatively impacted by them. She also said she wants to hear the opinions of other countries through their ambassadors based in Burma, according to Nyan Win.
“To implement the proposal for lifting sanctions, we need to know all things,” Suu Kyi told Nyan Win. The letter will be sent to Snr-Gen Than Shwe in a few days, he added.
News of Suu Kyi’s letter comes two days after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced plans for a major policy shift that will include engaging with Burma’s military junta as part of an effort to promote political reform in the country.
Suu Kyi last asked the Burmese junta to cooperate with her to lift sanctions in 2007.
She said that sanctions could be lifted for the benefit of the country and its citizens, but added that she could not end the sanctions herself because they were imposed by the West, not her. Suu Kyi said she agreed with the Obama administration’s plans to engage in direct high-level talks with the junta, according to Nyan Win.
Clinton announced the new US approach on Wednesday at the United Nations after meeting with counterparts from a number of countries that are trying to convince Burma’s authoritarian regime to reform, allow dissent and release thousands of political prisoners, including Suu Kyi.
Clinton said US sanctions against members of Burma’s leadership would remain in place but that those measures would now be accompanied by outreach. Clinton had earlier stated that the sanctions alone were having little impact.
The United States and European Union have imposed sanctions on Burma due to its continued detention of Suu Kyi and its refusal to recognize the NLD’s victory in the country’s last election in 1990.
The junta sentenced the 64-year-old Suu Kyi to an extra 18 months in detention at her lakeside home in August after an incident in which an American man swam uninvited to her house.
Suu Kyi, Junta Liaison Officer Hold Meeting By WAI MOE Aung San Suu Kyi meets with the Burmese junta’s liaison officer for the first time in nearly two years. Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi met with the ruling junta’s liaison officer for the first time in nearly two years on Saturday, according to her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD).
Nyan Win, a spokesperson for the NLD, told The Irrawaddy today that Suu Kyi met with Aung Kyi, a retired major general who is also the regime’s labor minister, for nearly an hour at a government guesthouse near her lakeside home.
Aung San Suu Kyi (left) and Aung Gyi meet in October 2007. (Photo: AFP)
It was the first time the two have met since January 2008.“The meeting started at 1 pm and lasted about 45 minutes,” said Nyan Win, who is also Suu Kyi’s lawyer.
He added that it was unclear if the meeting was related to a letter she sent to regime leader Snr-Gen Than Shwe last week. “We still don’t know if they [Suu Kyi and Aung Kyi] discussed the letter because we haven’t heard any of the details of today’s meeting yet,” he said.
On Sept. 25, Suu Kyi sent a letter to the country’s top general to say she wanted to cooperate with the junta to lift sanctions on Burma. She also asked to meet with envoys from the United States, European Union and Australia to learn more about the sanctions.
NLD sources said that there has been no response to Suu Kyi’s letter so far.
According to Nyan Win, Suu Kyi’s family doctor, Tin Myo Win, was allowed to visit her on Friday from 2 pm to 4 pm. It was his first visit since Sept. 20, when he diagnosed Suu Kyi with low blood pressure.
“As far as I know, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is now well and in good sprits,” said Nyan Win.
Aung Kyi was appointed “Minister for Relations” to coordinate contacts with the detained democracy leader in October 2007, after the junta came under intense international condemnation for its brutal crackdown on Buddhist monk-led mass demonstrations the previous month.
At a press conference held in December 2007, Aung Gyi said his talks with Suu Kyi were proceeding well.
“I have met with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi three times. We have made progress at the meetings. The first meeting was aimed at gaining understanding between us. The second meeting was to discuss frameworks for the future. The third meeting was to discuss the facts that should be included in the framework,” Aung Kyi said at the time.
Three more meetings were held after this, but the talks abruptly ended in January 2008, when Suu Kyi said that they were mostly spent discussing trivial subjects. She said that some of their hour-long meetings were almost entirely devoted to making semantic distinctions between words like “cooperation” and “collaboration.”
Meanwhile, Rangoon remains under tight security today, as the authorities moved to prevent protests by monks demanding an apology from the junta for an incident that sparked outrage two years ago.
The All Burma Monks’ Alliance set Oct. 3 as the deadline for the regime to apologize for violently suppressing a peaceful demonstration by monks in the city of Pakkoku in September 2007. It also demanded the release of all monks imprisoned since the crackdown on the massive uprising that grew out of the Pakokku protests, known as the Saffron Revolution.
“Riot police are position around Shwedagon Pagoda, all major monasteries and the downtown area,” said a Rangoon resident.
Burmese Junta’s Allies Call for Suu Kyi’s Release By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSSaturday, October 3, 2009
GENEVA — China and other allies of the military government in Burma have joined an international call for the release of jailed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
India and Russia also aligned themselves with European countries and the US to demand that the Burmese junta release all political prisoners and allow them to take part in next year’s elections.
The UN Human Rights Council’s 47 members unanimously adopted the resolution in Geneva as a court in the junta rejected Suu Kyi’s latest appeal for freedom on Friday.
Beijing in particular has traditionally protected its southerly neighbor from criticism in the global body. Suu Kyi has been detained for about 14 of the last 20 years.
Jim Webb’s Garage SaleAs the western press goes hog wild with “new” news about Burma it is clear this is all a façade. Making a mountain out of a mole hill or simply stretching the truth about Aung San Suu Kyi’s position on sanctions, Than Shwe should thank Senator Jim “Garage Sale” Webb for promoting lies and misinformation. We might as well thank the corporate world for their manipulation of the press as well.
At this juncture it must be stated that there are no negotiations about lifting sanctions without Daw Aung Suu Kyi present. How could anyone other than a moron even consider discussing Burma’s fate without the duly elected leader of that nation anyway? Since Jim Webb opened the flood gates of miss-information the media has gone wild with speculation and bold faced lies about Burma. Why hasn’t the media given equal coverage about the continued brutality, rape and murder that has increased since Jim Webb’s first lie?
Without Aung San Suu Kyi at the table these actions by senators, presidents and the spineless United Nations are meaningless at best. The only thing accomplished; another attempt to sugar coat the presents of a myriad of international corporations already invested in Burma. Sanctions? Give me a break; through the art of triangulation international corporations have managed to side step sanctions. *Lee Seung Woo, of The Korea Federation of Textile Industries (KOFOTI), revealed that Korea already had approximately 30 textile factories operating in Burma. Further Woo boasted that labor was cheap, about $35 a month average wage and the KOFOTI had plans for more. Small wonder Ban Ki-moon has been so impotent in dealing with Burma. It would be a conflict of interest if Ban Ki-moon were invested in these firms or firms who are directly benefiting from Burma’s repression. So I wonder what Ban’s excuse would be why Korea does not have to comply with international sanctions. Dare we mention the totality of investments by Daewoo in Burma? Take a long hard look at the electronics section of your local store. Daewoo is lining the shelves across America.
The list goes on and on. **Tata Motors, the parent company of Land Rover and Jaguar, is investing throughout the UK making British subjects inadvertent violators of sanctions. Why? Don’t forget the truck building facility being built in Burma to build trucks for the junta under India’s “Look East Policy”. The frosting on the cake is U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s involvement in this game of charades. This sends chills down my spine since it was her husband Bill Clinton who sold America and the free world to China making her a favored nation. Clinton’s position on economics over humanity must not be forgotten for it will weigh heavily on the final “diplomatic” outcome in Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi MUST be at the table of negotiations for any dialogue to be legitimate. Anything less is a sham and a fraud. Sadly the U.S. State Department has been in negotiations for months already proving there is more at stake than the needs of the Burmese people. Without Aung San Suu Kyi at these critical meetings they are meaningless at the very best.
Daw Aung Suu Kyi had always promoted “engagement” with the junta so this is not a news flash as inept politicians boast of this achievement. I only see greedy politicians backed by corporations who want to join China and other Asian nations in the grab for Burma’s natural resources. Sanctions were nothing more than a feel good word since they were never enforced as the corporate world lined the pockets of murderers and rapists.Money laundering has become an art form as billions in profits were hidden for both the junta’s sake and the international corporate world. Now the World is “concerned” about the fate of Burma only after China scored the mother load in the oil and gas fields of this impoverished land. Torture, rape and genocide have no place in this equation, just the corporate bottom line.
As for Burma’s 2010 Election, you have to be drop dead stupid to even consider that it was legitimate in the first place. Only those who want to white wash Burma’s corrupt regime would by into this line of malarkey. Maybe Senator Jim “I lie” Webb got a million dollar ruby and his pick of Burmese starlets like Ibrahim Gambari for a favorable opinion of Burma. The bottom line is the fact that it’s all about the money Paisan, it’s all about the money.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi sent a letter to Than Shwe expressing her willingness to take part in the negotiations process to lift sanctions. If Than Shwe agrees to her request there is a glimmer of hope that true change will occur. If Than Shwe refuses to include her in the process the whole thing will be a sham and all the participants in this process will be nothing more than accomplices to a crime, plain and simple.
People Power is the only hope for Burma at this juncture. If “We the People of the World” unite and impose People Power Sanctions of our own we will alter the course of Burma’s destiny. If we don’t buy, corporations will die. It is time to arm ourselves with knowledge and seek out all corporate and government interests who are doing business with the junta either directly or indirectly. If it’s all about the money then we must fight fire with fire. We must make it known to all corporate and political interest that dealing with Than Shwe, or any other dictators, will not be tolerated by the “consumers” of the world. Money is the Achilles tendon of both the political and corporate world. Only after hitting them in the pocket book will true change evolve.
With Than Shwe’s bogus 2010 election just around the corner credibility has become a major issue. And with good reason since the junta did not like the outcome of the election of 1990 even though they sponsored it. You remember, that’s the election Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy won a landslide victory over Than Shwe’s regime. Sadly the voice of the people was not recognized by Gen. Than Shwe and the world was asleep at the wheel.
The proposed election of 2010 was designed to give Burma a white wash or sugar frosting and give Than Shwe’s criminal regime a semblance of legitimacy. The other benefit to the election was to give criminally negligent corporations who’ve ignored international sanctions some breathing room from public opinion. Credibility has not been in Than Shwe’s favor and the world knows the election is a sham. But in spite of this fact Than Shwe devised a newer scheme in an effort to give his bogus election the look and feel of a real election. It’s called the Democratic Party and they will place a candidate in the running for the 2010 election. Talk about a rigged election. Why even waste the money on ballots in the first place since Than Shwe has guaranteed his generals will win no matter who runs, except the true opposition. After all, true opposition is either in prison, dead or in hiding so they are effectively out of the running, so far.
Mya Than Than Nu, the daughter of U Nu; Nay Yee Ba Swe, the daughter of late Prime Minister Ba Swe; and Cho Cho Kyaw Nyein, the daughter of late Deputy Prime Minister Kyaw Nyein are the spearheads of this new attempt to give the bogus election of 2010 a face lift. Did Than Shwe really think he was going to slip this one by the world audience or is he as stupid as many of his generals says he is? I will leave that open to debate. Anyway, these three gals are going to run a staged opposition under the banner of the new *Democratic Party.
With the children of his cronies running the opposition I truly doubt these gals will want to give up the opulent life they lead or do time for winning the election like Aung San Suu Kyi. The sins of their fathers will not be an issue regardless of their blood soaked histories. Ethnic cleansing as well as wholesale genocide will not be an issue either since the 2010 elections will also provide amnesty to generals for all their heinous acts of brutality. Yes, it will be an election to behold as Than Shwe pushes to legitimize his criminal regime. And there sits the UN’s Ban Ki-moon hiding under the sofa hoping it will all go away and pinheads like U.S. Senator Jim Webb who can’t see past their wallets.
The fix is already in since the junta forced a new and totally unacceptable Constitution onto the people of Burma in 2008.
Through threats of death and starvation Than Shwe coerced people to vote yes as well as fix ballot boxes. Nothing like gun barrel politics to usher in more restrictive and totalitarian rules to keep a nation in bondage. With the Three Stoogettes (Mya, Nay and Cho) at the helm of the new Democratic Party the elections will be the mockery of the century but sadly the joke will be on the people of Burma.
A Transforming Power story from the film, Beyond Rangoon. In Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel Peace laureate, nonviolently faces the guns of government troops during a protest.
As the world scrambles to address the sham trial of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and how to deal with the legalities of international law they forget one thing. The fact the people of Burma elected Daw Aung Suu Kyi and her NLD party overwhelmingly in a junta sponsored election 1990 makes the junta illegitimate and working outside of the law of the land.
The so called government of Burma is not a government at all regardless of the façade of legitimacy Gen. Than Shwe and his band of criminals dress this nation. Part and parcel the world at large is responsible for the plight of the Burmese people because they did nothing to address the cries of the people when it was obvious they wanted democracy and to be rid of the cancer called Than Shwe. The world was too involved in the free for all of Burma’s abundant natural resources as Than Shwe bought time and distance from his criminal act. And we let it happen.
In a most rare action the ever so tolerant Association of Southeast Asian Nations made a condemnation of Burma stating its honor and credibility was at stake. Now there is a movement to suspend Burma from its membership in this Asian organization. Frankly Burma has not been a nation since 1962 and the only real hope for legitimization was in 1990 when the people voted the military junta out then pro democracy Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her party in. How obvious could the voice of the people be since this election was a historic landslide victory for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and a total rebuke of Than Shwe and his thugs? It’s simple math and plan as day the junta is not the will of the people just the end of a gun barrel.
Genocide, rape and slave labor are the signature of this band of thugs. The free world purports the cause of democracy and human rights and that appears to be a lie as well. We continually condemn Hitler, Pol Pot, The Green River Killer and other mass murderers yet we still allow the mass murderer of Burma to continue his blatant acts of crimes against humanity. The obscene part is Than Shwe’s use of religion to keep people at odds with one another. Than Shwe is no Buddhist and it will be ancient traditions that will prevail where man and humanity has failed.
Recently Than Shwe completed constructing the “Peace Pagoda” in Naypidaw with arrogance and total disregard to traditions and protocol. According to tradition a ruler who builds a Pagoda will fall from power in the near future as prescribed in past history. The fact Than Shwe and his regime has blood on their hands adds fuel to the fact he had no business doing anything “holy” for he is far from a pure and honest individual. On the opening day likened to a theme park 20 people were killed at the Peace Pagoda when the Ferris wheel collapsed. Traditional Buddhists called this a “sign” and a deadly omen for the regime. The fact he used Cyclone Nargis aid money to finance its construction also dishonored and disgraced this sacred Buddhist structure.
Earlier in May Than Shwe’s family including his wife Kyaing Kaying, family members and family members of the murderous generals participated in hoisting the hitdaw *(Sacred Umbrella) on top of the ancient Danok Pagoda in Dalla Township Than Shwe was restoring. Within Buddhist tradition everything about Than Shwe’s participation in either of these Pagoda’s dishonored and side stepped ancient protocol to say the very least. Rulers, murderers and criminals like Than Shwe were never to touch anything sacred, let alone build Pagodas or taint sacred objects such as the Danok Pagoda. Well, this weekend the 2,300 year old structure collapsed killing 20 people including men and women members of his military and injured 150 during the renovation. In an eerie eye witness account the sky drew very dark then suddenly a read light appeared along with strange haunting voice then the Pagoda came crumbling down.
It was said by elders the Danok Pagoda would shake when cruel and unkind people would donate to this ancient structure. The oral histories surrounding the Pagoda’s clearly has a mandate draped with customs, traditions and accountings of those who violated ancient protocol. Astrologers and elders view this as a grave sign for Than Shwe and his family as well as this blood soaked regime. Within all faiths and dogmas there are stories of how empires of greed were destroyed by the actions of an intangible force, ending their reign of terror. The fact we are living in a time of great change may be a coincidence to some. To others who’ve seen the power of the so called “intangible force” in action, Than Shwe’s bold acts of torture, rape and genocide while using religion as a tool will surely be rewarded.
So as the world looks on with great impotence and files more worthless sanctions maybe they should pay attention to what happens to Than Shwe and his kingdom of death and greed. This will be an example to all nations who use religion, race and gender to force the will of the people for monetary gain fore the era of greed is fast coming to a close. And there is nothing Than Shwe and his minions can do to stop it fore their days are numbered. Within my tribe we see the visions very clearly, not only for Than Shwe but for all of humanity. Dogmas from around the world point to this time we live yet everyone ignores them in quest for material gain over humanity. Every dog has his day and Than Shwe will surely have his but it will also be a grave omen to others who walk with the axiom of greed as well.
John William Yettaw arrived Rangoon airport on 2 May, stayed at the hotel and the next day swam across the Inya Lake and went to the Aung San Suu Kyi’s house as published on the junta’s web sites are just the premeditated plot.
John William Yettaw has Asthma and he is also coward according to his wife. What the junta said that he used water bottle as the buoyancy to swim is just a fabrication.
Even Yettaw’s wife said that “When I heard he used a water bottle for buoyancy to swim I couldn’t believe it. How could he swim as he is suffering from not only Asthma but also Diabetes?”
Based on the comments from the person closest to him, his wife, Yettaw is unfit both physically and mentally to swim in the lake at night time, it’s simply impossible.
If Yettaw didn’t swim across the lake to Aung San Suu Kyi house, then we must seek the truth fore the version being told by the junta is nothing more than a fairy tale.
People are very upset about what the junta did to Aung San Suu Kyi since they already knew this was nothing more than a political ploy.
When the junta took Aung San Suu Kyi from her home and charged her in the Insein Prison, a conscientious citizen from Rangoon with first hand knowledge of the incident contacted us. He was a taxi driver and at first he said he had information on John Willam Yettaw. So we made an appointment and met.
When we first met he explained that he didn’t know the name of Yettaw at that time, but now he clearly identified his face when he saw him on the news. Knowing the junta was using Yattaw as a scapegoat in this criminal scheme the taxi operator could not keep silent about this injustice against our true leader.
We agreed in advance not to record our conversation but because of the serious nature of this matter but I made sure to record the conclusion of our conversation. For fear of retribution from the junta for revealing such damning evidence I was compelled to keep the cabbie anonymous.
He said; “On 2 May, Yettaw hired my Taxi from the Rangoon airport and dropped him in front of Aung San Suu Kyi’s house. I saw Yettaw display a red card to the security guard then they ushered him into the compound. I thought, at that time, this was just normal and did not think anything about it”.
You can listen to the short recording file here.
(You can download here and play with VLC Media Player)
The true account is as follow: Yettaw entered the Aung San Suu Kyi’s house compound with the help of the junta’s security and hide inside. And the next day morning when Aung San Suu Kyi’s roommates saw him, he made himself to look as if he just swam across the lake then said; “I just swam across the lake and I am ailing, starving and very tired”.
Clearly Yettaw displayed a red card/pass to the security that ushered him into the compound. Then Yettaw hide and prepared himself to look as if he just swam across the lake in this calculated and divisive junta operation.
Another aspect to consider is the fact the junta hurriedly replaced the security guards after the incident in an attempt to erase as many clues as possible. John William Yettaw did not swim across the lake. This was just a junta ploy. For the sake of justice we are publishing this true accounting for the world to see as Aung San Suu Kyi goes to trial. I would also like to express my sincerest appreciation to the taxi driver who bravely informed us of this true account.
This is the translated version of Junta’s Plot published on http://www.niknayman-niknayman.co.cc/
You can get the link here at http://www.bdcburma.org/NewsDetails.asp?id=421
RANGOON, Burma — Burma’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi told a court Tuesday she didn’t think she was violating the terms of her house arrest when she gave “temporary shelter” to a surprise American visitor earlier this month.
Appearing frail and pale but managing an occasional smile, Suu Kyi was questioned for less than half an hour about John W. Yettaw, who swam uninvited to her lakeside house.
The 63-year-old Nobel Peace laureate faces a possible prison term of up to five years in a trial that has brought worldwide outrage. Her testimony is scheduled to continue Wednesday.
The charges against Suu Kyi are widely considered a pretext to keep her detained ahead of elections the military government has planned for next year. She pleaded innocent Friday, but a guilty verdict is expected.
Burma’s courts operate under the influence of the ruling military, and almost always deal harshly with political dissidents.
Reporters and diplomats, including a reporter for The Associated Press, were allowed into the courtroom for Tuesday’s session, the second time during the trial that such rare access has been granted.
“Thank you for your concern and support. It is always good to see people from the outside world,” she told reporters and diplomats before being escorted out of the court by four policewomen.
“Given her ordeal, she is in reasonably good shape,” said British Ambassador Mark Canning, who met with Suu Kyi last week.
Her latest round of house arrest — extended every year since 2003 — was supposed to end this week, and a top police official said Tuesday that the government had considered releasing her on “humanitarian grounds.”
But the junta canceled that decision when the “unexpected incident of the intrusion of the American happened,” Brig. Gen. Myint Thein said.
Suu Kyi has been charged with violating conditions of her house arrest by sheltering Yettaw, 53, at her home for two days, communicating with him and giving him food.
Suu Kyi’s lawyers have said she did not invite him and asked him to leave, but allowed him to stay when he said he was too ill to leave immediately.
Suu Kyi told the judge that Yettaw, who was also in the courtroom, arrived at her home around 5 a.m. on May 4. One of her companions told her about his arrival.
When asked if she reported his presence to the authorities, Suu Kyi said, “No, I did not.” She said she spoke to Yettaw and gave him “temporary shelter,” and he left just before midnight May 5.
Suu Kyi’s side does not contest the facts of the case. Suu Kyi earlier told her lawyers she did not report Yettaw because she did not want him or security personnel in charge of her house to get into trouble.
Suu Kyi told her lawyers the incident occurred because of a security breach — the house is tightly guarded — so the responsibility for allowing Yettaw in lies with the security forces.
Two women assistants who live with her, and Yettaw, also have pleaded not guilty to the same charge.
When he pleaded not guilty, Yettaw, from Falcon, Missouri, explained he had a dream that Suu Kyi would be assassinated and he had come to warn her that her life was in danger.
Suu Kyi rose to prominence as a leader of the 1988 democracy uprising, which was brutally suppressed. Her father was the greatly revered Aung San, who led the independence struggle against Great Britain but was assassinated in 1947.
Suu Kyi’s party won general elections in 1990 but the military, which has ruled the country since 1962, never accepted the results.
The government has scheduled elections next year as the culmination of a “road map to democracy,” which has been criticized as a fig leaf for continued military rule.
Suu Kyi’s trial comes weeks after the European Union announced it was stepping up humanitarian aid to the impoverished country, also known as Burma, and the United States said it was reviewing its policy — including speculation that it might soften sanctions the regime says have crippled its economy.
But now the EU is talking of introducing tougher sanctions in response to the trial, and the administration of President Barack Obama has announced it will continue its economic penalties.
A former inmate at Burma’s Insein jail tells the BBC about conditions where … Inside Burma’s Insein prison · Aung San Suu Kyi: A life in pictures… news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3006922.stm – 62k -
With news *Daw Aung San Suu Kyi may be released to organize her party for the pending election by Senior Burmese Diplomat Min Lwin, I am both happy and fearful. The last assassination attempt on Aung San Suu Kyi made by the junta on May of 2003 is a grim reminder of what the junta is capable of. The need for tight security should be on everybody’s roster if her release comes to pass. Fact is she should have security provided by an international contingent of security experts since I’m fearful the junta will try to have her whacked again. We must not forget the Burmese military’s involvement in the fateful assassination attempt of May 2003, notably Lt. Col. Than Han, Chairman of the Shwe Bo District Peace and Development Council who directed the massacre on May 25th. Over 100 top NLD officials were beaten to death on that fateful day. Fortunately Aung San Suu Kyi survived this attack, to the chagrin of Than Shwe.
