BurmaNet News, May 22, 2009

[Editor]

May 22, 2009, Issue #3716


INSIDE BURMA
BBC News: Burma says Suu Kyi visit 'staged'
Mizzima News: Junta denies framing case against Suu Kyi
New Light of Myanmar: Hearing on lawsuit against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Daw
Khin Khin Win, Ma Win, Ma Ma and American Citizen Mr John William Yettaw
continues for fourth day
Irrawaddy: Burmese army on internal alert
Irrawaddy: Burmese soldiers torture civilians in Shan State
Associated Press of Pakistan: Demarche made with Myanmar on arrest of Ms.
Aung San Suu Kyi

ON THE BORDER
Reuters: Bangladesh reports new influx of Myanmar Muslims

REGIONAL
AFP: Secret agent or boyfriend?
The Korea Times: DJ Donates $10,000 for Suu Kyi

INTERNATIONAL
Bloomberg (US): UN Chief Ban plans Myanmar visit to press for Suu Kyi’s
release
Reuters: EU ministers to press Myanmar on Suu Kyi trial
Irrawaddy: Suu Kyi to receive Gandhi Award

OPINION / OTHER
Guardian (UK): Suu Kyi needs the UN to act, not talk – Meghan Clyne



____________________________________
INSIDE BURMA

May 22, BBC News
Burma says Suu Kyi visit 'staged'

Burma's military regime has blamed the incident which led to the arrest of
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on "anti-government elements".

State media quoted the foreign minister as saying that a visit to the home
of Ms Suu Kyi by a US national was a stunt designed to embarrass the
government.

Ms Suu Kyi is accused of breaking the terms of her house arrest and faces
up to five years in jail if convicted.

Witnesses are continuing to testify at her trial, which began on Monday.

The trial of Aung San Suu Kyi has been widely condemned - not just by
Burma's Western critics, but by its Asian neighbours too, as a ruse to
keep her locked up until after the elections scheduled for next year.

In an apparent response to the criticism, the Burmese authorities made a
rare concession earlier this week, allowing some journalists and foreign
diplomats to observe the trial at Rangoon's Insein jail for a day.

Burma's Foreign Minister U Nyan Win defended the government's actions by
saying the incident - when the American man swam to her heavily guarded
lakeside house - had been fabricated by "internal and external
anti-government elements".

He was quoted in the New Light of Myanmar as saying the stunt had been
"trumped up to intensify international pressure" on Burma.

Conviction 'almost certain'

Government witnesses have continued to give evidence, producing numerous
photographs taken by US national John Yettaw while he was at the house,
and two Arabian-style women's gowns, which he allegedly used to disguise
himself.

He is reported to have testified that he made the risky visit because he
had a dream that she would be assassinated.

Ms Suu Kyi's lawyers say she tried to send the man away, but he refused to
go, and that she only allowed him to stay because he said he was
exhausted.

Diplomats expect the trial to finish next week, and believe she will
almost certainly be convicted.

Ms Suu Kyi has been in detention for more than 13 of the past 19 years.

Her latest period of house arrest was scheduled to expire on 27 May, and
many observers see this case against her as a pretext to ensure she is
still in detention in 2010, when Burma's ruling generals say they will
hold multi-party elections.

Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party won the last
elections, in 1990, but was never allowed to take power.

____________________________________

May 22, Mizzima News
Junta denies framing case against Suu Kyi

Burma's Foreign Minister, Nyan Win, has denied allegations that the regime
has framed its case against Aung San Suu Kyi, arguing instead that it was
the synchronized foul play of the opposition forces that has resulted in
the current trial.

"We are trying to restore constructive engagement with the outside world,
including the U.S., Japan and E.U. At this crucial time, some opposition
forces at home and abroad might try to sabotage and derail this work of
constructive engagement with the international community with an intention
of bringing back international pressure on Myanmar [Burma]. This [the
situation surrounding the trial] may be the synchronized foul play of
these elements," the state-run New Light of Myanmar reported today in
citing the Foreign Minister.

It was the junta's first public announcement denying allegations of
framing the case against Aung San Suu Kyi with the intention of prolonging
her detention and barring her from contesting the upcoming 2010 election.

Additionally, according to the paper, Nyan Win and his Japanese
counterpart, Foreign Minister Hiro Fumi Nakasone, talked over the phone on
May 18th, the first day of Aung San Suu Kyi's court hearing.

The paper reported that the Japanese Foreign Minister expressed his
worries over Aung San Suu Kyi's trial, saying he was concerned over the
successful holding of the 2010 general election and the negative effect on
the junta's image that this case may have in the international community.

"Though it is the judicial process of Burma, we urge you to take into
consideration the opinions of the international community and to take
action in a more appropriate way," Nakasone reportedly told Nyan Win
according to the state-run daily. "Moreover, it is a crucial time for the
transition to democracy in Burma, so that this democratization process
should be made respectable to the international community too".

Aung San Suu Kyi’s present term of house arrest is set to expire on May
27th, after six consecutive years of detention, and cannot again be
extended according to existing Burmese law.

The New Light of Myanmar added that Nyan Win gave his assurances that the
trial would be conducted within the framework of the law.

____________________________________

May 22, New Light of Myanmar
Hearing on lawsuit against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Daw Khin Khin Win, Ma
Win, Ma Ma and American Citizen Mr John William Yettaw continues for
fourth day

Criminal Case No. 47/2009 filed against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Daw Khin
Khin Win, Ma Win Ma Ma and American citizen Mr. John William Yettaw went
on for the fourth day at the court of Yangon North District today.

When he was asked by U Nyan Win, lawyer of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi,
Prosecution witness Police Captain Tin Zaw Tun said he arrived at the
residence of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi at 7.20 am on 7 May to seize the items
left there by Mr. John William Yettaw and to investigate the entry of Mr
John William Yettaw. During his search of the residence, he was not
disturbed by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Daw Khin Khin Win and Daw Win Ma Ma, he
said. He asked Daw Khin Khin Win and Daw Win Ma Ma to wear chadors and
took photos of Daw Khin Khin Win and Daw Win Ma Ma, he answered.

Asked by U Hla Myo Myint, lawyer of Daw Khin Khin Win and Daw Win Ma Ma,
Police Captain Tin Zaw Tun answered that if Bahan Township Police Station
provided security to the residence under restriction order evidence (b-2),
separate units would take responsibility for main security duty.

In response to the question of Mr. John William Yettaw's lawyer U Khin
Maung Oo, Police Captain Tin Zaw Tun said that the reason he could say the
two sets of clothes were the chadors for Muslim women was that they were
usually worn by Muslim women; and that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said the
chadors were just given to her as a present.

In his statement, prosecution witness U Zaw Tin from Criminal Case No.
47/2009 said that he is serving as Chairman of Ngahtetkyi Ward Peace and
Development Council in Bahan Township; that he was summoned to the
township PDC office at 5 a.m. on 7 May and met with Police Capt Tin Zaw
Tun; that at about 5.30 a.m. Police Capt Tin Zaw Tun took him together
with Kyaikkahsan Ward PDC Chairman U Khin Nyunt to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's
house on University Avenue; that when they got permission to enter the
house, they entered it; that when the police captain showed a photo and
asked Daw Aung San Suu Kyi if she knew the man in the photo, she replied
she did; that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi then asked a young women to bring the
items the foreigner left; that besides, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said there
was a Dhamma book he left and she went upstairs to bring it; that the
seized objects were all listed in their presence and altogether there were
23 items; and that she also showed them the room the foreigner stayed in.

In his statement, prosecution witness Manager U Kyaw Thu of Beauty Land
Hotel said that the hotel address was No. (188/192), 33rd Street,
Kyauktada Township; that Mr. John William Yettaw put up at the hotel two
times – one time from 7 November to 3 December 2008 and the other on 2 May
2009; that he stayed there only for one day and paid for the room for five
days; that at about 10 p.m. on 3 May he said that he was going to spend
the night at his friend's house and left the room key; that he did not
come back to the hotel on 4 and 5 May; that at about 10 a.m. on 6 May,
Police Captain Sa Kyaw Win and witnesses Ward PDC Chairman U Myo Thein and
head of hundred houses U Htay Oo arrived at the hotel and the hotel room
Mr John William Yettaw stayed in was shown to them; that some clothes and
a big bag were found on the wardrobe in the room; that there were
altogether 61 items including the items in the bag; that he signed the
search form as the one who handed over the seized objects; that Police
Captain Sa Kyaw Win and police members went back to the hotel at 6.20 p.m.
the same day and asked permission to search again the room that Mr John
William Yettaw had stayed in; that together with Chairman of Ward Peace
and Development Council U Myo Thein and Head of 100-house U Htay Oo, he
took them to that room; that they went back there to check three
100-dollar notes in the cover of telephone directory as said by Mr. John
William Yettaw; that he signed the search form in the presence of the
witnesses as the one who handed the dollar notes.

In questioning another prosecution witness U Khin Nyunt, Chairman of
Kyaikkasan Ward PDC in Bahan Township, he said that he went to the
residence of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi together with Head of Bahan Township
Police Force Police Captain Tin Zaw Tun and U Zaw Tin at about 5.30 a.m.
on 7 May; that they got permission to enter the house at 7.20 a.m.; that
when the police captain asked Daw Aung San Suu Kyi whether she knew the
man in the photo showing her a photo and a paper she replied that she knew
him; that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi replied in the affirmative when the police
captain asked her if there were some objects the foreigner left; that Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi handed the items the foreigner left; they listed them in
the search form and confiscated them; that there were 23 items; that some
of the 23 seized items as far as he remembered were two black chadors
usually worn by Muslim women, two skirts, two scarves, three pairs of sun
glasses; one red torch light; that she was responsible for those things
and signed in the search form; that, when Police Captain Tin Zaw Tun asked
whose those things were, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said that they were given to
her as presents; that, at the request of Police Captain Than Soe, they
went to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's house at twelve noon on 12 May; that they
got permission to enter the compound of the house at about 1 p.m. that
they happened to see Daw Win Ma Ma coming out of the house, carrying a
pillow, a pillowcase, a white plate, a spoon and fork, two paso (sarongs),
a T-shirt and a large towel; that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi handed over those
things, saying they were the things the foreigner used during his stay at
her house.

Then prosecution witness Police Major Aung Htut Kyaw was examined. He
stated that he was in charge of the computer section of overseas division;
that Police Captain Maung Maung Myint handed over to him the things said
to be Mr John William Yettaw's, that they were a Canon camera and six
memory cards, that there were 331 photos and one video file filmed by Mr
John William Yettaw himself in Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's house; that the
video file and photos showed flippers, different stages of using flippers,
Mr John William Yettaw trying them on, Mr John William Yettaw in disguise,
the downstairs sitting-room of the house and pictures there, and his
photos taken by himself on his arrival at Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's house at
night. Police Major Aung Htut Kyaw showed the photos with the help of a
computer. In the video file, Mr John William Yettaw said that he was in
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's house and asked for her permission to take her
photos and to upload them on YouTube website; that he throught she refused
because she was frightened; that he had caused her a lot of trouble on 30
November 2008; that he left his family behind; that he believed God was
with him and protect him; that he admired Daw Aung San Suu Kyi; that he
did not blame her for not allowing him to take her photos; that she would
have to face lots of hardships in future; that he prayed that he might be
able to help her; that he spent the previous night at the house; that
today was 6 May; that he had been hoping the whole night to go back to
Thailand; that he felt delighted and proud of staying there.

The proceedings were adjouned until 10 a.m. on 22 May to examine the rest
of prosecution witnesses. — MNA
____________________________________

May 22, Irrawaddy
Burmese army on internal alert – Min Lwin

The generals who run Burma don't encourage their subordinates to pay
attention to the political affairs of the country. So when soldiers start
huddling around radios listening to news of the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi,
the generals start to panic.

According to military sources who spoke to The Irrawaddy recently,
commanders around the country have been alerted this week by Naypyidaw to
keep a close watch on armed personnel and their families.

The military head office reportedly issued a communiqué to all battalion
commanders earlier this week ordering them to “strictly control” the
activities of all personnel and their family members and warn them not to
take part in any anti-government demonstrations that might occur in the
near future.

Family members are currently not allowed to go outside the military
compounds where they live, said the sources. Only armed soldiers on duty
are allowed outside the barracks.

“It seems that Than Shwe is worried that his troops and their families may
be Daw Suu sympathizers,” said a military source in Rangoon.

Normally, Burmese senior generals do not allow army, navy and air force
personnel to listen to or watch broadcasts involving the NLD leader, but
now the barracks are buzzing with rumors and updates from the Insein
courtroom, said the source.

“We are interested to see if the government will sentence Daw Suu,” said a
family member from Naypyidaw military regional command. “We certainly
don’t think Daw Suu could be guilty of this crime.”

Meanwhile, Maj Aung Linn Htut, a former intelligence officer who currently
lives in the United States, said in an open letter that many Burmese army
staff want the world to know that there is a profound difference between
the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) and the Tatmadaw, the
regular soldiers of the Burmese army.

Aung Linn Htut said that the SPDC was run by senior military generals who
controlled the country’s government and economy. Their families were
granted all the business concessions, he said.

On the other hand, low-ranked officers, soldiers and general staff members
did not receive benefits and faced the same economic hardships as the
general public.

In his open letter, Aung Linn Htut said that there were angry mutterings
among the army regulars around the country because they were excluded from
their superiors’ access to foreign currency and earnings from natural gas
revenues.

According to the former intelligence officer, the Burmese military
government earned several million of dollars selling natural gas to
Thailand and had financed its new executive capital in Naypyidaw from the
proceeds.

He accused the SPDC of rifling the nation’s wealth and said payments for
natural gas were not transferred to the Ministry of Revenue, but were
deposited in a bank account in an unknown foreign country run by the Union
of Myanmar Economic Holding Limited (UMEHL).

UMEHL, also known in Burmese as U Pai, was founded in 1990 and deals with
the investments and savings of military personnel, military units, retired
military personnel, army veteran organizations and the Ministry of
Defense.

According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the
junta’s military expenditures account for more than 40 percent of the
national budget while Burma’s health and education spending is 0.4 percent
and 0.5 percent respectively, as reported in the UK-based Burma Digest
online publication.

The Burmese military government buys most of its weapons from Russia,
Ukraine, North Korea, China and India, according to researchers.
____________________________________

May 22, Irrawaddy
Burmese soldiers torture civilians in Shan State – Saw Yan Naing

The Burmese army arrested and tortured villagers in Hsi Hseng Township in
Shan State on Tuesday including village headmen and school teachers,
accusing them of having connections with ethnic rebels, according to
ethnic sources.

On May 14, a 15-year-old girl was raped by a group of 12 Burmese soldiers
led by Myint Oo when she went to her garden, villagers said. The girl is
now in Taunggyi Hospital in Shan State.

Burmese soldiers also cut off the hands of a villager named U Lone, said
Khun Joi Hto, a spokesperson for the Pa-O National Liberation Organization
(PNLO).

The incidents followed a clash in which soldiers of the PNLA and the Karen
National Liberation Army (KNLA) attacked Burmese troops on May 3 near His
Hseng in Shan State. The PNLA is the military wing of the Pa-O National
Liberation Organization (PNLO).

Twelve Burmese soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion 426 led by Myo Aung
were killed, sources said.

On Tuesday, the Burmese army returned to the village. “They beat villagers
and asked them where the rebels were,” said Khun Joi Hto.

The PNLO split from the ceasefire group known as Shan State Nationalities
Peoples’ Liberation Organization (SSNPLO) in late 2007.

Local villagers said that Burmese soldiers beat and tortured them in
revenge. Some villagers are still in hiding in jungle while others have
fled to the Thailand-Burma border. The Burmese army also threatened local
villagers that it would burn villages.

Sources also said that Burmese commander Bri-Gen Myo Aye who leads
Military Operation Command 7 told the Pa-O ceasefire group, the Pa-O
National Organization (PNO), that he would seize its region because the
ceasefire group was not able to control the region.

The PNO, led by Aung Kham Hti, signed a ceasefire agreement with the
Burmese regime in April in 1991.
____________________________________

May 22, Associated Press of Pakistan
Demarche made with Myanmar on arrest of Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi

Ambassador of the Union of Myanmar was called to the Foreign Office on
Fiday and a demarche made with him regarding the arrest and trial of Ms.
Aung San Suu Kyi. It was conveyed to the Ambassador that Pakistan was
deeply concerned about this unfortunate development and would urge the
government of Myanmar to consider reviewing their decision and releasing
Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi immediately.

According to the Foreign Office Spokesman, it was underlined that her
early release would serve the fundamental interest of Myanmar with which
Pakistan enjoyed close cooperative relations.

The Ambassador undertook to convey the contents of the demarche to his
government.

____________________________________
ON THE BORDER

May 22, Reuters
Bangladesh reports new influx of Myanmar Muslims – Nural Islam

Bangladesh stepped up vigilance at its border with Myanmar after a fresh
influx of Rohingya Muslims was reported, officials said on Friday.

Rohingya refugees have presented problems for several other countries in
the region in recent months, with reports of Thailand putting those who
come by boat back to sea, and others reaching Malaysia and Indonesia and
trying to work illegally.

Local residents and media said about 1,000 Rohingya Muslims entered
Bangladesh in just the past three days, alleging increased persecution by
Myanmar's military junta.

"They forced us from our homes and threatened to treat us even worse if we
go back," said Syed Alam, who crossed the Naf river on the border in a
small boat with five family members.

"The eviction of Muslims in Rakhine state ... increased in recent weeks
after the (Myanmar) military started clearing space to build an army
garrison," he told reporters in Cox's Bazar.

Rakhine borders Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar district. Alam said about 120
families were evicted from his village, and more were being forced out. "I
chose to leave my country as a last resort."

Bangladeshi officials said some of the Rohingyas stated they feared
torture as they supported the democracy movement of Aung San Suu Kyi, now
on trial for allegedly harbouring a U.S. citizen in her home while under
house arrest.

Bangladesh and Myanmar share a 320 km (200 mile) border, partly demarcated
by the Naf, with frontier guards on both sides keeping an eye on illegal
immigration.

Yet the flow of Myanmar refugees has been unabated. Major Tanim Hossain, a
Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) border guards officer, said the BDR had pushed
back nearly 300 new entrant Rohingyas in the past few days.

"We have increased vigilance at the border to prevent the influx of
Rohingyas," he said on Friday.

Giasuddin Ahmed, the district administrator of Cox's Bazar, said he felt
the Rohingyas might be trying to use the recent turmoil in Myanmar over
Suu Kyi's trial as a pretext to leave.

More than 21,000 Rohingyas have been living in two Cox's Bazar caps, run
by the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, since early 1992, when some
250,000 Rohingyas fled to Bangladesh.

They alleged persecution by the military in what was then Burma, but the
UNHCR managed to send most of them back within a short time. The rest
refused to return and the U.N. agency says they cannot force anyone to go
back against their will.

Cox's Bazar officials say more then 200,000 Rohingyas live outside the
camps, mixing with local Muslims who have an almost common language.

Muslims are a minority in Myanmar, where most of the population is Buddhist.

(Additional reporting by Azad Majumder)

____________________________________
REGIONAL

May 22, The Korea Times
DJ Donates $10,000 for Suu Kyi – Do Je-hae

Former President Kim Dae-jung met with a group of exiled Myanmar
parliamentary leaders and officials of the Korean chapter of the National
League for Democracy (NLD), headed by pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu
Kyi, at his home in Seoul Friday.

Kim made a contribution of $10,000 to the Burmese activists, asking them
to use it to support Suu Kyi's political cause.

The fund was raised during a 2007 Seoul event held under the theme ``Free
Burma (Myanmar), Free Suu Kyi,'' aimed at raising domestic awareness of
the democracy movement in Myanmar and urging the release of the Burmese
opposition leader.

According to a spokesperson, Kim expressed concerns regarding recent
reports of Suu Kyi's alleged violation of a house arrest imposed by the
Myanmar military regime ahead of her release slated for May 27.

Foreign media have reported that an American recently trespassed into the
Myanmar opposition leader's home and stayed overnight, which, according to
the military regime, constitutes a breach of the house arrest conditions.
She is to be put on trial for allowing the trespasser into her home.

The parliamentary delegation is composed of several legislators who have
been in exile in Thailand since 1990 after the military regime refused to
relinquish its authority. They have since been leading pro-democracy
activities from abroad.

During their meeting with Kim, the 2000 Nobel Prize laureate, the
delegates explained the latest developments in Myanmar's democracy efforts
as well as the current circumstances surrounding their leader Suu Kyi's
alleged violation of house arrest.

``Korea also struggled under a military dictatorship for a long period of
time before achieving democracy. I am sure that history will make note of
your dedication to righteousness and freedom,'' Kim told them.

``I hope that you will continue to demonstrate courage on behalf of your
people who are suffering under autocratic rule,'' he added.

The delegation also expressed their gratitude for Kim's consistent support
of Myanmar's pro-democracy activists.

jhdo at koreatimes.co.kr

____________________________________

May 22, Agence France Presse
Secret agent or boyfriend?

Myanmar's consul general in Hong Kong has posted a letter on the Internet
suggesting the American man arrested for visiting democracy icon Aung San
Suu Kyi was a "secret agent or her boyfriend."

"Some of our friends inquired about an American, who swam into the Inya
Lake, who secretly visited Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's house," said the letter
seen Friday on the consulate's website.

"Their question is why he swam to her and what they discussed within his
stay at her house," said the letter signed by "the Consulate General of
the Union of Myanmar."

"Frankly, we have no idea whether he is either secret agent or her
boyfriend at this moment. We shall try to learn it and tell you later," it
said.

For emphasis, the words "either secret agent or her boyfriend" were in
bold and underlined.

The posting refers to the bizarre incident in which a 53-year-old
American, John Yettaw, used a pair of homemade flippers to swim across a
lake to Aung San Suu Kyi's house, where he allegedly stayed between 3 May
and 5 May.

The intrusion of Yettaw, who was arrested as he swam back to shore, led to
the 63-year-old opposition leader being charged with violating the
conditions of her house arrest. Both are on trial this week.

The incident may have provided Myanmar's ruling junta with a pretext for
extending her detention order — which was due to expire on 27 May — beyond
polls due in 2010.

The letter was described by the South China Morning Post Friday "as
another gaffe" by the "most undiplomatic diplomat in Hong Kong" — Myanmar
consul general Ye Myint Aung.

Ye Myint Aung sparked a controversy in February, during concerns over
Myanmar's apparent expulsion of members of its Rohingya minority, when he
wrote that they were as "ugly as ogres".

The letter was sent to the media and foreign officials after Thailand's
military was accused of towing hundreds of Rohingya out to sea in poorly
equipped boats with scant food and water after they tried to flee Myanmar.

"In reality, Rohingya are neither Myanmar people nor Myanmar's ethnic
group," his letter said.

He contrasted the "dark brown" Rohingya complexion with the "fair and
soft" skin of people from Myanmar such as himself.

____________________________________
INTERNATIONAL

May 22, Bloomberg (US)
UN Chief Ban plans Myanmar visit to press for Suu Kyi’s release – Michael
Heath

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he will visit Myanmar
“as soon as possible” to press for the release of opposition leader Aung
San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners.

“I am deeply concerned about what has been happening in Myanmar in terms
of democratization and I’m going to urge again the release of political
prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi,” he told CNN, adding her
imprisonment is “unacceptable.”

Suu Kyi, 63, went on trial four days ago accused of breaching a house
arrest order that expires next week. Pro- democracy campaigners say the
ruling generals are looking for a legal pretext to put her in jail before
2010 elections.

Ban said Suu Kyi, who is being held in Insein Prison in the former
capital, Yangon, is in good health and UN officials in the country are
monitoring her condition. Ban spoke in an interview with CNN aired
yesterday.

If Suu Kyi is found guilty, she could be jailed for as many five years.
The Nobel Peace Prize winner has spent 13 years in detention since her
National League for Democracy party won Myanmar’s last elections in 1990,
a result rejected by the military that has ruled the country formerly
known as Burma since 1962.

Elections ‘Illegitimate’

Suu Kyi’s trial shows the junta’s plan for elections next year is
“illegitimate,” U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said two days ago.
“It is outrageous that they are trying her and they continue to hold her
because of her political popularity.”

The U.S. is “working very hard” to bring more influence to bear on
Myanmar’s military to return the country to democracy, Clinton said in
Washington.

“There are several countries that have influence on the Burmese junta and
we are going to try to do our best to influence them to see that this
repressive regime is not one” that continues to be supported, she said.
China and India, Myanmar’s closest allies, are “major players,” Clinton
added.

Ban visited Myanmar in May last year after the country was devastated by a
cyclone, winning agreement from Senior General Than Shwe to admit foreign
aid workers.

He told CNN he is “very seriously” discussing a date for the visit with
Myanmar’s government. He didn’t elaborate.

Ban’s envoy, Nigerian diplomat Ibrahim Gambari, has visited Myanmar five
times since the junta crushed pro-democracy demonstrations led by monks in
2007, in an effort to broker talks between the regime and the opposition.

Suu Kyi is an “indispensable partner for reconciliatory dialogue in
Myanmar,” the secretary-general told CNN.

Myanmar yesterday barred foreign diplomats and reporters from observing
Suu Kyi’s trial, after allowing them in the day before, State Department
spokesman Ian Kelly said in Washington, adding the U.S. was “disappointed”
with the decision.

To contact the reporter on this story: Michael Heath in Sydney at
mheath1 at bloomberg.net.
____________________________________

May 22, Reuters
EU ministers to press Myanmar on Suu Kyi trial – John Ruwitch

European foreign ministers will press Myanmar at an Asia-Europe meeting
next week to end the trial of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, but
analysts expect only lukewarm backing from their Asian counterparts.

The Suu Kyi trial, which entered its fifth day on Friday, has sparked
outrage in the West, and the European Union is considering tougher
sanctions against the military government.

In Asia, no government has gone beyond chastising the regime for putting
the Nobel Peace laureate on trial for breaking the terms of her house
arrest after an American man swam uninvited to her lakeside home.

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said on Monday Myanmar would be
discussed at the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Foreign Ministers' meeting in
Hanoi on Monday and Tuesday. Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, is expected
to attend the meeting.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Suu Kyi faced a "show
trial," adding: "We...need to make sure that the Burmese regime
understands fully the risks that it's taking."

The EU ministers said it was incumbent upon Myanmar's neighbors to try to
sway the regime through political pressure.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which includes
Myanmar, has said trial threatened the regime's "honor and credibility"
and repeated a call for her release.

ASEAN, however, has historically opted for non-interference over
confrontation and does not follow its words with actions in cases like
this.

Myanmar's main backer, China, has already said Myanmar should be left
alone to handle its internal affairs.

Sean Turnell, an expert on Myanmar's economy at Australia's Macquarie
University, said China was the "big elephant in the room" and hinted that
Beijing may ultimately be arm-twisted into playing a constructive role.

"It protects the regime in so many ways," he said.

"There are aspects of the Burmese regime that are quite impervious to
pressure, but a group that may not be impervious to pressure is China."

BUSINESS IS BUSINESS

Resource-hungry China considers Myanmar an important partner, and the two
signed a contract in March to build cross-border oil and gas pipelines
which would help China cut oil cargoes' long detour through the congested
Malacca Strait.

Aung Zaw, editor of the Thailand-based Irrawaddy magazine which reports on
Myanmar, criticized Western governments for failing to take tougher action
against the regime, such as cracking down on Western oil firms that
operate there.

In a commentary in Friday's Bangkok Post, he said U.S. and European
leaders should put pressure on the leaders of China, India, Russia and
Thailand, "countries which are among the principal backers of the regime."

But Joseph Cheng of City University of Hong Kong said that despite Asia's
distaste for some of the junta's actions, there was no political will to
force them to do anything.

"We see no substantial political will from countries, say, like Japan,
like Indonesia and Thailand. They are the kind of countries that can take
the initiative...," Cheng said.

If found guilty, Suu Kyi could be jailed for up to five years. Critics say
the trial is scripted and aimed at silencing the charismatic leader of the
National League for Democracy until after elections in 2010 in Myanmar.

Suu Kyi has been detained for more than 13 of the past 19 years, most of
them at her home in Yangon, guarded by police, her mail intercepted and
visitors restricted.

(Additional reporting by Kittipong Soonprasert in Bangkok, and Ben
Blanchard in Beijing)

(Editing by Darren Schuettler and Valerie Lee)

____________________________________

May 22, Irrawaddy
Suu Kyi to receive Gandhi Award – Akar Moe

In the latest in a long list of international honors, Burmese
pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been named the recipient of this
year’s Mahatma Gandhi International Award for Peace and Reconciliation,
which will be awarded at a ceremony to be held in Durban, South Africa on
July 20.

The prize, also known as the MAGI Award, is given to those who inspire
young people to make a commitment to non-violence, forgiveness and
reconciliation. It was inaugurated in 2003 to mark the centenary of Indian
Opinion, a newspaper published in South Africa by Mahatma Gandhi.

The award is given by South Africa’s Gandhi Development Trust, which was
established in August 2002 with the aim of promoting a deeper
understanding of the principles of democracy, nonviolence and human
values.

Suu Kyi, who is currently facing charges of violating the conditions of
her house arrest just weeks before her detention was due to end, has
received more that 80 international awards, including the 1991 Nobel Peace
Prize and India’s Jawaharlal Nehru Award.

In a statement released today, South Africa’s foreign minister expressed
grave concern over Suu Kyi’s trial, which stems from an incident involving
an intruder who allegedly stayed overnight at her home.

“The South African government calls on the authorities in Myanmar to
release Ms Suu Kyi immediately,” read the statement.

During a two-year stint as a temporary member of the United Nations
Security Council, the South African government under former President
Thabo Mbeki was criticized for voting against resolutions condemning human
rights abuses in Burma.

New Foreign Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane has not signaled any major
change of policy on Burma, but has urged a “negotiated political solution
between the government and the opposition” to resolve the country’s
longstanding political impasse.

Meanwhile, in South Korea, former President Kim Dae-jung met with a group
of exiled Burmese parliamentary leaders and gave them a donation of US
$10,000 to support Suu Kyi’s cause.

“Korea also struggled under a military dictatorship for a long period of
time before achieving democracy. I am sure that history will make note of
your dedication to righteousness and freedom,” Kim told members of the
South Korean chapter of the National League for Democracy (Liberated
Area).

____________________________________
OPINION / OTHER

May 22, Guardian (UK)
Suu Kyi needs the UN to act, not talk – Meghan Clyne

To free Aung San Suu Kyi, world leaders can't simply denounce Burma's
junta. They must pressure it through UN sanctions.

It was just another day in the bizarre world of Burma's military junta. On
Thursday – barely 24 hours after allowing reporters and diplomats to
observe the show trial of beloved democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi –
Burma's generals retreated back behind their veil of secrecy and
oppression.

Such caprice is not out of character. This is the government that moved
its capital to the remotest jungle on the recommendation of soothsayers,
blew millions of dollars on the dictator's daughter's wedding, sat idly
while Cyclone Nargis killed tens of thousands of its people and then
denied entry to aid workers seeking to save lives in the storm's
aftermath.

So the fact that Burma is ruled by repressive nut jobs should no longer be
any secret. Why, then, is the world pretending that General Than Shwe and
his posse are reasonable actors who can be persuaded by talking?

The most egregious case of this naïveté belongs to UN secretary-general
Ban Ki-moon, who seems to think a half-hearted effort to chat with the
generals will rescue Suu Kyi. The best Ban could do yesterday was
proclaim: "I'm going to visit Myanmar as soon as possible", at which point
he plans to urge Than Shwe – again – to release Suu Kyi.

While each day of her "trial" brings the Nobel laureate closer to another
extension of her house arrest – or much worse – Ban thinks he can swing
his big trip 
 not before July. Now there's bold, urgent action for you.

If Ban wants the UN to have any relevance to the suffering people of
Burma, he should instead negotiate right inside his own office complex –
by prodding the UN security council. True to form, the council has done
absolutely nothing so far in response to the Burmese junta's latest abuse
of Suu Kyi. (Little surprise. In October 2007 – when demonstrations by
Burmese monks put a spotlight on the junta's murderous oppression – the
most the security council could do was issue a "presidential statement",
and that itself was a huge deal.)

The security council's inaction is disgraceful for many reasons. And in a
report on the junta's crimes released Thursday, a group of Harvard
researchers present several of the more barbaric ones. They include
"epidemic levels of forced labour ... the recruitment of tens of thousands
of child soldiers, widespread sexual violence, extrajudicial killings and
torture and more than a million displaced persons".

The report also blames the junta for "the destruction, displacement, or
damage of over 3,000 ethnic nationality villages ... comparable to the
number of villages estimated to have been destroyed or damaged in Darfur".
The document is a powerful reminder of the millions of Burmese who suffer
every day alongside Aung San Suu Kyi.

The real kicker is that the report draws entirely from information
documented by the UN's own observers. At the end, the work's authors –
from Harvard Law School's International Human Rights Clinic – outline a
detailed roadmap of UN precedents that justify security council action
against the Burmese regime.

"If the international community and the UN Security Council fail to take
action," they argue, "the grave humanitarian situation in eastern Burma
and elsewhere in the country will continue unchecked." And the security
council will have shown yet again why the UN's human rights record is
little better than the Burmese regime's.

The UN's dawdling is also unfortunate because tough security council
sanctions are one of the few diplomatic measures that might actually
improve the junta's behaviour. During the fall 2007 crackdown, for
example, the United States and the European Union tightened their
sanctions – and it was not coincidence that Than Shwe announced for the
first time his willingness to meet with opposition leader Suu Kyi. The
condition he set? That she "stop calling for economic sanctions". In other
words, economic pressure works – and UN sanctions on Burma are long
overdue.

So while it's nice that so many world leaders have denounced the Burmese
junta and urged for Suu Kyi's release, those who desire her freedom should
now turn their attention to the security council. Even more important,
they must focus on why the council drags its feet: veto powers Russia and,
especially, China.

China is the regime's one ally, its supplier of money and arms and
diplomatic cover – in a word, the generals' prop. In return, China gets
cheap supplies of energy and precious natural resources. It's a powerful
financial incentive – which explains why China is already blocking efforts
to put Burma on the security council's agenda.

Therein lies the hard part of Burma diplomacy. It's much harder to go
after an economic and military powerhouse like China than to pressure a
geopolitically insignificant thugocracy like Burma. But pretending that
it's somehow possible to turn a blind eye to China while also freeing
Burma is a pleasant fiction. Following that approach, Suu Kyi has spent 13
of the last 19 years under house arrest – and all of Burma has spent
decades imprisoned under military dictatorship.

If world leaders are serious about freeing Suu Kyi, they can't just
denounce Rangoon – they must also target Beijing. As Aung Din of the US
Campaign for Burma says: "China has refused to play a responsible role, so
we have to pressure the Chinese government. But we're ordinary citizens –
that's why we're asking all governments around the world to put political
pressure on the Chinese government to change its stance on Burma."

Reports suggest European Union countries may be doing just that. But what
about that beacon of freedom, the United States? In testimony before the
Senate, secretary of state Hillary Clinton – who has made clear that she
thinks human rights take a back seat when dealing with China – said:
"We're working to get more support in the United Nations. 
 There are
several countries that have influence on the Burmese junta, and we are
going to try to do our best to influence them."

That's nice and all, but the old college try isn't going to cut it with
China on the matter of Burma. The US needs to work harder, faster and more
aggressively. A good start would be some leadership from President Obama.
Sure, he issued a press release last week announcing he was extending the
state of "emergency" with Burma for another year. But it was a procedural
move forced by an expiration date, not a bold diplomatic manoeuvre to free
Suu Kyi. Since her transfer to Insein Prison, the president has yet to
come out in support of her release.

In contrast to the previous occupants of the White House, Obama's silence
on Burma is deafening. And as long as he's unwilling to speak out against
the Burmese junta – let alone nudge a dithering security council or
squeeze the generals' enablers in China – the prospects for Aung San Suu
Kyi's freedom grow grimmer by the day.