Western outcry over Suu Kyi case

[westerby]

Source: BBC

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-p ... 050545.stm

Western governments have condemned the new charges brought against Burma's pro-democracy opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton demanded her immediate release, saying she was "deeply troubled" by the "baseless" charges against her.
The EU also expressed concern, saying the move was not justified.
She faces trial on Monday for breaching the terms of her house arrest after an apparently uninvited visit by a US man.

'Tenuous pretext'

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was "deeply disturbed" by the charges and he accused the Burmese military government of seeking "any pretext, no matter how tenuous" to extend Ms Suu Kyi's detention. The EU special envoy to Burma, Piero Fassino, said there was "no justification" for the detention.
He urged the international community to use "every possible means to press for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi" as well as "the 2,000 other political prisoners who are held in Burmese jails".
Thailand's prime minister also expressed concern on behalf of the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean), one of the few groups that allow Burma as a member.
"We would like to see positive steps being taken," Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told Reuters, adding that the group was "concerned" by the recent events.

'Stout heart'

After visiting her at Yangon's notorious Insein prison, Ms Suu Kyi's main lawyer, Kyi Win, told the BBC's Newshour programme that she was physically well and her spirit was strong.
"From all appearances, she is quite well and of course she is a little thin, that's all," he said of the 63-year-old Nobel Peace laureate.
He said she asked him to tell her friends that she was physically well and even offered him encouragement, saying: "You have to have a very strong and stout heart".
Reports say Ms Suu Kyi was charged under the country's Law Safeguarding the State from the Dangers of Subversive Elements.
The charges carry a maximum jail term of five years, which would stretch her detention past its supposed expiry date this month and beyond the 2010 elections.
Her lawyers have vowed to contest the charges.

American 'fool'

The American man, John Yettaw, was arrested on 6 May after swimming across a lake to her house and staying there secretly for two days. His motives remain unclear.
He will be tried on immigration and security offences, said a lawyer for Ms Suu Kyi. The charges are yet to be confirmed by the government.
The Burmese authorities have described the American as a 53-year-old Vietnam war veteran and resident of the state of Missouri.
Lawyer Kyi Win has blamed Mr Yettaw for her detention, calling him a "fool".
Ms Suu Kyi was detained after her party's victory in a general election in 1990 and has been under house arrest for much of the past 19 years.
Earlier this month, the government rejected an appeal for her to be freed, despite claims from her National League for Democracy (NLD) that she was suffering from low blood pressure and dehydration.
Her condition was said to have improved after her doctor put her on an intravenous drip last week.

[Aardvark]

A 53 year old Vietnam Veteran, I don't think so the War was over before he was old enough to go. I wonder what stupidity made this idiot do such a thing, or was he put up to it by the junta

[aznyron]

1955 + 17 = 1972 if I am mistaken the war was over in 1974 correct me if I am wrong
so it is possible he is a V/Vet

[Aardvark]

I thought you had to be 19 to enter a War zone on active duty, maybe that's just Oz at 53 he was born in 1956 which would have made him 18 at Wars end !

[aznyron]

Aard I will not dispute it but I will say this many A/H claim to be V/Vets and some even claim they have the Medal of Honor and trust me I have met a few in my time I just walk away & ignore them in the future
sorry for being off topic. I do not know any thing about the lady in questioned but I am sure she is being persecuted by the Burmese Gov.

[Aardvark]

You should read up on SuuKyi Ron, she has endured an incredible amount of persecution in the name of her people. I'm sure someone with your values would have nothing but admiration for her !

[laphanphon]

old enough to join during the war, ended april 75, but very doubtful i deployed to nam or even out of basic training and speciality training. but considered a vietnam era vet, since he probably got the bennies of the vietnam war bill. but would be amazed if ever set a foot in vietnam during the war.

definitely got a screw lose.

but the title of the thread, when did the west ever care about Suu Kyi, except to get their own name in the press to protest her jailing. at anytime, if the rest of the world cared, she could be freed and myanmar returned to the people, but nobody cares

[seymourbutts]

Its the american companies, the frernch oil companies and the Chinese that are supporting the junta, or making business that is putting money straight into the juntas pockets, that is not helping very much... There should be a "name and shame" campaign like Iran, that would certainly move things along a bit quicker.... But the trouble is you will never shame the French or the Chinese!!!!!!!

[BKKSTAN]

Its the american companies, the frernch oil companies and the Chinese that are supporting the junta, or making business that is putting money straight into the juntas pockets, that is not helping very much... There should be a "name and shame" campaign like Iran, that would certainly move things along a bit quicker.... But the trouble is you will never shame the French or the Chinese!!!!!!!

I would agree with you except for American companies!which ones are you referring to?They must be sanction breaking!

[seymourbutts]

Sorry Stan couldnt tell you the names, i saw a documentary on it and it was the french (Total) The chinese supplying the hardware etc, and among others an american tourist type company with cruiseliners doing a good trade also.... Sorry cant back it up with all the gear, but i saw the programme...

Its a billion dollar a month business the second the junta goes, absolute virgin territory, so i expect they are all lining up to get their noses in the trough!!! If its not the junta exploiting them it will be commercial interest taking the p1ss... The thais are at it too!!! with the gem trade under the bridge every night etc

I cant believe an american company would sanction break!!!!!! Never in a million years!!!! Except for Iran, but never in Burma!!!!

[laphanphon]

ืno need to look any further than our own backyard. i'm sure enough gas is purchased here to support the junta, the rest is just icing on the cake. the sale of teak wood and ya ba, think one customer is enough.

[LoongLee]

Gents,,,,,,, I'm going to go out on a limb here. IMHO, the so-called VietNam War vet , John Lettaw, who swam to Suu Kyi's house and stayed hidden 2 nights, causing the authorities to charge her with a new offense, is NOT a VietNam War vet. It's been stated he's 53 years old. That makes him born in 1956. He would have been 18 years old (to enlist or be drafted) in 1974. The Peace accords were signed and US ground combat was already over by then.

My money says further digging will reveal he's a "wanna be", a psychologically troubled person who's pretended he's a vet to get sympathy and attention. I could be wrong but that's my gut reaction.

[LoongLee]

Aung San Suu Kyi is a heroine of the highest order. I have been following the life and tribulations of this wonderful lady for a long time.

I'm asking anyone that reads this to please find ways to support her and her people's struggle any way you can.

Her story and status is reported on the following web site: http://dassk.org/

Thanks,,LL

[beer monkey]

i just got this warning when i clicked that site..!!

[LoongLee]

Beer Monkey,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, that's never happened to me,,, I wonder if "somebody" is hacking the site to disrupt info??

[LoongLee]

To all having problems with the Suu Kyi site,,,,, Go to dassk.com first instead of org.

[LoongLee]

To all: The Suu Kyi site has been infected with JS.downloader, a trojan. see:http://securityresponse.symantec.com/se ... 18-1528-99

Most security software catches it and deletes it, good luck with viewing the Suu Kyi web site.

[laphanphon]

I'm asking anyone that reads this to please find ways to support her and her people's struggle any way you can

not to sound unsympathetic or cynical, as i respect her principles, though i would of went tO the USA first time they offered and lived a life.

but how is anyone supposed to support their struggle, no being a smart arse, but realistically, seems impossible.

[LoongLee]

Laphanphon,,, I understand your question and I wrote that with the understanding that the web is a huge place/community and I (or we) can't begin to understand the contacts or relationships or jobs or whatever that people reading this have. We never know what is possible. We can only hope.

And yes, you're right, most people would take off and leave, never looking back. But she was unable to do that, turning her back on her people. Now, she's lost her husband (cancer), and been separated from her children, for her ideals. I'm almost positive I couldn't muster the courage to do what she's done.

LL

[westerby]

A 53 year old Vietnam Veteran, I don't think so the War was over before he was old enough to go. I wonder what stupidity made this idiot do such a thing, or was he put up to it by the junta

Good point, I believe her house arrest sentence was due to end in the near future until this barn pot was caught swimming away from her home. Maybe the military had been watching him going back and forth for a while and couldn't believe their luck. Everyone's concentrating on the lady but not the American. Who is he?