Mizzima UPDATES Day 2 - 19 May 2009
Mizzima D2
European countries to pressurize Burma to withdraw Suu Kyi’s trial
Tuesday, 19 May 2009 05:53
European countries have said they will urge China and Asian countries to pressurize the Burmese military junta to withdraw the case against pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, according to reports.
The European countries, during the 11th EU-China meeting on Trade and Politics, which is set to begin on Wednesday, said they would urge China to put pressure on the Burmese military junta, to stop the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi, AP reported. The meeting will be attended by Chinese premier Wen Jia Bao.
Moreover, the EU will also urge the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to pressurize Burma’s ruling junta to stop the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi, during their meeting, next week at Hanoi.
......................................................................................
Interview with Aye Thar Aung, General Secretary of the Committee Representing Peoples’ Parliament (CRPP)
Tuesday, 19 May 2009 05:03
“It is very clear with regard to the case of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. If we want to see the country develop and prosper, we need to start with national reconciliation. National reconciliation means there should be unity among the NLD, military junta, democratic forces and ethnic nationalities. We need to build that first. And while building trust, Aung San Suu Kyi, Khun Htun Oo, Min Ko Naing and other political prisoners must be released and should come together to talk. But now it is getting worse, as Aung San Suu Kyi has been charged and is being tried. It only shows that the junta wants to hold on to power no matter what.”
“By charging and putting Aung San Suu Kyi on trial, the future of our country is grim. And by doing this unity will be lost. And it will be more difficult to build trust among the ethnic nationalities. The country is heading for a future of uncertainty.”
“The election is another topic. When we are marching towards democracy, elections cannot be full of restrictions. And when marching towards democracy, we need to have a democratic constitution. Elections must be held based on such a constitution.”
“As the 2008 constitution was drafted one-sidedly by the junta utilizing the imposition of various restrictions on the opposition, the 2010 election cannot guarantee a better future for Burma.”
“The way the junta is acting is not in accordance with the law, and they are making white lies. Besides, they are not hesitant to crackdown on the people and the monks. I feel that the whole situation is so dark.”
......................................................................................
Aung San Suu Kyi’s trial to continue on May 20th
Tuesday, 19 May 2009 04:37
The court in Insein Prison has adjourned for the day and fixed the date of the next hearing for Wednesday at 10 a.m. (local time).
......................................................................................
Suu Kyi's trial adjourned for the day
Tuesday, 19 May 2009 03:56
Lawyers of Aung San Suu Kyi – Kyi Win, Nyan Win, Hla Myo Myint and Daw Khin Htay Kywe – have left Insein prison, as the court adjourn ed for the day.
......................................................................................
Security tightened in Shwedagon Pagoda
Tuesday, 19 May 2009 03:54
Burmese military junta authorities have tightened security around the Shwedagon pagoda, as supporters of Aung San Suu Kyi have been organising regular prayer meetings in the pagoda. for her release
Armed police and security forces with seven vehicles took guard on the foot-hill of the pagoda since this morning.
Party members and supporters have regularly held prayers at the pagoda every Tuesday, the birthday of party leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
On Tuesday, even as Aung San Suu Kyi faced a court trial, party members continued praying for her release in the pagoda.
......................................................................................
Junta talks to China
Tuesday, 19 May 2009 03:14
Sources in the military establishment said Burmese military officials held discussions with Chinese officials on Sunday. But Mizzima is still unable to verify the information independently.
......................................................................................
An observer who reached Insein Bazaar
Tuesday, 19 May 2009 01:48
“A police vehicle arrived just now. The vehicle was parked near the barbed wires. Security officials drove away the people sitting near the barbed wires.Later the vehicle moved away at around noon. The police were armed. They got down from the vehicle and drove away the people. Today the security is tighter than yesterday. There are members of pro-junta groups - Swan Arrshin, Union Solidarity and Development Association and police in civilian dress present.”
......................................................................................
Armed security forces and the crowd
Tuesday, 19 May 2009 01:31
Though the vehicle carrying armed security forces moved out from where Win Tin was sitting, the vehicle travelled back and forth, forcing the crowd to move time and again and give way.
The crowd of more than 400, mainly youths, were angry with the behaviour of the security forces, observers said.
The crowd, which had come for news of Aung San Suu Kyi’s trial, was larger than yesterday and was mainly made up of youths.
......................................................................................
Armed security men approach Win Tin
Tuesday, 19 May 2009 12:46
Commotion broke out when a vehicle carrying armed security personnel arrived where Win Tin and his group were sitting.
Some people began to move away from the place where Win Tin and his group were sitting as about 30 armed security men approached them. On Monday, only about three to four security officials were seen at the place.
However, Win Tin continued to stay put without moving but some bystanders, scared of the armed security personnel, moved away, an observer said.
......................................................................................
Veteran politician Win Tin arrives in Insein prison
Tuesday, 19 May 2009 12:43
Central Committee member of the NLD, Win Tin and a woman activist Naw Ohn Hla along with about 200 people were seen waiting on the Insein Road near the blockade.
......................................................................................
ASEAN calls for immediate release of Suu Kyi
Tuesday, 19 May 2009 12:35
On the second day of her trial, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), of which Burma is a member, has urged the ruling junta to release pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
"The Government of the Union of Myanmar [Burma] is reminded that ASEAN leaders had called for the immediate release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi," said ASEAN in its chairman's statement released on Tuesday.
"Thailand, as the ASEAN Chair, reaffirms ASEAN's readiness to contribute constructively to the national reconciliation process and the peaceful transition to democracy in Myanmar [Burma]," said the statement.
......................................................................................
Interview with NLD, youth member, Nyuang Shwe Branch, Shan State
Tuesday, 19 May 2009 12:26
“Our branch, the Innlay region Nyuang Shwe Township, condemns the trial of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi because it is a gross injustice and we oppose it.”
“We are totally against the trial and are now talking to people in our region and in the villages. All the people from the country are unhappy about it.”
“Everybody, starting from simple carts-men to villagers, and even tri-shaw drivers are angry with the trial. We do not even have to speak up. So far, we have visited five villages including Mine Thauk, Ywamah, Myea Nikone, and Tharlay villages. Its only youth members of the NLD, we areassembling and talking to people close to us.”
“We are determined to speak out about the peoples’ feelings. The villagers told us that ‘if you people lead us, we are ready to follow you’ and they want us to lead. Everybody is upset since the day Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was charged and put on trial.”
......................................................................................
Situation near Insein prison
Tuesday, 19 May 2009 11:19
Prior to the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi, the main road outside Insein prison was teeming with security guards like yesterday. But the shops that were asked to close yesterday were seen opening on Tuesday.
Security seems to have been beefed up with several armed soldiers being put in place in the nearby football field.
At 9 am defense counsels Kyi Win, Nyan Win, Hla Myo Myint and Daw Khin Htay Kywe were seen entering the Insein prison, where the special court is located.
The areas surrounding Insein prison has slowly been filling up with supporters of Aung San Suu Kyi and other civilians, who are eager to know the progress of the trial, an observer near the Insein prison told Mizzima.
......................................................................................
Junta-owned paper reports on Suu Kyi’s trial
Tuesday, 19 May 2009 11:08
Burma’s state-owned newspaper, the New Light of Myanmar, on Tuesday carried a brief report on the trial of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been charged with breaching her detention law.
The paper said, the Nobel Peace Laureate was charged for accepting the American citizen, John William Yettaw at her home, who allegedly swam across the Innya Lake and entered her residence, where he was servd meals and allowed to stay.
In connection with the case, Police Lt-Col Zaw Min Aung acted as the plaintiff and filed law suits against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Khin Khin Win and Win Ma Ma, the two party members living with her, and John William Yettaw, the paper said.
While the news of the trial has been extensively covered by international news agencies as well as Burmese news agencies in exile, the junta’s tight leash over the press allowed the state-controlled newspaper to report the story only on Tuesday.
The report said, Yettaw had earlier swum across the Innya Lake and visited Aung San Suu Kyi’s residence in November 2008, where he met Khin Khin Win and Win Ma Ma and left a “Book of Mormon” for Aung San Suu Kyi to read.
And on May 3, he then swam across the Innya Lake again and visited Aung San Suu Kyi’s residence, where he was received by Suu Kyi and given meals and allowed to stay until May 5, the report said.
The trial of Aung San Suu Kyi and the three others began on Friday. And on Monday the special court in Insein prison held the first hearing of a witness. Suu Kyi was represented by party spokesperson and lawyer Nyan Win, Kyi Win, and Hla Myo Myint, while Yettaw was defended by first-class lawyer Khin Maung Oo.
