Mizzima UPDATES Day 6 - 25 May 2009
Aung San Suu Kyi to testify in court on Tuesday
Monday, 25 May 2009 20:36
Nyan Win, one of the defence counsels of Aung San Suu Kyi, said the pro-democracy leader will give her testimony on Tuesday, as the court had concluded the hearing of prosecution witnesses on Monday.
“Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will be giving her testimony on Monday, and we plan to submit a list of witnesses to the court,” Nyan Win said.
Among the list of defence witnesses will be veteran journalist Win Tin, the National League for Democracy’s vice-chairman Tin Oo, who is also currently under detention, Kyi Win, and Daw Khin Moe Moe, Nyan Win added.
On Monday, defence counsels crossed examined five prosecution witnesses but since the prosecution withdrew another nine witnesses, there is no more prosecution witness left to be examined, he added.
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Court adjourns, next hearing fixed for May 26
Monday, 25 May 2009 18:31
The sixth day of the trial has adjourned after defense counsels cross examined five prosecution witnesses.
The trial, which began at ten in the morning on Monday, adjourned at about 4 p.m. (local time).
The court, having accepted the charges against Aung San Suu Kyi on Friday, announced it concluded examining prosecution witnesses on Monday and that it would begin to hear from defense witnesses on Tuesday.
Sources said Aung San Suu Kyi’s lawyers have submitted four witnesses and on Tuesday the first witness, veteran journalist Win Tin, will appear before the court. The identities of the other three defense witnesses remain undisclosed.
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Authorities to allow journalists inside court
Monday, 25 May 2009 16:49
Burmese authorities will allow local journalists to witness the trial of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi at a special court in Insein Prison.
It will be the second time authorities allow a limited number of domestic journalists, reporting for both the local and international media, into the courtroom. The closed-door proceedings had been criticized by the Burmese opposition as well as the international community.
But with no official invitations sent to local journals and news agencies, journalists said they cannot be sure of being allowed in, instead “hoping and waiting”.
Sources said altogether 20 journalists will be allowed in on Tuesday to witness the trial, though it is still unclear how the journalists will be selected.
On Wednesday, May 20, authorities allowed 10 journalists – five reporters for local journals and five working for foreign media groups – to witness the court proceedings. The ten in question were selected through a lucky draw.
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Authorities monitoring undercover reporters
Monday, 25 May 2009 14:41
In order to keep a check on informers and undercover correspondents, who are providing information to media groups in exile, authorities at the telecommunication department are checking the incoming and outgoing calls of mobile phones, particularly the Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) phones, an insider told Mizzima.
The authorities are reportedly strictly monitoringon mobile phones used within two miles of the Insein prison, where the trial of pro-democracy leader is on. The source also said the monitoring will continue until the court is adjourned for the day.
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Situation outside Insein prison
Monday, 25 May 2009 13:12
A large number of supporters of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, currently facing trial inside the notorious Insein prison court, has flocked near the Insein prison in a show of solidarity on Monday, according to a member of the National League for Democracy (NLD).
Pu Cin Sian Thang, chairman of the Zomi National Congress (ZNC) and NLD central committee member Win Tin also reportedly came to the Insein prison in a show of solidarity but later left as they have party meetings.
Similarly, Naw Ohn Hla and women from Rangoon and Mandalay have also arrived near the Insein prison to “show solidarity” with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and are waiting near the prison, where the road has been blocked.
Lawyers of Aung San Suu Kyi were seen entering the Insein prison at about 10 a.m (local time), as the court is about to convene the sixth-day of hearing against Aung San Suu Kyi, where her defence councils are to cross examine witnesses.
Though the prosecution has submitted 23 witnesses, it does not include the names of security officials, who are guarding the residence of Aung San Suu Kyi.
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Burma rejects Asean statement
Monday, 25 May 2009 13:10
Burma on Monday rejected Asean’s statement on the trial of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, saying the statement violates the traditional practise of the grouping.
The regime's response, carried in the official newspaper, the New Light of Myanmar, on Monday said, charging and conducting a trial against Aung San Suu Kyi is an internal affair of Burma and the statement of Thailand issued as the alternative chairman of Asean is against the principles of the grouping’s charter and is tantamount to interfering in the internal affairs of Burma.
The statement said, “Such an act may cause an undesirable tradition in ASEAN.”
“Whatsoever it may be, this statement issued by the Alternate ASEAN Chairman, which is not in conformity with ASEAN practice, incorrect in facts, interfering in the internal affairs of Myanmar [Burma] is strongly rejected by Myanmar[Burma],”the statement added.
Mizzima Updates Day 6
