Mizzima UPDATES Day 7 - 26 May 2009
Mizzima News
Interview with Nyan Win, one of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s defence lawyers
Tuesday, 26 May 2009 19:04
“Burmese military authorities announced this morning the removal of Article 10 (b), which kept Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest. So, there is no more house arrests. The fallout of the removal is that she is no longer restricted to the State Protection Law.”
“According to her testimony, she said she was imprisoned. And along with her two friends, they did not receive protection according to the law. As she had been imprisoned for a long time, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said her political conviction does not allow her to push another person into danger and in trouble. That is the reason she had not informed the police about Yettaw’s visit.”
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Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s cross-examination
Tuesday, 26 May 2009 18:10
Burmese opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday looked a little weak, but otherwise appeared fine. She spoke to the audience before and after today's hearing but since her voice was low the only words that could be heard were reportedly, “Thank you for your concern,” and “I am happy to see you.”
Diplomats and other invited guests stood up as a sign of respect as she entered the courtroom, prompting security personnel to remind them to sit down.
The trial began at 1:05 p.m. (local time) and concluded at 2:00 p.m. (local time). One of her lawyers, Nyan Win, apparently complained to the judges that he had not had adequate opportunities to meet with his client. But his complaint drew no reply from the judicial panel.
As the proceeding began the judge read out questions to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who generally answered in one or two sentences.
She was first asked whether she knew about the restriction order on herself and her two live-in aides, to which she answered she only knew of the restrictions on her.
When asked of whether she knew about a November 30, 2008, incident in which American John Yettaw reportedly made his first visit to her house, she said she had heard about it but did not see him.
Asked of whether she knew about his subsequent intrusion on the night of May 3, 2009, she replied she knew about it only in the morning at around 5 a.m. (local time), adding that it was Khin Khin Win, one of her live-in aides, who informed her.
Asked whether she knew Yettaw prior to his visit, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said she only learned of him and his identity when he was found in her home.
She was then asked whether she reported to the police when Yettaw left the premises on May 5 at about 11:45 p.m. She replied, "No."
Next asked whether she had spoken to Yettaw, she responded, "Yes."
She was then questioned as to whether she knew of Yettaw's return path following his visit. She replied that she knew he headed toward the lake but that since it was dark she could not say for sure what route he took.
The judge then asked whether Yettaw had left items, including a Mormon book, at her home on purpose or had forgotten them. She replied she did not know whether he had forgotten them or deliberately left them behind.
She was then asked whether she had provided food and accommodation to Yettaw. She said she had afforded him temporary refuge.
Asked whether she knew about Yettaw taking photos and video, she replied that she only knew of the photos and videos when they were presented in the court.
The judge then asked of the situation of the security personnel at her home. She replied that there were no security guards inside her compound, but did not know the situation outside her compound.
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Aung San Suu Kyi and her guests
Tuesday, 26 May 2009 17:54
Wearing a purple coloured dress, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi arrived in court at about 12:55 p.m. (local time) on Tuesday.
As she walked in, her lawyer Nyan Win handed her a note. She then wore her spectacles and read through it. After reading it, she greeted diplomats, who had come to hear her testimony in court.
Foreign diplomats and other invited guests stood up as a sign of respect to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, as she walked into the court and took a seat.
Security officials in the court urged the people to take their seat, but the invited guests stood until Daw Aung San Suu Kyi sat down.
The court convened at 1:05 p.m. (local time).
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Summary of Aung San Suu Kyi’s testimony
Tuesday, 26 May 2009 16:01
On Tuesday afternoon, opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi gave her testimony to the special court in Insein prison. Below is a summary:
Aung San Suu Kyi testified that she had lived with party members Daw Khin Khin Win and Win Ma Ma and gave a brief explanation of her house arrest. She testified on how she came to know that the American citizen John William Yettaw had arrived at her residence and that because of his pleading had agreed to allow him to stay for a while and that she also spoke to him.
But she said she does not know whether Mr. Yettaw had deliberately left some materials at her home, and that she had thought that Yettaw had left the house by May 5, between 11:45 p.m. and mid-night (local time).
She said she saw Yettaw heading towards the lake but since it was dark she could not see where he had gone.
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Court adjourns for the day
Tuesday, 26 May 2009 15:07
The Insein special court has adjourned for the day. Lawyers of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, foreign diplomats, and journalists were seen coming out of the Insein prison at about 2:30 p.m (local time).
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In the court room
Tuesday, 26 May 2009 14:09
Foreign diplomats and selected journalists have entered the Insein special court room, where opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi will be giving her testimony.
Win Tin, the central executive committee member of the National League for Democracy, whose name had been submitted as one of the witnesses for the accused, however, on Tuesday was not allowed to enter the court.
“Only when the court sends me a notice, I will be giving my testimony. Because if the judge accepts me as one of the witness, they will send me a notice,” Win Tin told Mizzima.
Outside the prison precincts, about 200 supporters and party members of Aung San Suu Kyi have gathered, waiting for the outcome of the trial.
“Till today, the roads are blocked. There is heightened security everywhere. I think it looks more than other days. They have blocked the bazaar. The security forces are also all around the bazaar. Previously, there were about two, but today there are about four people in a group,” Win Tin said explaining the situation around the Insein prison.
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Suu Kyi’s house arrest term can be extended to six months: Police
Tuesday, 26 May 2009 10:54
A police officer on Tuesday told journalists, during a press briefing inside the Insein prison, that the house arrest term of Aung San Suu Kyi can be extended to another six months, even if there were no new charges levelled against her.
The police officer Myint Thein of the Special Branch explained to journalists and diplomats that the house arrest term, which will expire on May 27, can be extended up to November. He explained that while the authorities were still in the processes of considering whether or not to extend the house arrest term, the American man appeared on the scene.
The press briefing was also attended by Burma’s Police Chief Khinyi along with 29 foreign diplomats, 15 foreign correspondents and 10 domestic correspondents.
The court is currently taking a break but will reconvene at 12:30 p.m. (local time), sources said.
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South Africa wishes to send delegation to Burma
Tuesday, 26 May 2009 10:50
South Africa’s Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Ebrahim Ebrahim on Monday met the Ambassador Designate for Burma, Mr Tin Oo Lwin, and proposed to send a delegation to Burma to facilitate a process of negotiation.
He also expressed South Africa’s continued concern about the rearrest of the leader of the National League for Democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi and called on her immediate and unconditional release.
Mr Ebrahim said the South African government would like to see Burma returning to civilian rule, with a multi-party and functioning democracy and urged the creation of a normal political climate conducive to free and fair elections.
