Mizzima UPDATES Day 8 - 27 May 2009
Mizzima News D8
Suu Kyi’s testimony in court
Wednesday, 27 May 2009 20:17
The Rangoon North District court sitting inside Insein prison on Tuesday examined Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and prosecution witness Investigating Officer Police Captain Than Soe of the Special Branch. Below is an excerpt of the examination held on Tuesday in court, published by the junta’s the New Light of Myanmar newspaper.
Q : Do Daw Khin Khin Win and Daw Win Ma Ma (a) Ange Lay stay with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi?
A : Yes, in my home.
Q : Are the restriction order, prohibition order and the order for extension of the prohibition order issued?
A : Yes, the orders are issued to me.
Q : Did American citizen Mr. John William Yettaw come to your home on 30 November, 2008?
A : I was told about his arrival, but I didn’t see him.
Q : Did American citizen Mr. John William Yettaw intruded into your house compound swimming across the Inya Lake on 3 May night.
A : As for as I understand, he arrived at my home in the morning of 4 May.
Q : What time did he arrive at your home?
A : I don’t know. I was reported on his arrival about 5 am.
Q : Who reported to you?
A : Daw Khin Khin Win reported to me that a person was in my home.
Q : Who was that person?
A : I didn’t know who was that person then, but I knew him later on.
Q : Is that person American citizen Mr. John William Yettaw?
A : Yes.
Q : Did you report to the authority concerned on his arrival at your home?
A : No.
Q : Is it true that you received Mr John William Yettaw, gave food to him and arranged accommodation for him?
A : I permitted him to take shelter at my home temporarily.
Q : Did you provide food and talk to Mr. John William Yettaw and accept letters and gifts from him?
A : I talked to Mr. John William Yettaw. I am not sure whether letters and items remained or were left by Mr. John William Yettaw. Only Mr. John William Yettaw himself knows that matter.
Q : Which date and time did Mr. John William Yettaw leave your home?
A : Mr. John William Yettaw left my home between 11.45 pm and mid-night on 5 May.
Q : Which way did Mr. John William Yettaw take when he left your home?
A : I only knew that Mr. John William Yettaw went to the lake. Because of the darkness, I don’t know which way he took.
Q: Did Police Captain Tin Zaw Tun come and confiscate the things Mr. John William Yettaw had left at the residence of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi?
A: Yes, Police Captain Tin Zaw Tun came and confiscated the things Mr. John William Yettaw had left.
Q: Were there members of security force at the surrounding of the residence while Mr. John William Yettaw was at the residence of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi?
A: They were not in the compound. I don’t know whether they were out of the compound or not.
Q: Did American citizen Mr. John William Yettaw take photos and shoot video in the house of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi?
A: I don’t know whether he took photos and shot video while I was at my house. I only learnt that he took photos and shot video when I appeared in court.
Q: Do Daw Aung San Suu Kyi know the facts prescribed in restriction order, prohibition order and order for extension of the prohibition order.
A: Yes, I know the facts written in the orders.
Following Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s testimony and questions by the court, prosecution witness Investigating Officer Police Captain Than Soe of Special Branch was examined.
The witness said he received the case, Bahan Police Station case (Pa) 302/ 09 under section 13 (1) of Immigration Act (Emergency Provisions), on May 11, to be examined. On the same day he questioned prosecution witnesses and on May 12, he continued to question the prosecution witnesses and received the search forms handed over by Police Captain Maung Maung Myint and Police Captain Tin Zaw Tun. And he also got the sample of Mr. John William Yettaw’s hand writing in connection with the case and sent it together with Mr. John William Yettaw’s hand writing confiscated at the house of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to the Criminal Investigation Department in order to be examined whether they were written by same person.
He said, Mr. John William Yettaw was questioned on the same day and the prosecution witnesses were examined on 13 May, and he presented two search forms handed over by Police Captain Sa Kyaw Win and May on 14, Mr Yettaw was arrested as per Case No. 264/09 of Bahan Police Station and filed against him under section 13 (1) of Immigration Act (Emergency Provisions) at Rangoon North District Court.
The proceedings are adjourned until 10 a.m. on 28 May.
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NLD calls for release of Suu Kyi and to kick-start dialogue
Wednesday, 27 May 2009 16:01
The NLD on Wednesday reiterated its call to the junta to release party leader Aung San Suu Kyi and to kick-start a political dialogue for national reconciliation.
The NLD made the call in its eight-page statement issued at the end of the 19th anniversary commemorative ceremony of Burma’s last election held at the party head office in Rangoon’s Shwegondine Street in Bahan Township.
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Security beefed up in Kyaukpadaung Township
Wednesday, 27 May 2009 13:38
Security has been beefed up since last night in Kyaukpadaung township in Mandalay division. Police reportedly patrolled the town on motorcycles and plainclothes officials and members of USDA are seen positiond near the town’s pagoda.
Local residents said, security has been beefed up after NLD youths, students and civilians held prayer services at the pagoda for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi on May 25 and 26.
A local resident said, security has been tightened on Wednesday as it marks the 19th anniversary of Burma’s last general election and the date for the release of Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who is currently facing trial in a court in Insein prison.
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NLD observes 19th anniversary of general election
Wednesday, 27 May 2009 13:26
The Opposition National League for Democracy on Wednesday held a commemorative ceremony of the 19th anniversary of Burma’s last general election at its head office in Rangoon’s Shwegondine street in Bahan Township.
Authorities have stepped-up security with several plainclothes police monitoring the NLD’s activities. Meanwhile, police also continued patrolling the city of Rangoon.
“We held the anniversary at the NLD office. It started at noon (local time) and I think it will be over by 1:30 or 2 p.m.(local time). There are security personnel everywhere, I can’t say how many but there are a lot of them. They are in plainclothes. And are patrolling in vehicles. We see about 10 vehicles on the streets,” an eyewitness told Mizzima.
“I don’t know how many people came to attend the commemorative ceremony but it is a lot as people from other townships also came. NLD members from Myin Gyan, Thaung Thar, Taungoo, Kyaukpadaung etc have come,” he added.
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Security beefed up in and around Rangoon
Wednesday, 27 May 2009 13:15
Security remains tight in Rangoon, particularly around Insein prison, where the trial against Aung San Suu Kyi continues on Wednesday, which also marks the 19th anniversary of Burma’s last general election.
Armed security forces are patrolling the streets and are stationed at road junctions, eyewitnesses said.
“Today, there are a lot more security personnel everywhere compared to other days. We don’t know what kind of information they [authorities] have for increasing the security to this level,” an eyewitness told Mizzima.
“As far as I can see at least eight vehicles used by the riot police have been parked in front of Insein Bazaar. And the police are fully armed. The Insein Bazaar is connected to the prison. And we can also see police vehicles and trucks patrolling the city. Some said about four to five police vehicles are patrolling the streets in Minglartaungnyunt and in other townships,” he added.
The eyewitness also said, members of the pro-junta groups, the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) and Swan Arrshin members – are mixing among the people and some are even disguised as tri-shaw drivers.
“The weather is cloudy and the streets are quite clear,” he added.
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Papers distributed in front of NLD office
Wednesday, 27 May 2009 12:58
Papers carrying a message that says bombers have come to town from the borders were scattered by a group of people from a vehicle in front of the NLD head office in Rangoon’s Shwegondine Street in Bahan Township.
A group of people, who came in a high speed light truck, threw about 15 papers in front of the NLD office on Tuesday at about 11:30 a.m. (loca time), eyewitnesses said. The A4 size paper had the NLD logo and a peacock sign, which is used by student activists, and carried a message that says bombers have sneaked into Rangoon from the border area.
An eyewitness, who arrived in the NLD office, said the people made it look like the NLD is spreading the papers.
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Security alert in Bogyoke Market
Wednesday, 27 May 2009 11:21
Local junta authorities in Rangoon’s Bogyoke Market have alerted security forces saying there is a likelihood of public unrest or demonstrations on 27, 28 and 29 of May.
On Wednesday security was tightened in and around Bogyoke Market and along the Strand Road, with armed security personnel and members of pro-junta group, USDA, swarming everywhere on the street.
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1990 election anniversary
Wednesday, 27 May 2009 11:09
The Opposition National League for Democracy on Wednesday, May 27, is set to hold a commemorative ceremony of the 19th anniversary of Burma’s last election, where the NLD won a landslide victory. Despite Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s party winning over 80 percent of parliamentary seats, the junta refused to hand over power.ok,
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Suu Kyi’s house guards transferred
Wednesday, 27 May 2009 11:05
Security personnel guarding the house of Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi have been transferred to Inngapu Town in the Irrawaddy division, after the American, John William Yettaw, was arrested for illegally entering the house.
The riot police from the Police battalion (7) were transferred on May 7, the day after Yettaw was allegedly fished out from Innya Lake, on his way back from Suu Kyi’s house.
Moreover, the barbed wire barricades used for blocking the road in front of Suu Kyi’s house have also been shifted to the Insein Prison Road and to Htaukkyanh at the entrance to Rangoon city.
The riot police, who were guarding Suu Kyi’s house, were not included among the witnesses submitted by the prosecution.
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A sketch of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s testimony at the special court inside Insein prison.
Illustration: Saimayku
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US President Obama calls for immediate release of Suu Kyi
Wednesday, 27 May 2009 11:02
US President Barack Obama has called for the immediate and unconditional release of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday.
In a statement issued by the White House on Tuesday, Obama condemned the trial against Aung San Suu Kyi saying it is a show trial based on spurious charges and it “casts serious doubt on the Burmese regime’s willingness to be a responsible member of the international community.”
Obama urged the Burmese regime to take the situation as an important opportunity to demonstrate that it respects its own laws and its own people, and is ready to work with the National League for Democracy and other ethnic and opposition groups, and is prepared to move towards reconciliation.
“It is time for the Burmese government to drop all charges against Aung San Suu Kyi and unconditionally release her and her fellow political prisoners,” said Obama, adding that such action would be a significant step “on Burma’s part to begin to restore its standing in the eyes of the United States and the world community and to move towards a better future for its people.”
