Mizzima UPDATES Day 9 - 28 May 2009
Mizzima News
Interview with Ohn Kyaing (NLD Information department)
Thursday, 28 May 2009 19:07
“U Kyi Win testified for about two hours. It took quite a long time because there were a lot of cross questioning. According to U Nyan Win, who was briefing reporters, there are two points in U Kyi Win’s testimony.”
“The first point is, the prosecution insisted that the restriction imposed on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi refers to the restrictions of the fundamental rights, as defined in the 1974 constitution. They tried to prove their point. And the defence witness Kyi Win said, if it is true that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi had restrictions imposed based on the 1974 constitution, then the case is wrong because the constitution is legally not effective anymore.”
“The 1974 constitution is no longer effective because Senior General Than Shwe is his Military-day speech in 1991, clearly said that the 1974 constitution is no more effective. So, the 1974 constitution is no more legal.”
“The second point is that according to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s restriction law, she is not allowed to contact anyone outside. The law specifically used the term ‘Outside’. In this case Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has not made any contacts with the outside, world but it is Yettaw who came by his own will. He crossed the security and came in his own way. So, to speak in legal terms, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has not committed or violated the restriction law and she is innocent. The responsibility lies only with the person who has come in. In the law it states ‘Aung San Suu Kyi, who had restrictions imposed on her cannot contact anyone outside’, if we are to define word by word it would divert the essence. But the prosecution lawyers argued on his point. But Kyi Win made his point clear and strong.”
“The court has announced June 1, as the final date for the submission of appeals by the lawyers.”
“We are sure that we will win the case legally. But we don’t know because since the very beginning, the law has not been able to stop them. Aung San Suu Kyi in her statement yesterday had also said that she is innocent. It is the security guards that are responsible.”
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Follow up on solo protest
Thursday, 28 May 2009 18:18
The normally heavily guarded segment of University Avenue where Aung San Suu Kyi’s house is located is currently nearly void of security personnel. Only a single policeman could be seen. The solo protester, who walked up and down the street for a brief period of time, has now vacated the scene.
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Demonstration in front of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s house
Thursday, 28 May 2009 17:41
A man wearing a white shirt reading ‘Free Aung San Suu Kyi’ is currently conducting a solo protest in front of the residence of Aung San Suu Kyi on Rangoon’s University Avenue.
A Mizzima undercover correspondent, on the scene, said the man is standing in front of Aung San Suu Kyi’s house in protest with his sign but is not shouting any slogans.
The protest is the second on Thursday. Earlier a retired military man, Zaw Myint, held a solo protest in front of Insein Prison before being arrested by authorities.
A video grab shows authorities in civilian clothes arresting a man for staging a solo protest in front of Insein prison demanding the release of Aung San Suu Kyi in Yangon May 28, 2009. Since the trial began on May 18, Suu Kyi's supporters have quietly gathered each day near the prison ringed by armed police and barbed wire barricades. There have been no significant protests so far, but police arrested a lone protester at a market near the prison on Thursday. REUTERS/Democratic Voice of Burma/Handout (MYANMAR POLITICS CRIME LAW) FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS
In this photo released by the Democratic Voice of Burma taken Thursday, May 28, 2009, Myanmar officials in civilian clothes arrest a man, third right, for staging a solo protest in front of Insein Prison demanding the release of detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi in Yangon, Myanmar. The man was later identified as Zaw Nyunt, a former political prisoner. Suu Kyi is charged with violated the terms of her house arrest when an uninvited American swam secretly to her home. She could be punished for five years imprisonment.
(AP Photo/Democratic Voice of Burma, HO)
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Police ask Yettaw to reenact his transgression
Thursday, 28 May 2009 17:25
Police on Thursday afternoon took John William Yettaw to University Avenue and asked him to demonstrate how he swam across Inya Lake.
As a result, University Avenue was blocked from 2:30 p.m. (local time) to 4 p.m. During the demonstration Yettaw told police that he accessed Inya Lake via a small drain on University Avenue at the entrance to Than Lwin Street.
In this photo released by Myanmar News Agency on Friday, May 29, 2009, U.S. citizen John William Yettaw, second left, demonstrates how he entered the residence of Myanmar's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi from the backyard on Inya Lake side during the re-enactment Thursday, May 28, 2009 in Yangon, Myanmar. Lawyers for Aung San Suu Kyi expressed optimism about her case after the only witness allowed to testify for the defense addressed the court in her trial on charges of violating house arrest. Closing arguments in a case that could send the Nobel Peace laureate to prison for five years are set to be heard Monday, June 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Myanmar News Agency, HO)
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Protester is a retired army man
Thursday, 28 May 2009 16:22
The solo protester, who held aloft banners of 'Free Daw Aung San Suu Ky', in front of the Insein prison at 1:20 p.m. (local time) has been identified as, a 56-year old retired Air Force officer Captain Zaw Nyunt.
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Final appeal to be furnished latest by June 1
Thursday, 28 May 2009 16:21
Sources said, june 1, has been fixed for the final submission of appeal by the lawyers of both parties in the trial against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
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Interview with Win Tin (Central Executive Committee member of the NLD)
Thursday, 28 May 2009 16:19
“Today might be the last day of the trial. Even if it is not the last day, there is only one defence witness, Kyi Win that the court has to examine. So I don’t think it would be anything strange.”
“Like other days, people are waiting in groups here and there just talking to each other. There are also five or six police vehicles. And the road blockades and barricades remain in place. Nothing is new and the weather is also not too bad. There is no rain, but it is a little cloudy. The people are just waiting.”
“If the court wants to end the case and pronounce a verdict, and if there are no appeals, then everything could be over by 1 p.m (local time) because there is only one person left. If the court asked both sides to submit their appeals, they will submit. Nyan Win has already prepared an appeal if it is necessary.”
“Kyi Win will be examined today as the last person. Even if the court asked both lawyers (defence and prosecution) to submit their appeals, it could be given immediately and it will be over. And even if the court wants to give the verdict tomorrow, it will only take about half an hour or an hour.”
“And the rest is normal. It is all the same. Residents nearby gave us food, water and some edibles as usual. I don’t know the situation in other areas. Because we do not have communication as the roads are blocked. The roads are blocked from about a mile away from the Insein prison. So, once we have reached this side it is quite difficult to get back. People came from other townships like Hmawbe, Einme, Pathein etc. Many youths also came, it is just like other days.”
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Solo protester outside Insein prison demands Suu Kyi’s release
Thursday, 28 May 2009 15:49
Authorities arrested a man on Thursday for staging a solo protest in front of Rangoon’s notorious Insein prison and demanding the release of Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Zaw Nyunt (50), a former political prisoner, held aloft a banner saying ‘Free Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’ and stood in protest in front of the prison gate for a brief five minutes. He was immediately taken away by security officials.
An eyewitness told Mizzima that the protester held a banner with slogans like “Release Our Mother Daw Suu” and other writings.
The eyewitness account…
At about 1 p.m. (local time), a man staged a solo protest in front of the Insein prison. He held a white banner on which he had written his demands.
His demands were written with a soft-pen. The protest was only for a brief five minutes. He held his hands high. But I could not read the letters on the banner properly. He was taken away by the security officials to the upper storey of the Insein Bazaar.
He was taken away a few minutes ago by about 20 officials including the police, Special Branch (police), members of USDA. He was taken away from the place where we are sitting to the upper storey. It looks like the police were standing by.
They seemed to have got orders from above. Police with arms could be seen everywhere. There are about a hundred of them and they seem to be troubling the people who are waiting.
Another eyewitness…
The people are fine and everything is good. The security personnel seem to be finding fault with them.
Currently, there are three police vehicles and two prison vans standing by. They are not positioned only at the barricades but are scattered. There are also about 70 people in front of the fire brigade. They all seem to be in a standby mode. Today there are a lot of intelligence personnel too.
Now they have taken the protester outside the Insein bazaar.
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Yettaw’s testimony disturbs judges
Thursday, 28 May 2009 15:33
Though the court had initially thought of giving a verdict on the trial against opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on Friday, May 29, the testimony of Yettaw on Wednesday, where he said he had met security officials guarding the residence of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi during his visit, made it difficult for the judges in deciding on the case, sources in the police told Mizzima.
Yettaw, in his testimony said he was not troubled by the security guards. Due to his testimony, the judges found it difficult in giving a verdict on Friday and were reportedly forced to prolong the trial until next week, a senior police officer told Mizzima.
Yettaw, in his testimony, said during his first visit to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi he met armed security personnel on his way out but they did not trouble him except asking a few questions. And during his second visit, he met five armed security personnel but they only threw stones at him and did not troubled him further.
He added that he had gone to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s house because he had a vision that a group of terrorist is about to assassinate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and God had send him to inform her and the Burmese government.
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Interview with Aye Thar Aung (Secretary of Committee Representing Peoples’ Parliament)
Thursday, 28 May 2009 15:30
“In 1988 people had demonstrated their desire to transform the country into a democracy. People fought and sacrificed. But until today, the junta has not changed. Initially they pretended to be following the peoples’ desire by allowing formation of political parties and to contest the election. But when they did not win in the election, they did not honour the 1990 election results. Instead the junta continued to repress political activists and put pressure on them by arresting and sentencing them to long prison terms. So, looking at these actions, we have seen the military government’s lies and that they have lied again and again in order to sustain their rule.”
“Now in the case of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, she was supposed to be freed yesterday [May 27], but the junta planned to send her to prison. This is clearly the junta’s way of sustaining power.”
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Junta rejects UN Security Council’s demand
Thursday, 28 May 2009 13:40
Despite the United Nations Security Council urging implementation of an all inclusive political dialogue including Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and other stake-holders and initiate reconciliation, Burma’s military government has said it will continue with its planned 2010 election as part of its roadmap to democracy.
Following the trial against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the UNSC issued a statement on May 22 expressing its concern over developments in Burma. In response to the UNSC’s statement, the junta, in the state-run newspaper on Thursday, said Burma now has a new constitution and under its guidelines will hold a multi-party general election in 2010.
The UNSC, in its press statement, called on the junta to create necessary conditions for a genuine dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all concerned parties and ethnic groups in order to achieve an inclusive national reconciliation with the support of the United Nations.
The UNSC also called for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners.
But the junta, in the newspaper said, charging and conducting a trial against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is a part of ensuring the rule of law in the country and will not have any political impact.
The junta said, Burma has approved a new constitution, which is drafted by over 1,000 representatives of the people. And as the fifth step of the roadmap, Burma will hold a general election.
