FREEDOM NOW

533 5th Street, NE • Washington, D.C. 20002 • (202) 320-4135 • jgenser@freedom-now.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jared Genser

May 13, 2009 +1 (202) 320-4135

FREEDOM NOW CONDEMNS BURMESE JUNTA’S

PRETEXTUAL CHARGE AGAINST NOBEL PEACE PRIZE
LAUREATE AUNG SAN SUU KYI

Washington, D.C. – Freedom Now has confirmed the news that Burmese
Honorary Co–Chairs democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been ordered to report to court
The Honorable tomorrow morning at 9 am Rangoon time to face charges relating to the breaking
Václav Havel
into her compound of the U.S. citizen who swam across Inya Lake.
The Most Reverend
Desmond M. Tutu
This pretextual charge comes, not coincidentally, as Ms. Suu Kyi approaches the
Board of Directors six-year anniversary of her detention under house arrest on May 27, 2009.
President Although the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention ruled in Opinion No.
Jared Genser
46/2008 that Ms. Suu Kyi’s detention was a clear violation of Burmese and
Chair
Jeremy Zucker
international law -- Burma’s State Protection Law 1975 prohibits house arrest
beyond a period of five years -- the junta has argued publicly that the maximum
Treasurer
Daniel Silverberg
period for detention is six years. Under its analysis, therefore, the junta should
have been scheduled to release her on May 27, 2009.
Secretary
Haylie Iseman
According to her Burmese lawyer U Kyi Win, authorities claim the incident to be
Hillary Coyne Brill
Glenn Kaminsky a breach of Ms. Suu Kyi’s house arrest conditions, where she is prohibited from
Micheline Mendelsohn inviting visitors to her home. But Ms. Suu Kyi had no idea that he was coming
Board of Advisors and even encouraged him to leave. “Daw Suu told him to go back, but he
Prof. Karima Bennoune didn’t,” said U Kyi Win. “He said he was so tired and wanted to rest, but she
Rutgers University
School of Law (Newark) pleaded with him. Then he slept overnight on the ground floor,” he added.
Prof. Jerome A. Cohen
New York University Should she be convicted of this offense, she is potentially subject to three
Law School
additional years of imprisonment under Article 22 of the State Protection Law.
Hon. Irwin Cotler MP
Parliament of Canada
“We unequivocally condemn this transparent attempt by the Burmese junta to
Harry C. McPherson
DLA Piper LLP (US) cloak its ongoing detention of Aung San Suu Kyi in a veil of legitimacy,” said
Nuala Mole Jared Genser, lead international counsel for Ms. Suu Kyi. “Their excuse for her
AIRE Centre detention was about to expire and it is crystal clear that this charge is patently
Prof. A.W. Brian Simpson ridiculous.”
Michigan Law School

Prof. Christopher This news comes days after Ms. Suu Kyi began recovering from health
McCrudden
Oxford University problems, including dehydration and low blood pressure

Executive Director
Freedom Now was retained in mid-2006 by a member of Ms. Suu Kyi’s
Maran Turner
family to serve as her international counsel.

###

Our mission is to free prisoners of conscience through focused legal, political, and public relations advocacy efforts.