News Updates On 9th Day of Aung San Suu Kyis Trial

News updates on 9th day of Aung San Suu Kyi's trial
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.”
.....................................................................................................
Follow up on solo protest

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
1/6
vacated the scene.
.....................................................................................................
Demonstration in front of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s house

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.
.....................................................................................................
Police ask Yettaw to reenact his transgression

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.
.....................................................................................................
Protester is a retired army man

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.
.....................................................................................................
Final appeal to be furnished latest by June 1

2/6
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.
.....................................................................................................
Interview with Win Tin (Central Executive Committee member of the NLD)
“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.”
.....................................................................................................
Solo protester outside Insein prison demands Suu Kyi’s release

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
3/6
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.
.....................................................................................................
Yettaw’s testimony disturbs judges

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
4/6
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.
.....................................................................................................
Interview with Aye Thar Aung (Secretary of Committee Representing

Peoples’ Parliament)
“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.”
.....................................................................................................
Junta rejects UN Security Council’s demand

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.
5/6
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.
6/6

News Updates On 9th Day of Aung San Suu Kyis Trial

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

News Updates On 9th Day of Aung San Suu Kyis Trial

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

News updates on 9th day of Aung San Suu Kyi's trial

Interview with Ohn Kyaing (NLD Information department)

Follow up on solo protest

vacated the scene.

Demonstration in front of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s house

Police ask Yettaw to reenact his transgression

Protester is a retired army man

Final appeal to be furnished latest by June 1

Solo protester outside Insein prison demands Suu Kyi’s release

taken away by security officials.

The eyewitness account…

Yettaw’s testimony disturbs judges

Interview with Aye Thar Aung (Secretary of Committee Representing

Junta rejects UN Security Council’s demand

You might also like