International Community, UN, Nobel Committee call for Aung San Suu Kyi’s immediate release by UN News / Reuters / Nobel Committee 8:40am 16th May, 2009   4 July 2009    UN chief rebukes Burma over Suu Kyi. (Reuters)    United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon has rebuked Burma''s generals for denying him a visit to see detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and says she should be allowed to take part in politics before 2010 elections.    The UN Secretary-General expressed "deep disappointment" at the end of a two-day visit to the military-ruled state. In a rare speech in Rangoon to a crowd of about 500 diplomats, state officials, non-governmental organisations and opposition politicians, Mr Ban sharply criticised Burma for its human rights record and its failure to free political prisoners.    "Allowing a visit to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi would have been an important symbol of the government''s willingness to embark on the kind of meaningful engagement that will be essential if the elections in 2010 are to be seen as credible," Mr Ban said.    "I''m deeply disappointed that they rejected my request. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi must be allowed to participate in the political process without further delay."    Criticism of the authorities is rare in Burma and dissent is harshly dealt with by the generals, with rights activists, politicians and even comedians among those given long jail terms.    Ms Suu Kyi, who has spearheaded the campaign for democracy for two decades in Burma, is on trial for breaching terms of her house arrest by allowing an American intruder to stay at her home on May 4. Many in the international community have dismissed the process as a show trial and an attempt by the generals to keep her out of multi-party elections to be held next year.    Mr Ban said Burma''s human rights record was of "grave concern". He said the Burmese people continue to suffer while the military regime fails to initiate meaningful, inclusive democratic reforms. "The question is how much longer can Burma afford to wait for national reconciliation, democratic transition and full respect for human rights?"    Mr Ban left Burma without any guarantees from the generals that Ms Suu Kyi and the more than 2,000 political prisoners would be freed.    15 May 2009    Calling on Myanmar’s Government to drop all charges against pro-democracy leader and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, the top United Nations human rights official today appealed to authorities for her immediate and unconditional release.    Ms. Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for several years, and two aides were escorted yesterday morning by security forces to Insein Prison, where they were charged by a special court. They are said to have been charged with violating the terms of her house arrest, after an uninvited United States citizen gained access to their home.    Ms. Suu Kyi, who leads the National League for Democracy (NLD), and her two aides are currently detained in the Insein compound and her trial has been scheduled for 18 May.    “Her continued detention, and now this latest trial, breach international standards of due process and fair trial,” High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said.    It had been hoped that the Nobel Peace Prize winner would be released when her current detention order, which has already continued for one year longer than the maximum of five years permitted under Myanmar’s laws, expires at the end of this month.    “The Myanmar authorities might claim Aung San Suu Kyi has breached the conditions of her detention, but they have broken both their own laws and their international human rights obligations,” Ms. Pillay stressed. “She should not be detained in the first place.”    Ms. Suu Kyi has spent over 12 years under house arrest. On 30 May 2003, she was re-arrested under a law which states that a person “suspected of having committed or believed to be about to commit, any act which endangers the sovereignty and security of the state” can be detained.    In May 2007, the Government extended her arrest for another year, bringing her detention to the five-year limit, and her detention was prolonged for sixth year last May.    The Universal Declaration of Human Rights prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention and guarantees the right to fair trial and to freedom of opinion and expression, which, according to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Suu Kyi has exercised peacefully and courageously over many years.    Yesterday, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that he is “gravely concerned” about the news of her detention. “The Secretary-General believes that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is an essential partner for dialogue in Myanmar’s national reconciliation and calls on the Government not to take any further action that could undermine this important process,” according to a statement issued by his spokesperson.    Ms. Suu Kyi and all those who have a contribution to make to the future of their country “must be free to be able to do so to ensure that the political process is credible,” the statement added.    Also yesterday, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar Tomás Ojea Quintana, who reports to the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council, called for her unconditional release.    “Since her house is well guarded by security forces, the responsibility for preventing such intrusions, and alerting the authorities, lies with the security forces and not with Aung San Suu Kyi and her aides,” he said.    May 15, 2009    Nobel committee blasts Suu Kyi detention. (Reuters)    The Norwegian committee that awards the Nobel Peace Prize condemned Friday Myanmar"s imprisonment of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the 1991 peace laureate, and demanded her immediate release.    "Her recent detention in prison is totally unacceptable," the Norwegian Nobel Committee said in a rare statement, adding its voice to other western critics of Myanmar ahead of a trial that Suu Kyi faces on charges she broke her house arrest.    "The government"s treatment of her is contrary to international rules and norms," the five-member committee appointed by Norway"s parliament said. "We urge that she and other political prisoners be immediately and unconditionally released."    "Free elections should be held as soon as possible," said the statement, addressed to Myanmar"s embassy in London.    The committee"s spokesman Geir Lundestad said "We now feel that Aung San Suu Kyi"s situation has become worse, and we had to speak out on behalf of the health and safety of the laureate," he said.    The committee said that recent reports about the 63-year-old Suu Kyi"s health were "of grave concern," and it demanded that she be given the necessary medical assistance without delay.    The committee"s statement followed condemnation from the United States, Britain, the European Union, the United Nations and human rights groups of the trial that Suu Kyi faces from Monday.
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