PESANTE NEWS

August 11, 2009

PESANTE CONDEMNS MYMAR COURT DECISION ON AUNG SAN SUU KYI

Los Angeles—The Philippine Peasant Support Network (Pesante)-USA strongly condemns the ‘s Myanmar court decision to convict Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday ( Aug 12 in Asia) of violating her house arrest by allowing an uninvited American to stay at her home. The head of the military-ruled country ordered the democracy leader to serve an 18-month sentence under house arrest.

Pesante-USA exclaimed that “ The decision puts into shame the Obama-Arroyo meeting in which Obama congratulated Philippine president Gloria M. Arroyo on the Philippine advocacy for Aung San and Burma’s human rights situation”.

Pesante pointed out: “ The US adherance on human rights for Burma is just lip service as it ignores the tragic human rights situation and the abuses of the Philippine military and Arroyo’s “culture of impunity” against all human rights victims in the Philippines.

Aung San Suu Kyi, the Maymar’s 64-year-old opposition leader has already spent 14 of the last 20 years in detention, mostly under house arrest, and the extension will remove her from the political scene when the junta stages elections next year.

Suu Kyi looked alert but tired during the 90-minute court session. She stood as the verdict was announced and then thanked foreign diplomats for attending her trial.

"I look forward to working with you in the future for the peace and prosperity of my country and the region," Suu Kyi said in a soft voice to diplomats seated nearby. She then was led out of the courtroom.

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Pesante-USA exclaimed that “ The decision puts into shame the Obama-Arroyo meeting in which Obama congratulated Philippine president Gloria M. Arroyo on the Philippine advocacy for Aung San and Burma’s human rights situation”.

Pesante pointed out: “ The US adherance on human rights for Burma is just lip service as it ignores the tragic human rights situation and the abuses of the Philippine military and Arroyo’s “culture of impunity” against all human rights victims in the Philippines.

Aung San Suu Kyi, the Maymar’s 64-year-old opposition leader has already spent 14 of the last 20 years in detention, mostly under house arrest, and the extension will remove her from the political scene when the junta stages elections next year.