Suu Kyi party warned over trial criticism: Myanmar state media

http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/other/2009/06/07/211220/Suu-Kyi.htm

YANGON -- Myanmar authorities have summoned members of Aung San Suu Kyi's pro-democracy party to rebuke them for a statement critical of her trial, state media reported Saturday. Four senior members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) met officials for 30 minutes late Friday after comments by the party's youth wing were leaked to the Web site of a prominent blogger, the New Light of Myanmar said.

“Though NLD has rights for freedom of speech, the announcement has harmed peace and stability and prevalence of law and order in the country and disturbed the trial proceedings of a court,” the paper reported in English.

“That can mislead the people into misunderstanding the government, incite activities that may harm the public respect for the government, and cause unrest,” it said.


Aung San Suu Kyi faces up to five years in jail on charges of breaching the conditions of her house arrest after a bizarre incident in which an American man, John Yettaw, swam to her lakeside home in May.

The NLD's youth members had circulated an internal document criticizing the trial for being held mostly behind closed doors and highlighting international condemnation of the proceedings.

But the comments ended up on the “Niknayman” Web site, which is blocked in Myanmar as it is run by a well-known activist, and the New Light said the publication constituted a breach of the country's publishing laws.

“Stating of such incorrect and biased words in advance while the case is still in progress amounts to turning a blind eye to the truth and disturbing the court,” the paper said.

It said the statement had falsely accused authorities of not allowing public reporting of the trial.

Local journalists and two Chinese reporters so far have been allowed in court along with diplomats to cover two of the 10 days of hearings being held inside Yangon's Insein prison.

The newspaper report said that the case was an “internal issue.”

The four NLD members ordered to meet officials Friday were Than Tun, Nyunt Wai, Hla Pe and Soe Myint. They signed a document to acknowledge a formal warning by the authorities.

Security in Yangon has been tightened since Aung San Suu Kyi was taken to Insein prison from her crumbling lakeside house last month.

On Friday her lawyers presented appeal documents to a city divisional court, asking the court to overturn a ban on three of four witnesses whom the 63-year-old opposition leader called to give evidence at her trial.

A judge said a decision on the appeal would be given on Tuesday, June 9, three days before Aung San Suu Kyi's prison trial reconvenes after a week-long adjournment.

U.S. President Barack Obama has described the court proceedings as a “show trial” while Myanmar's usually reticent Asian neighbors have expressed strong concerns.

Japan's deputy minister for foreign affairs, Kenichiro Sasae, urged Myanmar's junta to listen to international concerns during his trip on Thursday and Friday to the capital Naypyidaw, the Japanese ministry said. The Myanmar side replied that the government could not interfere in the trial, it added.

Sasae also said Tokyo hopes Myanmar will go ahead with establishing a democracy in line with international expectations, the ministry statement said.

Myanmar has been ruled by the military since 1962. Aung San Suu Kyi's party won 1990 polls but was never allowed to take office. She has been imprisoned for 13 of the past 19 years.

Elections are planned for next year but critics say they are designed only to entrench the military's power.