Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Yangon (Agenzia Fides) – In just a few days (probably July 31), Myanmar's High Court will decide on the sentence in the case of Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the opposition party in the country and a Nobel Peace Prize winner, accused of violating security norms.
Aung San Suu Kyi, age 64, is on trial for having allowed American John Yettaw stay in her house in Yangon after his having bypassed security controls. If she is found guilty, she will be condemned to five years in prison.
The process is coming to its close as the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) announces that it will not expel Myanmar, as had been requested by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
During the recent ASEAN Summit held in Thailand, the USA called for the release of the democratic leaser and a tightening of sanctions and attitudes towards Myanmar, on the part of the other ASEAN countries (Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam).
Hillary Clinton advised the Burmese leadership that they have “more to gain by joining the international community and by effectively taking care of their people and putting Burma on the path to democracy.”
The members of ASIAN have decided to create a specific Commission for the protection of human rights. Several observers, however, say that the organization could remain inefficient in that it may not have the power to carry out independent investigations and would be conditioned by the authorizations of the government, who are often the ones accused of abusing human rights. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 28/7/2009)
