SECURITY COUNCIL VOICES ‘SERIOUS CONCERN’ AT AUNG SAN SUU KYI VERDICT

The Security Council today added its voice to those calling for the release of all political prisoners in Myanmar, while expressing concern over this week's verdict against pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

"The members of the Security Council express serious concern at the conviction and sentencing of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and its political impact," Ambassador John Sawers of the United Kingdom, which holds the rotating Council presidency this month, said in a statement read out to the press.

Ms. Suu Kyi, who leads the National League for Democracy (NLD), was convicted on 11 August of violating state security laws after an uninvited United States citizen gained access to her home.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner, who has already spent over 12 years under house arrest, was sentenced to a further 18 months of the same punishment.

The Council also reiterated the importance of the release of all political prisoners and urged the Government of Myanmar "to take further measures to create the 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."

Earlier this week, both Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UN human rights chief Navi Pillay deplored the decision by the Myanmar court and urged that Ms. Suu Kyi be released immediately and unconditionally.

"Unless she and all other political prisoners in Myanmar are released and allowed to participate in free and fair elections, the credibility of the political process will remain in doubt," a spokesperson for Mr. Ban said in a statement.
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UN RIGHTS EXPERTS PRESS MYANMAR TO GIVE AUNG SAN SUU KYI FAIR TRIAL

A group of independent United Nations human rights experts today called on the authorities of Myanmar to ensure an "open and fair" trial for opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and her two aides.

"So far, the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi and her aides has been marred by flagrant violations of substantive and procedural rights," said Leandro Despouy, the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers.

The trial has mostly been conducted behind closed doors and the media have been denied access to defence lawyers. "Transparency in the administration of justice is a pre-requisite of any State governed by the rule of law," stressed Mr. Despouy.

In addition, the defence team has only been allowed to present one witness and one more was granted permission to testify, compared with the prosecution which has called 14 witnesses.

"The court must ensure that all witnesses who may have relevant evidence are able to testify," said Mr. Despouy.

Security forces arrested Ms. Suu Kyi, who leads the National League for Democracy (NLD), and two aides on 14 May and took them 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.

She has been under house arrest for more than 13 of the past 19 years, according to a news release issued by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva.

After being rearrested in 2003, her period of detention was extended until it reached the maximum term permitted under Myanmar's own laws in May 2008. It was then illegally extended for another year by the authorities, the human rights experts said.

"The five experts called upon the authorities of Myanmar to allow the justice system to function in an independent and impartial manner, so as to guarantee an open and fair trial for the defendants, and to grant unfettered media access," stated the news release.

The group of experts also include Chairperson-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, Manuela Carmena Castrilo; the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Tomas Ojea Quintana; the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Margaret Sekaggya; and the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue.

They all report to the Geneva-based Human Rights Council in an independent and unpaid capacity.
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BAN WELCOMES AMNESTY IN MYANMAR AS ‘FIRST STEP’ TOWARD DEMOCRATIZATION

BAN WELCOMES AMNESTY IN MYANMAR AS 'FIRST STEP' TOWARD DEMOCRATIZATION
New York, Feb 23 2009 6:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed an amnesty announced by the Government of Myanmar, which reportedly includes some 23 political prisoners, as a "first step" toward release of all such detainees and further progress on democratization.

"This is the time for Myanmar to seize the opportunity before it to send positive signals," he said following a meeting with his Group of Friends on Myanmar, which includes neighbouring countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other concerned States.

Citing further steps to be taken, Mr. Ban reiterated his call for the release of the hundreds of political prisoners still in detention, including opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and the resumption of dialogue between the Government and the opposition "without delay and without preconditions."

Today's meeting follows a briefing last week in which Mr. Ban's Special Advisor, Ibrahim Gambari, told the Security Council that there was some movement toward "tangible outcomes" from his 31 January to 3 February visit to Myanmar as part of the Secretary-General's good offices mandate.

After being updated Mr. Gambari, the Group of Friends expressed its unified support for the continuation of the good offices efforts, Mr. Ban said, adding that "our Myanmar interlocutors have also indicated the importance they attach to the good offices' work."

The Special Adviser is prepared to extend the UN's political facilitation with both the Government and the opposition to build on previous efforts, he noted.

Asked by correspondents whether he himself is considering another visit to the South-East Asian nation, the Secretary-General replied that he will try to go, but nothing yet has been discussed in terms of timing and agendas.

"As a matter of principle, I am telling you that I am willing to make a return visit to build upon what I had discussed last May, including political issues," he said, adding that there would not have to be preconditions for his visit.

"This is a part of ongoing consultation and negotiations and efforts by the international community, and also entrusted to me by the General Assembly," Mr. Ban explained.

In regard to further discussions with the Group of Friends, he added: "We have a unity of support. But at the same time I would like to see some unity of approaches among members. This is what we are now continuing to consult with the countries concerned."
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