by Gordon Brown British Prime Minister
Why Is Burma so important?Junta stands alone in scale of misrule, indifference to suffering of itspeople...
TODAY, June 19, is the 64th birthday of Aung San Suu Kyi. The fact that sheremains under arrest is tragic for Burma and for all those throughout theworld who believe in democracy and the rule of law. The trial of Aung SanSuu Kyi is an absurd mockery of justice. The real injustice was not thatsomeone broke into her compound, but that she was imprisoned in the firstplace.Aung San Suu Kyi has now been imprisoned for 13 of the last 19 years sincethe party she led won the last elections in her country. More than 2,000others are imprisoned across Burma for sharing her commitment to a betterand brighter future for the long-suffering population.Even in the face of such injustice, Aung San Suu Kyi has always supportedthe path of peace and reconciliation
But the regime has consistently spurned her offer of dialogue andreconciliation. They want to isolate her from the people of Burma, for whomshe has long been a symbol of hope and defiance.Her refusal to buckle in the face of tyranny is an inspiration. But words ofsupport are not enough.The region, the European Union and the United Nations are all urging thejunta to release Aung San Suu Kyi. So far, all requests for moderation havebeen spurned. In the face of such obstinacy the world must now act. Ibelieve there are three things we must do.Firstly, we need support the countries of the region as they step up effortsto secure democracy and reconciliation. I have been struck by how Burma'sneighbours have led the world community in calling for Aung San Suu Kyi'srelease. We need to translate this outrage into ongoing political pressurefor change.Secondly, we need the UN Security Council to reinforce its calls for AungSan Suu Kyi's release and to support the Secretary-General's efforts tobring about political progress through an early visit to Burma.Thirdly, we should impose a new set of tough sanctions that target theregime's economic interests. We will be pushing for stronger EU action inthis regard. Such a step would hit the business interests of the generalsand their cronies. I also believe we should identify and target those judgescomplicit in the recent political show trials.The growing sense of outrage and the unity of the international communitybehind this message should mark a turning point. The regime is at a crossroads. Long-promised elections in 2010 will remain a charade while politicalprisoners are being tortured, ethnic minorities are persecuted, the mediamuzzled, freedom of speech and assembly are non-existent and Aung San SuuKyi is silenced. The regime can choose to ignore the clamour for change. Butthis will only condemn the country to deeper isolation, poverty, conflictand despair.Or it can choose the path of reform as the region has urged. Burma is richin natural and human resources, at the heart of a dynamic continent.Democratic reform would unleash the country's enormous potential. Britainand the international community would be ready to extend the hand offriendship. If the Burmese Generals rethink their ways, we will be ready torecognise and embrace any genuine reforms they make.Some may question why Burma warrants so much attention. There are othercountries where human rights are ignored or people live in poverty. But theBurmese junta stands virtually alone in the scale of its misrule and thesheer indifference to the suffering of its 50 million people.How we respond to this injustice will send a message about our resolution totackle similar injustices across the globe. To those that stand for humanrights, freedom and democracy, our message remains clear - you are notalone.____http://www2.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/world/29981-suu-kyi-turns-64-amid-outrage-over-trialSuu Kyi turns 64 amid outrage over trialMembers of Free Burma Coalition display a birthday cake and placards tocelebrate the 64th birthday of Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and denounceher recent detention, in Manila, today.http://www2.themalaysianinsider.com/images/stories/2009june3/1906_suu3.jpgYANGON, June 19 - Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi spent her 64thbirthday in detention today as supporters worldwide condemned her trial andcalled for tougher sanctions against the military regime.Nyan Win, a lawyer defending the Nobel laureate who faces up to five yearsin jail, said Suu Kyi would be allowed a few visitors to Yangon's Inseinprison, where she is on trial over charges she broke the terms of her housearrest."I'm going to send her some birthday presents and food so she can celebratewith a few guests," he told Reuters.Confined for nearly 14 of the past 20 years, Suu Kyi's birthday has becomean annual ritual inside and outside Myanmar for campaigners seeking an endto decades of military rule that has left the country an impoverishedinternational pariah.[Members of Free Burma Coalition display a birthday cake and a picture ofSuu Kyi to celebrate her 64th birthday and denounce her recent detention byMyanmar's military regime during a protest in front of the Myanmar embassyin Manila. - Reuters pic]Members of Free Burma Coalition display a birthday cake and a picture of SuuKyi to celebrate her 64th birthday and denounce her recent detention byMyanmar's military regime during a protest in front of the Myanmar embassyin Manila. - Reuters picBut the day has taken on added significance this year amid internationaloutrage at her trial, which is widely expected to end with a guilty verdict.Protests are planned outside Myanmar embassies in major capitals around theworld.An online campaign, www.64forsuu.org, drew thousands of messages of support,including good wishes from world leaders and celebrities. "Aung San Suu Kyiis an inspiration to her country and the rest of the world," wrote formerBeatle Paul McCartney. "I truly admire her infallible resolve and herdetermination to stand up for what she believes in."Suu Kyi is accused of breaking the terms of her house arrest by allowing anAmerican intruder, John Yettaw, to stay for two days after he swam to herYangon home in early May.She says the trial, set to resume on June 26, is politically motivated toexclude her from next year's elections. Critics call the polls a sham toentrench nearly half a century of military rule in the former Burma.In London, British Foreign Office Minister Ivan Lewis said Suu Kyi was beingtried on "ridiculous and bogus trumped-up charges". He said the EuropeanUnion would consider further sanctions against the junta after the trialended."We (Britain) continue to believe that further targeted financial sanctionswould increase pressure on the regime," he told reporters.In Yangon, members of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) willgather at the party's dilapidated headquarters to release doves and call forthe release of more than 2,000 political prisoners and a meaningfultransition to democracy.As in past years, they will probably be ignored as the regime presses aheadwith its "roadmap to democracy" and silences dissent in the run-up to the2010 polls. Scores of activists and dissidents have been convicted by thecourts, which have a history of bending laws to suit the generals.Myanmar's High Court agreed this week to hear arguments from Suu Kyi'slawyers to reinstate two banned defence witnesses. Even if the ban isoverturned, it's unlikely to have any impact.Britain's ambassador to Myanmar, Mark Canning, speaking to reporters inLondon by video link from Yangon, said there was no doubt Suu Kyi would befound guilty. But she would probably be sentenced to a further period ofhouse arrest, rather than jail. - Reuters____http://www.mysinchew.com/node/26164Myanmar activists mark Suu Kyi's birthday in Malaysia2009-06-19 18:16A Myanmar national places a candle on the 64th birthday cake ofAung San Suu Kyi at a ceremony in Kuala Lumpur.http://www.mysinchew.com/files/preview/292x300..skmalaysia.jpgKUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - About 200 supporters of Myanmar democracy leader AungSan Suu Kyi in Malaysia made an emotional plea to demand her release onFriday as she marked her 64th birthday in prison.They chanted slogans such as "Free Aung San Suu Kyi" and "We want freedom",while a few women broke down in tears as they sang songs to pay tribute tothe Nobel Peace Prize winner.The supporters, mainly Myanmar nationals, also released doves in a symbol offreedom for Aung San Suu Kyi before sharing a birthday cake."We are disappointed and sad that she is still imprisoned," Kyaw Myo Maung,a supporter from her National League for Democracy party told AFP at thesidelines of the gathering."As long as Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is not freed, the people in Myanmar are notfreed too. We hope the international community can put more pressure on themilitary regime to seek her freedom," he added.Aung San Suu Kyi has spent 13 of the past 19 years in detention and is nowbeing held in Yangon's notorious Insein Prison during her trial for abizarre incident in which an American man swam to her home.She faces up to five years in prison if convicted.Her birthday on Friday was marked with protests from around the world, asactivists took to the Internet and staged worldwide protests to call for herrelease and an end to her trial. (AFP)____Suu Kyi marks grim 64th birthdayhttp://www.malaysiakini.com/news/106804Support on Suu Kyi's birthdayhttp://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/SE%2BAsia/Story/STIStory_392434.htmlSuu Kyi's birthday markedhttp://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/SE%2BAsia/Story/STIStory_392517.htmlThe Myanmar question - Khairy Jamaluddinhttp://www2.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/opinion/breaking-views/30005-the-myanmar-question--khairy-jamaluddin The Berita Malaysia / bmalaysia mailing lists============================================Read postings, subscribe/unsubscribe or change settings at:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/beritamalaysiahttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/bmalaysia
