A Yangon court yesterday rejected an appeal by pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi against her extended house arrest, just days after the US re-engaged with the country’s junta.
Judges at a divisional court in Yangon upheld the Nobel Laureate’s conviction, her lawyer said, over an incident in which a US man swam uninvited to her home, earning her an extra 18 months in detention.
“The appeal was rejected but we will take it to the high court,” said Aung San Suu Kyi’s lawyer and the spokesman for her National League for Democracy party, Nyan Win, after the hearing.
Asked whether he was disappointed, the lawyer said Aung San Suu Kyi might have a better chance at Myanmar’s high court.
He said the defense team was seeking permission from the authorities to visit the frail 64-year-old as soon as possible, to inform her of the ruling and discuss a further appeal, which must be filed within the next 60 days.
Aung San Suu Kyi — who has spent much of the last 20 years in detention — was not present for the verdict, which was delivered amid tight security.
Her house arrest will keep her off the scene for elections promised by the regime for next year, adding to widespread criticism that the polls are a sham designed to legitimize the junta’s grip on power.
Aung San Suu Kyi’s lawyers had hoped for her unconditional release, but the appeal result was as expected, a Bangkok-based European diplomat said.
“The facts on the ground remain that she remains locked up. It shows that [the junta] are not ready to compromise on anything or bow to whatever new initiative has been launched,” the envoy said.
Two female aides living with Aung San Suu Kyi received the same sentence and also lost their appeals yesterday.
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