Myanmar yesterday strongly rejected regional criticism of its trial of Aung San Suu Kyi as the EU called on the ruling junta to grant the “immediate release” of the pro-democracy icon.
The military regime lashed out at ASEAN as the prison tribunal hearing allegations that the opposition leader violated her house arrest resumed for its second week.
ASEAN had expressed “grave concern” over the treatment of Aung San Suu Kyi and said Myanmar’s “honor and the credibility” were at stake, a rare step by the group which hardly ever speaks out on the domestic affairs of its members.
The regime accused Thailand, which issued the statement one week ago as the rotating chairman of the 10-member bloc, of meddling in Myanmar’s domestic politics, state media reported.
“This statement issued by the alternate ASEAN chairman — which is not in conformity with ASEAN practice, incorrect in facts, interfering in the internal affairs of Myanmar — is strongly rejected by Myanmar,” the New Light of Myanmar newspaper said, quoting a government statement.
The statement “sadly noted” that Thailand had “failed to preserve the dignity of ASEAN, the dignity of Myanmar and the dignity of Thailand.”
Aung San Suu Kyi faces up to five years in jail if convicted of breaching the terms of her house arrest after an eccentric American, John Yettaw, swam to her lakeside house.
Yettaw has told the trial that he wanted to warn her that she would be assassinated. He used a pair of home-made flippers and a plastic bottle to make the night time water journey earlier this month.
About 30 members of Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy yesterday continued a vigil outside the notorious Insein Prison, where the trial is taking place and where she is being held, witnesses said.
Myanmar’s outburst came as the EU officials attending an Asia-Europe Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Hanoi yesterday called for the “immediate release” of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner.
The message was conveyed to Myanmar Foreign Minister Nyan Win on the sidelines of the meeting, said Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kohout, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency.
But Kohout acknowledged that “I don’t have a positive feeling” about the release of Aung San Suu Kyi.
EU external relations commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner told reporters in Bangkok yesterday the ASEAN statement last week was “remarkable.”
Ferrero-Waldner said she would also urge other Asian countries, including China and India, to “commit themselves to engage with this government so that there are changes.”
However, a Myanmar official said yesterday that the junta would allow some journalists to cover the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi today, in what would be the second time it has opened up the prison tribunal.
Authorities will admit 21 journalists to the hearing at the notorious Insein Prison — 10 from local media and 11 representing foreign organasations, the Myanmar official said on condition of anonymity.
It was not immediately clear if foreign diplomats would be allowed into the court as they were last Wednesday, when the junta unexpectedly gave access to representatives from all embassies in Yangon and to the media.
A Western diplomat who did not want to be named said it was “likely” that envoys would be allowed in on today’s trial, but that they were still waiting for official confirmation.
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