UNSC debates court sentence of Suu Kyi

by Mungpi
Wednesday, 12 August 2009 16:27

New Delhi (Mizzima) - The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday will continue discussions on the verdict sentencing Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi by a special court in Rangoon’s Insein prison, after failing to reach a consensus during a closed door meeting on Tuesday.

The Council, which includes Burma’s long-term allies China and Russia, on Tuesday held closed door consultations following the Burmese government’s decision to hand down to the opposition leader 18 months of suspended sentence.

The consultations were held at the request of France, which condemned the Burmese junta’s action and called for a global arms embargo on the military regime.

The French President Sarkozy on Tuesday condemned the sentencing calling it an “unjust verdict” and asked the European Union to tighten sanctions against the regime including the resources from which the regime profits directly in the timber and ruby industries.

“The sole purpose of this political trial is to prevent Mrs. Aung San Suu Kyi from waging her battle for a free, democratic Burma. The Burmese authorities are confirming by this iniquitous decision their choice to ignore the international community's insistent messages,” Sarkozy said in a statement.

The United States on Tuesday circulated a draft statement, condemning the Burmese regime, to the 15 members of the council. But the council remained divided over the text with some delegates wanting to send the draft statement to their countries for consultation.

The Council debate resumes on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, the court in Burma’s Insein prison sentenced Aung San Suu Kyi to three years in jail with hard labour, but the junta’s Snr Gen Than Shwe commuted the sentence to half and allowed her to serve it at home in Rangoon.

The sentence immediately attracted international criticism. The US President Barack Obama, in a statement on Tuesday said the sentence is a violation of "the universal principle of human rights" and called on the regime to immediately release her and other political prisoners.

Obama said the court’s verdict “run counter to Burma’s commitments under the ASEAN charter, and demonstrate continued disregard for UN Security Council statements,” referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, of which Burma is a member.

“Suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away,” said Obama calling on the Burmese regime to heed the views of its own people and the international community and to work towards genuine national reconciliation.

He also said he is concerned by the sentencing of American citizen John Yettaw to seven years in prison, “a punishment out of proportion with his actions.”

Meanwhile, Asean, a group that traditionally maintains non-interference in internal affairs of member states, on Tuesday said it has learnt with “deep disappointment” the sentencing of Aung San Suu Kyi and reiterated its call on the junta to release her and other political prisoners.

The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also joined the global outcry over the Burmese junta’s decision by saying he is “deeply disappointed” with the verdict and “strongly deplores this decision”.

Ban reiterated his call on the junta to release all political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi saying, “Unless she and all other political prisoners in Myanmar [Burma] are released and allowed to participate in free and fair elections, the credibility of the political process will remain in doubt.”

Meanwhile, Burma’s neighbour India also issued an official statement in response to a question raised to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

“India has emphasised to the Government of Myanmar the need to expedite their political reform and national reconciliation process and has noted the various steps taken so far by the Government of Myanmar [Burma] in this direction,” the official spokesperson of the MEA said in the statement.

“We have maintained that this process should be broad based, including the various ethnic groups. In this context, the issue of release of political prisoners will no doubt receive due attention,” added the spokesperson.

But Burma’s other giant neighbour China said the International community should respect Burma’s judicial sovereignty.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu, according to a Reuters report, called for all sides in Burma to talk to each other, but requested non-interference from the outside world.

"As a neighbour of Myanmar [Burma], China hopes all sides in Myanmar [Burma] can push ethnic reconciliation through talks, and gradually realize stability, democracy and development," Reuters quoted Jiang as saying.

“This not only accords with Myanmar's [Burma’s] interests, it is also beneficial to regional stability," Jiang added.

“As for the related domestic case, international society should fully respect Myanmar's judicial sovereignty," Jiang said, referring to the Aung San Suu Kyi case.