State-run Media Break Silence on Suu Kyi Case

By MIN LWIN

Burma’s state-run press has broken nearly two weeks of silence on the case against democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, who faces charges of violating the conditions of her house arrest after an American intruder allegedly stayed overnight at her home.

According to reports in The New Light of Myanmar and other official newspapers, Suu Kyi and her two personal assistants are accused of breaking Section 22 of the “Law to Safeguard the State Against the Dangers of Those Desiring to Cause Subversive Acts” for their role in the incident.

The newspapers, which have not reported on this bizarre episode since May 7, also claimed that John William Yettaw, the man accused of swimming to Suu Kyi’s lakeside home earlier this month, made a similar attempt to meet the pro-democracy leader late last year.

According to the newspapers, Yettaw swam across Inya Lake on November 30, 2008, and gave a copy of The Book of Mormon to Daw Khin Khin Win and Ma Win Ma Ma, Suu Kyi’s live-in assistants, for Suu Kyi to read.

He later repeated the stunt on May 3, this time remaining in Suu Kyi’s home until the evening of May 5, according to the reports.

Yettaw faces charges of violating the same law as Suu Kyi and her two assistants, as well as Section 13 (1) of the Immigration Act (Emergency Provisions) and a municipal ordinance against swimming in Inya Lake.

The reports in the state-run press made no mention of the domestic or international reaction to Suu Kyi’s detention in Rangoon’s notorious Insein Prison, where she is currently being tried in a special closed-door court.

Many world leaders have expressed outrage at the proceedings, which are seen as an attempt by the Burmese junta to extend Suu Kyi’s six-year detention, which was set to expire later this month.

According to Assocaited Press, a crowd of about 100 people gathered near Insein Prison amid a heavy security presence. Sources also said that prison authorities have suspended family visits to prisoners since Monday, the day Suu Kyi’s trial began.

Win Tin, a central executive committee member of Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy, said that local residents were providing food and other refreshments to supporters of the pro-democracy leader and others awaiting news about her trial.