NLD protests court verdict on Aung San Suu Kyi

by Myint Maung

New Delhi (Mizzima) – The National League for Democracy (NLD) reacted sharply in a statement on Wednesday to the court’s sentencing of Aung San Suu Kyi to three years in prison with hard labour saying it is a violation of human rights and not in consonance with the provisions of the law.

The charge of violating the terms of her house arrest was made on the basis of fundamental rights provisions in the 1974 Constitution, which was suspended and is not in force any longer, making it null and void, the statement said.

“The statement said the court’s verdict is not in accordance with the provisions of the law and the NLD strongly protests against the human rights violation. Aung San Suu Kyi’s lawyers will take the next step after meeting her,” NLD spokesman Dr. Win Naing told Mizzima.

In another statement issued by the NLD on the same day, the party urged the military junta to grant amnesty to all political prisoners and release them unconditionally at the earliest.

In the second statement the NLD said Aung San Suu Kyi has earned the trust and credibility of all ethnic people and pro-democracy forces. Moreover she has been consistently striving for a dialogue and national reconciliation. She is capable of making compromises and usher in reforms, the statement added.

“Daw Aung San Suu Kyi told diplomats in court on the day the verdict was delivered that she hoped she could work for peace and tranquillity in Burma. She added that she hoped to get a chance to work for world peace and development,” the statement said.

After an American sneaked into her home in early May this year when Aung San Suu Kyi was being held under house arrest, she was charged with violating the terms of her house arrest under section 22 of the ‘Law safeguarding the State from the Danger of Destructive Elements’. She was sentenced to three years in prison with hard labour.

But the Junta’s head Senior Gen. Than Shwe commuted half of the sentence while the rest of the sentence was suspended. She is to serve the sentence in her home.

Aung San Suu Kyi was put on trial on May 18, this year and was held in Insein prison before the sentence was pronounced by the court. Now she is again under house arrest.