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UN chief seeks release of Aung San Suu Kyi

By Alan Cowell | The New York Times

This United Nations ahndout photo shows UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (L) as he meets 3 July 2009 with Senior General Than Shwe®, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council of the Union of Myanmar at the Bayint Naung Yeiktha.AFP/Getty Images/Mark Garten/Myanmar

The United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, arrived in Myanmar on Friday for a journey he has said will be difficult as he seeks the release of the jailed pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, or at least a meeting with her. But news reports said the Burmese authorities turned down his request to see her personally.

Shortly after he arrived the Burmese authorities said the current trial of Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for 13 of the past 19 years, would be adjourned for one week until 10 July, The Associated Press reported.

Mrs Aung San Suu Kyi is accused of violating the terms of her current house arrest after an American man swam uninvited across a lake to her home. Mrs Aung San Suu Kyi has denied the charge, but could be sentenced to five years imprisonment if found guilty. The trial, which was to have resumed on Friday, had been delayed for a month while lawyers objected to a court decision to ban three witnesses.

Mrs Aung San Suu Kyi is being held at the infamous Insein Prison. John Yettaw, the 53-year-old American intruder who is charged with trespassing, is also detained there. Her trial was delayed while lawyers appealed the court’s decision to ban three key witnesses, one of whom was reinstated by an appeals court.

News reports said a police motorcade flanked Mr Ban as he drove into Yangon, the commercial capital.

The United Nations official met later with Senior General Than Shwe, the leader of the ruling junta, in Naypyitaw, Myanmar’s remote administrative capital. The two men met in an ornate reception hall with an indoor waterfall, The AP said.

“I’d like to appreciate your commitment to move your country forward,” Mr Ban told the general as the talks began. “I’d like to contribute, to work together for peace and prosperity.” But later, according to The AP, Mr Ban said the general rejected his request to meet with Mrs Aung San Suu Kyi.

The trial of Mrs Aung San Suu Kyi has stirred broad international protest among her supporters who say the military junta is intent on keeping her behind bars ahead of and during elections due next year.

Speaking to reporters late Thursday in Singapore, Mr Ban said: “Im going to argue for the release of all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi.”

Mr Ban, who is also planning to meeting Prime Minister General Thein Sein, added, “This is going to be, I know, a very difficult mission. But at the same time I know that to bring changes to Myanmar, political conciliation and democratization, we need to do our best,” The AP reported.

According to his official schedule, he plans to meet leaders of registered political parties and former armed groups who have signed a truce with the government.

On Saturday, Mr Ban plans to fly over the Irrawaddy Delta, devastated by Cyclone Nargis last year with the loss of 138,000 lives.

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Published in The New York Times