The United Nations' special envoy to Burma Tomás Ojea Quintana on Monday condemned the ruling military government for detaining Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi under a 1975 law that is now obsolete.
He made the comment during a one-hour meeting with Suu Kyi's lawyers on Monday afternoon, according to lawyer Nyan Win who is also an opposition spokesman.
"He told us that the law of 1975 was obsolete and that the use of it to keep Daw Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest is outwith international law," the NLD's Nyan Win said after emerging from the meeting with Quintana.
Left: Top Burmese military officials celebrate North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's 68th birthday. Lt-Gen Tin Aye, No 5 in the Tatmadaw (Burmese armed forces) hierarchy, was at the Chartrium Hotel in Rangoon on Sunday to mark dictator's birthday. Here's Tin Aye on page one of The New Light of Myanmar, holding hands with Ambassador H.E. Kim Sok Chol at a welcome reception. Tin Aye's presence signals a growing warmth between the two countries.
Myanmar Frees an Opposition Leader (nytimes.com)
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Qintina's visit is his third to Myanmar since he was appointed envoy in 2008. He belies 2010 is "a critical time for the people of Myanmar."
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"It would be important for me to meet with political party leaders in the context of this year's landmark elections" Tomas Quintana, |
He has also asked Myanmar's military government for a meeting with Suu Kyi on Feb. 18. The UN envoy was not allowed to meet with her during previous visits.
"This is a short visit, but I hope it will at least help to stop the human rights violations in Burma," Nyan Win said. "I would like him to come [to Burma] frequently," he added.
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| NLD deputy leader Tin Oo was released on Saturday [AFP] |
Nyan Win said the UN envoy held discussions with him and Suu Kyi's other lawyers, Kyi Win, Kin Win Kyi and Hla Myo Myint, about the justice system in Burma under military rule.
The NLD's deputy leader, Tin Oo, who was released from house arrest on Saturday, said on Monday that the UN envoy's visit should produce some tangible results.
Meanwhile, more than 2,100 political prisoners remain behind bars in Burma and observers say that human rights abuses are continuing, especially in ethnic areas.
On Monday, veteran activist Naw Ohn Hla and four other dissidents were sentenced to two years in prison, accused of "inciting activities to undermine public order."
On Feb. 10, Burmese-American activist Nyi Nyi Aung was sentenced to three years with hard labor and sent to Prome Prison, northeast of the former capital, Rangoon. No notice of his transfer was given to his family and he was not allowed to meet with them before he was transferred, a family member said.
He was sentenced for illegally copying an identity card, violating an immigration law and failing to declare foreign currency to Burmese customs.
Another activist from central Burma, Myo Han, was sentenced in December to 51 years in prison and moved to Kengtung prison. Sources told The Irrawaddy that he was put in solitary confinement for one week on arrival at the prison for no apparent reason.
88 Generation Students' leader Min Ko Naing and eight other political prisoners are also being held in Kengtung prison. According to a source inside the prison, Min Ko Naing is currently under 24 hours surveillance with CCTV cameras.
Bo Kyi, the joint secretary of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners-Burma, said that the transfer of political prisoners, including Nyi Nyi Aung, to the other prisons just before Quintana's visit was "to prevent him [Quintana] meeting with political prisoners and not see the reality of their incarceration."
The UN envoy's third visit started on Monday morning and he is due to stay in Burma until Feb. 19. He is expected to meet some key ministers in Naypyidaw, and is due to visit Rangoon's notorious Insein Prison and another prison in Arakan State.
Nyan Win, an NLD spokesman and one of Aung San Suu Kyi's lawyers, said he and three other party lawyers had been summoned to meet the envoy.
Busy schedule
"We four lawyers will meet with Mr Quintana this evening. We do not know the reason. It's their proposal. I still do not know yet whether the envoy will meet with the NLD party," he said.
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| Aung San Suu Kyi has been held under house arrest for 14 of the past 20 years [EPA] |
Human rights groups say the government still holds some 2,100 political prisoners.
Aung San Suu Kyi has been detained for 14 of the past 20 years.
Her house arrest was extended in August by an additional 18 months, which would prevent her from taking part in the first national elections in 20 years.
Aung San Suu Kyi's party won Myanmar's last elections in 1990 by a landslide, but the military, which has ruled Myanmar since 1962, refused to give up power and has constantly obstructed her party's operations over the past two decades.
It has said it will hold elections to a new parliament this year, but has yet to give a date for the vote.
The NLD has not yet decided whether to take part, saying the new constitution of 2008 is unfair and will perpetuate military rule, a claim backed by international rights groups.
The constitution guarantees that 25 per cent of parliamentary seats will go to the military. It also has a clause that would effectively bar Aung San Suu Kyi from holding office.
The Irrawaddy
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