“Myanmar activists shout slogans during a rally demanding the immediate release of their pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, in front of the Myanmar Embassy in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, May 30, 2009. Detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi urgently needs medical attention in the Myanmar prison where she is being held, her party said Friday, while closing arguments in her trial were delayed until the end of next week.” Photo by Lee Jin-man for the Associated Press.
Here’s the latest on what’s happening in Burma, with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s military trial and other issues:
The Associated Press reports on how Suu Kyi’s trial has “sparked helpless outrage in Burma.”
The Agence France-Presse reporst that Suu Kyi “prepared her final arguments with lawyers in prison Saturday as she marked the sixth anniversary of her latest period of detention with the prospect of further jail time.”
The AFP also reports that “US Defence Secretary Robert Gates pressed Myanmar’s military rulers Saturday to free pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and reopen dialogue with the opposition.”
In addition, the AFP reports that the junta has hit back at critics of their prosecution of Suu Kyi, saying that she “covered up” the truth by failing to properly report the intrusion of American John Yettaw on her property.
Pedro Nikken and Geoffrey Nice write about “what the U.N. can’t ignore in Burma” for the Washington Post.
The Guardian‘s Simon Tisdall argues that “the E.U. must start squeezing [Burma's junta].”
United Press International reports the members of Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party are saying that the junta has delayed the resumption of her trial.
UPI also reports on the new strategy for bringing about democracy that is being developed by the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma, the country’s government-in-exile.
National Jeweler reports that “the American Gem Trade Association, the World Jewellery Confederation and several other jewelry organizations worldwide have united to urge Congress to consider lifting the U.S. ban on rubies imported from Myanmar.” Apparently, these groups feel that the embargo, that went into effect in September 2008 as part of the Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE (Junta’s Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act of 2008, “is not going to achieve the expected goals” of influencing changes in Burma.
The AP reports that “Malaysia has found no evidence to support claims that thousands of deported [migrants from Burma] were handed over to human traffickers in Thailand.” Back in April, the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations said in a report made public that illegal migrants deported from Malaysia were “forced to work in brothels, fishing boats and restaurants across the border in Thailand if they had no money to buy their freedom.”
Reuters reports that Thailand’s foreign minister has said that “Thailand and Bangladesh agreed on Monday to take up with Myanmar the issue of the flow of Rohingya Muslims into [Burma's] neighbours.”
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“Myanmar activists shout slogans during a rally demanding the immediate release of their pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, in front of the Myanmar Embassy in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, May 30, 2009. Detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi urgently needs medical attention in the Myanmar prison where she is being held, her party said Friday, while closing arguments in her trial were delayed until the end of next week.” Photo by Lee Jin-man for the Associated Press.
