Sui Kyi Verdict Causes UN Serious Concern

United Nations 'Water' Down Response to Suu Kyi Verdict

‘The members of the Security Council express serious concern at the conviction and sentencing of... Aung San Suu Kyi and its political impact.’

 ~UK Ambassador John Sawers (UN Security Council President)~

The United Nations Security Council have expressed serious concern at the 18 month house arrest extension of the Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The sentencing during what has been described internationally as a ‘SHAM’ trial has signified a cynical attempt by the military junta to remove Suu Kyi from Burmese national elections due to take place in 2010.

Prior to the conviction, numerous world leaders and international human rights organisations including Amnesty International had implored the Burmese military junta to show clemency towards Suu Kyi. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon recently travelled to Burma to meet Senior General Than Shwe but to little avail and was prohibited from even visiting Suu Kyi in jail.

The statement released by the UN had been ‘watered’ down from the original more hard line version which would have un-equivocally ‘condemned’ the military junta’s action and demanded the immediate release of Suu Kyi. The original statement was rephrased due to reservations expressed by Russian and Chinese Security Council representatives. China is a dominant member and has close trade ties with the ruling military junta in Burma.

During the official announcement of the statement John Sawers acknowledged the difference in opinion from some quarters of the 15 member council saying: “We all know that different members of the Security Council have different views.” Whilst his statement fell short of demanding Suu Kyi’s immediate release it did emphasise the requirement for ALL political prisoner release from Burmese jails.

In a separate development the European Union has decided to toughen its stance on Burma by extending its current sanctions to include members of the judiciary that had imposed the house arrest extension on Suu Kyi. Those members of the Burmese judiciary involved will now have their assets frozen and will be prevented from traveling to the EU with immediate effect.

About The Author

I am a political blogger offering opinion with a decidedly traditional Irish Republican bias. My aim is to ‘Feel the Pulse’ of Republicans on the pursuit of our ‘Holy Grail’ –A United Ireland. Rather than divide Republican sentiment, this blog seeks to augment and reinforce a true united Irish Republican voice. Go Raibh Maith Agat!!

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