Minister for Foreign Affairs Condemns the Conviction of Aung San Suu Kyi

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Minister for Foreign Affairs Condemns the Conviction of Aung San Suu Kyi

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Micheál Martin T.D., has condemned the conviction today of Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of Burma’s National League for Democracy and Nobel Peace laureate. Aung San Suu Kyi was sentenced by a Burmese court to three years hard labour, commuted to 18 months under house arrest, in connection with the illegal intrusion of a US national into her compound in May. The Minister said:

‘I deplore the trial over the last few months, and conviction today, of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the National League for Democracy in Burma, esteemed Nobel Peace laureate and a woman of outstanding courage who has earned worldwide respect.

The verdict is a clear confirmation that the Burmese junta is determined to continue its illegal rule without regard for the will of the Burmese people, in blatant disregard of the demands of the international community, including the UN Secretary General, and in breach of international law and its own laws.

The conviction of Aung San Suu Kyi serves only one purpose and that is to exclude her from participating in the elections scheduled for next year in Burma. It lays bare the emptiness of the regime’s rhetoric that the elections will be free and fair. I have repeatedly made clear my view that these elections will have no credibility unless all political prisoners are released unconditionally and a political process is initiated, based on an inclusive, long-term dialogue in which the opposition and ethnic groups can participate fully. I call once more for the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi and of all political prisoners and for the launching of a process of dialogue. As Aung San Suu Kyi said during the early stages of this trial in May: "It is still not too late to achieve national reconciliation".

The EU, as the Presidency statement today makes clear, is taking immediate action to extend its sanctions against the regime and the judges involved in the trial and sentencing of Aung San Suu Kyi.

I will continue to speak out within the EU and the UN and in my contacts with the countries of the region for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and for the goals of justice, democracy, reconciliation and prosperity for the people of Burma.’

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Press Office

11 August 2009