A court in Myanmar on Tuesday sentenced opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to 18 months in detention, a verdict that will keep her off the political stage ahead of next year’s elections.
The court handed down a three-year prison term for violation of an internal security law. But the military government reduced the term and ordered that the Nobel peace laureate could serve the time in her Yangon home.
"….Aung San Suu Kyi was found guilty of the charges and I hereby pass the sentence of three years’ imprisonment," said the judge, who had held court in Yangon’s Insein Prison amid tight security.
However, Myanmar’s home minister, Major-General Muang Oo announced that the junta had decided to reduce her sentence.
Muang Oo said it had taken into account ‘the need to preserve community peace and tranquility and prevent any disturbances’ in the run up to elections the Junta wants stage next year.
But critics say the military was using the case as a ruse to keep the charismatic Suu Kyi out of circulation ahead of the polls.
The European Union and Myanmar’s neighbours have reacted to the verdict with dismay. The EU has spoken of imposing tough economic sanctions.
The court handed down a three-year prison term for violation of an internal security law. But the military government reduced the term and ordered that the Nobel peace laureate could serve the time in her Yangon home.
"….Aung San Suu Kyi was found guilty of the charges and I hereby pass the sentence of three years’ imprisonment," said the judge, who had held court in Yangon’s Insein Prison amid tight security.
However, Myanmar’s home minister, Major-General Muang Oo announced that the junta had decided to reduce her sentence.
Muang Oo said it had taken into account ‘the need to preserve community peace and tranquility and prevent any disturbances’ in the run up to elections the Junta wants stage next year.
But critics say the military was using the case as a ruse to keep the charismatic Suu Kyi out of circulation ahead of the polls.
The European Union and Myanmar’s neighbours have reacted to the verdict with dismay. The EU has spoken of imposing tough economic sanctions.
Suu Kyi has already spent 14 of the past 20 years in detention of one sort or another.
The latest charges stemmed from a mysterious incident in which an American, John Yettaw, swam to her lakeside home in May and stayed there uninvited for two days, which, the authorities said had breached the terms of her house arrest.
Yettaw was sentenced to seven years’ hard labor in a parallel trial on three charges, including immigration offences and ‘swimming in a non-swimming area’.
The latest charges stemmed from a mysterious incident in which an American, John Yettaw, swam to her lakeside home in May and stayed there uninvited for two days, which, the authorities said had breached the terms of her house arrest.
Yettaw was sentenced to seven years’ hard labor in a parallel trial on three charges, including immigration offences and ‘swimming in a non-swimming area’.
