Accessibility links

Breaking News
News

UN Legal Experts Denounce Trial of Burmese Democracy Leader


Five human rights investigators for the United Nations say the trial of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has ignored basic standards of justice.

Leandro Despouy, the U.N. special rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, says he and his colleagues found the trial has been marred by "flagrant violations of substantive and procedural rights."

The investigators are calling on Burma's ruling military junta to guarantee Aung San Suu Kyi a fair trial by allowing defense witnesses to testify, and grant foreign media access to the proceedings.

The Nobel Peace laureate, who turns 64 years old on Friday, is on trial for violating terms of her house arrest by harboring an American who swam uninvited to her lakeside home. She faces five years in prison if convicted.

The international community has condemned the trial, calling it a pretext for the military junta to keep her in detention through next year's elections.

Aung San Suu Kyi's trial has been adjourned until June 26.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.

XS
SM
MD
LG