WHRDs Condemn the Continuing Deprivation of Liberty of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi!

We denounce the unjust verdict handed down based on another trumped up case against Nobel Peace laureate, pro-democracy leader and human rights defender Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

The baseless case and sham trial led to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the Burmese opposition party, being sentenced to three years in prison with hard labour for breaching conditions of her house arrest.

The subsequent commutation to 18 months house arrest through a special order by Burmese military junta leader Than Shwe has not fooled anyone. It is clear that the mock trial and continuing house arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi are aimed at preventing the key figure in the Burmese opposition from taking part in the 2010 national elections.

The State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) has continuously violated Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s human rights and fundamental freedoms to punish her for pursuing her struggle to free the people of Burma from the tyrannical claws of the military junta. And like other women human rights defenders, she is slapped with false charges to keep her silent and out of the way of a repressive military rule.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has spent 13 of the last two decades under house arrest (since 1989). Her case is strong evidence of how the Than Shwe regime has been violating with impunity the human rights of the Burmese people and trampling on civil liberties and democratic processes for which it must be held accountable.

On the other hand, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has remained a symbol of opposition to an unjust and militaristic rule.  She continues to stand up for her and her people’s rights.

We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

We demand the dismissal of all cases against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi which we assert are fabricated and a ploy to ensure that she cannot participate in next year’s elections.

We demand a stop to the Burmese military junta’s harassment and abuse of all women human rights defenders.

We demand the immediate release of all the political prisoners.