Jon Snow: The Burmese democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has denied breaking the terms of her house arrest on the first occasion she’s taken the stand during her trial.
She was charged by the military regime after an American managed to swim to her home and spend the night there.
Miss Suu Kyi, who faces five years in prison, said she had not immediately known about the late night visit, but had been told about it later by her assistant.
Sue Turton reports.
Sue Turton (ST): Behind the gates of this maximum security prison Aung San Suu Kyi took the witness stand, the first time she’s given evidence against the charge that she broke the terms of a house arrest that’s kept her locked away for thirteen of the past nineteen years. A tiny figure with a huge democratic following who the military rulers believe poses an enormous threat.
John Yettaw, the American the regime is blaming for this trial and for the threat again to her liberty, was also in court. The military generals say the two occasions he swam across the lake to get to her house was a stunt designed to embarrass the regime.
The British Ambassador was in court to hear her side.
Mark Canning (UK Ambassador to Burma): She rebutted very firmly the suggestion that she knew anything about this. Her point was that this had been inflicted on her. She said at one point if you want to know why he left the stuff in my house why don’t you ask because he was, he was seated no more than ten feet from her.
ST: What was her, her demeanour and her health? It’s been reported that she’s not in the best of health. What, what was your sense?
Mark Canning: She’s been through a terrible ordeal. Two decades of, of pressure and many years of imprisonment. Given that, I think she looks remarkably robust. But she was very authoritative when she was answering the judge’s questions. She spoke to us when she came in at the beginning and also when she left to say that she greatly appreciated the visible indication of our support.
ST: Mrs Suu Kyi’s house bound detention was due to end tomorrow, but today the Chief of Police told diplomats that they’d now come to a different calculation and her five year imprisonment wouldn’t be over until November.
But some of Burma’s neighbouring Foreign Ministers in Hanoi for a conference with their European counterparts are seeing this latest trial as a cynical attempt to silence her during next year’s elections.
Bill Rammell: I detect a change in tone, certainly from the Asian neighbours. Whereas previously the first point of reference was always this is a matter for Burma, it’s a matter of sovereignty, there’s now a willingness to recognise that what Burma is doing actually has costs for the rest of the region.
ST: On the record the Thai authorities have said they have grave concerns about the new charge against her, saying it threatens the ruling junta’s honour and stability.
Even China is reported to have adopted a more critical tone than usual, adding its voice to the UN’s call for all political prisoners to be released.
Mark Canning: I think they are taken aback by the scale of the criticism that they have provoked by putting her on, on trial. They have elevated her own status. It has shown just what a major figure she remains. Having said all that I think it is likely, more than likely that she will find, be found guilty.
ST: If that happens she faces a further five years in jail.