Diplomats barred from Suu Kyi trial

The Burmese government has banned reporters and diplomats from opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s trial today, a day after briefly allowing them inside the courtroom for the first time.

The Nobel Peace laureate, who has been in detention without trial for more than 13 of the past 19 years, is accused of violating the terms of her house arrest after an American man stayed at her home without official permission.

The offence is punishable by up to five years’ imprisonment.

After closing the hearings for the first two days, the authorities unexpectedly opened them yesterday to 10 journalists and dozens of diplomats.

Ms Suu Kyi thanked diplomats for their support and told them she hoped to see them during “better days”. The diplomats said she seemed “spirited” and in good health and one described her courtroom appearance yesterday as “awe-inspiring”.

Three diplomats later met her at the guest house where she is being held in Insein Prison but they refused to provide details of those discussions.

But diplomats said they had not changed their opinion of the trial simply because they had been allowed to attend.

Most assume the special court in Rangoon’s Insein Prison will find Ms Suu Kyi guilty.

The case against Ms Suu Kyi, accused of violating her house arrest after an uninvited American intruder, John Yettaw (53), swam to her lakeside home two weeks ago, has outraged the West and triggered threats of new sanctions against the regime.

AP